Title: Beneath Di Don's Shadow

chapter 4

Chapter 4: Living in Shadows

Days turn into weeks, an mi life feel like it get split in two. One part of mi still trying fi balance school, keeping up wid mi friends, pretending everything normal. But di other part—di part dat belong to Jahmiel—start to consume mi. Di more time mi spend wid him, di more mi see how deep him roots run inna di streets.

Mi friends notice di change in mi, but mi keep dem at a distance. None of dem understand what mi going through, and truth is, mi nuh even know how to explain it. How do mi tell dem bout di nights mi spend worrying if Jahmiel will make it home alive? Or di times mi see him come back wid blood on him clothes but no explanation?

Mi cya tell dem nothing. So mi smile, laugh along wid dem, and pretend like mi still di same Kimi.

But mi know better.

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One night, Jahmiel tek mi to a party up inna di hills, far from di usual spots in Kingston. Dis wasn’t no regular street dance—dis was a gathering fi di big men in di game. Di type ah people Jahmiel call his "associates."

Di house was massive, wid marble floors and chandeliers hanging from di ceiling. It felt like mi step into a different world. But mi could feel di tension in di air—like everybody here have someting to prove. Jahmiel walk beside mi, his hand resting gently on mi lower back, guiding mi through di crowd like him own di place.

Him introduce mi to a few men—some of dem look at mi like mi was a trophy, others like mi wasn’t supposed to be there. Jahmiel keep him eyes on mi di whole time, never letting mi stray too far from him side. Mi could feel di weight of di stares, di whispers. Jahmiel had made a statement bringing mi here, and mi could sense dat it was a dangerous one.

“Stay close to mi,” Jahmiel whisper in mi ear as him lean down. Di seriousness in his voice sent chills down mi spine.

Mi didn’t argue. Jahmiel’s world was full of power moves, alliances, an betrayals. Mi didn’t know who to trust, and di last ting mi wanted was to become a target because of him.

As di night go on, mi notice Jahmiel slipping into conversations wid di other men. Mi didn’t catch everything, but mi heard enough fi know dat tings were getting more tense. Talks bout territories, supply routes, an protection. Jahmiel’s tone was calm, but mi could see di tightness in him jaw. Di streets were shifting, and mi could feel it.

When him finally pull mi aside, mi couldn’t hold back no more.

“Jahmiel, what’s going on?” mi ask, mi voice low but filled wid concern.

Him look at mi for a moment, like him trying fi decide how much to tell mi. “Tings about to get heated, Kimi. Some people nah play fair.”

“Yuh think yuh safe?”

Him smirk, but there was no joy in it. “Safe? Nobody really safe inna dis life. But mi nah mek nobody take mi crown.”

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Later dat night, as wi drive back to mi yard, mi couldn’t shake di feeling dat someting bad was coming. Jahmiel didn’t talk much after di party, an mi could tell his mind was somewhere else. Di tension in him body, di way him grip di steering wheel tighter than usual… it all mek mi uneasy.

When wi pull up outside mi gate, Jahmiel cut di engine an turn to mi.

“Kimi, mi want yuh listen to mi carefully,” him say, him voice low and serious. “If anything happen… if mi cya reach yuh, yuh haffi know how fi move.”

Mi heart skip a beat. “What yuh mean? What could happen?”

Him eyes meet mine, an for di first time in a long time, mi see fear flicker behind dem. “Mi cya say too much, but mi want yuh ready fi anything. If mi cya call yuh, yuh link up wid a man name Bullet. Him know what fi do.”

“Bullet?” mi repeat, mi voice shaky. “Who him?”

“Mi most trusted man. If anything go wrong, him will get yuh out.”

Mi feel mi throat tighten. Jahmiel was always confident, always in control. If him preparing mi for someting like dis, then it must be serious.

“Mi nuh want yuh worry,” him continue, reaching fi mi hand. “Mi goin’ handle it. But mi cya take no chances when it come to yuh.”

Mi nod, trying fi keep mi composure, but mi feel di panic rise up inside mi. Jahmiel was wrapped up in someting bigger than mi ever imagined, an now mi was in it too.

Before mi step out di car, Jahmiel pull mi close, pressing him lips to mi forehead. “Mi love yuh, Kimi,” him whisper. “No matter what.”

Mi heart swell wid emotions—love, fear, worry. Jahmiel’s world was swallowing mi whole, and mi had no idea what was coming next.

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Chapter 4 Summary: In this chapter, Kimi is pulled deeper into Jahmiel’s dangerous world. As she attends a high-stakes party with him, she begins to understand how much power and threat Jahmiel truly holds. The tension builds as Jahmiel warns her about potential danger, introducing her to Bullet, a trusted ally who will help her if things go wrong. Love grows, but so does the looming sense of fear.