Chapter 17 – "Retaliation"

Lagos Mainland – Umaru's Private Estate

The air was thick with cigar smoke. Umaru sat in silence, fingers tapping against the polished mahogany desk. His eyes, dark and unreadable, were locked on the man kneeling before him—one of his enforcers, bloodied and trembling.

"Repeat that," Umaru muttered, voice low and dangerous.

The man gulped. "C-Chief Bolu… he's gone. Joshua took the casino. K-killed our men."

Umaru exhaled slowly.

Then, in a blur, he grabbed a pistol and fired.

The kneeling man dropped.

The others in the room stiffened.

Umaru stood, adjusting his suit. "Joshua thinks he can touch my business and walk away?"

His right-hand man, Sani, stepped forward. "Orders, boss?"

Umaru's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

"Burn everything he owns."

Ikoyi – Joshua's Penthouse

The city lights stretched endlessly below. Joshua sat on the balcony, a glass of whiskey in hand.

Adisa and Tunde were inside, going over security plans. Bolu, now officially under their control, was setting up new accounts—funneling Umaru's money into their pockets.

It had been a good night.

Until the phone rang.

Joshua picked up. "Talk."

On the other end, a deep voice.

"Your warehouse. It's on fire."

Joshua's eyes narrowed.

Then, another call.

"Boss, your safehouse in Surulere—ambushed. We lost three men."

Joshua's grip tightened around the glass.

"Umaru," he muttered.

Adisa and Tunde looked up.

"What happened?" Adisa asked.

Joshua stood, tossing the whiskey aside.

"He just hit back."

Lagos – The Fire Spreads

Joshua's convoy sped through the streets, heading toward the burning warehouse. From a distance, flames painted the sky in shades of orange and red.

By the time they arrived, it was chaos.

Trucks engulfed in fire. Goods destroyed. A few of their men—wounded or dead.

Tunde clenched his jaw. "This bastard isn't playing."

Joshua scanned the scene. This wasn't just an attack.

It was a warning.

A message.

Umaru wanted him to know—no matter how far he climbed, he could still be burned.

But Joshua wasn't the type to sit back.

He turned to his men. "Where's the nearest of Umaru's clubs?"

Adisa blinked. "You wanna hit back? Now?"

Joshua's eyes burned. "We hit harder."

Lekki – Umaru's VIP Lounge

The club was packed. Loud music. Bright lights. Women in expensive dresses and men with fat wallets.

But none of that mattered.

Because Joshua's crew had just walked in.

Tunde took point, slipping past security unnoticed. Adisa followed. Joshua moved last, hands in his pockets.

At the far end of the club, a group of Umaru's men were drinking, laughing.

They had no idea what was coming.

Joshua nodded once.

Tunde made the first move.

He slid behind one of the guards and—SNAP.

The man crumpled.

Before the others could react, Adisa was already moving.

Gunshot.

The bottle in one of the men's hands exploded.

Then, chaos.

Joshua grabbed a pool stick, swung it into another man's ribs. The guy gasped, staggering back.

Tunde flipped a table, kicking a chair straight into someone's face.

Adisa grabbed a glass bottle, smashed it over a man's head.

Screams. People running.

By the time the dust settled, Umaru's club was in ruins.

Joshua wiped his hands. "Send him a message."

Tunde took a phone, recording a short video of the unconscious men.

Then, they left.

Umaru's Estate – The Call

Umaru was in the middle of dinner when his phone buzzed.

He clicked the video.

As he watched his men—beaten, broken—rage boiled inside him.

Joshua's voice came through the speakers.

"You burned my business. Now I burn yours. Let's see who loses first."

Umaru's grip on the phone cracked the screen.

Sani stepped forward. "What's the next move?"

Umaru exhaled. "We take his heart."

Joshua's Penthouse – The Unthinkable

It was past midnight when Joshua finally got back.

Exhausted, he slumped onto the couch.

Amara sat across from him, arms crossed.

"You're pushing too hard," she muttered.

Joshua chuckled. "You worried?"

She sighed. "You're making too many enemies too fast. If you fall, I fall with you."

Joshua stared at her. Then, he reached forward, pulling her close.

Their lips met.

For a moment, the war outside didn't matter.

Just them.

But then—gunshots.

Loud. Close.

Joshua pushed Amara down. "Stay low!"

The windows shattered.

Bullets ripped through the penthouse.

Adisa and Tunde burst into the room, guns drawn.

"They're here!"

Joshua grabbed his pistol, rolling behind the couch.

Outside, multiple black SUVs had pulled up.

Shadows moved toward the building.

Umaru had sent an army.

And this time, they weren't here to send a message.

They were here to end it.