The night was... long to say the least. I had woken up in his arms, shocking to say the least so I stayed still a bit to watch him sleep- it was like a dream. I couldn't stay any longer though, I crawled out of bed and almost fell right on my ass. Pain shot up through me as my legs were like jello, I breathed in and focused as I collected my clothes and pulled them on.

Despite the crazy and passionate night we had- there was more important things to deal with. If I want to figure out what's going on I need to start now, I looked back at him one more time and left. I wasn't going to be charmed by him after all these years, he'd have to do more then seduce me.

Arriving home it was quiet, it didn't sound like father was here or anybody else. The residency here only had me, Craven and father- the occasional the Dolce. Cravens mother had separated from father and had been living on her own for some time now, though she drops in on occasion she only comes to see Craven.

I went straight to my office and started pulling up recent articles and reports I had gotten, nothing came up about the Genieves, just information about them loaning out money- pretty standard stuff. I started to write out what I knew and I noticed something peculiar.

Clubs, it seemed like these common hang out spots is where information was being passed around. If Damien is right, men are pretending to be Arifs to stir trouble- as well as other gangs. Knowing damn well there's already a riff between family's as of current, but why? What is there to gain? To get certain families out of the way?

I looked up bars in the vicinity, I know the guy I interrogated a couple days ago bar hopped in the downtown area, where he met the so called Arif informant. Our family presence is heavy in the downtown as well as other families who've we've allied with. If this is all happening within the bar scene... I know just who to call.

"Ramos" I said over the phone and I heard him breathe out relieved.

"I thought you were gonna be mad at me forever" he responded.

"I still am. We all know you go clubbing on a daily basis, right?" I said kicking my feet up on my desk and lighting a smoke as I balanced the phone between my cheek and shoulder.

"Well yeah, you know that. Why you wanna go somewhere tonight? There's this great club-" he went on and I rolled my eyes.

"I've gotten reports that there's been an increase of mentions about Arifs on my territory, you wouldn't happen to know anything about this... right?" I asked tapping the cigarette, and I heard him go quiet. This damn idiot.

"Well... I've seen some guys boast about being Arifs, and trying to start stuff but there a lot more frequent at Galaxy Eve's club; you know that strip joint? It's another grey colored place not owned by an Arif if you worried. I was approached one time there by someone claiming to be an Arif saying they'd pay for intel- it was a bit strange now that I think about it" he babbled and I crushed the cigarette in my hand. It seems rugby has given him one to many concussions.

"And you didn't tell me this... why?"

"Well they just seemed like some lower class henchmen, hey you got a lot to worry about so don't bother with those types-" he went on and I hung up.

"Galaxy Eve... I'll just have to go there then." I whispered to myself. My phone started to go off and I answered it thinking it was Ramos.

"The conversation was over" I said to him.

"I wasn't aware that it even started" responded Damien and I almost dropped my phone, how the hell did he get my number?!

"What do you want" I asked fighting of the flush on my face, memories of last night and how much of mess I had to clean up when I got home was still vivid in my mind.

"Why did you leave, you should have waited" he said stoically but I had a feeling he was upset, In the very least disappointed.

"I don't have time to play romance, I've been busy making calls." I said sitting up in my chair to look up the strip club online. I checked out its website and the owner, a name I didn't recognize.

"What did you find?" He asked seriously.

"I guess there's quite a few people hanging at Galaxy Eve looking for intel. I'm going tonight to scope it out" I said and I could hear him click his tongue of the phone.

"Not by yourself"

"I don't need you with me, I was doing fine without you before" I quipped, tapping my finger on the table. I've been fine without him, Capable on my own.

"What time, Onyx" he said, my name rolling off his tongue made me stir, I stayed quiet for a second trying to think.

"9 tonight. Meet me there" I gave up on telling him no, I knew I should distance myself but after last night I can't stop thinking about him, and how I want to be with him.

"I miss you" he said and I froze up, I couldn't speak. So I did what I thought was my best choice, I hung up.

I arrived at the strip club, it was fairly popular but a dingy place; dark lit and a strange musk wafted from even outside the building. I spotted Damien by the door, I wondered how long he had been waiting; maybe afraid he'd miss me.

"I see your dressed up" I commented looking at his suit, is he trying to impress some of the ladies here? It irked me slightly at the thought of him being here for more then just the intel we were looking for.

