Chapter eighteen — Ghosts of the Past
Three years had passed since the fall of Chief Duro. Lagos had begun to rebuild, yet the streets hummed with a restless energy — a city healing with one eye open, aware that darkness never truly vanished.
From a rooftop in Ikoyi, Tunde surveyed the city. His eyes had become sharper, his presence quieter but more commanding. Beside him, Aisha's gaze swept the skyline with equal vigilance.
"The city is shifting," Tunde said, voice low. "Reports of coordinated attacks… new syndicates moving in."
Aisha frowned. "I've seen it too. Entire districts burned, new gangs taking control. This isn't just revenge — it's an organized takeover."
Tunde touched the cowrie shell at his chest. It had been his talisman through fire, blood, and betrayal. Now it reminded him that survival was no longer enough. The stakes had grown.
"The Black Lotus," he muttered, naming the shadow they had begun to track. "And they're bigger, smarter, and deadlier than anything we've faced before."
The Black Lotus was unlike any criminal network Tunde had encountered. Their reach spanned smuggling, arms dealing, and assassinations for hire. Violence was their currency; fear, their weapon.
Chinyere, now working alongside them once more as a political and media strategist, provided intel. The syndicate's leaders were methodical, ruthless, and untraceable — ghost figures manipulating chaos from the shadows.
"They're not just a gang," Chinyere said, scrolling through intercepted messages. "They operate like a corporation. Every move is calculated. Every loss… planned."
Tunde's jaw tightened. "We've faced violence before. But this… this is strategic slaughter. They're building an empire of terror."
Aisha's eyes darkened with resolve. "Then we dismantle it — piece by piece. But we must be smarter, faster, and prepared for blood we can't avoid."
As Tunde dug deeper, a chilling revelation emerged. Remnants of Sunkanmi's empire and Chief Duro's allies had joined the Black Lotus, forming an unholy coalition. Their motivation was clear: revenge against Tunde and Aisha, reclaiming control over Lagos' underworld.
The coalition was personal now. Every attack, every scheme carried the weight of past betrayals and old grudges.
"I thought we left them behind," Aisha said quietly, her voice tinged with fear and determination. "But they never left. They've only been waiting."
Tunde's eyes darkened. "They underestimated us once. They'll regret underestimating us again. But this time… we fight smarter, and we fight harder."
The city had become a chessboard of shadows, and Tunde and Aisha were now at the center, preparing for a war that would shake Lagos to its core.