The explosion painted the night sky in shades of fire and destruction. Kieran's empire, once an impenetrable fortress of wealth and power, crumbled in a single night. His allies had abandoned him. His resources were seized. His men were either dead or kneeling in surrender.
But Kieran himself…
He was missing.
Ochieng stood on the rooftop of a nearby skyscraper, watching the inferno rage below. Linet stood beside him, her phone in hand, monitoring the live feed of their operations.
"No sign of his body," she said, voice laced with caution.
Ochieng's jaw tightened. "He's a rat. He won't die that easily."
"Should we send a team?"
"No." Ochieng's eyes never left the burning building. "He's already lost. Let him crawl in the shadows for a while."
---
The underworld didn't wait to shift its allegiance. By dawn, the news had spread: Kieran was finished. The whispers turned into declarations—there was a new ruler in the city.
And his name was Ochieng.
Inside a luxurious penthouse, a gathering of powerful figures sat in tense silence. Crime lords, business tycoons, politicians—each one had played a part in controlling the city's fate. Now, they sat at Ochieng's table.
"We are ready to follow your lead," one of them finally spoke.
Ochieng leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. "No."
The room tensed.
"I don't need followers," he continued, voice cold. "I need people who understand that I don't forgive betrayal."
A quiet threat. A simple warning.
They understood.
From this moment forward, Emerald City belonged to him.
---
But power never came without ghosts.
Two nights later, Ochieng stood before an unmarked grave. The wind carried a scent of damp earth and forgotten memories.
"You'd laugh if you saw me now," he murmured, voice barely audible.
No answer came, only silence.
A lone shadow moved behind him. Sienna.
"You shouldn't be here alone," she said softly.
Ochieng exhaled. "I'm never alone."
His past still haunted him. His future was uncertain. But one thing was clear—this was only the beginning.
The world thought he had won.
They had no idea the real war was yet to come.
-