Title: Beneath Di Don's Shadow

chapter 7

Chapter 7: Under Pressure

Di atmosphere inna di small house is thick with tension as Jahmiel, Bullet, and mi gather inna di dim light. Bullet is on his phone, checking in wid some contacts while Jahmiel paces back and forth, his jaw clenched tight. Mi sit on di couch, feeling out of place in a world dat feels like it’s spiraling out of control.

“Bullet, any word?” Jahmiel asks, glancing over with a mix of impatience and worry.

“Just checking. Dem still searching for yuh, but it seems like dey haven’t figured out where we are yet,” Bullet replies, his eyes focused on di screen. “We have a little time, but we can’t stay here too long.”

Di weight of his words settles heavily inna mi chest. “What if dey find us?” mi ask, fear creeping into mi voice.

“Dey won’t,” Jahmiel asserts, though his expression betrays a flicker of uncertainty. “Bullet knows di streets, an he’ll get us out if it comes to dat.”

Bullet nods, still preoccupied with his phone. “Yuh need to stay low, Kimi. Dis ain’t no place for a girl like yuh.”

“Dat’s not gonna happen,” mi reply defiantly. “Mi’m not going anywhere without Jahmiel. He’s my—”

“Yuh love,” Jahmiel finishes for me, his voice softening for a moment. “But love can’t protect yuh from dis life. Yuh need to understand dat.”

“Mi understand more than yuh think,” mi say, feeling a fire rise up inside mi. “Dis ain’t just about love. Dis is about family, loyalty, an the life yuh chose. Mi want to be a part of it.”

---

Jahmiel’s eyes narrow as he studies mi, searching for sincerity. “Dis life is dangerous, Kimi. Yuh think yuh ready for dat?”

“More than yuh know,” mi answer, trying to project confidence even as mi heart races.

Bullet steps in. “Look, I respect yuh for wanting to stick by him, but yuh gotta be smart. Yuh can’t let your feelings cloud your judgment.”

“Yuh think mi can just walk away?” mi ask, my voice rising. “Mi can’t pretend dis isn’t happening. Jahmiel, dis is your life, an I’m in it now.”

“Dis is exactly why mi don’t want yuh involved,” Jahmiel says, frustration creeping into his tone. “Mi want yuh safe, Kimi! Dis world is ruthless, an it won’t hesitate to take yuh from me.”

Mi feel tears pricking at di corners of mi eyes. “An what if it takes yuh from me?” mi whisper. “Mi can’t just stand by and watch.”

Di room goes silent, di tension palpable as Jahmiel takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Dis life comes with risks. Dem might come after yuh just to get to me. An dat’s what mi can’t allow.”

---

As di reality sinks in, mi realize how deep dis goes. It’s not just about love; it’s about survival. I’m tangled in Jahmiel’s world, an no matter how much mi want to fight, di stakes are higher than I ever imagined.

“Bullet, do yuh have a plan?” mi ask, trying to shift di focus.

“Yeah, but it’s risky,” Bullet replies, looking at Jahmiel. “We need to move to a more secure location, maybe lay low inna di countryside until tings cool off. Dem won’t expect us to be there.”

Jahmiel nods, though I can see di tension in his shoulders. “An what about Kimi? If we go, she’s gotta come with us.”

“Yuh think dat’s smart?” Bullet asks, skepticism in his tone.

“Mi don’t care what’s smart. Dis is my decision,” Jahmiel states firmly, looking straight at Bullet. “Kimi stays with me. Dat’s final.”

---

I can feel di weight of Jahmiel’s decision pressing on mi. On one hand, mi’m grateful he’s standing up for mi, but on di other, I know it puts us all in danger. Di thought of leaving di city feels surreal. Dis was mi home, di only place mi knew, an now mi’m being forced into a life dat’s unfamiliar.

“Alright, here’s di plan,” Bullet says, breaking mi from my thoughts. “We’ll move tonight while it’s dark. Kimi, yuh need to stay quiet an stick close. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

“Got it,” mi say, nodding even though mi feel a knot in mi stomach.

Bullet outlines di details of di route, an mi can see Jahmiel’s tension ease a little as he listens. Bullet’s experience in di streets is evident, an for di first time, I feel a flicker of hope. If anyone can keep us safe, it’s him.

“Yuh ready?” Jahmiel asks, turning to mi, his gaze steady.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” mi reply, feeling a mix of fear and determination.

---

As night falls, di atmosphere shifts. Di sounds of di city fade, replaced by di whispers of di wind outside. Mi watch as Jahmiel prepares, gathering a few essentials and loading dem into Bullet’s car. He moves with purpose, an I can’t help but admire di strength he carries, even in dis chaos.

“Just remember, Kimi,” Jahmiel says, turning to face me. “Stay close, an don’t look back. We’ll get through dis together.”

“Together,” mi echo, feeling a sense of solidarity.

Bullet leads di way out di house, an mi follow closely behind Jahmiel, holding onto his hand like it’s a lifeline. Di streets are dark, an mi can hear di distant sounds of life, but it feels like we’re in our own bubble, separated from di rest of di world.

---

As we approach di car, mi suddenly feel a chill run down mi spine. Di hairs on di back of my neck stand up, an mi instinctively tighten mi grip on Jahmiel’s hand.

“Wait,” Bullet whispers, his eyes narrowing as he scans di surroundings.

Jahmiel stops, an I can feel di tension building inna di air. “What is it?” he asks, voice low.

“Something’s off,” Bullet replies, his posture tense as he looks around. “Stay alert.”

In dat moment, di world around us fades, an all mi can think about is how vulnerable we are. Di threat feels real, an di fear grips mi heart tighter than ever before.

---

“Let’s move,” Jahmiel says, determination in his voice as he pulls me closer. “We can’t risk it.”

Just as we begin to move, a car screeches to a halt nearby, headlights piercing through di darkness. Mi freeze, di realization dawning on me too late.

“Go!” Jahmiel shouts, pushing me forward as he steps in front of me, shielding me with his body. “Run!”

---

Chapter 7 Summary: In this chapter, Kimi, Jahmiel, and Bullet prepare to move to safety after realizing the threat is closer than they thought. Tensions rise as Jahmiel insists on keeping Kimi by his side despite the risks involved. As they make their escape, a sudden disturbance throws them into chaos, heightening the urgency and danger of their situation. Kimi’s determination to stand by Jahmiel is tested as they face potential threats in di shadows.