29. Derek's Destiny

Eden and Hakeem's bond deepens as they confront unsettling truths about both Destiny and Derek, forcing them to reconsider loyalty, love, and the cost of staying true to themselves.

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PREVIOUSLY ON DEREK’S DESTINY: Derek and Destiny face a pivotal moment as Derek struggles to come to terms with what Destiny has endured and the lingering effects it has on her present. This emotional turmoil drives Derek to unleash a fiery revenge, leaving his hometown in flames.

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EDEN

Photo by MD Duran on Unsplash

“I swear, I thought they’d cancel the carnival after the fires,” I murmured, tearing off a piece of cotton candy, the sweet sugar melting on my tongue as the neon lights flickered in the humid night air. The buzz of the crowd, the 80s music blaring from every direction, should have felt normal, but there was this heaviness in the air, like we were all waiting for something else to go wrong. “But the Mayor said he had to do something to keep our spirits up. I feel like that’s been happening a lot around here lately.”

I glanced at Hakeem as we walked through the carnival, my steps in sync with his. His silence was heavy, his eyes scanning the crowd like he didn’t trust the joy around us. And honestly? I couldn’t blame him.

The fires had changed everything, casting a dark shadow over Juniper. Mr. House’s car crash had shaken us, but this? This was different. Deliberate. The ash still hung in the air, smoke choking the streets for days, leaving everyone on edge.

People were scared. I was scared. My parents—usually steady—were terrified, their eyes heavy with worry that the fires would spread, that whoever did this wasn’t finished.

An arsonist. In Juniper.

It felt surreal, like a nightmare from some big city, not our quiet town. But this wasn’t random. It was targeted. And now everyone was whispering, wondering who’d gone after Johnathon’s father—and how he had tricked us all into thinking he was a pillar of this community.

“Can you believe all that stuff about Pastor Lyman?” I continued, shaking my head in disbelief. “A drug trafficker, right under our noses, running his business out of his church, no less. And now his enemies burned everything up, and he’s sitting in jail now that Juniper PD found out what he was up to.” My voice trailed off, my eyes scanning the neon-lit carnival rides, the smell of fried dough mixing with the scent of nostalgia. “Crazy, right?”

But Hakeem didn’t say a word. Not even a grunt of acknowledgment. He kept walking beside me, his hands buried deep in his pockets, his eyes fixed on something ahead, like he was seeing through the crowd, like the words I’d just thrown out weren’t the biggest scandal this town had ever seen.

“You not gonna say anything?” I asked, my voice softer now, curiosity tinged with concern.

He finally looked at me, his expression unreadable, but there was something simmering in his eyes—anger, maybe, or something even heavier, something I couldn’t name.

“What’s there to say, Eden?” he murmured, his voice low, almost drowned out by the carnival noise. “The world’s full of crooked men doing dirt. Lyman’s just another one who got caught.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, the coldness of them cutting through the warm night air. I stopped in my tracks, the colorful blur of the carnival spinning around us, feeling like I’d been dropped into some twisted dream where nothing made sense.

“I know you’re not from Juniper but, you’re not even surprised?” I asked, incredulous.

Hakeem shrugged, the movement so slight I barely caught it.

“Surprised?” He shook his head, finally pulling his hands out of his pockets, his fingers flexing like he was ready for a fight. “I stopped being surprised by the way this world works a long time ago. Juniper’s no different.”

We stood there for a beat, the carnival spinning on around us, the music, the laughter, the bright lights casting long shadows across our faces. And in that moment, I realized—Hakeem didn’t just see the world for what it was. He’d already made peace with it, the ugliness of it all, in a way I hadn’t.

I tilted my head up, searching his face.

“You know there’s good in the world, right?” I asked.

Hakeem stopped, turning to face me. For a moment, his expression was unreadable, his usual guardedness slipping into something softer. He didn’t speak right away, just looked at me like he was seeing something he hadn’t noticed before. Slowly, the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile—gentle, almost shy, a crack in the armor he always carried.

“I know,” he said, his voice low, like a secret he was sharing only with me. “I’m looking at it.”

The warmth of his words hit me before I could brace for it, and a blush bloomed across my cheeks. My heart fluttered in my chest, and I suddenly felt too seen, too exposed, standing there under his gaze.

Without thinking, I looked away, biting my lip as I fought to keep the grin off my face. My fingers dug into the sticky cotton candy, pulling at the sugary strands, grateful for the distraction, anything to keep my hands busy while my mind raced. I started walking again, letting the music and the sound of the crowd wash over me, hoping he didn’t notice how flustered I was.

Hakeem cleared his throat. “If, umm… you want us to meet up with your parents after church again, I’m aight with that,” he said, his voice carrying a rare hint of nervousness that made me smile.

I raised an eyebrow, teasing him with a playful smirk. “Yeah? I’m sure they’d like that. I was pretty nervous about last week when my Dad suggested lunch, but you handled yourself...they actually like you.”

He let out a breath, relief flashing across his face as he grinned. “And I like them. Straight shooters, no BS.” He flexed his hand, chuckling. “But your pops got a mean grip. Almost broke my damn hand.”

We both laughed, the sound easy and familiar.

I glanced down, the humor fading as I thought about my parents, their protectiveness. “I’m their only child, so they’re just... really protective,” I said softly, the words carrying more weight than I intended.

