CHAPTER 21

"where are we heading to, boss?" They stare at her with a look that says, "Our eyes are on you; all your movement is being recorded. Mind what you do or the big boss will hear of it."

"What makes you guys to be so loyal to the boss?"

"Are you not loyal to him? Did you not pledge your loyalty to him?" The more outspoken one among the five said to her.

"Why should I?"

"What did you mean? He is the boss"

"And so? Even your boss knows that I'm not loyal to him. Why did you plant five of you in my gang?"

"Wh..at?"

"Hmm. Why are you people so loyal to evil people? A man who has wasted so much innocent blood."

"We don't care about what the boss does as far as he pays us our salary."

"Did you have a conscience?"

"We can do anything as far as there's money in it. What is conscience anyway? Hahaha"

"Have you heard anything about my story in this family?"

"Yes. You were once a slave here before you rose to this level. And you should be grateful to the boss."

"I should be grateful to a man who broke me into pieces? A girl was beaten mercilessly and dumped in a place to die. Then what did the boss do? He picked up a dying little girl who also took a bullet for him and turned her into his sex slave and drug-testing machine. I struggle to survive. I could have been dead a long time ago, but the fire of my revenge burned into my bone marrow. It kept me alive. So you tell me, what should I be grateful for?"

"After everything, the boss kept you alive. That's one thing to be so grateful about."

"What about those innocent boys and girls he is trafficking? Did they deserve it? Should they be grateful about it too?"

"That's their fate. It is not my business."

"So it is their fate to end up in such a miserable situation? What if it is your children? Should they be grateful too?"

"I don't have one, and I'm not planning to. And even if I have later in the future, I can trade him or her for money."

"Hahaha. You never cease to amaze me. Should I tell you a little secret?"

"If you want to share, we are all ears."

" Those mighty five families that went down. I'm the one responsible."

"What! Why are you telling us this?"

"I will make sure that all the eight families perish. Even if it will cost me my last breath. I will make sure that they rot in hell."

"Why are you telling us this? Are you not scared if we report to the boss?"

"Try it if you can. Tell him that I said that his thought is true. He is my last meal. Please deliver the message if you live to tell the story."

"What are you trying to do, Mosquito?"

"Don't worry, we are close to the meeting place. We are to deliver this money to Mr Steph in exchange for a truck with young girls in it."

"Why did you sound as if you are taking us to our grave? You are not even afraid to tell us your secret. What are you planning?"

"Hmm, don't worry you are safe with me. Remember five against one. Here we are "

Coming out of the bus, Mr Steph and his boys are already waiting for her.

"Mosquito mosquito mosquito. I thought you said that time and patience are what you don't have. Why is it that today I'm the one waiting for you for the past two hours."

"I'm here now, right? With your money and that is what matters."

"Why did you keep me waiting you whore? Did your boss not tell you that apart from money, time also matters to me?"

"No, he didn't. How is it my fault? I could have run here if he did. Now that you've had your tantrum, can we please get back to business?"

"You....."

The imperious raise of her eyebrow and the crisp sound of her fingers clicking together was the only signal needed; one of the boys materialized with the suitcase filled with money.

"Here. Where is my goods?"

"Is the money complete?"

"Count away if it makes you happy; they are all yours, but doing that where are the goods."

"Here they are. You think I back down from the deal. Hahaha"

"That's the least of my problem. One bullet will solve it if you did not fulfill your own end of the bargain."

The truck's rusty door creaked open, revealing a huddled mass of thirty frightened teenagers, their youthful faces smudged with dirt and despair. Their look pierced my heart.

No sooner had the deal been sealed than the lawmen burst in. The silence was broken by the thunder of boots and the shout of freeze.

"Shit!!!"

"Boss, what are we going to do?"

"Shot them down of course. We are not going down. Mosquito what have you done?"

"Why blame me? I'm also in deep shit like you. Wait, you got this all planned? Do you want both the money and the goods?"

"Hell no!!! Is that not Detective John? We are all going to hell."

"Drop your weapons and raise your hands where we can see them. Drop your weapons."

"To hell with me if I do that. Boys take them down."

The lawmen charged in, guns blazing, and the shootout raged on for some hours. The air was thick with gunfire as bullets ripped through the walls, ceasing only when Mr Steph fell to the ground. His remaining men were taken into custody.

"How is there boss? Is he dead?"

"He's still breathing detective."

"And the girls?"

"They are all safe boss. Thirty-one of them. Except for one boss. She is more mature than the girls. I think she took a bullet. The medics are attending to her before the ambulance arrives."

"Good. Take the ones who are not injured direct to the police station."

"Ok, detective."

The detective's gaze fell upon the wounded girl, and his expression changed from concern to astonishment. It was Mosquito, the last person he expected. He thought she had escaped amidst the chaos " Mosquito. How did she end up here? What is she planning?"

"Detective."

"How is she?"

"She is safe. She will be fine. The ambulance will be here in the next five minutes."

Just as the medic said, the ambulance arrived and took the injured one to the hospital immediately.