A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 32

PART TWO

FOUR YEARS LATER

Nkosikhona

Nkosikhona stepped out of the towering iron gates, feeling the weight of six years in prison lift from his shoulders. He took a deep breath, the scent of the city mingling with the dusty air-a blend of car exhaust, street food, and a hint of freedom. He glanced around, the world outside moving at a pace that felt foreign to him. Cars honked in the distance, a group of school kids ran past laughing, and the warmth of the late afternoon sun soaked into his skin. For a moment, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to enjoy the simple pleasure of just being outside.

"Nkosi, my man!" Thabo called out from across the street, waving him over with a grin. Thabo had been true to his word, waiting for him at the prison gate in his old red Golf, rusted around the edges but reliable as always. Nkosikhona felt a rush of gratitude. For four years, Thabo had been his eyes and ears on the outside. Now, it was time to put their long-hatched plan into motion.

"Thabo," Nkosikhona greeted with a nod, his tone reserved but appreciative. As much as he wanted to celebrate, the weight of what was to come loomed over him. Freedom wasn't just about walking the streets again. For him, it was about taking back everything the Mthembu family had stolen from him. Revenge had been his driving force for the past four years.

Thabo clapped him on the back. "Let's get out of here, man. I'm sure you're sick of seeing these walls."

"More than you can imagine," Nkosikhona muttered, sliding into the passenger seat.

They drove in silence for a while, Nkosikhona watching the city he once knew pass by in flashes. The Johannesburg skyline was both familiar and alien, like a long-lost lover who had moved on without him. His mind raced with thoughts of his plan, of the vengeance that had fueled him through the darkest nights.

Eventually, they pulled up to a tavern in Thabo's neighborhood. It was modest, a local spot with a shisa nyama outside and the faint thumping of music in the background. Nkosikhona stepped out of the car and stretched, breathing in the scent of grilled meat and beer. It felt good to be around people again, to see life moving on after years of staring at the same prison walls.

Inside, the tavern was lively. People laughed, music blared, and women in bright dresses danced to the beat. Nkosikhona's eyes lingered on the crowd for a moment, appreciating the normalcy of it all. This was what he had craved-freedom, excitement, the energy of being surrounded by life. But he knew it was temporary. He had unfinished business to attend to.

They grabbed a table in the corner, away from the noise but close enough to enjoy the atmosphere. Thabo ordered beers for them both, and they sat in companionable silence for a while, just taking it all in.

"Been a long time since I've been around this," Nkosikhona said, his voice almost drowned out by the music.

"Too long," Thabo agreed, handing him a cold beer. "But you're out now. Time to enjoy it."

Nkosikhona took a swig, the bitterness of the beer grounding him. "I didn't get out to sit around and drink, Thabo. We've got work to do."

Thabo chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, you couldn't even wait a day to just relax? We just got out of prison, Nkosi. At least give yourself one night to breathe."

"I've had four years to think, to plan," Nkosikhona said, leaning in. "I didn't spend that time dreaming about drinking beer. I want to see their faces when we've cleaned them out, man. I want to see them squirm when they realize they've lost everything."

Thabo's expression sobered, and he nodded slowly. "Yeah... I'm sure it'll be satisfying. But we've got to be smart about this. We need a solid plan if we're gonna pull this off."