Deasegun19:
Redmosquito : African Nerd
Repogirl: Forever and for always
Audrey timms: Letting go
Larrysun: Journey of a thousand flash
RueEl12: Nephilim
Silver1996: married and single
ironkurtain: Bloodline
sokodobo: Beneath my heart
devilpen: my demon sister
solomonbrown64: Choices, choices another perspective, A broken destiny a sword of vengeance
oyinprince: Tarasha
kayo80: In the end...the beginning
shiekshegetto: The children of thunder ...

Thanks for the mention ���

King2019:
Hello brother

I have personal questions,

Do you have any platform that we can use to communicate in English?

You can add me on WhatsApp 82 10 3936 0456

Ciara9251:


Writing is done out of passion... yes - but the people ought to be dropping something... at least to be encouraging and not make the writer seem he doesn't know what he's doing. The ghost readers on Nairaland are too much, and it's not good at all. What shall it profit a man to see something, to read something so good, only to pass and not say anything. Maybe you should try writing multiple stories and see what I'm talking about!

My sister i know cos i have three completed stories.

As for the last story, it will soon be completed. Pls do exercise alittle patience. Have a blessed day.

Vidamia:
why did you abandon us with update about your blockbuster story......please come complete the story. Abeg you

My good brother i'm really sorry for the long silence. This Covid wahalla really got me running in circles throughout this year. The wife is not working cos my daughter is not going to kindergarten for almost a year now. We are taking serious precautions so i'm the solo breadwinner in the family and that means no holiday for me. Well it will soon be over.....but the story i have now i intend to put it in Kindle books.

After 8am over here and navigating through the morning traffic. You have a blessed day.

King2019:


Wow I wonder how Korea is like but I am studying the language just for the fun of it

Hope things are good for you there?

That's cool bro. Anyway everybody are doing their thing over here and the country is doing quite well.

King2019:


Are you still in Korea?

Yeah my brother. The fam is here with me.

Annyeonghaseyo my bros[quote author=King2019 post=95907855]Ironkurtain viewing

Edeyoung:



Please i need help in building my writing skills
Dont know if u can help out please

Writing skill is a continuous learning process. Read alot of books, practice alot more and try to find ur own unique writing style and continuously build on it.

Edeyoung:



Hello

Hello

joshuaboss9:
ops sorry bro
may God help the more

Amen to that and God bless u my brother.

ashatoda:

oh that's somehow bad meanwhile take your time and I pray that God will intervene in Jesus name. to be sincere I will love a part 3 of the story thanks for not forgetting us

Thanks..i appreciate ur words of encouragement God bless u

Lately i have being caught up in a family issue, pops is down with Alzheimers so i had to take care of him and being the firstborn, most of my days are now spent organizing and restructuring the family. So i hope u all understand my situation and the reason for my uncompleted stories.

Hello fellow nairalanders how is the weekend and the family? I would like to know, especially from my followers, what u all expect if there is a part 3 to this story? It's not a promise that there would be but opinions might make me think of one. Thanks

bigbauer:
Though the updates are coming once in 10 leapyears, ironkurtain you're doing a good job.

i know it's due to the commitments i have and i dont really like posting carelessly written stories and these days i dont have day offs.

Joe watched his man abandon him to an uncertain fate and then looked at Frank. He swallowed hard and said, "Look man, i dont know who you are or what your....boss want". Then he looked Sara. "I'm only taking care of some business that i have with her", he said to her with fear in his voice and pointed at the waitress.

"That's why we are here", Sara said. "To put an end to this business".

Joe sighed with a worrisome look. "Yo man you know how it is. They take loans and they have to pay up", he said desperately to Frank.

"Not after robbing the person of the money that you loaned them", Sara put in and Joe stared at her with a surprised look on his face. "So as to make the same person take out another loan and then force the said person pay a very high interest rate", she continued. "To me that's an unfair business practice".

Hearing what Sara just said, the waitress gave Joe a suspicious glare. "Did you send those men that robbed me?" She asked with anger in voice.

"You can go back work now", Sara said to the waitress. But the woman kept glaring at Joe and fuming, like she was about to pounce on the short man and rip him to pieces. "Dont worry about him. We will make sure that he doesn't bother you again, Sara continued.

Frank stepped aside and motioned at the waitress to leave. She looked at Frank and for the first time, gave him a smile. Then she looked at Sara and nodded.

"Thanks", the woman said to the girl and started heading toward the backdoor of the restaurant. On getting there, she paused and gave both Sara and Frank one more look before entering the building.

"So....", Frank sighed and looked at Sara.

"So?", Sara asked with her eyes on Joe who stared at both of them........

"Is Joe-boy gonna ride the pain-train just like his buddy did?", Frank asked.

