By His Grace

Chapter 3: Mr. Ojaga's Message

The evening air hung thick with tension as the Ugbeiva family sat around the dinner table in  complete silence. The remnants of their meal lay untouched, plates half-filled with food that no one had the appetite to eat. Uyi's brow was furrowed, his eyes darting to the window every few moments as if expecting trouble to come crashing through the door at any moment.

Lydia's hands trembled slightly as she cleared the table, her movements betraying the anxiety that gnawed at her insides. Omozusi sat with his head lowered, the weight of Efosa's impulsive actions settling heavily on his shoulders. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken fears, and Efosa, who had once been filled with righteous anger, now felt the cold tendrils of guilt creeping in.

The front door creaked open, interrupting the heavy silence. "I'll get it," Efosa mumbled, trying to shake off the dread that had settled in his chest. As he moved toward the door, he could feel a strange sense of foreboding in the pit of his stomach.

Standing at the door was Makinwa, the same enforcer who had confronted him earlier. The streetlight cast shadows across the man's muscular frame, making him appear larger than life. He wore a smirk that sent chills down Efosa's spine, and the faint smell of cigarette smoke lingered around him like a predator marking its territory.

"Una good evening," Makinwa said, his voice smooth but laced with a sinister undertone. "Mind if I come in?"

Efosa hesitated but stepped aside, allowing Makinwa to enter. The enforcer sauntered into the living room, hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, exuding an air of casual menace.

Uyi stood, straightening his back, eyes narrowing. "What do you want, bros Makinwa?" he demanded, his voice steady but strained.

Makinwa's grin widened as he took a seat, leaning back in a way that suggested he was perfectly at ease. "Oh, just came to check in on you folks. Remember there was a little commotion today?"His eyes sparkled with amusement as he surveyed the family.

"This your boy get mind wella," he continued, directing his gaze at Efosa. "But all these small small mind when him dey gather fit put am for big-big trouble, hope say you know?bEspecially around here."(His guts will put him in trouble, hope you know that?)

Lydia flinched at his words, her heart racing. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Makinwa leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his demeanor shifting to one of feigned concern. "I mean, it's real dangerous to be stirring up trouble. You've all been under Mr. Ojaga's grace for a long time, and we wouldn't want to see that taken away."

Efosa clenched his fists at his sides, anger rising within him again, but he held his tongue, fear of the consequences keeping him in check. The weight of Makinwa's words sank in like a stone, and the sense of hopelessness enveloped him like a thick fog.

"Do you think this is a game?" Makinwa continued, his voice dropping to a low growl. "You owe a lot of money, Mr. Uyi. And debts like yours come with strings attached. You wouldn't want to see your family suffer because of a moment of recklessness."

"We're doing our best," Uyi replied, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone. "We're working to pay it off. Just give us more time."

Makinwa shrugged, the amusement never leaving his face. "Time's a luxury, my friend. And Mr. Ojaga doesn't like to be kept waiting. He's a patient man, but his patience runs out when provoked."

Lydia stood frozen, gripping the edge of the kitchen counter, the weight of fear pressing down on her. She exchanged worried glances with Omozusi, who shifted uneasily, caught between the urge to protect Efosa and the reality of their situation.

Efosa met Makinwa's gaze, a flicker of defiance igniting within him. "I am not afraid of you," he said, surprising himself with his boldness.

Makinwa's smile faltered for just a moment, and Efosa felt a surge of adrenaline. "I think, no, I believe that you should be," Makinwa replied, voice cold. "You might want to remind yourself who's in charge here."

With that, Makinwa stood up, brushing off his jacket as if the encounter had been little more than an inconvenience. "You've got a little time to think things over, but don't forget your place, kid. And remember—there's always a price for defiance."

He turned to leave, but not before glancing back at Efosa, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Take care of your family, Efosa. You wouldn't want anything to happen to them."

The door swung shut behind Makinwa with a resonating thud that echoed through the house. The oppressive silence that followed was deafening, and Efosa felt the weight of the enforcer's words crashing down around him like a tidal wave.

"Efosa," Uyi said, voice low and strained, "what were you thinking? You can't just provoke them like that. You put us all in danger."

"I was trying to do the right thing!" Efosa shot back, his heart racing. "I couldn't just stand by and watch him hurt Luis. Someone has to stand up to them!"

"Standing up to them will get you killed," Omozusi interjected, his voice tinged with frustration. "You need to think about the consequences of your actions."

Efosa's eyes burned with unshed tears, a whirlwind of guilt and anger churning within him. "I am tired of being afraid! I am tired of living under their thumb!"

"Being tired won't change anything!" Uyi exclaimed, his voice rising. "We have a debt to pay, and those men don't care about our feelings. They only care about power."

In that moment, the weight of his family's fear settled heavily on Efosa's shoulders. He had acted impulsively, and now their lives hung in the balance because of it. As guilt gnawed at him, he made a quiet vow to himself: he would find a way to escape Ojaga's grip on their lives.

No more living in fear. No more being a pawn in someone else's game.

As the reality of the situation sank in, Efosa knew he had to be smarter, stronger. He would devise a plan, gather allies, and expose the monster that loomed over them. In the face of fear and hopelessness, he would rise, determined to reclaim their lives and protect his family, no matter the cost.

Hey guys! Another chapter down and the emotion and the tension  just keeps rising. Share your comments. Predict the next two chapters if you can.

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