Ochieng clenched his jaw as he stared at the King of Diamonds lying on the table.
Find the King, and you'll find your answers.
The Phantom's words echoed in his mind like a riddle he had no answer to. The man had disappeared without a trace, just as effortlessly as he had arrived. Another game, another piece of the puzzle.
Sienna and Abasi were waiting outside the Black Lotus Club when he stepped out.
"What did he say?" Sienna asked immediately.
Ochieng tossed the card to her. She caught it, frowning. "A playing card? That's it?"
"It's a message," Ochieng said. "The King of Diamonds. We need to find out who it represents."
Abasi exhaled sharply. "So we're playing his game now?"
Ochieng's eyes darkened. "No. We're ending it."
---
Hours later, back at their base, Sienna had already pulled up files on every major criminal, politician, and billionaire who could be linked to the King of Diamonds.
Only one name stood out.
Silas M'bogo.
A Kenyan tycoon who had built an empire on gold, oil, and untouchable political connections. A king in his own right.
Sienna turned to Ochieng. "If this is the guy, getting to him won't be easy. His estate is a fortress, his guards are ex-military, and his enemies—" she glanced at the screen, where a long list of missing persons reports was displayed. "—well, they don't last long."
Ochieng's eyes glowed with determination. "Then we move carefully. We need an invitation to his next event."
Sienna's lips curled into a smirk. "Already ahead of you. He's hosting a gala tomorrow night—only the richest and most powerful will be there."
Abasi raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do we get in?"
Ochieng's expression was cold and calculated. "We become exactly what they expect. Wealth, power, and deception. We're going in as VIP guests."
Sienna's eyes gleamed. "I like this plan already."
---
The following evening, Ochieng, Sienna, and Abasi arrived at M'bogo's mansion.
The gala was extravagant—golden chandeliers, marble floors, and guests dripping in diamonds. The kind of place where fortunes were made and lives were sold.
Sienna wore a sleek black dress that shimmered under the lights, her presence commanding attention. Abasi, dressed in an expensive tuxedo, looked every bit the businessman they were pretending to be.
And Ochieng? He was the enigma. Clad in a tailored midnight-blue suit, he exuded quiet power—the kind that made people watch, but not question.
Guards were everywhere. Men who had killed before and would kill again.
Ochieng adjusted the golden cufflink on his wrist. Hidden beneath it was a micro-communication device linked to Sienna.
"Let's split up," he murmured. "Find M'bogo. Find out what he knows."
Sienna nodded, vanishing into the crowd like a shadow. Abasi followed suit.
Ochieng moved toward the balcony, scanning the room. And that's when he saw him.
Silas M'bogo.
Dressed in a white tuxedo, a cigar resting between his fingers, the man radiated power. A king in his castle.
Ochieng approached. "Mr. M'bogo."
The billionaire turned, eyes sharp as a blade. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "And you are?"
Ochieng returned the smile. "A businessman with an interest in power."
M'bogo chuckled. "Aren't we all?"
Ochieng raised his glass. "Tell me, Mr. M'bogo. What does it take to become a king?"
M'bogo studied him for a moment before leaning in.
"Power is not given," he said. "It is taken."
Ochieng's blood ran cold.
This man wasn't just a king. He was a monster.
And now, he had stepped into his den.
---
Sienna moved through the ballroom with practiced ease, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. She needed to find something—anything—that could link M'bogo to the larger conspiracy they were chasing.
A waiter passed by, offering her champagne. She declined, pretending to check her phone. A moment later, she saw it.
A woman, young, nervous, clearly out of place. She was speaking to a man in a dark suit, her hands trembling as she clutched a small piece of paper. The man—one of M'bogo's security heads—glanced at it and nodded before escorting her toward a hallway.
Sienna's instincts flared. Something was off.
She followed at a distance, careful to blend in. The hallway led to a back room, guarded by two armed men. As soon as the girl entered, the door shut behind her.
Sienna pressed her earpiece. "Ochieng. Something's happening in the east corridor. A girl was just taken inside. She looked scared."
A brief pause. Then, "I'll handle M'bogo. Get her out."
Sienna didn't hesitate. She turned on her heel and walked toward the guards with purpose.
They stopped her at once. "Private meeting," one of them grunted.
Sienna smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Oh? But Mr. M'bogo specifically requested my presence."
The guard frowned. "We weren't informed."
Sienna sighed dramatically, glancing at her nails. "Do you really want to be the ones who kept him waiting?"
The hesitation was all she needed. In a swift motion, she jabbed a pressure point on the first guard's wrist, twisting his arm behind him. The second barely had time to react before she slammed his head into the wall.
Both men crumpled.
She exhaled, straightened her dress, and slipped inside.
The sight made her stomach turn.
The young girl was seated at a table, tears streaming down her face as a tall man in a gray suit loomed over her. Documents lay between them. A contract.
"You sign," the man was saying, "or you disappear."
Sienna moved before he could notice her. In one motion, she grabbed a wine bottle from a nearby table and smashed it over his head.
The man staggered, turning, but she was faster. A sharp kick to his ribs sent him crashing into the desk. The girl gasped.
"Come on," Sienna whispered, grabbing her hand.
The girl hesitated, glancing at the papers.
"Forget them," Sienna said urgently. "Let's go."
The girl nodded, and together they ran.
---
Meanwhile, Ochieng leaned against the balcony railing, keeping his expression neutral as M'bogo continued speaking.
"Power isn't about wealth," the tycoon was saying. "It's about control. Influence. The ability to make or break lives with a single word."
Ochieng swirled his drink. "Sounds like a lonely existence."
M'bogo chuckled. "Only for those who fear it."
Ochieng's fingers tightened around the glass. "And what about those who oppose you?"
M'bogo's smile didn't waver. "They don't last long."
In that moment, Ochieng knew.
This man was their enemy. And he had to fall.
But he would have to be careful. Because in a game of kings, one wrong move could mean death.
And Ochieng had no intention of losing.
---