The chaos outside was deafening. Gunshots echoed relentlessly as Andy swerved through the congested streets. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins straining under his skin as he honked furiously, weaving through traffic. Tires screeched, horns blared, and the sharp ping of bullets ricocheting off the car's armored surface made Lia's heart pound in her chest.
"Andy! maintain a speed of 110mph Go!" Rhys barked, his voice calm but commanding. His arm instinctively wrapped around Lia, pulling her closer as if to shield her from the chaos outside.
"They're targeting the tires!" Lia exclaimed, her voice trembling, eyes darting to the side mirror where the pursuers' cars loomed ominously close.
"I see them," Andy replied, his tone clipped but steady. "Padrino, I'll take us to the Crescent safe house. We'll lose them there."
Rhys glanced out the window, his sharp eyes scanning the streets, calculating. He leaned forward slightly, his tone deliberate. "No. Take the next left—go through the underground tunnel. Hit the green button when you're in.'' Lia looked at him extremely frightened Trust me. His eyes seem to say. Andy didn't hesitate. "Yes, Padrino."
The car screeched as Andy took a sharp left, barreling toward a nondescript opening. The pursuers followed, their gunfire intensifying, bullets pelting the car's rear like hail. Lia clung to Rhys, her nails digging into his arm as her breath came in short gasps.
"Rhys…" she whispered, fear flickering in her voice.
"You're safe," he said firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Hold on to me."
The car shot into the tunnel. Andy pressed a green button on the dashboard, and almost instantly, the world outside seemed to disappear. A green light flashed, and the entire underground tunnel went pitch black. Lia's breath hitched in the sudden darkness.
"What's happening?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
A low hum resonated, and moments later, a hidden wall slid open before them. Andy didn't falter, guiding the car through the concealed entrance. As they emerged into a hidden garage, the echo of the gunfire faded behind them.
A young man in a black jumpsuit sprinted toward them, holding out a set of keys. "This way! Quickly!"
Andy killed the engine, and they all climbed out of the battered car. The man handed Andy the keys, immediately jumping into their bullet-ridden vehicle and speeding off in another direction, the decoy in motion.
Lia staggered slightly as her heels clicked on the concrete floor, her legs still trembling from the ordeal. Rhys steadied her, his hand firm on her waist.
"Into the blue car," Rhys instructed, pointing to a sleek, low-profile vehicle parked nearby.
Without a word, the three of them slid into the new car. Andy revved the engine, and they were back on the road, this time taking a deserted highway. The quiet was eerie after the chaos.
Lia finally found her voice. "Is it always like this?"
Rhys glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. "Not always. But tonight… it seems they've decided to test their luck."
Andy's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, his tone grim. "Fools. They'll regret it."
Lia leaned her head back against the seat, exhaling shakily. "I thought I was going to die back there…"
Rhys took her hand, his grip warm and reassuring. "You won't. Not while I'm here."
She looked at him, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm they had just escaped. For a moment, she believed him, her fear melting into a quiet resolve. Just who is Rhys? she thought realising that she knew nothing about the man especially since she had come to live with him.
Andy interrupted their silence. "We'll reach the safe house in ten. Let's hope they don't find us there."
Rhys smirked faintly. "If they do, they'll wish they hadn't."
The sleek car sped down the silent highway, its passengers cloaked in a mix of tension and determination as the city lights blurred behind them.
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The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room as Donna hurled her wine glass against the wall, the shards scattering like tiny daggers. Tim flinched, instinctively bowing his head, his hands trembling at his sides. He had never seen her lose her composure like this.
"How dare he?" Donna roared, her voice reverberating with fury. Her sharp nails dug into the leather armrest of her chair, and her dark eyes blazed with uncontained rage.
Tim opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
"Speak!" she snapped, her glare searing into him like a brand.
"Donna…" Tim stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, "I... I think Rhys and the girl managed to escape the shooters. They're—"
"What?!" she cut him off, turning her wheel chair abruptly to face him. The power she exuded made him shrink further. "Escape? Escape? How dare he ruin my moment and then evade me!"
Tim swallowed hard, his voice cracking. "I—I'm sorry, Donna. It seems they were well-prepared."
Donna's rage magnified ten fold. "Prepared? Oh, Rhys is always prepared, isn't he? But this? To upstage me—in front of everyone? That was my moment! My time to shine, to bask in their admiration, and he dared choose that moment to overshadow me!"
