BROWN (Hadiza)

uno - you.

2 am

"Yes, we need you to drive to the station and identify the body," ASP Babatunde said into the phone.

"OK, I am sending some of my boys over now," replied a lanky figure in a shady part of town.

"the price don increase o," said the greedy ASP.

"don't worry, we will settle," replied the figure irritated at the police man but oh well he kept their activities hidden.

"Guy, e don do now. You know this is how the business is," said the lanky figure to his much buffer colleague sitting next to him on the bench.

"I know say you and Spider bin dey close but wetin don happen don happen. The next target now na me, you or Dragon. You know how the thing is," he completed.

His colleague sitting next to him did not give a fuck about being shot. In fact, he would love to get killed in place of the immense pain he was in.

He stood up, a bit shaken, threw 5 1k notes at his colleague and made to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"Where does it look like I am going?"

"How about the money?" he asked, referring to the 50k that had gotten Spider killed.

He gave his colleague a pointed look in response, hissed and dragged himself away.

He planned to go home but he ended up at a bar in downtown Abuja.

Orange Club & Bars, it read.

He could tell by the gold, black and touch of orange interior, the music, the expensive looking men and skimpy dressed ladies that it was for the 1%.

He had roughly 43k on him and he decided that was enough for a few shots.

He stumbled into the club and made his way to the bar.

3 am

She had just served Ade, a regular customer when she sighted, well more like smelled him.

There was a strong stench that followed him. It wasn't that strong actually but she had a sensitive nose.

He was chocolate skinned, tall, maybe 6'4, buff, he had his sideburns trimmed nicely and his beard trimmed low, he had the waviest waves, and two earrings. He was heavily tatted, on his arms, his neck and even a small cross on his left cheekbone. He was wearing a simple black tee, black sweats, black
vans and a black base ball cap.

Everything about him screamed black and dangerous.

"What can I get you?" she said.

He looked down at her and they made eye contact.

His eyes were sad and heavily laced with emotion but she took no notice of this and kept her blank stare.

He heaved a sigh and sat on a stool.

"6 shots of flaming cognac," he said.

She wondered if he was trying to kill himself but oh well.

"Coming right up," she replied.

He didn't know what it was but after 3 bitter yet needed shots, he started to cry.
He just lost his brother, albeit not blood brother but he and Spider had known each other from when he was 9 and Spider was 13. Everyhing he had ever owned from 9 to now 24 was Spider's own. His food, his clothes, his house, shit even his girls. Yes, he made his own money but they were all as a result of Spider. Even, the situation that they fell into when he was just 14 and Spider was 18 was because of him. He had messed with some people he wasn't supposed to and Spider, like always had come to his rescue. He had lost his guardian and his only family.