Sara stared at Joe for a while and shook her head. "Nope. I think he has clearly gotten the message", she replied on seeing the pitiful look on the small man's face. Then Sara paused on a second thought and looked at Frank. "Unless....he intends to take revenge", she said.

Frank nodded. He turned his sight at Joe and quietly paced closer to the man. With fear still in his eyes and some limbs trembling a bit, Joe looked at Frank as he got closer, cowering to the cold look on the man's face.

"You are one lucky son of a b!tch, Joe-boy", Frank began with an evil smirk. "Very lucky cos when i'm really on the job, i would have left your b!tch-ass butchered real good. I guess today is just not your day",

Joe swallowed hard and said nothing, his entire body as still as a statue.

"But my boss' question still remain unanswered", Frank continued. "Do you have any intention on taking revenge, Joe-boy?", he asked, narrowing the steely look in his eyes. Joe replied the question with a shake of head.

"Good", Frank said quietly and nodded with pursed lips. "And it best stays that way cos you gonna be making a very large mistake if you try.....and for sure am gonna come back and kill every piece of thing you know".

Then Frank made a gesture that Joe quickly understood; his presence was no longer needed. Exhaling shakingly he looked at his other partner who was now recovering from the beatdown he had taken; the big man was now groaning and writhing in pain. Seeing that the man was totally useless to him, Joe started walking away, taking the same route the other big man had taken.

Sara watched him leave and chuckled. "Quite true what they say about you", she said to Frank. "You indeed do put the fear of God in people", she continued.

"We better get out of here before someone else sees us with him", Frank suggested. But saw that Sara was already on her way heading towards the door before he could even finish the statement. This made him sigh in frustration. Then he glanced at the man he had put down for the last time and following Sara, quickening his steps to catch up with her before she entered the building.

They went back into the eating place and Sara paid their bills after saying that she no longer wanted to be there. Frank had made the move to take care of the bills but Sara stopped him when he took out his wallet. He stayed put and watched every movements in the place just to be sure that nothing else happens as Sara took care of the expenses. She paid with a credit card that she took out from her pocket. Frank took a closer look at the plastic and saw it was a platinum credit card. When Sara was done, both of them towards the door. Frank noticed some of the customers looking at Sara and regarding him with a suspicious look. Then he tried his b

"So what next?", Frank asked they headed towards the parking lot.

"Still thinking", was Sara's response with her eyes staring into space. Then Frank made a turn as they walked and it prompted her to stop in her tracks. "Where are you going?", she asked.

"The car is over there?", Frank replied, pointing at his vehicle that was some metres away from their position. Then he suddenly realized that he never thought about how Sara came to the restaurant in the first place....or who brought her there.

Sara glanced at his car and shook her head. "Nope, we gonna take mine", she said with indifference and started heading towards a different direction.

"So what happens to my....", Frank began.

"I said we gonna take mine", Sara rudely interrupted as she headed towards another car.

Frank, still standing with his hand pointing at his car, stared as Sara walked away. He lowered the hand and tucked both hands inside the pockets of his coat, exhaling steadily to cool off the the irritating feeling building up in his guts. He was getting really tired of Sara's rude attitudes and outright disregard.

Perhaps, being young and probably the favourite daughter of some daddy with power and lots of money is the reason for her unruly behaviour. But she has to know that she's dealing with a very dangerous man with records that clearly showed that he's non-fiction. He had killed many men and most of them do put fear in men that can put fear in her. Some were bosses of very dangerous people. And this same bosses did wet themselves and cried for mercy when he was taking them out.

"Are you coming or not". Sara's voice interrupted Frank in his thoughts.

He turned and saw her standing near a 2017 Mercedes-AMG S63. Another man was also standing beside the car. The man, probably in his late fifties, Frankensteinish looking with his tall height, wore an all black chauffeur attire.

Frank gave his car one more look and went straight to where Sara was standing. He wondered what would become of his car if he should ride in hers which, by the way, clearly showed that she was no ordinary young girl.

When Frank came over, Sara introduced him to the old man."I want you to meet Mr Caleb", Sara said.

The old man regarded Frank with an expression that said nothing and put out his hand that was covered with a leather glove. Frank hesitated abit and shook the man's hand.

"Good day sir", Frank began, feeling the old man's grip that was quite strong for his age. The old man gave no reply and stared at Frank with a disturbing hollow look on his face. "Nice to meet....sir", Frank added and withdrew his hand when it seemed like the handshake was getting awkwardly long with black Frankenstein gazing at him.

"Frank is going to be taking your place", Sara the old man.

"Yes mam", Caleb slightly bowed and looked at Frank for a short while. "Mam are you sure that you are okay with this man?", he then asked and looked at Sara.

"Don't worry Caleb, i'm more than okay with him working for me", Sara reassured. "Please hand him the keys to the car", she said to Caleb. "Give yours to him", she said to Frank, telling him to give his car keys to the old man. Frank hesitated abit. "Dont worry he will take good care of it", Sara sighed. "We have already made arrangements on how to take care of your car. Caleb will drive it to where it will be well taken care of till your job is done".