She stopped, her gaze narrowing, venom dripping from her words. "He thinks he's untouchable. What gave him this confidence?"
Tim hesitated, unsure whether to respond. Her expression darkened further as she turned to him.
"Where are they now?" she demanded, her tone icy but with an undercurrent of fiery anger.
"Last we heard…" Tim faltered, beads of sweat forming on his brow, "they're being pursued by shooters from the other branches."
Donna let out a cold, derisive laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Rhys, Rhys, Rhys... I've been far too generous with you. Too many lifelines. First, you try to outmaneuver me, and now, you seek to assert your dominance over me? You must be tired of living."
Her lips curled into a sinister sneer. "Get everyone ready. Pass the order—shoot to kill. Rhys, that girl, and anyone foolish enough to stand with him… not one of them is to walk away alive. And Tim…"
"Yes, Donna?" he answered meekly.
"Make sure the branches know there's a reward. Whoever brings me his head will be given a branch of their own… and sixty million Naira."
Tim's eyes widened at the magnitude of the bounty, but he nodded quickly, bowing low before retreating from the room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, he nearly collided with Seyi, who had been lingering nearby, his expression curious and calculating.
"What did the Donna say?" Seyi asked, his face a mask of feigned innocence, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his hunger for more information.
Tim hesitated but sighed, his tone resigned. "This time, Rhys is finished. There's a bounty on his head. Whoever brings him in gets a reward."
Seyi's curiosity piqued further. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "And what's the reward?"
Tim glanced around, Moved closer and then whispered, "A branch… and Sixty million Naira."
Seyi's lips curled into a devilish grin, his dark eyes lighting up with a dangerous gleam. "Is that so?" he murmured, his tone laced with mischief and greed. "Good to know."
Without another word, Seyi turned and disappeared down the corridor, his steps swift and deliberate.
Tim sighed heavily, leaning against the wall for support. He shook his head, murmuring to himself, "This time, Rhys is truly in trouble… even Seyi's dares to be interested."
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Victor crossed his legs, taking a slow drag from his Cuban cigar. He let the smoke swirl around him before exhaling a thick cloud. A deep, rumbling chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned back, exuding a calm dominance.
"So, Rhys is making things easier for us now?" His voice carried an edge of amusement.
"Yes, yes," came the hurried reply from Seyi, who was practically bouncing in his seat.
Victor raised an eyebrow, reaching for his glass of brandy. He drained the last of it and reached for the bottle, only for Seyi to leap forward and pour the drink for him. Victor studied him with thinly veiled amusement, the corners of his lips twitching into a smirk.
Seyi continued, "He's completely finished now that the Donna wants him dead! I've taken over as Padrino, so we can—"
Victor held up a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "So why are you here, Mr...?"
"Adesanya. Seyi Adesanya," Seyi corrected quickly, though his jaw tightened. It was clear Victor's calculated dismissal of his name stung. But Seyi brushed the slight aside, focusing on his agenda.
Victor's smirk widened. "Ah, Adesanya. And you've come to me because...?"
Seyi straightened his shoulders, forcing an air of confidence. "I've taken over as Padrino. I know you were in talks with Rhys, but he's out. I'm running things now, and I'm here to continue the business relationship."
Victor let out a long puff of smoke, watching Seyi through the haze. The young man's eagerness was almost comical, but Victor knew better than to underestimate the cunning of a desperate man. Victor studied the man before him, his amusement giving way to quiet disdain. He had met countless opportunists like Seyi—spineless parasites feeding off the work of others. If not for his mutual hatred of Rhys and the stakes at hand, he would have dismissed or killed this groveling fool on the spot. But for now, Victor decided to play along.
"If you're in charge now, you should already know the terms I negotiated with Rhys," Victor said, his tone flat and cold as he tapped the ash from his cigar into a tray.
"I do," Seyi replied quickly, though a bead of sweat trailed down his temple. "Mr. Azi, I'm aware of your network's scale and efficiency. The Donna wants this deal, and we need your routes for smooth delivery. In exchange, we're offering 35% of the sales earnings. Surely that's a fair offer?"
Victor chuckled—a deep, mocking sound that filled the room. He glanced at his bodyguards, who caught his mood and joined in the laughter.