Hakeem nodded, his gaze steady on me. “That’s why your mom always had you up under Destiny, huh? Making her your big sister.”

“Yeah,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips as I thought about it. “Her and Destiny’s mom are practically sisters. But…” I trailed off, the weight of my thoughts settling in. “Like I told you in the office, I gotta start figuring out what my life looks like without Destiny at the center. Just in case.” The words felt heavier than I expected, like I was admitting something I hadn’t even fully accepted myself.

Hakeem glanced at me, his brow furrowed. “You really think she’s just gonna bounce on you? Leave you hanging?”

I let out a breath, glancing at the lights of the carnival spinning in the distance. “I mean, Derek hired me for her surprise party, and we’ll probably have some events leading up to the wedding, but after that? She’s gonna be the wife of a superstar. Who knows if she’ll even want to keep working. I wouldn’t.”

He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. “No?”

“If I’m married to someone who’s practically a billionaire?” I shrugged, trying to make it sound like it didn’t matter, but there was something vulnerable in the admission. “I’d do what I really want to do.”

His curiosity piqued, Hakeem turned his body toward me, his gaze steady. “What’s that?”

I hesitated, biting my lip as I glanced down, the words feeling too soft for the world around us. “I don’t wanna say,” I muttered, half-laughing, half-serious. “It’s gonna make me sound weak, and besides, I went to college. My parents want me to be—”

He interrupted me gently, his voice cutting through my uncertainty. “What you wanna be, Eden?”

The directness of the question made me pause. I could feel his eyes on me, waiting, listening. I let out a deep sigh, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “I wanna be a homemaker. Take care of my house, husband, my kids... and myself. You know, bake cookies, be on the PTA, have dinner ready when everyone gets home and we sit at the table and talk about our day.”

I could feel the tension lift as soon as I said it, like I was releasing a secret I’d been holding onto for too long. But Hakeem’s expression caught me off guard—there was no judgment, no surprise, just understanding.

“What’s wrong with that?” he asked, his tone soft, like he couldn’t see the issue I was wrestling with.

I shrugged, my eyes dropping to the ground, feeling a mix of relief and self-doubt swirling inside me. “Nothing, I guess... It’s just—sometimes people make me feel like I should want more like, that’s not enough. They tell me I’m wasting my degree if all I’m doing is popping out babies and keeping house. Like I should be more ambitious, get a hustle, something big. But I just want a simple life, here.” I paused, glancing at him. “Maybe in Westonberry. They’ve got a little more going on over there.”

Hakeem nodded slowly, taking it all in. “That’s your dream, huh?” There wasn’t an ounce of judgment in his voice, just genuine curiosity, like he wanted to know the part of me I didn’t often show.

“Yeah,” I admitted, my voice quieter now, more reflective. “My dad, he was talking to you about having a plan, right? Well, that’s mine. But sometimes… sometimes it doesn’t feel like a real one. Or a smart one.”

“Yeah,” he finally murmured, his voice quieter now. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that conversation too.”

I glanced at him, curious. “What about?”

“The stuff your Pops said... about having my own dreams. It’s been sitting with me, you know? I’ve been at the crib by myself for a couple days, just thinking. And then it hit me—it’s not even my crib. I don’t have a place of my own. Shit, I don’t even have a real title with D’s company besides holding shit down.” He shook his head, frustration creeping into his voice. “I’m about to be 30 in two years, and ain’t got shit to show for it.”

The vulnerability in his voice surprised me. This was Hakeem—always sure of himself, always steady. But here he was, his guard slipping, showing me a part of him I hadn’t seen before.

“I gotta figure some shit out, Eden,” he said, his voice low but firm. “And just like you’re realizing you might have to let go of Destiny, I might need to make some moves, too.”

“You’re thinking about quitting working for Derek?” I asked, the surprise clear in my voice, my steps faltering as I turned to face him.

Hakeem didn’t answer right away, just shook his head, looking like he regretted bringing it up at all.

“I’m not saying that... I’m just...” He trailed off, frustration etched in the tight line of his jaw, his hand running through his curls like he was searching for words he couldn’t quite find.

“It’s okay if you’re confused right now,” I said softly, watching the tension in his shoulders. “You’ve been working with him what—eight years? Never really done anything else.”

He let out a heavy sigh, his eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the carnival lights.

“Yeah, eight years,” he echoed, his voice quieter now, almost like he was talking to himself. “I don’t know how to clock in somewhere and just go through the same routine every day. That’s never been me. So maybe this is it for me, you know? Or maybe it’s not. I don’t know.”

I could feel the weight of his words, the conflict he was wrestling with.

“I feel stuck just saying it out loud,” he admitted, his voice rough, like the words were pulling something heavy from him. “It’s not like I got a real reason to bounce on him. Derek’s been the only family I’ve got... always looks out for me. Kept me off the streets, gave me a job when I didn’t have shit but a bad attitude and nowhere to go. I just showed up one day and never left, and he never asked me to.”

I watched him, my heart tightening as I took in the way he was standing there, looking like a man at a crossroads with no map. It wasn’t just about Derek—it was about everything. His whole life. Every choice that led him here, to this moment, to this conversation.

“You feel like you owe him,” I said quietly, trying to help him piece everything together.

