Ties That Bind

EP39

The night was heavy with tension, and the air thick with the stench of spilled liquor as Kabir sat slumped on the couch, drinking more than his mind or body could handle. The bottle of Azul in his hand was nearly empty, his eyes glassy and far away. Andre and Seyi exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to break through the thick fog of guilt and anger that surrounded Kabir.

The television flickered in the background, tuned to the news, though none of them cared to watch. It was just another meaningless distraction in a night full of dead ends and hollow frustration. Andre paced back and forth, trying to think, to piece together who could possibly be the mole that betrayed them, but his mind kept running into the same wall.

"Kabir’s circle is tight," Andre muttered, running a hand through his hair. "These are respectable men, trusted allies. Who could be working against us like this?"

Seyi sat on the arm of a nearby chair, staring at the floor in thought. "I don’t know. It’s hard to imagine any of them turning on Kabir. But it has to be someone close, someone with enough access to cause all this damage."

Kabir, silent for the most part, raised the bottle to his lips again, taking a long, burning swig. The alcohol did little to numb the anger that simmered beneath his skin. He barely heard Andre and Seyi as they continued to theorize, the sound of their voices blurring into the background.

Then, something on the TV caught his attention. It wasn’t the news anchor that made his breath hitch or the scrolling headlines beneath the screen. No, it was the voice.

The voice of the man being interviewed.

Kabir’s body went rigid, his ears tuning in with laser focus. The voice—it sent a shiver down his spine. A familiar, mocking tone that instantly ignited the raw fury buried deep inside him. He whipped his head toward the screen, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

“That’s... that’s the voice,” Kabir mumbled, his mouth dry. The bottle slipped from his hand, crashing onto the floor. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the room, but none of them reacted. The Azul’s blue liquid spilled freely across the marble floor, but Kabir’s attention was elsewhere. His heart raced, his mind scrambling to piece together the realization that had just slammed into him.

Seyi stood up, eyes darting to the television, and Andre quickly followed suit.

“The private number," Kabir repeated, his voice louder now, his chest tightening. "That’s the man from the private number!"

Andre’s brow furrowed in confusion as he squinted at the screen. "But... that’s Senator Akinwale," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Kabir shook his head, fury boiling over as his hands balled into fists. "I don’t care if it’s the goddamn president. It’s his voice! I’m damn sure of it!"

Seyi’s eyes widened as the weight of Kabir’s words settled in. "Could it be him?" Seyi asked, standing now, adrenaline coursing through him. "Is Akinwale the close person we’ve been looking for?"

Kabir’s knuckles turned white as his fists tightened. His voice was low, barely controlled. "If he’s the one... if Akinwale is behind this... I’ll tear his guts out with my bare hands."

Andre and Seyi exchanged a quick glance, the wheels in their minds turning fast. "We need to be smart about this," Andre cautioned. "If Akinwale really is the one pulling the strings, we’ll have to strategize. He’s not just some thug; he’s powerful, connected."

Kabir’s mind raced back to a conversation he had with Zara, months before the election. She’d warned him about Senator Akinwale—called him a snake in sheep’s clothing. She told Kabir that the man had dangerous ambition, that he could never be trusted. But Kabir, consumed by his own hunger for power and success, had brushed off her concerns.

And now, it had all come crashing down. His ambition had blinded him, and now Zara was paying the price.

Kabir clenched his jaw, his rage spilling over. "She was right," he muttered to himself, his voice bitter. "Zara warned me. She told me Akinwale was a snake, but I didn’t listen. I was too blinded by ambition, too focused on winning."

Seyi placed a hand on Kabir’s shoulder, his voice steady. "We’ll make this right, Kabir. But we need to move carefully. If Akinwale is the man behind this, we’re not just dealing with some petty criminal. He has the resources and influence to cover his tracks. We need to be precise, or we’ll lose everything."

Kabir nodded, his mind still reeling from the revelation. "We’ll take him down," he said, his voice full of determination. "But first, we save Zara. And then we bring him to his knees."

Kabir paced around, frustration etched on his face as he struggled to wrap his mind around the situation. Andre and Seyi stood by, deep in thought.

"Okay, so we know it’s Akinwale," Kabir began, his voice low, almost menacing. "But who’s he working with? Who's the rival pulling the strings behind him?"

Andre sighed. "Akinwale wouldn’t be bold enough to pull this off alone. He’s a puppet, but someone else is holding the strings."

Seyi nodded. "The real question is, who hates you enough to go this far? To kidnap Zara, threaten your seat, and still stay hidden?"

Kabir stopped pacing and clenched his fists. "There are so many people in this game... Politics is a jungle. But this… this feels personal. Whoever this rival is, they know me. They know my weaknesses, my family—Zara."

Andre frowned. "It’s someone who’s been close enough to study you, to understand your moves, your alliances. But who could it be?"

Seyi rubbed his chin, thinking aloud. "The people who had everything to lose with your election—people from the opposition, sure, but also those who once supported you. It’s not always the obvious enemies."

Kabir thought back to the last few months. The power plays, the political rivalries, the alliances that had shifted like sand under his feet. "What if it’s not just one person?"

"What do you mean?" Andre asked.

Kabir exhaled sharply. "Akinwale isn’t the mastermind, he’s the tool. But it’s possible that multiple people could be involved. A rival from the opposing party, maybe even someone from within my own circle—people who’ve wanted to see me fall for months."

Andre cursed under his breath. "Who would gain the most if you’re out of the picture?"

Kabir’s eyes narrowed. "Whoever this rival is, they’re powerful. They’ve stayed hidden long enough and moved all the right pieces."

Seyi looked at him. "So, we know it’s Akinwale, but who stands to gain from bringing you down? Who’s been lying in wait, watching all this unfold?"

The room fell silent as the weight of that question lingered in the air. They were close, but the real enemy still eluded them—silent, calculating, and dangerously close to winning.