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T he night was thick and quiet, the kind that hung like a wet sheet over the city. It was pitch black behind Troy’s grandmother’s house, and the three idiots from the robbery were lined up and blindfolded, shivering in their last moments.

“Y’all are an example the city will never forget,” I muttered to them as I paced slowly.

Hocus and King stood watch, shadows against the trees, while I savored this moment of silence before the storm I was about to unleash.

The boys were too scared to speak, especially with ropes around their necks. I wasn’t in the habit of making excuses for what I had to do. This was about sending a message to Troy: his life was over, too—he just didn’t know when or how it would end. That was the joy of how I moved. You never knew how or when I was coming.

One by one, Hocus, King, and I hung them.

I left them there, hanging from the makeshift gallows I’d set up in the backyard. When we got to the front of the house, with a cold spray can, I marked the family’s Knight symbol on the grandmother’s house. Nobody outside the family really knew what the mark was, and I intended to keep it that way. This was just between us, between my family and Troy’s. A reminder that I was coming for him next, and he better be ready.

As I climbed back into the black, unmarked Cadillac truck with King behind the wheel and Hocus riding shotgun, a nagging thought hit me. I glanced down at my hands, faintly stained with blood and dirt, and something shifted in my gut. I’d always loved getting my hands dirty and always felt more supported when I did things myself, but a part of me was starting to wonder if this was worth it. I didn’t need to be out here, taking risks like this. I had a crew for that. I could’ve sent any of my men, but I’d shown up tonight because I trusted myself not to mess it up. No loose ends, no one to turn around and snitch.

As I leaned back, my phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Mia.

“Damier,” she said, her voice tight. “You need to get to the club. Now.”

“What happened?”

“They’re raiding it. Detective Ellis’ bitch ass is here with a search warrant. They’re saying they got a tip-off about drugs in the club.”

I could feel my blood pressure spike. “Drugs?” I ground out. “Since when do I keep drugs in the club? They know that’s not my style.”

Mia’s voice wavered. “I told them that. They’re not listening. They’re waiting on you to get here, but they’re all over the place, tearing it apart.”

“I’ll be there in ten,” I replied, ending the call.

As we pulled up, the blue and red lights from cop cars lit up the block. They were everywhere, swarming my club. Ellis stood out in the middle of the chaos, his smug face watching as I got out of the truck. I told King and Hocus to drive off, not wanting them in the mess. I held back the rage simmering inside and made my way through the crowd, walking up to him with the confidence I was known for.

“Detective Ellis,” I said, keeping my voice cold and steady. “You better have a fuckin’ good reason for this raid.”

Ellis folded his arms, his face smug. “We got a tip-off, Mr. Knight. Word is, there are drugs in your establishment.”

“You know I keep my business clean. No drugs in the club,” I replied, my voice laced with disdain.

“We’ll see about that.” Ellis smirked. “Now, get in there and open your office.”

I frowned and headed inside the club.

When we got into my office, he already knew where my safe was, hidden behind a family portrait on the wall.

“Unlock the safe,” he demanded.

I unlocked it, keeping my expression cool as I swung it open. Inside, almost two million in old cash, registered guns, and piles of cold diamonds lay in pristine order. Everything was legit, and they knew it. We had been here before, and nothing had changed.

“Satisfied?” I spat, daring them to find something incriminating.

Ellis was about to say something when another officer walked in, holding up two kilos of pure cocaine.

“Well, well, well, looks like your clean image just took a hit,” Ellis drawled, eyes glinting with triumph.

My fists clenched. I knew the game they were playing. “That’s not mine, and you know it. You planted that shit,” I hissed, my voice laced with venom.

He shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. “That’s for the courts to decide. But I think you know what this means.” He looked around my club. “We’re shutting you down. Be glad we ain’t locking your ass up for this.”

“Yeah, because you know the deal. You are on my payroll.”

I wanted to lunge at him, to rip that smug look off his face, but I held back, knowing that was exactly what he wanted. Instead, I frowned, watching as he and his men paraded around, making sure everyone saw the spectacle. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I got in my Ferrari and left. Mia and my crew would lock up for me.

The drive away from my club felt endless, and my mind raced as I tried to piece together who could’ve set this up. Damian’s face flashed in my mind, and a fresh wave of rage swept over me.

I pulled up to Dream’s place at around four in the morning, barely aware of the time.

I rang her bell a few times before she came to the door. When she opened it, sleep still lingering in her eyes, I forced myself to calm down, to keep the rage buried under a smooth exterior. “I’m sorry to wake you,” I muttered as I stepped inside. “I just didn’t want to go to my crib.”

She wrapped her arms around me, her warmth grounding me for a moment. “It’s okay. What happened?”

“They raided my club,” I said, my voice tight. “Shut me down because of some drugs they planted. I never keep anything in there. Never.”

