Jomiloju's POV
The sun rose cold over Lagos, but inside me, a fire was raging — a fierce flame of doubt and determination. Betrayal had poisoned our circle, and I could feel its toxic tendrils creeping closer with every passing hour. Trust, once the foundation of our fragile alliance, was now a shattered mirror reflecting back suspicion and fear.
I paced the room, hands clenched into fists, trying to silence the storm inside. Every face I saw felt like a potential enemy. Every word spoken sounded like a lie hiding beneath truth.
Steve caught my restless gaze and stepped forward. "We have to stay sharp," he said, voice low and steady, but his eyes held a flicker of worry. "The spider's web is tighter than we thought."
Steve's POV
The betrayal cut deeper than any bullet. I'd trusted these men with my life, only to find venom in their veins.
But my focus wasn't just survival anymore — it was protecting Jomi. She was my light in this darkness, the reason I fought to keep my demons at bay.
I couldn't let her see how fragile I was beneath the armor.
Jomiloju's POV
Later, alone in the dim light of the safehouse kitchen, I caught my reflection in the cracked window — a girl transformed by fire and fear. I touched the scar that a bullet had left on my arm, a constant reminder that this war was real.
A soft knock startled me. Steve entered quietly, his gaze softer than before.
"We need to talk," he said.
I nodded, bracing for the weight of his words.
Steve's Confession
He sat beside me, the silence stretching between us like a fragile thread.
"There's something I haven't told you," he began, voice rough. "About Koleosho... about my past."
My heart thudded. I wanted to hear it all, to understand the man behind the ruthless façade.
"I was once close to him," Steve admitted. "Before I became what I am now. Before I chose this path."
The revelation shook me — the lines between friend and foe, love and hate, blurred.
The Fracture Widens
News came that night — one of our trusted men had been caught meeting with Koleosho's allies.
The room erupted in anger and fear.
Who else was playing both sides?
Who else was waiting to strike?
Jomiloju's Resolve
I stood tall despite the tremor inside.
"We can't fall apart," I said firmly. "Not now."
Steve looked at me — fierce, proud, vulnerable all at once.
"You're stronger than you know," he whispered.
A Moment of Vulnerability
Later, as rain hammered the windows, Steve pulled me close.
His arms were solid, a shield against the chaos.
"I'm scared," I admitted.
"Me too," he said. "But I'm here. Always."
His lips brushed my temple, a promise and a prayer.
The Web Tightens
The next days were a blur of whispered meetings, encrypted calls, and restless nights.
We worked to root out the traitor, every step dogged by danger.
Steve's POV
Every revelation felt like a knife twisting deeper.
The line between friend and foe was gone.
Only survival remained.
Jomiloju's POV
But even in the darkness, there was light — in stolen touches, whispered promises, and the slow, undeniable pull of love.