"I'm always dressed well" he replied and I glared at him I tried to enter but he stopped me and grabbed my arm.

"Why did you leave this morning" he asked seriously, his touch on my arm ignited my skin and I furiously took it back.

"There's more important things then us; last night was just what it was" I said to him and he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"You can fool yourself if you'd like, but your mine Onyx" he responded eyeing me up and down, my face flushed and I pressed passed him. No longer wanting to hear his love sick rambling. It was him who wanted to seperate in highschool; what's the difference now.

I entered, and the bouncer patted me down- they didn't bother for my ID. The music was loud and I could tell from the people here it was a mix of men, some seemed to be of a higher class and those of a lower one.

"We need to separate, I know your a low profile man so most people won't recognize you but I think it's suspicious if we're together" I told him and he looked at me with furrowed eyebrow's, he didn't want to argue but he didn't want to accept it either.

"I'm keeping an eye on you" he told me leaning in and walked off; I went straight for the bar and ordered a drink.

"I'm looking for someone who buys information" I said to the bartender as he slid me my drink. I took a sip of it and he remained quiet; though his eyes told me a different story as they flickered to the right, staring at a sleazy and scrawny man who sat at a table chatting up a woman who was scantily dressed.

I nodded to the bartender then walked over, and slid into the booth next to him. He eyed me suspiciously but gave me a smile as he shooed off the woman.

"Your a young kid aren't ya, what's a spiffy young lad like you have to do with someone like me" he said with a grin, taking a sip of his drink.

"You pay for information, that's what I heard. I'm in the need for cash, so what are you looking for?" I asked with a grin playing up my boyish charms.

"Need locations for dealings, mainly contraband. You know there's gonna be a war breaking out any day, so the boss is trying to stock up" he told me and I nodded.

"I've noticed the tension... see I work for the Espinosas, but see they don't pay me enough. They got a dealing with another family about some guns, I'm supposed to be there tomorrow" I said and he eyed me suspiciously, see the Espinosa family has strictly Hispanic members- my mother is from Ecuadorian descent. I may look the part but I don't speak a lick of Spanish; my mother did but she never taught me.

"You don't sound like your from the Espinosa family" he challenged.

"I was born here, my father worked for the Espinosas now I do. Despite it all I'm telling you the truth, if you agree to pay me I'll tell you the location" I quipped, and he laughed loud.

"You know I like you kid, a lot of spunk" he said cheekily taking a swig of his liquor.

"I got it from my mother. Now if you don't mind me asking, but who wants all this information anyways" I responded dumbly and he gave me a wicked smirk.

"The Arifs of course"

••••

We sat in my car outside the club, it was closing soon and we were waiting for the man to walk out so we could trail him and kidnap him. A bit extreme but it's what's necessary m. He proved to me that he was who we were looking for, a fake member looking for intel.

"He said he worked for the Arifs." I told him lighting a cigarette, my hand against the wheel. I guess Damien was dropped off, said he planned on going home with me- an intended joke but didn't sound like one.

"Never seen him" he replied and I blew the smoke out.

"I figured that" I said and I felt his hand snake onto my thigh, my eyes flickered to his hand and my breathing stilled as I tried to keep my cool.

"You know you need to be careful" he told me and I sighed and put out the cigarette no longer in the mood. I ignored how tight he squeezed my thigh, he was trying to rile me up.

"You did that same thing in highschool, so worried about my safety and then boom! I didn't see you for 5 years. No matter what I did; trying to call, trying to send letter I never got anything back, and then to top it all off- you actively started to damage my family" I growled at him.

"I told you that wasn't me and things were different back then" he responded seriously and I sat up to look at him.

"It doesn't matter, I've spent to long regretting meeting you and hating you these past few years. I'm different now, I'm not naive anymore Damien" I snapped and he went to speak but I covered his mouth as I saw the man walk out of the club and to his car.

I ignored the pained look on Damien's face. I think I was a bit too hard when I said that I hated him- it wasn't true. In fact I think I was more obsessed with the idea that he hated me all this time. Though it's not something I'd admit.

"There he is" I said seriously, we waited for him to pull out and soon trailed behind him. The car was tense but not because of the pursuit but because of the words that had left my mouth.

••••

Sorry just one chapter for this Sunday, I'll post another tomorrow. I've been busy so I haven't been able to edit anything as of late😔