She led me to the couch, her gentle touch soothing the edges of my anger. I didn’t mention what I’d done in Troy’s grandmother’s backyard. Some things, she didn’t need to know.

She listened to me until her eyes got tired, and then we went to her room. I took a long, hot shower and then got in bed with her. She was already asleep by the time I got out. I held her close until the sun came up, finally feeling at ease for a second.

$$$$$

I watched Dream get ready for work, admiring the way she moved, so graceful and composed. She was a reminder of what peace felt like, of what I wanted beyond the blood and chaos.

“You okay?” she asked, catching me watching her in the mirror as she put on her diamond necklace.

“Yeah, especially after that good pussy you just gave me,” I replied, trying to push down the storm brewing inside. “But it’s been a week since we’ve been back, though. Just feels like everything’s spiraling already.”

She walked over to me, placing a hand on my cheek. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

I pulled her close, inhaling the familiar scent of her Chanel perfume, grounding myself in her presence. “I’ll be alright,” I assured her, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead. “Let’s get you some breakfast before work. I’ll drive you around since I’ll be out of the office today.”

We headed to a cozy breakfast spot near her job, the morning air crisp and cool at nine in the morning. I did my best to keep my mind on Dream, on the lightness she brought to my life, but the call I received shortly after rattled me.

It was my lawyer, Melissa. “Damier, I just got word that the city is after your liquor license. They’re planning to shut you down permanently.”

My jaw tightened. “What about the deal I have with the city manager?”

“They’re saying you violated it with the drugs they found, and the raid made the news.”

“Tell him to remember the favors I’ve done for him. Remind him what happens when loyalty runs thin. I’ll expose him,” I snapped before ending the call.

“Everything alright?” Dream asked, picking up on my frustration.

I forced a smile. “Just business. Nothing for you to worry about.”

When I dropped her off at work, I lingered, watching her disappear into the building. I’d gotten used to waking up beside her, used to her calm grounding me in ways I hadn’t expected. But I knew I couldn’t keep dragging her into this storm. Not unless she was ready for it.

$$$$$$

My mother called me, so I pulled up to her estate, the massive gates opening as I drove up the winding path. Inside, she was waiting for me, and I wasted no time laying everything out for her.

“They raided my club, tried to shut me down, and now they’re going after my liquor license. Someone’s feeding them lies, and I have a good guess who,” I said, my voice laced with anger.

She listened, her face impassive as always, but I could see the fire in her eyes. “Damian, huh?” she asked, her voice calm but knowing.

I nodded. “I need your help to shut him down. He’s getting too close, and he’s starting to mess with everything I’ve built.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll handle this. He’s playing with fire, and it’s time he learned that this family doesn’t tolerate betrayal, but I have to talk to you about Felix.”

“What about him?” I started pacing, something I did when my mind moved too fast.

“He called me,” she began, her tone even but firm. She kept her gaze steady, piercing through me. “He told me Damian paid him a visit in Mexico, then fled. Told him about the robbery and said the police were following you. He said he'd rather speak to me first because he trusts me, but he wants to have a meeting with you. Decades of loyalty to our family are hard to shake.” She paused, and I could feel the weight of that loyalty. It was like a thread running through generations. And now Damian had stretched it to its breaking point.

My hands clenched as I looked at her.

“I was handling it, Ma,” I replied, my voice tense. “I was going to replace everything that was stolen, and the police are not after me. I didn’t see a need to pull Felix into the bullshit your son made. I know he had everything to do with it. Bet he ain’t tell Felix that.”

She didn’t respond right away, her fingers tapping on the polished wood of her desk. “Of course, he didn’t tell him that. But, replacing it without telling him, son?” she asked, her voice a mix of frustration and disappointment. “It’s one thing to replace product, but Felix needs to know that his trust in us hasn’t been betrayed. We can’t afford that type of doubt creeping in. On top of Felix, now I have to go talk to the cops and the city manager to get your club back open. Did you check the tapes?”

I ran a hand over my face, exhaling slowly, feeling the weight of her words. “You’re right, Ma, and no, I haven’t. I’ve been detached from what happened,” I conceded, trying to temper my own anger. “But with Damian out of sight, I couldn’t waste time explaining to Felix. I thought I’d handle it fast enough. Damian’s been a thorn in my side for too long.”

She nodded, her gaze softening a bit, but her voice was as sharp as ever. “You have always protected him. Shielded him, covered for him―”

“You have too, even after you gave me the okay to take him out,” I interrupted, my voice rougher than intended. “But that loyalty’s dead. I should have dealt with him the moment he became a threat to everything I’ve built.”

“And now?” Her voice was softer, almost understanding.

I straightened, a fire igniting inside me. “Now, I’m done sparing him. He’s hidden before, always under a fake name, thinking I’d never go after him. But I’ll find him this time, Ma. Even if it means tracking down every alias, every last corner of the earth he hides in, I’ll do it.”