For a moment, he just stared at me, his eyes narrowing slightly, like I’d uncovered something he hadn’t even realized about himself. Then he let out a breath, a soft laugh escaping his lips, but there was no humor in it—just the surprise of someone who’d been hit with the truth.

“I think that’s it, lil mama,” he said, his voice raw, like he was peeling back something fragile. His gaze held mine, steady but vulnerable, and for the first time, I could see the cracks beneath his tough exterior, the places he tried to keep hidden. “That’s exactly it.”

He ran a hand over his face, shaking his head, a small, almost bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Damn. I never even thought of it like that,” he murmured, more to himself than to me. “But you’re right. I’ve been holding onto this... like I owe him. And maybe I do, but...”

His words trailed off, lost in the night air as the carnival’s bright lights flickered behind us. For a moment, we stood there, the noise of the crowd and the distant music fading into the background, leaving just us, standing in the middle of something unspoken but deeply understood.

“You ever hear the verse, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’” I said quietly, breaking the silence. “Jeremiah 29:11.”

He glanced at me, brow furrowed, like he wasn’t sure where I was going with this. “Yeah...well, I think so,” he muttered, his voice uncertain.

“‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’” I finished, the words rolling off my tongue with a softness I hadn’t intended. I watched him, waiting for the weight of them to land, to see if he’d catch the meaning beneath the surface.

Hakeem looked down, the faint glow of the carnival lights casting long shadows on his face. His hands were still shoved deep in his pockets, his body tense like he was holding back something bigger than just the moment we were standing in.

“So you think that’s my situation?” he asked, his voice rough, but there was a quiet curiosity in his tone, like he wanted to believe it, even if he didn’t know how.

I nodded, stepping just a little closer, my voice steady but filled with something stronger than just conviction.

“Yeah, I do,” I said softly. “Hakeem, you’ve been moving through life like it’s always about survival. Always thinking you owe someone for pulling you out of the gutter, or like you don’t deserve more than what you’ve been handed. But maybe... maybe this is your moment for more.”

“You really believe that? You think this ain’t just... me talking out my ass?” He chuckled, but it was shaky, unsure.

I smiled gently, shaking my head. “No. I think maybe it’s time for you to trust that something better is waiting on the other side of this. That there’s a plan bigger than you can see right now.”

He let out a deep breath, the tension in his shoulders easing, even if just a little.

“I ain’t really been one for trusting in plans,” he admitted, his voice softer now, more vulnerable. “But I’m listening.”

“That verse? It’s not just about having a plan, Hakeem. It’s about faith. Faith that even when you don’t know what’s next, or why things happen the way they do... there’s still hope. Still a future worth fighting for.”

Hakeem just stared at me, his eyes soft but thoughtful as we stood in front of the shooting ducks, the bright carnival lights flickering around us. The air was filled with the sharp crack of pellet guns hitting metal targets, kids darting around us, their laughter cutting through the night. But it was like we were standing in our own quiet bubble, the noise and chaos fading into the background.

A slow grin spread across his face, the tension from earlier easing just a little. “Imma start calling your little ass Yoda,” he finally said, a teasing edge to his voice, but there was something else beneath it—something warmer, like he was letting himself breathe for the first time.

I grinned at him, eyes narrowing as I took a step back, deciding to play along. “Oh, so I’m Yoda now, huh?” I crossed my arms, tapping my chin like I was thinking, then raised a brow and deepened my voice, trying my best to mimic that gravelly Yoda tone. “Mmm, faith, young one, you must have.”

Hakeem raised an eyebrow, his grin widening as he crossed his arms over his chest, clearly amused. “Oh, you doing impressions now?”

I kept going, feeling the laugh bubbling up inside me but pushing through.

“For walk by faith, not by sight, you must. 2 Corinthians 5:7, hmm?” I added, trying to throw in a few extra “hmm”s, waving my hand in front of me like I had some kind of invisible force.

That did it.

Hakeem burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that starts in your chest and takes over everything. He doubled over, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Oh hell nah,” he wheezed between gasps for breath. “You really hit me with Bible verses in Yoda’s voice?! Lil mama you crazy as hell, you know that?”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore—I started laughing too, that uncontrollable, tears-in-your-eyes kind of laugh that leaves you gasping for air. We stood there, both of us leaning on each other, barely able to breathe from laughing so hard.

“Alright, alright, I give up,” Hakeem said, still laughing as he wiped at his eyes. “You win, Yoda. You win.”

I straightened up, trying to catch my breath, still grinning like a fool. “Wise you have become, hmm?” I said, going all in with the Yoda act one last time before dissolving into another fit of giggles.

Hakeem shook his head, that smile still plastered on his face, and for the first time in what felt like forever, it was pure, genuine joy. No weight, no tension—just us, standing in the middle of a carnival, laughing like the world outside didn’t even matter.

“I’m gonna regret the moment I ever called you Yoda, ain’t I?” he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

“One hundred percent,” I replied, wiping tears from my own eyes, still catching my breath. “Yoda’s here to stay.”

We shared another look, one that lingered just a little longer, the laughter fading but leaving something softer in its place. And for the first time, I saw it in him—that spark of lightness, that ease, like maybe tonight had been a turning point for both of us.

