Kelechi's phone buzzed again, the screen flashing Ayo's name. Her heart twisted in her chest, but she ignored it. She couldn't let herself be distracted. Not now.
She walked through the dimly lit streets, each step heavier than the last. The weight of her decisions pressed down on her chest like a suffocating hand.
The file on Oba Eze's operations—plans, connections, names—had become an obsession. She knew it was a dangerous game, but it was the only one that mattered now. Each piece she uncovered revealed a darker truth about the man who had stolen her sister's life. And each piece brought her closer to the reckoning she was planning.
She pushed the thoughts of Ayo out of her mind. He was a memory now, a symbol of the life she once lived, but she could never go back. Not after everything that had happened.
She found herself outside an unmarked door in a quiet alley. It was Malik's doing, no doubt—his network, his way of keeping things hidden in plain sight.
He was waiting for her inside.
"Late," Malik's voice greeted her as she entered, his tone as cold as the room. He sat at a table, a stack of papers spread in front of him, his eyes sharp and calculating.
Kelechi didn't flinch. "I had things to deal with."
Malik raised an eyebrow. "Like Ayo?"
Kelechi's gaze faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it. "None of your business."
"Everything about you is my business now, Kelechi." Malik stood and walked toward her, his presence towering. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, sleek device. "You're going to need this."
She took the device without a word, her fingers brushing against his in the process. She caught a flash of something—something dangerous—in his eyes.
"This is your next move," Malik continued.
"I've tracked Oba's men, the ones who know about your sister. They're not far from here."
Her pulse quickened. "And you expect me to trust you?"
"I'm the only one who can help you. We both know you're too deep to get out now. You'll need someone who knows how to navigate this world. Someone who won't hesitate."
Her fingers clenched around the device. "And what do you want in return?"
Malik smirked. "I already told you. Everything about you is my business now."