She looked at me, the hint of a smile on her lips, like she was proud of me but saddened by what it had come to. “Good,” she said simply. “Then, let’s finish this. But I have to warn you, he’s hiding out of the country. All his lines are disconnected, and some girl was staying at his condo when I went by.”

“Yeah, same when I looked for him. I shook that bitch up, but she claims she knows nothing. I’m going to get back with Lil Ken to see how we can track him.”

“Well, Felix is about to call you. We can’t afford to beef with him right now, so I texted him to call you now.”

I was sitting at the edge of my mother’s desk, the tension in the air so thick I could practically taste it. My mind was already racing, trying to sort through the mess Damian had just made. I could feel my jaw tightening with each passing second.

My phone buzzed, interrupting the silence. It was Felix. I stared at the name for a moment before answering, trying to steady my breathing.

“Felix,” I greeted, keeping my voice calm, even though I could already feel my blood simmering. “What’s going on?”

Felix’s smooth voice came through the line, tinged with his signature Spanish accent that always made him sound like he was speaking from a higher ground. “Ah, Damier,” he said, his tone like syrup, smooth but cutting. “I hear there’s been some trouble with the law. A little robbery at the warehouse, maybe? But it’s funny—no one mentioned anything about it to me. Your family’s been handling it, sí? And now I hear from your twin that things aren’t as clear as you’d like them to be.”

My teeth ground together. “Felix, what the hell are you talking about? Damian is sick,” I snapped, but my voice was tight with the effort to hold back my rage. I didn’t like being checked, and Felix knew it. The bastard was testing me, and I could feel my patience wearing thin. “I don’t have time for this. You are sitting with the enemy, letting him feed you lies. Damian’s been spewing lies about my business, trying to set me up. I didn’t want to involve you in this shit, but I get it now. You want answers, right?”

His chuckle on the other end of the phone was maddening, like he enjoyed pushing my buttons. “Ah, yes, Damier. You always do things your way. But this is big , my friend. The policia, product missing... and now I know your brother is in the middle of it.” He paused for a beat, and I could hear the amusement in his voice. “But you, Damier, you have to be careful. You think you can handle it alone?”

I clenched my fists, grinding my teeth so hard it hurt. “Listen to me, Felix,” I warned, my voice dropping low, the anger bubbling under the surface. “I’m handling this. I know what I’m doing. What happened wasn’t intended to hurt the empire. It’s bigger than that.” I tried to keep my voice steady, though the frustration was seeping through. “But I didn’t think it was necessary to bring you into this right now. My focus has been on fixing the damage.”

Felix’s voice was a mixture of casual amusement and something colder now. “Ah, I see. You think you can handle it all by yourself?” he asked. “But you forget, Damier, loyalty is a two-way street. We built this together, and I don’t like being left in the dark. Your problems are mine, no? I’ve stuck by you and your family for decades. And now you think you can brush me off?” He sighed―a mockingly thoughtful pause. “You have to see, amigo, that’s not how this works. You and me—we need to talk. So how about this: you make a little time, and you come see me in Mexico. This thing doesn’t go away without us handling it together. And, Damier,” he added with a quiet, almost playful menace, “the sooner, the better.”

I stared at the phone, my hands tightening into fists as my blood boiled. This was a damn test. He knew damn well I didn’t like being challenged. But I had to swallow it down. I respected Felix; he had earned his position. That loyalty was too important to ignore, no matter how much I hated feeling like I was being cornered.

“You’re right, Felix,” I finally said, my voice barely concealing the edge in it. “I’ll get on a plane. I’ll be there within the week. Let’s talk more when I get there.”

Felix’s laughter came through the line, smooth and knowing. “Not a week, Damier. Sooner than that. I don’t want to wait around while your empire crumbles. Make it two days , sí?”

Before I could respond, he hung up, the call ending with a finality that left me standing there, seething. My fingers tightened around the phone, the anger in my chest threatening to spill over. But I knew I had to play this right. Felix was right about one thing—loyalty mattered. I had to deal with this, even if it meant swallowing my pride.

I took a deep breath, turning back to my mother, who had been watching me carefully.

“You’ll meet him, right?” she asked, her voice quieter now but her gaze sharp.

I nodded, grinding my teeth. “Yeah. I’ll meet him. But when I get back, this shit with Damian... it’s over. One way or another.”

My mother didn’t say anything more. She didn’t need to. The weight of what was coming hung heavy in the room.

Leaving her estate, a new sense of resolve hit me, hot and in control. I wasn’t going to keep playing this cat-and-mouse game with Damian. He’d crossed too many lines, and now he was going to learn that nobody escaped the consequences of betraying the family. But first, I had to go meet Felix. Mexico wasn’t in my plans, and I hated traveling there, but the streets were calling yet again.