“Eden...” His voice was low, like a rumble of thunder just before a storm, as he took a slow step toward me, closing the distance between us.

My breath hitched, heart pounding in my chest. “Yes?” I barely managed to whisper, my voice soft, shaky, as the space between us disappeared. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, the scent of his cologne mixing with the night air. His presence was magnetic, pulling me in like I couldn’t help but lean into him.

Hakeem’s hand reached up, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin before gently holding my chin, tilting my face up toward his. His eyes, dark and full of something raw, locked onto mine, searching, waiting. The sounds of the carnival faded into a distant hum—the kids laughing, the music blaring, the world spinning around us—but all I could focus on was him, right there in front of me.

“I really wanna kiss you right now,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, gravelly, intimate. His thumb traced the line of my lips, and the heat of his touch sent a shiver down my spine. “Can I?”

For a moment, the world stopped. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. Everything inside me screamed yes, but the words got lost somewhere between my racing heart and the knot tightening in my throat.

Instead, I nodded, my gaze never leaving his, my breath catching in my chest.

He leaned in slowly, like he was giving me time to change my mind, but there was no hesitation on my part. His lips brushed against mine, soft at first, testing, as if he was afraid to break the fragile moment we’d found ourselves in. But then the kiss deepened, and everything around us disappeared, like we were the only two people in the world.

His other hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me just a little closer, and I melted into him, the warmth of his body against mine sending a wave of heat through me. The electricity between us buzzed, crackling in the cool night air, and suddenly everything felt right—like all the tension, all the uncertainty between us had led to this one moment.

"Damn," he whispered once he pulled away, his voice low and rough, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. His hand still lingered on my waist, his eyes locked on mine like he was memorizing every second of this moment. "I’ve been wanting to do that for a minute."

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. "Yeah," I breathed out, my voice barely steady. "Me too."

Hakeem let out a soft laugh, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe himself. “I’ve been trying to slow this train down, but damn, Eden, you make it hard. You’re just so... perfect.”

The way he said it, with that boyish grin, made my heart flip. I could feel the warmth creeping up my neck, and I looked down for a second, trying to gather myself before meeting his gaze again. He tilted his head, his fingers brushing against mine again, more sure this time, like he was testing the waters.

“You’re so beautiful. Smart. Funny as shit. You listen to me...you’re patient with me. I ain’t never had that before. From nobody.” His voice was softer now, that vulnerability creeping in that I knew he wasn’t used to sharing.

“That’s what friends do,” I said, the words slipping out almost too quickly.

But Hakeem chuckled again, a nervous edge in his laughter that told me he was feeling just as off-balance as I was. His eyes flicked to the ground for a second, then back to me, a quiet storm brewing in them.

“I don’t know how much longer I can keep up this ‘friend’ stuff, to be honest,” he admitted, his voice low, rougher now.

His eyes searched mine, like he was measuring how far he could go. Vulnerability wasn’t easy for him—but here we were, standing in the middle of a crowded carnival, out in the open, hearts on the line.

The weight of what he was saying started sinking in. "You wanna be more than friends?" I asked.

His hand found mine, fingers intertwining like he was making a decision in real time. He didn’t look away, didn’t hide behind the jokes or the walls I’d seen him put up before.

“I want this... I want us,” he said, his words slow, deliberate, each one feeling heavier than the last. “But I need you to know... I’m still figuring shit out. Still figuring me out. You alright with that?”

I squeezed his hand. “I’m not asking you to have it all figured out, Hakeem,” I whispered, my voice as sure as I could make it. “I just need you to be honest with me along the way. We’ll figure it out together, one step at a time.”

He let out a breath, the tension easing from his shoulders just a little, like my words had given him permission to let go of something heavy.

“You mean that?” he asked, his voice soft, but there was a glimmer of hope behind his eyes, something I hadn’t seen before.

I nodded, the warmth in my chest spreading like a slow bloom, my smile widening as I looked up at him. “Yeah, I do,” I said, my voice soft but steady. Then I let out a quiet laugh, something lighter, playful. “And just so you know…although this might come as a shock, I’m not actually perfect.” I giggled, teasing as I gently nudged him. “You’re gonna have to be patient with me too.”

Hakeem’s grin stretched wide, the kind that made the world around us fade, like sunlight breaking through after the darkest of storms. His eyes softened, catching mine, and for a moment, everything between us felt... easy. Real. He shook his head slowly, still grinning, his hands resting at his sides like he didn’t know what to do with all the emotion swimming between us.

“Damn,” he muttered, his voice low, almost like he was talking to himself, trying to wrap his mind around it. “You really make a man wanna do better, you know that?”

I smiled softly, leaning in to kiss him again, this time slower, letting the moment linger as his hand slid into mine, his grip steady but gentle. When I finally pulled back, my breath a little unsteady, I found him staring at me, his gaze locked on mine like he was seeing something new, something he hadn’t allowed himself to see before.

For a beat, neither of us said anything. The silence felt full, charged, like it held all the things we were too scared to say. But then Hakeem broke it, his voice low, filled with something heavy.

“I just have to say this again…I’m real sorry,” he murmured, his eyes dark with regret, the weight of his words settling between us. “For how I talked to you that night you brought me food at Destiny’s. For making you cry.” His grip on my hand tightened slightly, like he was holding onto the moment, like letting go meant losing something important. “I’m real sorry, Eden.”