Frank handed the his car key to the old man and was given the key to the Mercedes. Then Sara turned to the old man.

"I guess this is where we say goodbye", Sara said to the man with a faint smile.

"I'm sorry it seems to be so", the old man said, a sad look appeared on his face. "It's been a pleasure knowing and working for you all these years", he continued.

Sara stepped forward and hugged the old man tightly with her eyes closed. "The pleasure is mine", she murmured. "I want you to understanding why i'm doing this she added.

"I do, even though i really dont approve of it", the old man said to her. "But i will pray for you my dear".

Then Sara broke free from the hug. The old man tipped his hat at her. He looked at Frank and said, "Make sure you take good care of her", with a hard gaze and a voice that sounded like he was giving Frank a grave warning. Frank pursed his lips and nodded with a look of indifference on his face. Then the old man left them and started heading towards Frank's car.

Watching the old man till he put the Sonata sedan in motion, Frank thought about the man's last words to Sara as he turned around. Sara was already making herself comfortable in the backseat of the luxurious car. He reached for driver door handle, paused for a few moments and opened the door.

"So have you decided on what next to do", Frank asked Sara after dropping his on the driver's seat and fastening the seatbelt.

"We will be driving out of town", Sara replied.

Frank's eyebrows furrowed. He looked over his shoulder and stared at Sara who had her head rested on the seat head cushion and her eyes closed. "You want us to drive out of town?", he asked.

"You heard me right", Sara replied with her eyes still closed.

Frank looked ahead of him. "Okay.....mam", he murmured with a little bit of sarcasm in his voice and brought life to the car engine.

"There is something in the compartment box....for you", Sara continued with her eyes still closed. "One is the bank statement slip of the bonus paid into an account in your name".

Frank stared ahead thoughtfully as he drove the benz through the light traffic along the road. "And what is the other one?", he asked.

"A .22 semi-auto LR Ruger handgun with Black-Talon bullets", Sara replied. "I was told that it was your favourite weapon".

Frank got nervous. "Why are we carrying a weapon with us?", he asked intently.

"Cos you will be needing it where we are going. It will serve as an extra security", Sara said. "It is unregistered so there wont be any traces at all", she continued.

"But why are we.....".

"Enough with the questions and just drive!", Sara ordered. "I earlier told you that you can leave. If you are not comfortable with this job, a job that you are already familiar with, then you can still do so. Just drive me back to the restaurant if you want to do so", she continued sternly.

Frank remained silent. He was now getting really uncomfortable with the whole situation. But he kept on driving, taking his time in moving the vehicle along the road so as not to attract any unwanted attention from any traffic police on duty. An innocent looking girl being driven in an expensive luxurious car was enough to attract alot of curiosity, including that of the police. Carrying an unlicensed 'Heat' could make the situation worse if they start poking around the car.

Sara heaved a deep sigh that attracted Frank's glance through the rearview mirror. It was a sigh of relieve. She was glad with the way things are going, that is, the big man's decision to still go along with her plan, though it was still unknown to him. She was now really pushing her luck with him and she knew it. Pushing her luck with a very dangerous individual, as she had been told and had also read from his documents.

Ever since her enstranged father died and some men getting to know her relationship with the man that she barely knew, she now turned out to be the most sought out individual. The reason being something in her possession. Something that has to do with her father's business. The men looking for her were also in the same league as her late father and also ran the same kind of business; mafia business. And they were really out to get hold of that thing that was in her possession. Something that belonged to her.

Sara never wanted anything to do with her father, a man that she had rarely seen or even really got to know. Even being a part in his world and his business was the last thing she ever wanted. She wanted nothing from the man.

She would have readily given those men what they want, no questions asked. Until she learned that the same men were the people responsible for her father's death; the people that planned and executed his murder. And these same men won't hesitate to let her father's fate to befall her even if she gave them what they wanted; that's what her confidential informant told her. Those men are dangerous people like her late father and they just love killing, she was also told.

Like most people, Sara had already accepted the fate and intends to enjoy whatever time that's left for her. But unlike most young girls, and being the one with the blood of a known psychotic criminal flowing in her vein, she intends to also make it very difficult for those men to achieve their aim. To give them hell.

That's why she used one of her father's connect to secure a leverage. And it came in the service of one of the toughest and most brutal killer in the country; a man that had once brought pure terror to the likes of those men. And the man happens to be the guy sitting in the front wheel of the car.

"Can i ask a question?", Frank asked, interrupting Sara in her thoughts.

"Go ahead", Sara said with a bossy tone in her voice.

Frank paused for a while with his eyes on the road as he worked the steering wheel. And then asked, "I wanna know who i'm working for".

