The stench of blood lingered in the air. The battlefield of Rolex's downfall was silent, except for the distant wails of the wounded and the soft crackling of a nearby fire.
Ochieng stood motionless, staring at Rolex's lifeless body. His grip on Lucy tightened, his mind running through a thousand possibilities. If Rolex was just a pawn, who was the true mastermind?
Gideon approached, wiping the blood off his blade. "This doesn't feel like the end."
"It's not," Ochieng murmured. "It's only the beginning."
Victoria kicked Brian's unconscious body. "What do we do with this one?"
Brian had taken a bullet to the shoulder but was still alive—barely. The man who once mocked Ochieng now lay in the dirt, bleeding and powerless.
Eugene scoffed. "Kill him. One less snake to worry about."
But Ochieng shook his head. "Not yet."
Lucy glanced at him in surprise. "You're keeping him alive?"
A smirk ghosted Ochieng's lips. "For now. He might be useful."
--
Far from the scene, in the heart of the city, a luxurious penthouse overlooked the skyline. Inside, a man in a crisp white suit sipped on a glass of wine, watching the news.
A woman in a silk robe stood behind him, her fingers trailing along his shoulders.
"So, Rolex is dead," she mused.
The man chuckled. "As expected. Ochieng doesn't hesitate to remove obstacles."
The woman's crimson lips curled into a smirk. "And yet, he doesn't see the real game."
The man took another sip before setting his glass down. "No, but he will soon. Let him taste victory for now. When we strike, we'll take everything from him—his wealth, his people… and his heart."
--
Ochieng and his team moved swiftly through the deserted roads, their convoy speeding towards their safe house.
Lucy leaned against Ochieng, exhaustion evident in her eyes. "You didn't have to come alone, you know."
Ochieng smirked. "Would you rather I let them keep you?"
She shook her head, smiling weakly. "I knew you'd come. You always do."
Victoria glanced at them from the front seat. "Romantic as this is, we have bigger problems. Rolex's men will retaliate."
Eugene nodded. "And if Rolex was working for someone, we need to find out who."
Ochieng's eyes darkened. "We will. But first, we send a message. No one touches what's mine and lives."
---
That night, Ochieng stood on the balcony of his estate, overlooking the city. Lucy was asleep inside, her breathing steady. But his mind wouldn't rest.
The war wasn't over.
It was only beginning.