Mine To Heal

Chapter 31

OMNISCIENT

Munira stood in front of the mirror, her fingers lingering on the cold metal of the bulletproof vest beneath her black baggy t-shirt. It felt like armor, something that separated her from the world outside—a barrier between the woman she had been and the one she was about to become. Her reflection seemed foreign to her now, yet somehow familiar, as though the anger she had felt for so long had finally shaped her into something unrecognizable yet undeniable.

She adjusted the black veil securely around her head, the soft fabric concealing her identity, while her heart raced in anticipation. The hour had come, the moment when everything would be decided.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She turned, seeing Hisham standing there, his own black sweats fitting tightly around his chest and shoulders, his eyes filled with the same determination she felt. He was dressed for war, just as she was.

"Muni..." His voice cracked, a mixture of love and fear. "You don't have to do this."

She walked toward him, her eyes never leaving his. "I have to. For myself. For us. For the baby." She placed a hand over her stomach, her fingers trembling, but not from fear—something else. Something powerful. "I have to do this, Hisham."

His eyes softened, but the concern never left. "I know, but... don't you think we should wait for the right moment? It's dangerous. We don't know what Aliyu is capable of—what he might do."

"I've waited long enough," she replied, her voice a low whisper. "And he's already taken enough from me. From us."

There was a long pause, and then he nodded, giving her a final look of understanding. "I'll be right there with you."

"Good," she whispered back. She turned away, trying to steady her breathing. This wasn't just about ending Aliyu's reign of terror—it was about her taking back her life, her autonomy. No one else could do this for her.

Her parents were waiting downstairs, along with her brothers and the detectives. As she descended the stairs, she could hear her mother's voice rising in concern, her father's deep, steady voice trying to calm her.

"Mama, Baba," Munira said softly, stepping into the living room, "this is my choice. I'm going."

"Munira, please," her mother, Ammi, said, her voice breaking. She stood up, her hands trembling. "Don't do this. It's too dangerous."

"Mama, I'm not asking for your approval," Munira replied, her voice firm. "I'm doing this for me. For our future."

Her father, Baba, stepped forward, his face lined with worry. "We don't know what Aliyu will do. This could be a trap, Muni. Let the detectives handle this."

Munira shook her head, a sad smile forming on her lips. "They can't. They don't know him like I do. They don't know how he thinks, how he manipulates everything around him. If we wait, it'll be too late."

Her brothers, Ahmed and Zayd, stood at the back of the room, silent but visibly tense. Ahmed stepped forward, his fists clenched. "You don't have to do this, sis. Let's wait for backup—"

"No, Ahmed," Munira interrupted, her tone unyielding. "This is my fight. I need to finish this. I need to see him pay for what he did to me." She met her brothers' eyes, seeing their concern but also their respect for her decision.

Hisham, standing by her side, placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll go together," he said. "We're in this together."

The detectives, who had been watching silently in the background, exchanged uneasy glances. Detective Adebayo, the lead investigator, cleared his throat. "We've got the tip about Aliyu's location. He's hiding out at a warehouse on the outskirts of Abuja. It's a long shot, but it's the best lead we've got."

Munira's gaze hardened. "Then let's go."

With a final look at her family, who were all still trying to convince her to stay behind, Munira turned toward the door. She wasn't going to let fear control her anymore.

The warehouse loomed ahead as their convoy of black SUVs drove toward the outskirts of Abuja. The night was thick with tension, the air heavy with anticipation. Munira, Hisham, her brothers, and the detectives all wore the same black sweats, the same determined expressions. The only difference was that Munira's shirt hung loose around her waist, while Hisham's was tight-fitting, a symbol of his readiness to protect her.

As they approached the warehouse, Munira's heart raced. Every muscle in her body was primed, every instinct screaming that the moment was near. She looked at Hisham, who gave her a nod, and then at her brothers, who were just as resolute.

"Stay sharp," Detective Adebayo said quietly. "This could go south very quickly."

They exited the SUVs, and the group moved toward the warehouse with calculated precision. Munira's breath came in shallow bursts, but she forced herself to stay calm, her eyes scanning every corner, every shadow.

The warehouse doors were slightly ajar, a faint light spilling out. As they moved inside, Munira's mind raced with the possibilities. Aliyu was here. She could feel it. He was close.

And then, a voice cut through the silence.

"Well, well, well..." Aliyu's voice echoed from the shadows. "I knew you would come. I just didn't think you'd be so bold."

Munira stepped forward, her eyes locking with his. There was no fear now. Only fury.

"You took everything from me, Aliyu," she said, her voice steady, yet full of venom. "But tonight, it ends."

Aliyu smirked. "You think you can take me down? You're just a woman. What are you going to do?"

Before anyone could react, Aliyu pulled a gun from his jacket, aiming it straight at Munira's chest. Without hesitation, he fired.

The deafening sound of the gunshot filled the air, but Munira didn't flinch. Her bulletproof vest absorbed the blow, and she didn't even stumble.

Aliyu's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized what had happened.

"NO!" he shouted, before turning to flee.

"Not so fast," Detective Adebayo said, grabbing his arm. The other detectives quickly closed in, securing Aliyu and his men.

In the chaos, Munira looked down at her chest, feeling the protective vest beneath her clothes. Her heart was still racing, but she knew the plan had worked. Aliyu had underestimated her.

As the detectives handcuffed him, one of them came forward with a grim look on his face. "We've got a bigger problem, Munira. Someone close to you, someone who's been part of your father's circle for years... They've been working with Aliyu. They were the ones who fed him information, who enabled him to move freely."

Munira froze. Her blood ran cold as the realization hit her. The man she had trusted, the one who had been a part of her family for years, had betrayed them all.

Hisham turned to her, his face hardening. "We'll deal with this, together."

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