Chapter 15 – "No More Peace"

Lagos Mainland – Umaru's Safehouse

The dimly lit room smelled of burnt cigars and sweat. Umaru sat at the head of a long table, his fingers tapping against the wooden surface. His eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, darted between the men seated around him—his last remaining lieutenants.

"Joshua played us," Umaru growled, his voice sharp with barely contained rage. "He humiliated me. Burned my people. Took my city."

Silence.

No one dared to speak. The air was thick with tension.

Then, a figure stepped forward. A tall, dark-skinned man in a suit. His presence was heavy—like a storm waiting to break.

His name was Sadiq.

A former military officer. Cold. Efficient. Dangerous.

Umaru exhaled, steadying himself. "Can you handle him?"

Sadiq's lips barely moved. "He won't see me coming."

Umaru smirked. "Good."

Because this time—there would be no warning.

Lekki – Joshua's Penthouse

Joshua sat on the balcony, watching the city lights. The taste of whiskey lingered on his tongue as he leaned back in his chair.

Everything was moving fast.

Too fast.

Adisa walked up behind him, hands in his pockets. "You should be celebrating, bro. We took the city."

Joshua exhaled. "We took part of it."

Adisa sighed. "Man, I know that look. What's on your mind?"

Joshua's fingers tapped the armrest. "Umaru's not done. He's coming back."

Adisa nodded. "Let him. We'll be ready."

But deep down, Joshua knew—Umaru wouldn't play fair.

Victoria Island – Amara's Art Studio

Soft music played from a speaker as Amara moved her brush across the canvas. Colors blended under her touch, forming a sunset over the Lagos skyline.

A knock at the door.

She turned, surprised. "Joshua?"

He stood there, hands in his pockets. There was something different about him—his usual confidence was there, but his eyes... they were distant.

"You okay?" she asked, setting her brush down.

Joshua stepped inside, looking around at the unfinished paintings. "You've been busy."

She smiled. "It keeps me sane."

A beat of silence. Then, she walked up to him. "Joshua, talk to me."

He exhaled. "I don't know if I can win this war."

Amara studied him. Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest.

"You don't have to fight alone."

For a moment, he let himself breathe. Let himself feel.

Then, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen. Adisa.

Something was wrong.

Lekki – The Warehouse Ambush

The sound of gunfire tore through the night.

Joshua's convoy screeched to a stop outside a burning warehouse. Bodies littered the ground—his men.

Adisa stumbled out from behind a crate, clutching his bleeding arm. "It's a trap!"

Before Joshua could react, bullets rained down from the rooftops.

"Get down!" he shouted, diving behind a car.

His men scrambled for cover, returning fire. The street was chaos—flames, screaming, the deafening echo of gunshots.

Then—a figure moved through the smoke.

Sadiq.

He walked calmly, a silenced pistol in his hand. His eyes locked onto Joshua like a predator sizing up its prey.

Joshua raised his gun.

Sadiq moved first.

A single shot.

Pain exploded in Joshua's shoulder.

He collapsed behind the car, gritting his teeth.

Sadiq kept walking. "This is over, boy."

Joshua's vision blurred. He could hear Adisa shouting. More gunfire. But his body wouldn't move.

Was this it?

Then—a car skidded into the scene.

Tunde leaned out, AK-47 blazing.

"Get in!" he roared.

Adisa grabbed Joshua, dragging him toward the car. Bullets whizzed past them, sparks flying as they hit metal.

Sadiq raised his gun for the kill shot—

But the car doors slammed shut, and Tunde floored it.

Hidden Safehouse – The Aftermath

Pain pulsed through Joshua's body as he lay on a couch, shirt soaked in blood. Amara kneeled beside him, pressing a cloth against his wound.

"Stay still, idiot." Her voice shook.

Joshua winced. "I'm fine."

"You got shot. You're not fine."

Adisa paced the room, furious. "That was a message. Umaru's telling us he's still in control."

Joshua exhaled. "Not for long."

Adisa frowned. "Josh, you almost died. We need to regroup."

But Joshua's mind was already working.

Umaru thought he had won.

He thought Joshua would back down.

But he was wrong.

"No more waiting." Joshua's voice was cold.

Adisa and Tunde exchanged looks.

Joshua pushed himself up, ignoring the pain. His eyes burned with something new.

This wasn't about money anymore.

This was about power.

And Joshua wasn't about to lose.