Sara opened her eyes and regarded Frank with a puzzled look on her face. "I thought i already told you my name", she noted.

"Yeah", Frank agreed. "But i wanna know who is Sara", he demanded.

"Does it really matter?".

"Well, it makes things less complicated".

"Okay. If you really wanna know, i'm the illegitimate daughter of a big time mobster".

The answer made Frank to remain silent. He made a turn and drove the car into the highway leading out of town and thinking about the situation that has gotten more interesting.

To all my fellow nairalanders that read, commented and liked my stories, i want to use this as an opportunity to thank u all and wish u a happy national anniversary. It's true that our country is in a very bad shape but it's up to us to make the change if we want change, that's what i have learned from living in a well to do country. It's only us as the people to make it happen. And let us hope for a better future as we strive towards it.

Frank watched the men till they made themselves comfortable at the table. He looked at Sara and saw that she still has her eyes on them. The small man took off his baseball cap and revealed his bald head. He threw a casual glance at their position, gave them a less concerned look and then raised his hand. A waitress took out her notepad and headed towards their table, but the man waved her off and pointed at the other waitress, the one that had earlier served Frank and Sara. The waitress was facing away from the men's table and seems to be trying not to look in their position. She got a tap on the shoulder by her co-worker who said something to her and pointed at the three men. The waitress nodded and hesitated for some seconds when her co-worker left and then looking at the three men.

Frank watched as the woman headed towards the men's table with a worried look on her face. He looked at Sara and saw that she too was watching what was going on. He made a casual glance around the restaurant and at the other customers before turning his eyes back to the men.

The waitress arrived at the men's table and Frank noticed that she wasnt holding up her small notebook to take their orders like she always did to the other customers. She just stood with a downcast gaze while the man in the Hawaiian tee shirt said something to her. After a brief conversation the man got up and the other two followed suit. The waitress started walking with the men following behind her. She stopped and whispered into the ear of one of her fellow female co-worker who gave the men and inquisitive stare. The co-worker then nodded several times and continued working while the waitress headed towards the door leading to the kitchen with the men following behind her. Frank also saw her whisper into the ear one of the cooks before she and the three men entered the kitchen.

After they disappeared into the kitchen, Frank turned to Sara. "Friends of yours?", he asked.

"Nope", Sara replied and slipped her cellphone inside her jeans back pocket.

"Who are they?"

"Guys i intend to get well acquainted with".

Frank eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?", he asked suspiciously.

Sara ignored the question and got up. She adjusted the collar of her shirt and picked up the novel. "I want someone to make a career change", she muttered without looking at Frank. "And your job has just begun cos you gonna help me do it, unless you still want to leave", she continued and started heading towards the restaurant kitchen before Frank could say anything. Frank immediately got up, almost spilling what was left in the coffee cup and followed Sara who walked with quick strides, trying to catch up with her. Sara reached the entrance to the restaurant kitchen and almost bumped into one of the cook who was coming out of the place.

"Excuse me", Sara began at the cook who seems to be a young boy in his late teens. "Can i see your manager?",

The cook regarded Sara with a frown on his face. Then Frank came over and stood behind her. The cook looked at the big man and the frown turned into an inquisitive stare.

"Where is your manager?", Sara asked again.

The cook threw glances at both Sara and Frank. And looked inside the kitchen and at another cook who was much older and busy. The young cook then looked at Frank and motion at them to follow him. He led them into the kitchen and tapped the shoulder of the older cook who was busy stirring some fries in a pan full of hot oil with a spatula. The man stopped what he was doing, turned to the younger boy with an angry face and at Frank and Sara, regarding them with the anger still written on his face.

"Sir can i have a word with you?", Sara asked

The cook dropped the spatula he was holding. "What?", he asked with an unfriendly tone and wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand.

"The three men that just walked into this place", Sara said to older cook.

"Yes?", the Cook nodded.

"Where did they go?", she asked.

"I don't know", the cook replied rudely. "And this place is only for workers, customers are not allowed in here", and faced to the frying pan.

"Those men dont look like they work in here", Sara said. "Or are they the health inspectors cos i would like to ask them what they think about the sanitary condition of the place i always eat".

"Young woman!, i just told you that this place is for employees only", the cook said irritatingly. "If you have any complaint or questions, then you have to wait till our manager arrives....and until he does, you have to go wait at your table", he beckoned outside the kitchen.

Seeing the man's unwillingness to give her an answer and also not liking his attitude, Sara looked at Frank and he got the message.

"We dont have any complaint at all and neither do we have time to wait for your manager", Frank said. "So just point to us where those three men went to". His cold voice got the cook's attention.

"But no one is allowed......", the cook started protesting.

"That oil", Frank interrupted and pointed at the boiling oil in the pan. "Do you know how hot it is?", he asked.

