Ties That Bind

EP40

The next morning, Kabir woke up with a singular focus—bring Zara home, no matter the cost. He dressed with purpose, donning a crisp black shirt, black trousers, and matching black palms. The attire wasn’t just for show; it was his armor for the war he was prepared to wage. Today, he would stop at nothing to find his wife, even if it meant crossing lines he never thought he’d cross.

By the time the clock struck eight, Kabir, Andre, Seyi, and a group of trusted officers had already gathered at the government house. The tension was thick in the air, but Kabir’s resolve was unshakable. Every step he took, every breath, was for Zara. She was out there, somewhere, waiting for him to bring her home.

They headed to Alhaji Ahmad’s residence with one clear objective: to bait the real mastermind out of the shadows. Alhaji Ahmad greeted them with the same grim determination, his eyes reflecting both anger and pain. It wasn’t just Kabir’s war—it was his too.

They sat in the drawing room of Zara’s father’s house, laying out the plan carefully.

"Kabir, Andre, and the officers will remain in the shadows," Seyi explained, standing at the center of the room. "The key player here is you, Alhaji. You’ll visit Akinwale’s house under the guise of a business proposition. We need you to act normal—like you don’t have a clue about Zara's whereabouts."

Alhaji Ahmad folded his arms, the lines on his face deepening. "And if he asks about Zara?"

"Keep it vague," Kabir interjected, his voice low but forceful. "Tell him you’ve not spoken to her in a while but assume she’s fine. Make it seem like you’re more focused on business."

Alhaji nodded, though his jaw tightened. "I’ll act the part, but if this goes south..."

"It won’t," Kabir said, more to himself than anyone else. "We just need him or his partner to slip up. Once Akinwale is desperate enough, he’ll contact his partner. Whoever he calls—" Kabir’s voice grew sharp, "that’s our target."

Andre added, "Your job is to keep an eye on that phone, Sir. We need that name. Once we have it, we move to the next stage."

Silence settled over the room as the gravity of the situation sunk in. This was risky, but it was their best shot.

Zara’s father looked at each of them in turn, then said, "If this plan goes right, we’ll get the name, and then..." His voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear. The plan would move forward swiftly, without hesitation.

Seyi nodded. "Once we have the name, we’ll immediately put the next plan into action."

Kabir’s eyes were hard as steel as he spoke, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "This ends today. I don’t care who’s behind it. Whoever they are, they’re not walking away from this."

They all knew the stakes. They had no time to lose, no room for error. Alhaji Ahmad would play his role perfectly, and with any luck, Akinwale or his partner would be desperate enough to make a move.

"Let’s do this," Kabir said, his voice full of dark promise.

Today, by hook or by crook, he would bring Zara back.

Alhaji Ahmad walked into Senator Akinwale’s mansion, maintaining a calm façade even though his heart raced with anticipation. He had to play his part perfectly—act as though he was completely unaware of Zara's situation, that he was simply here to discuss business. His mission was crucial. Any misstep could jeopardize everything.

As he sat across from Akinwale, sipping the tea offered to him, he observed the man’s every movement, waiting for a sign, a slip—anything. They exchanged pleasantries, the conversation flowing naturally about politics and business. Akinwale was playing his role well too, feigning interest in Ahmad’s supposed proposition.

But then, the moment Alhaji Ahmad had been waiting for came. Akinwale’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. He glanced at it briefly, and for just a split second, two letters flashed across the screen: **J. A.**

Akinwale's expression didn’t falter, but his action was telling. He immediately declined the call. Alhaji Ahmad noted the subtle tension in the senator’s hand, the way he briefly clenched his jaw before continuing their conversation as if nothing had happened. It was enough—more than enough.

They wrapped up the discussion, exchanging fake smiles and firm handshakes, and Alhaji Ahmad left the mansion with one piece of critical information: J.A.

As soon as he was clear of the property, Alhaji dialed Kabir. His voice was low and steady as he relayed what he saw. "Kabir, it’s J.A. Those were the letters. The moment he saw the call, he declined it."

Kabir didn’t need more than a second to process. He knew exactly who J.A. was. "It’s Jide Adeyemi," Kabir growled. His mind flashed to his political rival, a man from the opposing PRP party who had always been his most significant threat. "That snake’s been behind this the whole time."

Seyi and Andre exchanged glances, both coming to the same conclusion. This was the break they needed.

"We’ll handle Akinwale," Seyi said, already on his feet. "We’ll send a security team to his house and detain him before he tries anything stupid."

"No mistakes," Kabir added, his voice icy. "He’s not slipping through our fingers."

As the security officers were dispatched to Senator Akinwale's residence, Kabir and his team prepared to confront the mastermind—Jide Adeyemi. By the time they were ready to move, it was close to 6 PM. Every minute felt like a countdown, and they knew they had no time to waste.

They drove swiftly to Jide’s house, Kabir's nerves a mix of rage and cold calculation. They couldn’t afford any more delays. The moment they arrived, however, they were met with an unexpected hitch.

Jide Adeyemi wasn’t home.

Instead, his wife greeted them at the door, her face showing polite confusion. "My husband isn’t around," she said with a gentle smile, clearly unaware of the storm brewing.

Kabir’s thoughts raced. This was a problem. If they left now, Jide’s wife would undoubtedly call her husband, and Jide would realize that his cover had been blown. They couldn’t afford that. Kabir couldn't allow Jide to slip away and hide.

Kabir made a snap decision—one that would send a message. "We’re taking them," he said, turning to Andre and Seyi. His voice was hard, final.

Andre looked at him with surprise. "The wife? The kids?"

Kabir nodded, his face grim. "No harm will come to them. But they’re leverage. If Jide knows we have his family, he’ll come to us. We won’t need to go chasing him down. Let’s make sure he knows we mean business."

Andre nodded and swiftly took charge. "I’ll get them to your house, Kabir. We’ll keep them in the same place as Doyin. No one will lay a finger on them, but they’ll be secure."

Jide’s wife’s face paled as Kabir gave the signal. She knew something was wrong—terribly wrong. Before she could protest, Andre and two officers stepped forward, and her polite confusion morphed into panic.

"What are you doing?!" she screamed, trying to shield her children behind her. "You can’t just take us!"

Her fear-filled eyes darted between Kabir and Andre, but there was no mercy in their cold, determined expressions. One of the children began to cry, clinging tightly to her leg, and she trembled, her voice shaking. "Please, we haven’t done anything—"

Kabir cut her off, his voice chillingly calm. "You’re coming with us. This isn’t about you, but if your husband doesn’t come forward, then I’m sure he won’t mind putting his family in jeopardy."

Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded. "No, please—what are you going to do to us?"

Andre gestured for the officers to escort her and the children out. "We won’t harm you, but you’re leverage. You’re going to make sure Jide comes out of hiding."

Her resistance was futile as they were ushered into a waiting car. She sobbed openly, the fear in her eyes saying everything as her children clung to her, equally terrified.

Kabir watched, his expression unreadable, but the message was clear. If Jide wanted his family back, he would have to come to them.