CHAPTER NINE — The Reckoning Approaches
Lagos had begun to whisper Tunde's name.
Not openly, not yet. But in the dark corners of warehouses, in the shadows of alleyways, and in the guarded offices of Sunkanmi's empire, there were murmurs of a boy — a shadow — who had dared to strike first.
Sunkanmi did not like whispers. He liked control. And control had been broken.
🌑 Shadows Closing In
Tunde spent the next days moving like a ghost. He studied patrols, memorized schedules, and began laying low while keeping tabs on Sunkanmi's every move.
He also strengthened the network of street contacts he had cautiously built — hawkers, drivers, and small-time mechanics who owed him favors. They were eyes, ears, and messengers.
But even with this network, the threat was close. Oba's men scoured districts he often traveled through, watching, listening. One misstep could cost him everything.
⚡ The Warning
One rainy evening, while returning from a warehouse inspection, a note was slipped under his door:
"Stop moving in shadows, or your shadows will be your grave."
It was simple, threatening, and unmistakable.
Tunde held the paper tightly, letting the rain soak his fingers. A flicker of fear passed — brief, but real. Then it was replaced by something stronger: determination.
Sunkanmi had sent a warning. That meant Tunde's first strike had been noticed. That meant the reckoning had begun.
🌤 Protecting the Light
Aisha remained unaware of the specific dangers. Tunde's first instinct was to pull her away from the streets entirely.
"Stay inside," he told her one night, his eyes searching hers. "For your own safety, I need you to be careful."
Her gaze, soft yet worried, held him still. "Tunde… I trust you. But don't let this destroy you. Promise me."
He nodded. "I promise. But some storms can't be avoided. Only weathered."
She didn't fully understand, but she felt the gravity behind his words.
🌑 Allies and Strategy
Tunde knew he could not face Sunkanmi alone. He met with trusted street allies, sharing carefully curated information and tasks.
"Timing is everything," he told them. "We strike when we know he's most vulnerable. No mistakes. No surprises."
Even in the shadows, Tunde's leadership emerged. He was no longer just surviving; he was orchestrating a plan.
⚡ A First Clash
The reckoning began with a small but crucial disruption: one of Sunkanmi's shipments was intercepted and delayed, without a trace back to Tunde.
Oba stormed the offices that night, furious. "Find him!" he barked. "Do not let this happen again!"
Sunkanmi leaned back in his chair, face calm but eyes sharp. "He's clever… too clever. But clever can be caught."
The web was tightening — around Tunde, and also around Sunkanmi's empire. Every move mattered, every second counted.
🌙 The Calm Before the Storm
That night, Tunde walked along the Lagos lagoon, listening to the city pulse beneath him. Rain fell lightly, washing the grime from the streets and the sweat from his skin.
He thought of Ijebu, of Mama Kike, of Uncle Gori, and of Aisha — all the people whose lives had shaped him, guided him, and fueled the fire in his chest.
The boy who refused to die had become a man ready to face the storm, ready to fight for justice, for love, for destiny.
And the storm was coming.