Steve's POV
The night was merciless, a black canvas smeared with the blood-red of burning buildings and shattered dreams. Lagos wasn't just a city — it was a beast, hungry and unforgiving. And tonight, it bared its fangs at us.
I felt every heartbeat like a countdown. Every sound was amplified, every shadow a threat.
But my focus was Jomi — the fragile rose caught in the middle of a storm that wanted to consume us both.
Her safety wasn't negotiable. Not anymore.
Jomiloju's POV
The safehouse had become a fortress of memories — some beautiful, most painful. The aftermath of the raid left us battered, but not broken.
I sat by the window, watching the city burn in the distance, flames licking the night sky like vengeful spirits.
"Steve," I whispered, "how did it come to this?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out an old, worn photograph — a faded image of a boy with haunted eyes and a family torn apart.
Steve's Flashback
I saw myself through Jomi's eyes — a boy betrayed, left to rot in a world that had no place for mercy.
My father was a man both feared and loved in the mafia's shadow. But betrayal came from within — from those we trusted most.
I was just a child when the massacre happened. Blood stained the walls, screams drowned in silence.
I survived, but the boy who emerged was no longer innocent.
Jomiloju's POV
Her fingers trembled as she traced the photo.
"You carry so much pain."
I wanted to reach out, to heal the scars I couldn't see.
He looked at me, eyes burning with a fierce fire.
"But pain can be strength," he said. "If you let it."
The Weight of Secrets
We were two broken souls, tethered together by fate and fire.
But secrets had a way of clawing back, threatening to tear us apart.
I had questions — about his past, about Koleosho, about the men who hunted us.
And I was scared of the answers.
A Night Interrupted
Before I could speak, the safehouse alarm blared — shrill and urgent.
Steve's body tensed. "They're here."
We grabbed weapons, hearts pounding like war drums.
The Attack
Shadows crashed against the walls — men armed and merciless.
Gunfire shattered the night, echoing through the empty streets.
I found myself pressed against Steve, every breath a promise, every heartbeat a prayer.
Steve's POV
We fought like demons, blood and sweat mixing in the chaos.
But the enemy was ruthless, driven by hate and power.
I caught a glimpse of the leader — Koleosho's right hand, a man whose cruelty knew no bounds.
Jomiloju's POV
Fear threatened to swallow me whole, but Steve's steady presence was a lifeline.
He whispered, "Stay close. Don't let go."
I nodded, gripping his arm like it was the only thing keeping me tethered to life.
The Aftermath
The attackers retreated, leaving destruction in their wake.
We were alive — but barely.
The safehouse was a ruin, and so was the fragile hope we had built.
A Quiet Moment
As dawn crept over the horizon, Steve and I sat amidst the rubble.
His hand found mine, a silent vow in the chaos.
"We can't keep running," he said. "We have to fight."
I nodded, fear and determination warring inside me.
The Plan
We would take the fight to Koleosho — to the heart of the enemy.
But first, we needed allies. People we could trust. People willing to risk everything for a cause bigger than themselves.
Jomiloju's POV
I swallowed the fear that threatened to choke me.
"This isn't just about survival anymore," I said softly. "It's about reclaiming our lives."
Steve's eyes met mine, fierce and unwavering.
"And we'll do it together."