The distant glow of the burning building flickered in Ochieng's tired eyes. His breaths were heavy, his body aching from the brutal fight with Gideon. Celestine lay weakly in his arms, her eyes half-lidded as exhaustion weighed on her. The cold night air did little to soothe the burning pain in his side where Gideon had stabbed him.
Ochieng gritted his teeth and forced himself to move. They were not safe yet. The shadows still lurked, and in a world where wealth and power dictated everything, he knew better than to lower his guard.
Footsteps echoed from the alleyway behind him. Slow. Calculated.
He turned his head slightly, his grip tightening around Celestine as his other hand instinctively reached for the concealed blade strapped to his waist.
Then, from the darkness, a voice—smooth, chilling, and unmistakably amused.
"Well, well, Ochieng… I expected you to be dead by now."
A figure emerged from the shadows. Rolex. His custom-tailored black suit was immaculate, as if he hadn't just walked out of a war zone. His piercing eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and amusement, and the faint smirk tugging at his lips sent a chill down Ochieng's spine.
Ochieng didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied Rolex, searching for any sign of hidden hostility.
"What do you want?" Ochieng finally asked, his voice edged with caution.
Rolex chuckled, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. "Straight to the point, as always. I admire that about you." He took a slow step forward, and Ochieng tensed. "I came to make you an offer."
Ochieng scoffed. "If it's coming from you, I already know it's nothing good."
Rolex smiled. "Oh, Ochieng… You wound me." His gaze flickered to Celestine, then back to Ochieng. "But let's not pretend you're in any position to reject me."
Ochieng clenched his fists, his body screaming at him to rest, but his instincts refused to let him show weakness. "I don't deal with snakes."
Rolex laughed softly. "You and I are not so different. You just refuse to admit it." He tilted his head. "I know about Gideon. And I know that wasn't the last of him."
Ochieng's eyes narrowed.
Rolex's smirk grew. "If you want to survive the war that's coming… you'll need me."
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Celestine stirred slightly in Ochieng's arms, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't… trust him…"
Ochieng exhaled slowly, his mind racing. He knew Rolex was dangerous. A man like him never played fair.
But deep down, Ochieng also knew one thing—Rolex was right.
The war wasn't over.
And he was running out of allies.