Ochieng shut the door behind Caroline, his eyes scanning her for any sign of deception. He had learned the hard way that trust was a luxury he could no longer afford. Caroline took a shaky breath, brushing a strand of hair from her face before speaking.
"You need to leave this place. Now," she said, her voice edged with urgency.
Ochieng raised an eyebrow, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before taking a measured sip. "And why would I do that?"
Caroline's hands clenched into fists. "Because they're coming for you, Ochieng. And this time, they're not playing games."
Behind them, Matilda let out a soft chuckle, reclining against the leather sofa. "Oh, how dramatic. Tell me, Caroline, who exactly is 'they' this time? The mafia? Corrupt politicians? Or perhaps ghosts from Ochieng's past?"
Caroline shot her a glare. "You think this is a joke? There's a bounty on his head. And not just any bounty—the kind that attracts the worst of the worst."
Ochieng's expression remained unreadable, but inside, his mind raced. He had anticipated retaliation after his recent moves, but this was sooner than expected. He set his glass down and walked over to the window, looking down at the city. The world below was alive, oblivious to the war brewing in the shadows.
"Who placed the bounty?" Ochieng finally asked.
Caroline hesitated, then sighed. "It came from the Syndicate. And the price on your head? Let's just say you're now the most expensive target in the underworld."
Matilda's smirk faltered slightly, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. "The Syndicate doesn't make idle threats," she admitted. "If they've marked you, it means they consider you a threat to their entire operation."
Ochieng turned to face them, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Then it's time I remind them why they should fear me."
The room fell into silence. Caroline and Matilda exchanged uneasy glances. There was something about the way Ochieng spoke—calm, measured, yet filled with an unshakable certainty—that sent a chill through the air.
Before anyone could respond, the power suddenly cut out. The penthouse plunged into darkness, save for the faint glow of the city outside.
A second later, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway.
They weren't alone.
Ochieng didn't hesitate. He moved swiftly, grabbing the pistol hidden beneath the liquor cabinet and pressing his back against the wall. Matilda, ever composed, reached for the blade strapped to her thigh, while Caroline pulled a small handgun from her coat.
A voice drifted through the door, low and menacing. "Mr. Ochieng, it's time we had a conversation."
Ochieng exchanged a glance with the two women before smirking. "Then let's make it an interesting one."
And just like that, the game had begun.