The cook glanced at the oil, swallowed hard and looked at Frank.

"Do you wanna know how hot it is?", Frank asked again, slowly with a sinister voice and narrowing his cold eyes at the cook.

The man gently dropped the spatula he was holding. "Look man, i dont want any trouble", he said, throwing glances at both Frank and Sara. Seeing that they meant business, he motioned at them to follow him.

"I'm impressed", Sara whispered at Frank as they followed the cook through a narrow corridor.

"You better have a good explanation as to what's going on", Frank said to her from the corner of his mouth.

The cook lead them to a short narrow dimly lit corridor heading towards a door at the end of the corridor. He stopped beside the door, gave Frank and Sara a brief look and pointed at the door. And then he stepped aside for them to pass through. Frank opened the door for Sara and gave the cook another hard look before following his boss as she walked out.

Both of them saw themselves in the dirty alley of the restaurant building. The place was filled with all sorts of foul smell with several overflowing trash bins lined on both sides of the narrow street.

Frank studied the place wrinkling his nose to the odour that was killing him. He looked at his young boss and saw her staring ahead, her sights at the small man in Hawaiian shirt with his two friends and the waitress standing some metres away. The man was talking to waitress, his hands making alot of gestures and some were somewhat threatening. The waitress who was standing with her back against the wall of a building only nodded her head with a scared look on her face and seemed to be trying hard to avoid making an eye contact with the other two big men that were standing behind the small man and glaring down at her.

"Who are these men, do you know them?", Frank asked and looked at Sara.

"Can you see them clearly from here?", Sara replied with a question of her own.

Frank stared at the men and gave no answer.

"Are they armed?", Sara asked again.

Frank threw an inquisitive glance at Sara and looked at the men again. "It doesn't seem like they are", he replied.

"Are they armed, yes or no?", Sara asked sternly.

"No", Frank replied.

"Good", Sara muttered and stared heading towards the men.

"Hey!", Frank began, he got hold of Sara's hand and stopped her . "What's going on?", he asked and glanced at the men and the waitress.

Sara glanced at the hand holding her arm and looked at Frank. "You are not here to know what's going on", Sara replied and gently freed her hand from Frank's grip. "You are here to make it stop", she continued and headed towards the men.

Seeing that it was clearly useless to convince his young boss to do otherwise, Frank quietly followed her. He also glanced around the place, taking note of any object lying around, in case they become handy.

"Hi guys!", Sara began with a smile and drew the men's attention to them as she came over. "Sorry to interrupt your business".

The Hawaiian shirt man looked at Sara from head to toe and then at Frank. "What?", he demanded.

"Me and my friend would like to have a few words with you guys", Sara said with smile. "Don't we?", she asked Frank and looked at him.

Frank remained silent and only nodded, still trying to make sense of what's going on.

"You are Big Joe right?", Sara asked the man in Hawaiian shirt.

A puzzled look appeared in the man's face. "Yeah i'm Joe....and who the hell are you?", he asked, staring down at Sara with a dead serious look on his face.

"Just a concerned citizen", Sara replied.

The three men glanced at each other with confusion written on their faces. Even the waitress seemed confused as she stared at both Sara and Frank.

"Oh yeah.....concerned about what?", Joe demanded, the other two big men were now sizing up Frank with a glare.

"This woman here looks very uncomfortable being with you guys", Sara began. "And i happen to find out that this meetings with her have been so many times and in several occasions, it was done in places that always left her with bad feelings".

Even though he maintained his steady gaze at the men, Frank was wondering what Sara was talking about.

"This situation may be seen as no concern of mine, but i really want it to stop", Sara continued.

Joe scoffed, surprised by Sara's words and her guts to say it to him especially with the big guys standing beside him. Then he looked at Frank.

"And who the hell are you?, another concerned citizen?", he asked Frank with a sneer.

Frank remained mute.

"You are dealing with me now, not him", Sara put in. "You will get your chance to do so, based on my decision".

Joe regarded Sara with a scoff and glanced at the two big man that laughed at what she just said. He laughed too. The waitress, looking scared and worried about Sara safety, slightly shook her head at the young girl; she was trying to tell her not to get involved in the situation.

Then Joe turned back at Frank. "Hey mister!, you better take your daughter or sister....or whoever the hell she is and get the f@ck out of here", he warned.

"My employer", Frank corrected.

"What?".

"She is my employer...and you better watch your language",

Joe gave Sara a sneering glance. "Oh really?" he said and looked at Frank with the sneer that made him look like a Hyena. "So what does she pay you with, huh, girls scout cookies?", he asked mockingly and the other men laughed again.

"Well that's between me and her", Frank replied coolly.

"Yeah, and you better keep it that way my friend cos that sh!t sounds pathetic....and so is your scar-face", Joe smirked. "And like i said earlier, take your little b!tch and get the f@ck out of here before she gets both of you into alot of trouble", he warned.