I could hear it in his voice—the pain of it, the way the past was clinging to him like a bruise that hadn’t quite healed. His eyes searched mine, desperate for something, maybe forgiveness, maybe understanding, but definitely a way to make the weight of his words mean something.

“I was tryna push you away ‘cause I didn’t wanna hurt you, but in doing that, I was hurting you even more,” Hakeem admitted, his voice rough, like each word was scraping out pieces of him he wasn’t ready to face. “All that shit I said, the way I talked to you…I swear on everything, I’ll never make you cry again. I won’t disrespect you, I won’t raise my voice at you, none of that.”

Eden started to speak, her voice soft, “It’s ok, Hakeem—”

He shook his head, cutting her off, jaw clenched tight, the weight of his regret heavy in the air between them. It was all written there—etched deep in the hard lines of his face, in the tightness around his mouth, like he was holding back something he couldn’t let go of.

“Nah, it ain’t,” he muttered, his voice raw and low, barely above a whisper. “I promise on my life, Eden,” he rasped, his eyes locked on hers. “I’ll never talk to you like that again. That was outta line, and I don’t want you tolerating that from anybody. Not even me.”

There was something raw in the way he said it, something so vulnerable it almost hurt to hear. He wasn’t just saying the words—he was laying himself bare, showing me all the jagged pieces he usually kept hidden behind that tough exterior.

I swallowed hard, my fingers gently squeezing his, grounding him, grounding us. “I understand,” I whispered, my voice soft but steady.

His eyes softened, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little, like my words had given him permission to let go of some of the guilt. He nodded slowly, his thumb tracing the line of my hand, his gaze never leaving mine. “I’m gonna do better, Eden. I swear.”

And in that moment, with the carnival lights flickering in the distance and the cool night air swirling around us, it felt like something between us shifted. Like we were stepping into something new, something fragile but real, something worth holding on to.

---

HAKEEM

I was nervous as hell, pacing the living room like I ain’t have no Goddamn sense. I had my overnight bag packed, sitting by the door, and I kept peeking out the window like a damn dog waiting on its owner to pull up.

Eden was about to scoop me, and for the first time in a minute, my mind wasn’t on nothing wild. Nah, it wasn’t even like that—no sex, no craziness. She wasn’t ready for me like that, no matter how much she liked to talk slick sometimes. And honestly? Even if she was, I wasn’t in no rush. Not with her. We were moving different, and I was good with that.

The plan was low-key—stay up, talk, watch a TV, hit church in the morning, then kick it with her folks after. Some real wholesome shit. A straight-up sleepover out this bitch. The crew would clown me for this, no doubt. Hell, the old me would’ve been laughing at this whole setup, thinking it was soft, corny even.

But now? With Eden? None of that mattered. It didn’t feel soft—it felt right.

I dropped my ass back on the couch, waiting, trying to act like I wasn’t watching the window every five seconds like some lovesick fiend. But, man, she had me feeling open and shit. I couldn’t believe it. Me. The dude who never stayed in one place too long, the one always on the move, suddenly looking forward to just... being still. Being with her.

It was wild.

But that was Eden. She had me on a different type of time. A time where things didn’t always have to be fast, loud, or reckless. A time where just kicking back, talking about nothing and everything, was enough. Shit, more than enough.

My heart was racing like I was about to pull off a heist or something. Then the doorbell rang, and my thirsty ass sprinted to the door, yanked it open with the quickness—only to find it wasn’t Eden.

“Why the hell you outta breath for? You ran here?” Derek asked, strolling inside.

I sucked my teeth, annoyed as I shut the door behind him. I mean, it was his fiancee’s house that he paid off, so he didn’t need an invite from me.

“I can’t even reach you no more,” Truth said, side-eyeing me as he dropped onto the couch like he owned the place. “What’s up with you?”

I took a seat across from him, trying to play it cool, but my nerves were still buzzing from everything going down lately. I leaned back, settling into the chair, hoping to calm the storm swirling inside me.

"Just been layin’ low, man. Shit’s been hot—literally. You know how it go," I muttered, feeling the weight of all the chaos that had been stacking up like bricks on my chest.

Truth raised an eyebrow, smirking like he knew something I wasn’t saying. “You been kickin’ it with Eden, huh?”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Lil bit,” I said, smiling like a fool. Couldn’t help it.

“What’s really goin’ down with y’all? At the party, you two looked real familiar.”

“I really like her, man. She’s cool as hell,” I admitted, a little more serious now.

Truth gave me that look, like he was reading between the lines. “She’s good people. But I don’t think she’s your speed though.”

I shifted in my seat, a little offended but knowing what he meant. “Yo, remember how you started working on yourself, tryna be better for Destiny before you came and got her? That’s how I’m feelin’ with Eden. She makes me wanna step up.”

Truth’s eyebrows shot up like I’d just said something wild. He wasn’t expecting that.

“Good,” he said after a beat, his tone more serious. “You can’t hurt this girl, Hakeem. She ain’t built like the others.”

“This ain’t no stick and move, Truth. I’m real about her. I met her parents and everything. Her pops is built like Ant, bro. He’d break my ass if I even thought about hurtin’ her,” I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

We both laughed, and he dapped me up, the tension between us easing a bit.

