The sound of the warehouse door slamming shut echoed in Ochieng's ears like a gunshot. He barely had time to register the figures stepping out of the shadows before a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Ochieng."
Bruno.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and still carrying that air of effortless menace. His dark eyes studied Ochieng like a predator sizing up prey.
"Or maybe four of them," Rolex added, smirking as he leaned against a rusted metal crate. His expensive watch gleamed in the dim light, a stark contrast to the decay around them.
Ochieng forced his pulse to slow. "I didn't come here for trouble."
"Then you came to the wrong place," Eugene muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Because trouble is the only thing we have for you."
Gideon, the quietest of the four, simply watched. Always the observer, always waiting.
Tilda's voice broke the tension. "Enough with the theatrics. We're all here for a reason."
Bruno's smirk faded. "Yeah. And that reason is you, Ochieng."
Ochieng met his gaze, refusing to flinch. "If you wanted me dead, I'd already be bleeding out on this floor. So let's skip the threats and get to the point."
The air between them crackled with unspoken history, with debts unpaid and betrayals unforgotten.
Finally, Rolex exhaled and crossed his arms. "You want in on this job? Fine. But it comes at a cost."
Ochieng narrowed his eyes. "What cost?"
Gideon finally spoke, his voice low and deliberate.
"Your loyalty."
Silence.
Tilda tilted her head. "And if I refuse?"
Bruno's grin returned, sharp as a blade. "Then you walk out of here with a target on your back."
Ochieng glanced at Tilda. Her expression was unreadable.
This wasn't just a job. It was a test. A trap.
And he had no choice but to step into it.
---