Frank's expressionless look turned into frown. "Little man you better watch that motor mouth before i put those teeth down your f@cking throat", he said to Joe, the warning made slowly and sternly. "Disrespect my boss again and i'll lay your pint-size ass down right where you are standing".

Joe stared at Frank with condescending smile and looked at one of the men with him. "Get this fool out of here", he said with a hand gesture.

With alot of eagerness written on his face, the big man turned to Frank and approached threateningly. He stopped infront of Frank and stared down at him menacingly. Frank gave the towering big guy a short stare and looked at Sara who was surprisingly calm despite the threatening figure standing before her.

Sara looked back at Frank and shrugged. "Now you will have to deal with him", she murmured inaudibly and looked away.

"You heard what he said asshole!", the big man bawled at Frank, his arm moving towards Frank's shoulder. "You better take-off before......".

With a flash, Frank got hold of the man's adventurous hand and put him in wristlock. The big man let out a loud cry, almost like a squeal after the sickening sound of his wrist getting dislocated. Another crippling dislocation to the right knee joint caused by a brutal kick from Frank made the man to drop to his knees. Then a vicious jaw breaking right hook left the big man sprawled out on the ground unconscious and bleeding profusely from his mouth and nose.

Joe and the other man remained still and very shocked. With fear in their eyes they couldn't do anything but stared at Frank after seeing how he took out their man, who happened to be strongest of the three of them, in seconds without breaking a sweat. They were visibly shaken, including the waitress who saw the violence perpetuated by the man she had earlier served coffee. She even looked more scared than she was before Frank and Sara came.

"So....", Sara paced closer to Joe and the second man with Frank following. "We could use some privacy", she said and looked at the other big man. "Unless you want to follow your boss' order, just like he did", she added and pointed at his unconscious partner lying on the ground.

With fear written on his face, the other big man threw a cautious glance at Frank and Sara. He's big, but the guy beside the little girl strikes bigger blows. "I didnt sign up for this sh!t man", he said quietly to Joe and started walking away quickly, almost running.

"So". Sara pushed the book aside and rested her elbows on the table. "Before we begin, i hope you are aware what today is?".

Frank nodded and said, "I was told that today is your birthday". He was still trying to understand the situation; finding that his boss was a girl who's twice younger that him.

"Good.....and today being my birthday, i want to make the most of it. I mean......lots of fun....for me", Sara said authoritatively. "I hope you understand what i mean?",

"Well i was also told to do whatever you request", Frank said with a sigh. "So i clearly understand", he added.

"Good, so...do you have any question?", Sara asked and gave Frank and inquisitive look.

Frank gave Sara a brief stare with a deadpan look on his face and then leaned forward, moving closer to her with one elbow resting on the table. "Yes", he began with the deadpan look still on his face. "Do you know who i am?", he asked.

"Is it really important that i should know who you are?", Sara asked with furrowed brows.

"Well, to me it is".

"Dont worry i'm very well aware of who you are", Sara smirk. "A psychopathic killer, i was told".

Frank stared at Sara for a short while, the deadpan look turning into a surprised one. "And.....it doesnt even bother you at all?", he asked.

"Do i look bothered...or should i be?", Sara asked nonchalantly.

Frank shifted his eyes to the book in front of Sara and gave it a short thoughtful stare before turning them back at the young girl. "Anyway you are wrong about one thing", he then said. "I'm not a psychopath".

Sara chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, your file says worse", she muttered. "And i even overheard that woman telling her colleague that there's something eerie about you", she added and jerked her head at the waitress that had earlier came to Frank.

"Why dont we just forget about my personal life and get down to business". Frank sighed impatiently. "So when do we begin?", he asked.

"We have already begun", Sara replied. She picked up the menu book on the table and motioned at the waitress. "And keep a smile on your face. I hate being around a mean face.....and the scar on yours makes it even worse", she muttered as she went through the menu book.

A waitress then came over to their table. And she was the one that Sara was talking about. The woman smiled at the young girl and politely asked her what she wanted. The smile immediately faded when the woman's eyes turned at Frank.

"I will now have the cheese burger and also another cup of Cola", Sara ordered with her eyes on the menu book. "Give this gentleman what he wants", she pointed at Frank.

Frank told the waitress he wanted a cup of their strongest coffee blend. The woman wrote down the orders, nodded at Sara with a smile and ignored Frank as she left.

"This place makes the best cheese burger, i always stop here to get one. You should try it one day", Sara suggested. But Frank seemed uninterested. Then she rested her arms on the table and clasped her hands as she looked at her new employee, studying him. "Hm....you are quite a big fella...but not that huge. But it sure looks like you workout....probably alot", she noted as she looked at Frank's broad shoulders and big arms.

Frank gave no response to the compliments.

