Vim Jamaica Avenue Novels & Stories

MARCH 20, 2013 | 7:53pm EXT. KINGSTON, JAMAICA. REID VILLAGE JERK CENTER - LAWN. NIGHT. The night dazzles with blinking, rampant stars filling a cloudless sky as Halo emerges from the driver's seat of a rundown TOYOTA CAMRY. The door creaks shut and Halo glances across the street. Ignoring the hubbub or patrons, enjoying the festivities of food on grills and other amenities under high, colourful tents.

“Traffic was a nightmare. Trucks broke down, and people lost their minds.” She brushed flour from her worn black jeans. “But I got the delivery from Crème Delights. The rich across the street love their vanilla beans.” Jayla snorted. “Rich people love anything expensive. Bet they wouldn’t last a day here.” Ivy smiled faintly, glancing across the street. “Anyway, let’s get back to work before Mrs. Terrence kills us both.” --- DAMON – 5:28 P.M. | MONDRIAN HOTEL

Jim laughed, but I could tell that he was beginning to lose hope. “Don't worry, man, you'll find her soon.” I patted his back. Five and a half hours later, we were landing in the private vicinity of Ian Flemming's Airport in Jamaica. We had a red BMW waiting for us to take us to Cassie's address. Cassie, baby, here I come.

Two years ago: In a scene tinged with an unspoken humility, Jasmine mustered the courage to visit Ava's room, her pride momentarily set aside in the pursuit of a simple favor. "Could I possibly borrow your laptop? Mine seems to be experiencing some technical issues," Jasmine inquired, her request met with an agreeable nod from Ava. As Jasmine retrieved the laptop and turned to leave, Ava's curiosity prompted her to pose an unexpected query, "Jasmine, by any chance, are you familiar with the name Leon Miller or anyone associated with Miller High?"

Despite her frustration, she still bent down and got into the taxi with him. "Sky Harmoney Villa." Liam ignored Dianne and gave the driver his destination. "Sky Harmoney Villa?" Hearing this, the taxi driver was visibly startled. He turned his head and looked at Liam in shock. "Kid, taxis like ours can't enter Sky Harmoney Villa!" Sky Harmoney Villa, situated at the base of Juneau, was not a place ordinary people could set foot in. "Just drop us off at the closest spot to Sky Harmoney Villa." Liam replied calmly.

The black SUV cut through the Manhattan rain like a scalpel, its tires throwing up sheets of gray spray against the concrete barriers of the FDR Drive. Inside, the cabin was a high-contrast hub of silent focus. Julian sat in the middle row, his eyes utterly locked on the glowing terminal of his laptop. Maya sat beside him, the heavy fabric of her oversized sweater a warm counterweight to the cold leather seats. In the front, Alistair Vance’s fingers were a blur across a modified deck, her cellular hotspot pulling maximum bandwidth from the passing towers.

“You can take my jet. It’s waiting at Teterboro.” ⸻ Back in Jamaica, UWI Hospital still smelled like bleach and heartache. Chris paced the sterile hallway outside the intensive care unit, with his phone clutched to his ear. His shirt was wrinkled, and his knuckles were still bruised from the beating he’d given Rupert before the coward ran. It was healing, though, but quite slow. He hadn’t shifted in a while, given that Kingston was a city that didn’t have a forest where he could run freely.

I tightened my grip on the wheel. “If she does,” I continued, “I’ll be the one who takes your life.” The silence that followed was heavy, tense. No one spoke another word until we cut into the highway again. My gaze flicked back. “Southside?” I inquired. T rasped, swallowing hard. “Jamestown,” he muttered. “It’s a quiet neighborhood, that’s why he chose it.” I nodded stiffly and pressed harder on the accelerator. The ride was tense. Mason barely spoke a total of three words. T slipped in and out of consciousness and my mind was slowly turning against me. Doubt creeping in. But it didn’t matter. This was something I had to do.

I lounged back on my chair behind my desk and eyed him, interested. He raised his chin, this time his gaze showing so much admiration. It was true; I forced my mind to keep everything away until the right time. Victor warned me several times about the risks and limits, that there are people between the Jamaerah who could see through thoughts like a glass of water. However, she was someone I never expected to exist and disturb what I planned, what we planned. Everyone was in this: Victor, Lady Markbill and some other guys who hid in the shadows. We had an alliance to get down the Jamaerah because they were too dangerous. My investigation went further and Victor’s research was helpful; even if

"That's beautiful, honey. Jasmine Hyden." "Hyden?!" Juicy joked. "Jasmine Robinson." "That is so mean." He said. "Well, I was going to do this on our one year anniversary but what's three or four more months." He took her hand. "Juicy Robinson, would you please grant me the honor of becoming my wife? Juicy Hyden is such a pretty name. Don't you think, babe? Juicy and Jasmine Hyden…and however many more little Hyden's we decide to create. Would you like to do that with me?"