“She’s my girl now,” I said, making it plain. No more guessing. "

Truth looked at me, surprised, like he wasn’t expecting me to come out with that. “Damn, a lot’s been goin’ on since you been duckin’ me, huh?” he said, throwing a little dig.

I rolled my eyes, but I was smirking. “You know we gotta keep shit low-key, man. Stop trippin’.”

Truth orchestrated an inferno that brought his hometown to its knees, leaving nothing but ashes and smoke in his wake. I thought back to that night, Eden blowin' up my phone like crazy, callin', textin'. She was scared as hell. When I ain’t answer, she started sendin' message after message, askin' if I was okay, if I knew what was goin' on.

My lil mama was terrified, but I was locked in on what I had to do, so deep I couldn’t even see straight. Every time she brought up that night, I felt like the devil himself, wearin’ a mask, pretendin’ like everything was good.

Would she still want me if she knew I was connected to all this? If she knew what I was capable of? If she knew I was in the thick of that destruction? I wasn’t sure. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I deserved her. But I kept pushin’ it down, playin’ my part.

Derek nodded, his face serious. He knew the game, knew what it was like to move in the shadows, but something told me he wasn’t here for small talk.

“Well, I’m real happy for you and Eden, Lover Boy,” Truth said, leaning forward, his voice low but hitting hard, like a hammer driving in nails. “But I need you focused. We gotta make a move tomorrow. Time for that visit.”

I raised an eyebrow, couldn’t help the short laugh that escaped. “Truth, we just lit this whole bitch up, and now you talkin’ about more? Tomorrow? That fast?”

"That was Mr. Lyman," he shot back, his eyes cold, like ice on steel. "We ain’t even touched Johnathon and Arnold yet."

I leaned in, keeping my voice steady. "Bro, we burned Arnold’s club to the ground. Ain’t shit left to touch. You got what you needed."

“I don’t. I still need those pictures, Keem,” he said, his voice low, that edge creeping in. “Imma have Dorian snatch 'em up so we can have a little conversation. See where it goes from there.” He sounded like a damn psycho.

“Man, let’s just get the pictures and end it there,” I tried, hoping to reel him in, cool him down before he really went off the deep end.

“End it there?”

"What you gon’ do, kill they asses?”

He looked away, jaw clenched, and that’s when it hit me—this motherfucker had lost it.

"Look," I said, my voice firmer now. "I get it, you're pissed, but you gotta take a step back. You got everything, Truth. Everything a man could want, includin' Destiny, the love of your life. Why risk fuckin’ all that up over these nobodies?"

“They hurt Destiny!” He was almost growling, like the words burned his throat.

“Nigga, where is Destiny right now? In a penthouse suite, probably debating which million-dollar crib y’all should live in, picking out wedding colors or some shit. She’s good. Destiny ain’t lifting a finger for the rest of her life 'cause you got her covered.”

I chuckled, trying to ease the tension, but it wasn’t landing. He was locked in, eyes burning like fire behind that calm exterior.

“You think just 'cause she’s with me now, it erases what they did? What they’re tryin’ to do?” His voice was tight, like he was holdin’ back a storm.

“Nah, I’m sayin’ she’s good, Truth,” I leaned forward, voice low but firm, tryna cut through the fog in his head. “Destiny ain’t askin’ you to handle shit like this. You the one out here tryin’ to turn this place into Gotham City, actin’ like you Batman instead of the dude who writes hits. You need to be in the studio, keep doing you, that’s how you be Destiny’s hero.”

He stared at me, eyes hard, like I’d just said some wild shit. Like I was the one talkin’ crazy. “The fuck you sayin’, Keem?”

I sighed, pushing myself up from the chair and pacing the room, trying to keep calm. “I’m saying anything else is overkill, man. Dorian told us himself—Johnathon ain’t no real threat. He’s just a wounded dog, man. He can’t even show his face around now that everybody knows what his father was up to. Arnold? All that dirty shit he was doing in that club? It’s done. The club’s ashes now. Them girls? They ain’t under his thumb no more. The whole plan for Destiny, for Eden? It went up in flames with that place. All we gotta do now is get those pictures, and we’re out.”

Derek stood up slowly, eyes locked on me like he was sizing me up. That tension was back in the air, thick and heavy. It felt like the calm before a storm, like the next move was gonna decide everything.

“I thought you said you was ridin’?” Derek's eyes narrowed as he asked me that, his voice low but sharp, like he was daring me to back down.

I met his gaze, standing my ground. “You know I got your back but, you tryna do too much, Truth. You gon’ get jammed up if you keep pushing. Dorian on your side or not, you gon’ cross a line you can’t step back from, bro. Some shit that’s gonna haunt you, keep you up at night.”

He stepped closer, his jaw tight, eyes burning with that fire I hadn’t seen in a minute. “Ain’t shit keeping me up at night, Keem, except knowing what those niggas did to Destiny. Ain’t no peace for me till they pay, till I see them bleed.”

“Revenge is clouding your judgment, Truth. Deadass,” I said, my voice steady but carrying the weight of what I was trying to get him to see. “You got your girl back. Destiny is safe. She’s wrapped up tighter than the damn Pentagon with all the security you got on her, and Eden. Ain’t nobody touching them, not here, not anywhere, ever.”