"So can you tell me more about yourself Mr Frank", Sara said and looked at him with alot of interest.

"Like what?", Frank asked.

"Anything. Things that interests you, let's start with hobbies", Sara replied". "I wanna hear what hobbies you are into.....apart from those terrible things that you did".

"I'm pretty sure that the documents in my files clearly showed that i'm not the into-hobbies kind of guy".

"So....what do you do during your free time?".

"I can't remember the last time i had a free time".

"A man like you certainly do have some kind of a routine, a daily routine that made you who you are. And also very effective from what i read about you".

"I eat, sleep, go to work and use the bathroom when the need arises, just like every other person".

Sara saw that Frank was uninterested. "You dont you have any interests you wanna share?", she asked.

"Well, my only interest now is to get down to the business at hand", Frank stated with indifference, a clear sign that he wasn't interested in talking about himself....or his hobbies.

Sara nodded with pursed lips, the inquisitive look on her face faded. Then she heaved a soft sigh and reached for her book. She opened a page and quietly began to read. And continued doing so for several minutes while Frank watched and waited for her to say something.

"So?", Frank broke the silence after a few more minutes.

Sara sighed. "Anyway, he said i should tell you that you can leave if you happen to have a change of heart", Sara began coldly with her eyes still on page she was reading. "As a matter of fact, i'm the one having a change of heart. Which means that your own decisions doesnt really matter anyway". The she looked at Frank. "So i want you to leave after you are done drinking your coffee....or leave immediately if you wish to do so", she concluded and turned her eyes back to the book.

Frank remained silent, staring at Sara as he thought about what she just said. He slowly reclined in his seat and causally looked around the fastfood place, contemplating his next move. Then he thought about the meeting he had with Zack and what the agent had told him, especially about the job and the agent's warning about being disappointed.

"I like outdoor activities", Frank then began after reminding himself to keep playing along with whatever game the Agent Zack was playing. Just like he had been doing for the last six months.

"Hm...really?", Sara muttered with indifference as she continued reading the book that was a novel.

"I like gardening", Frank forced a smile, trying to brighten up the tense atmosphere that has settled between them.

"I'm pretty sure i know why you like gardening. Lots of digging...and burying things", Sara murmured.

Then Frank looked at the book Sara was reading. "MY SUPER VILLIAN", he read the title of the novel and looked at Sara. "I've read that book. Quite an interesting story. I heard it's actually a true story about two....".

"Please.....", Sara interrupted coldly. "I just want to enjoy this damn book".

Frank folded his arms and looked away. He thought for a short while and looked at Sara. "So what do you wanna do?", he asked.

"You had your chance, but you sounded like you weren't interested", Sara muttered.

"What do you wanna do?", Frank asked again.

"To read this book till i decide on something else i wanna do, or perhaps the person i should hire to replace you" Sara replied.

"Today is your birthday right?".

"Yeah so?".

"Well....you earlier said that you wanted to make the most of today......having lots of fun", Frank noted.

Sara lifted her eyes from the book and gave Frank a steady cold stare.

"And i dont think reading a book in a fastfood joint is fun, especially on a birthday", Frank continued.

"So?", Sara asked.

"So....", Frank began, not actually knowing what to say to convince the young girl to change her mind. "....i can still wait here until my replacement arrives", Frank continued in a friendlier tone of voice. "And until then, i am sure there is enough time for some things we can do together", Frank concluded. Then he turned his attention to the cellphone after getting nothing but Sara's steady gaze at him.

Then the waitress came over with a tray carrying what they had ordered. "Your cheese burger, made just the way you like it", she said to Sara and placed a plate of delicious looking burger infront of young girl. "And here is also your cup of soda. I hope you enjoy yourself", she added. Then the waitress gave Frank a quick glance and placed a cup of a steaming hot coffee in front of Frank. And left without saying anything to him.

Sara stared at the waitress till the woman entered the restaurant kitchen. She glanced at her cellphone screen to check the time, stole a quick glance at Frank and then picked up the burger from the plate with both hands. Frank got hold of his cup of coffee and gently took a sip as Sara ate her food. Leaving the cup in it former position, he started going through the smart device he was holding while Sara munched her food in silence, watching her from the corner of his eyes and wondering what's going to happen next.

The silence grew longer as minutes passed. Sara continued eating her fast food while Frank took sips from his coffee cup. Frank casted a few glances at the young girl as she munched and savored every bite with a smile, trying to figure out who she was and what was her relationship with Agent Zack. A relative of his, or perhaps the daughter of someone that the agent knew, Frank thought. Peharps the daughter of a some influential figure.

"Hm...this is really good", Sara said after swallowing the last bite. "I just can't have enough of it", she continued and wiped her hands with the wet tissue that also came with the food.

"You can order for more if you want", Frank murmured with his eyes on the smartphone screen.