"Funny guy, isn't he?" Victor asked them, smirking. The laughter died down as he turned back to Seyi, his expression hardening. "Adesanya, these terms were already discussed with Rhys. If this was just about money, I wouldn't waste my time."
Seyi frowned, his confidence faltering. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I gave Rhys ample time to meet my terms. He didn't. Now, I'm extending the same terms to you, but this time there are no delays. Either you accept them now, or we're done here."
Seyi clenched his fists under the table. Dropping the Romano Syndicate was risky, but he had little choice. He was well aware of their fallout with Rhys, and perhaps this was an opportunity to reposition himself. The Donna would understand right?. After all, the Romano syndicate backing was Rhys fault so he wouldn't take the fall. Besides Donna had given Rhys this opportunity because if important the Route is for moving the goods.
After a pause, he nodded. "Alright. I agree."
Victor leaned forward, his piercing gaze drilling into Seyi. "Are you sure you can make that decision?"
Seyi straightened. "I can," he said firmly, though his voice wavered ever so slightly.
Victor's lips curved into a sly smile. With a flick of his fingers, one of his bodyguards brought over a large black envelope. Victor pulled out a contract and placed it on the table, his eyes never leaving Seyi.
"I hear the Khaos always carry their official seals. I assume you have yours?" Victor's tone was laced with mockery.
Seyi sighed, pulling out his seal. He skimmed through the contract while Victor sat back, puffing on his cigar, his gaze fixed on him like a predator watching its prey.
After a moment of hesitation, Seyi signed and stamped the document. Victor's smile widened as he extended a hand.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Adesanya," he said, his tone dripping with insidious satisfaction.
Seyi shook his hand, forcing a smile. But as Victor's grip lingered just a moment too long, Seyi couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with the devil.
***************************************************************************
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a pale glow over the silent street. Lia's heart thudded as she quickened her pace. A faint rustling sound reached her ears, and she froze. Her eyes darted around, straining to pierce the thick darkness.
"Probably just a stray cat," she whispered to herself, though her voice trembled.
But the rustling grew louder, sharper, until a figure emerged from the shadows. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized it wasn't an animal but a person—a man, middle-aged. His silhouette sharpened as he stumbled closer, revealing a pale, haggard face framed by blood-stained clothes.
"Help… me," the man rasped, his voice broken and hoarse. His bulging eyes pleaded with her, and one hand clutched his bleeding stomach while the other reached out desperately.
"H...e...l...p," he rasped again, stumbling closer.
Lia stepped back, her entire body screaming to run, but her legs refused to move.
"P...l...e...a...s...e," the man begged, collapsing onto the ground with a sickening thud. Blood pooled beneath him, seeping through the cracks in the pavement.
She shook her head, inching backward. "I... I can't..." she stammered, terror choking her voice.
Then, from the shadows, another figure materialized. Its face was an unnatural void of pure darkness, a blank slate where features should have been. In its hand gleamed a knife.
The man on the ground whimpered as the figure knelt beside him, the blade flashing in the moonlight before plunging into his body. Again. And again. And again.
A maniacal laugh echoed in the air, chilling Lia to her core. She wanted to scream, to run, to do anything—but she was frozen, her eyes glued to the horrific scene.
The dying man's eyes, bloodshot and desperate, turned back to her. "Why didn't you help me?" he croaked, his voice filled with anger and betrayal.
The figure with the knife disappeared as if swallowed by the darkness, leaving the man to rise slowly, impossibly. Blood poured from gaping wounds, but he stood tall, his gaze burning with fury.
"You let me die!" he screamed, his voice distorted and echoing unnaturally. "You could have saved me!"
Lia stumbled backward, her legs giving out as she fell onto the ground. "No... I couldn't... I..." Her hands flew to her ears to block out the man's escalating screams.
Her own scream tore through the night—
"Lia! Lia, wake up!" Rhys yelled
And then she was awake.
Lia bolted upright, gasping, her body trembling violently. Strong arms encircled her, and a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
"It's okay, Lia. It's just a dream. You're safe."
She blinked, her vision clearing to see Rhys holding her tightly. She clung to him, her body betraying her with shivers despite the sweat pooling on her skin.
"I... I'm fine," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Rhys didn't let go, his voice calm and steady. "You're safe. It's over."