He was staring me down, like he was ready to pop off at any second. Truth was used to people just falling in line when he spoke - me included. I was always the one ready to throw hands, jump into the fire without thinking twice. Whenever Derek was in some bullshit, I was right there, no hesitation.

But this? This was different. He wasn’t thinking straight, moving like a man with nothing to lose, but I knew better. This wasn’t just some music beef he got into from time to time, this was personal—too personal. He was taking it way too far, and even I could see he was wilding out.

“I’m here, bro. Been riding with you from day one, and I’ll ride till the wheels fall off,” I said, my voice lower, more controlled, but still firm. “But you gotta know when enough’s enough. We handled business in the present, Dorian and Ant cleaned up the past. It’s time. Pack you and Destiny’s shit, get the fuck outta Juniper. Ain’t nothing left here for you, man. Look around—everything you wanted gone, you took it. So what else you want?”

“Their fucking souls,” he growled, eyes wild like a man possessed.

That’s when I realized. This wasn’t the same dude I used to know. This was something different, darker. Truth had slipped, fallen deep into the abyss, and there was no pulling him back this time. And the truth? I wasn’t about to follow him down that hole. I had Eden now. I had my future, something I was starting to build, and that meant I couldn’t be out here chasing demons with him.

Derek’s eyes narrowed. "You really tryna pull out now? After everything?"

I squared my shoulders, meeting his glare head-on. "Nah, I ain’t pullin’ out, I’m just sayin’ it ain’t the move right now, Truth. You out here actin’ like this the only way, like blood the only currency that counts. But that’s a debt you can’t pay off, man. You wanna be swimmin’ in this shit forever?”

His lip curled up in a snarl, like I was talkin’ to the old Derek, the one who didn’t give a fuck about nothing. "I don’t need your advice on how to handle my business. You been ridin’ with me from the jump, Keem. Now you tryna act like you got some moral compass all of a sudden? You supposed to be my right hand. Where the fuck is that loyalty now?"

I felt my heart poundin’ in my chest, but I didn’t flinch. "Loyalty don’t mean walkin’ with you off a cliff, D. I’m still ridin’, but I’m tryna keep you from blowin’ your whole life up. And now you wanna throw it away for some beef that’s already dead?"

Derek took a step closer, his voice low, dangerous. "You think I’m weak? That I’m just gonna let them walk after what they did?"

"Nah, man. I don’t think you weak, I think you stuck," I fired back, my voice steady even though I could feel the tension thickening in the air. "You got somethin’ to lose now, Truth. This ain’t about what they did to Destiny no more, this about what you tryna prove. You gon’ risk losin’ her over this?"

His jaw clenched tight, every breath he took like it was holdin’ back somethin’ dark and ugly, ready to tear out. “I ain’t riskin’ shit, Keem. They already took from her, took from me. This don’t end until I say it’s done. You don’t get to decide that.”

I stepped closer, voice low but steady, tryin’ to keep my cool. “And when’s that, huh? When we all either locked up or laid out? When you finally got nothin’ left but regrets and a headstone with your name on it?”

Derek’s eyes went dark, but I stood my ground. "Switchin’ up ‘cause you got a church girl on your arm?” His voice was dripping with venom, like he thought I’d gone soft.

I scoffed, the frustration building inside me. “Nah, man, this ain’t about me switchin’ up. This is me tryin’ to be smart, tryin’ to make sure you don’t blow it all. You got Destiny, you got a future. You gonna throw all that away just to feel like you got even?”

But he wasn’t hearin’ me. Derek shook his head like my words were just static, his eyes clouded with that rage, that vengeance that’d been eatin’ him alive since day one.

“They took part of her soul, Keem,” he muttered, voice low and dangerous. “And now I’m takin’ theirs. Eye for an eye.”

He sounded like a fuckin’ lunatic, like he wasn’t even in the room with me no more—like he was lost in his own war, and I didn’t know if I could pull him back.

"D, man... this ain’t the way. You’re not just fightin’ them anymore. You fightin’ yourself. And you’re losin’, bro."

But all I saw in his eyes was that storm, building and buildin’, ready to tear everything apart in its path. I shook my head, the weight of everything hanging heavy, pulling at me in a way I hadn't felt before. I could feel the shift happening, like a tide rising, ready to pull me under if I wasn’t careful.

For the first time, I could see it—the split in the road. The choice I had to make.

“Well, speaking of souls,” I said, my voice calm but edged with something sharper. “I’m tryna save mine.”

Truth looked at me, eyes narrowing like he couldn’t believe what I was saying. “Fuck is you talking bout?”

“I ain’t available tomorrow.”

He took a step closer, like he was about to test me. “Not available? Keem, you work for me.”

I stood my ground. I’d made my decision. “I got church with Eden and her folks tomorrow. Brunch afterwards and shit. That’s where I’m at.”

Truth stared at me, eyes burning with fury and disbelief. Like he couldn’t process the fact that I wasn’t on his same page about his plans. But I wasn’t backing down.

This was my line in the sand.

No turning back.

Before either of us could say anything, the front door creaked open, and Eden stepped in with that bright smile she always wore—except it fell fast when she clocked the vibe between me and Derek, the tension thick enough to choke on. Her eyes darted between us, sensing the shift, like she’d walked into the middle of a standoff.

“Hi... guys,” she said, her voice small, laced with nerves.

I didn’t break eye contact with Derek. Not even a blink.

“Let’s go, Eden,” I said, my tone steady, calm, like the storm that was brewing in the room didn’t even phase me. I backed up slow, keeping my movements measured, grabbed my bag off from the floor, and then took Eden’s hand in mine. Her fingers curled into mine, like she was searching for some kind of anchor, some understanding of what was really going down.

Without looking back, I walked us out the door, feeling Truth’s eyes burning into the back of my head. But I was done. Done with the war he wanted to start. Done with the ghosts he was chasing. I had my own future to think about now, one that didn’t involve drowning in his revenge.

As the door closed behind us, I squeezed Eden’s hand a little tighter, letting her know I was here. But deep down, I could feel it—the shift. The break. Truth was a man who couldn’t let go, and I wasn’t going down with him.

---

---

We got to the hotel, a small, no-frills spot off the highway. Modest, but it was ours for the night. We didn’t need luxury, just each other. Eden flopped down onto the bed dressed in her bonnet and pajamas. I was in my basketball shorts and white tee, comfortable ready to chill for the night.

“Mmm... Hakeem,” she said, her voice slipping into that deep, raspy Yoda impression she started buggin’ me with, “watch Insecure, we must.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Eden, for real? Insecure? I look like I wanna watch that?”

She sat up, crossing her legs on the bed like she was getting ready to give me a full presentation. “Yes, yes, watch it you will, young padawan,” she said, her Yoda voice getting even more dramatic as she raised an eyebrow at me. “Issa Rae’s wisdom you need. Funny it is. Real, it is.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at this girl. “Yo, you need help.”

She grinned, eyes dancing, but she wasn’t dropping the Yoda act. “Mmm, much to learn, you still have, Hakeem. Relationships, friendships, the ups and downs of life you will see.”

“You really not gonna let up until I give this show a chance, huh?”

She tilted her head to the side, still in character. “Stubborn you are. But wise you will become if you watch.”

I sat down beside her, close enough to feel her warmth but far enough to keep my resolve. “Alright, alright. I’ll watch one episode.”

“One turns into three, it will,” she said, breaking character for a second to give me that teasing smile of hers.

“You’re really on this Yoda thing tonight, huh?”

She shrugged, her smile softening. “Just tryna lighten the mood a little. You’ve been... tense.”, she said in her regular voice.

I sighed, rubbing my hand over my face, the weight of the day still sitting heavy on my shoulders. “Yeah, it's been a lot lately.”

Eden, always in tune with me, scooted closer, leaning her head on my shoulder. The playful Yoda act she’d been doing dropped completely. She was serious now, her warmth grounding me in the moment.

“What was going on with you and Derek today?” she asked, her voice soft but steady. “You didn’t quit or nothing, did you?” She peered up at me, her eyes searching my face like she was trying to find cracks in whatever front I was putting up.

I slid my arm around her, pulling her in a little closer. “Nah, nothing like that,” I muttered, pressing a kiss to her forehead, trying to ease her worry. “Just some man shit, you know? Business stuff.”

She didn’t say nothing right away, but I could feel her still waiting for something more, something real. She had a way of seeing through all my armor, like no matter how much I tried to brush shit off, she knew when there was more going on.

“Nothing for you to worry about, promise,” I added, trying to keep my voice steady, like I could lock the chaos back inside if I said it enough times.

"Whatever it is, it’s gonna work itself out," Eden said, her voice soft but certain, like she was trying to ease the tension that I hadn’t even fully let go of yet. I rubbed her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her skin under my hands, but my mind was still running, trying to sort out the mess Derek was pulling me into.

“Hope so,” I muttered, blowing out a long breath like I could exhale all the pressure weighing on me.

She tilted her head up, her eyes catching mine, and gave me that smile that made everything feel a little lighter.

“Just wanna let you know,” she started, her tone teasing but real, “I know it’s only been, like, two days, but you’re doing pretty good at this boyfriend thing so far—especially letting me pick what we watch.”

I leaned back, a little smirk creeping up despite everything weighing on me. “Aight, good to know. But lemme tell you this right now,” I said, my voice low and playful, “if this show’s trash, we switchin’ to Power without hesitation.”

Eden giggled, that sweet laugh of hers, and snuggled up next to me. “Whatever,” she said, settling into the couch. “But can I at least get a booty rub while we watch?”

I sucked my teeth, trying to play it cool. “Eden, you ain’t slick.”

She looked up at me, those big innocent eyes working their magic. “I know we’re not having sex, and I’m not ready for all that yet… I just want a little comfort.”

I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head. “Comfort, huh?”

She smiled, and I gave in, slipping my hand into her pajama shorts, rubbing her booty like she asked. She relaxed against me, melting into the moment, and I’ll admit—it felt good. Not just the touch, but the quiet, the easy vibe between us. And just like she said, one episode turned into three, and before I knew it, I was fully locked into the drama. Issa, Molly, Lawrence and em’—they had me hooked.

Crazy how a show I didn’t even wanna watch turned into something I couldn’t stop watching. Kinda like Eden—she came into my life unexpectedly, but now? I was in deep, and there was no turning back.