"I would love to....", Sara smiled. "....but i want us to do something else".

"Okay....". The 'Us' in Sara's words made Frank to gently place the phone on the table and shift his attention at her. "So what do you wanna do?" he asked trying to keep a smile on his face, but to no avail because he wasn't use to that face expression.

Sara reclined in her seat and stared at Frank for a short while with an inquisitive look on her face. "Before we begin, i wanna ask you something, Mr Frank Decatur", she then said.

"Go ahead".

"Do you like money?".

"Of course i like money", Frank replied and reached for the coffee cup. "Especially if it is alot of good money",  he added after taking a sip of the coffee that has gotten lukewarm.

"Hm", Sara nodded. "Do you also like....bad money", she asked again.

Frank smirked with a thoughtful look on his face. "Depends", he answered and looked at the his cup of coffee.

"What about blood money?".

Frank shifted his gaze to Sara. "Are we talking about good blood money or bad blood money?", he asked intently.

"Does it matter?",

"To me it matters....alot".

"Why?".

Frank managed to smiled weakly and gave the cellphone on the table a brief stare before turning his eyes back at Sara. "I may have done terribles things, but i am still a man of principles", he replied.

Sara nodded several times with her eyes on Frank. She reached for her soda cup. "Look at all these people around us", she began, putting the plastic straw inbetween her thin lips. "All of them living their lives, some with little or no regard about the person next to them....or what the person had being through or going through", she continued after taking a sip from the cup. Then she looked Frank. "I bet most of them are trying to earn some money, making their plans and strategies on how to get some.....or probably alot. Dont you think so?", Sara asked him.

"It is called working", Frank sighed. "If you dont wanna stay starving for some of the good things of life...like the tasty cheeseburger you just had, then you gotta always put in work, all day everyday", he muttered.

"And do you think working all day everyday......especially for someone, would make you rich?".

"Depends on the kind of work and who you are working for".

Sara nodded several times again with pursed lips. Then she looked in the direction of the restaurant kitchen. "Everybody wants to be rich, i bet you wanna be too", she said with a playful smile and looked at Frank. "But the thing is many are not really willing to go through the hardship of achieving wealth. So they spend their entire life staying in their comfort zone, doing the same nine to five job that they hate cos it pays the bills".

Frank agreed with a nodded.

"Then there are the ones that dont wanna...'always put in work' but still wanna be rich. So they seek for other ways, easier ways".

Frank shook his head. "There are no easy ways", he said.

"Are you sure?", Sara asked.

"Yeah i'm sure of that".

"But some people seems to be having it so easy".

"Well that's what it seems at first, especially if they are earning it the wrong way. But when trouble comes and things start going down, most of them would wish they never took that route".

Sara listened and said nothing.

"Believe me, i've been there and done that. Alot of things aint easy, no matter how they seem to be.....and making money tops the list", Frank continued.

Then Sara looked at the screen of her cellphone, she was checking the time....again. Frank noticed it. He opened his mouth to say something but Sara raised a fore-finger and pressed it between her lips; she wanted him to say nothing. After a minute of silence and staring at the phone screen, Sara looked over her shoulder and stared at the restaurant entrance door. Frank looked at her and turned his sight to the door too.

Seconds later, a man dressed in bright coloured Hawaiian t-shirt with a black baseball cap, walked into the restaurant. He was quite short, small framed and very bold in his steps. Two other men followed him into the place. Both were big, dressed in black sweatshirts and pants with an unfriendly look on their faces. The big men flanked the man in the Hawaiian t-shirt as he looked around the place, chewing a bubble gum noisily as he did so. He took note of some of the guests with a smile on his face and headed towards an empty table with the other two men following behind.

Earlier in the day.


9.40 am in the morning, Frank arrived at the location of the address Zack had given him. And was quite surprised when he found out that place was a fast-food restaurant housed in the ground floor of three storey old building. Then he got out of the car and crossed the less busy street.

Frank stepped into the joint and made a quick survey around the place with a curious look on his face. The restaurant was clean though somewhat shabbily decorated and was quite a lot of customers in the place. Frank made eye contact with a few them as he quietly went over to an empty table and made himself comfortable on the chair. He slipped his hand inside the pocket of the grey trench coat he was wearing and took out the cellphone given to him by Zack. He switching it on and opened the menu book while waiting for the device to boot up.

A stewardess came over and said, "Good morning sir".

Frank looked at the slightly chubby woman standing beside him with a notepad, waiting eagerly to take his orders. Frank ignored her and looked at the cellphone that was now on. And then looked at his wristwatch.

"Sir can i......", the stewardess began and took out a pen from the pocket of her apron.

"I need some time to go through the menu", Frank interrupted her with indifference in his voice.

"Okay...sir", the waitress muttered and left.

Frank picked up the cellphone and studied it for a while, checking its call history, storage files and any number saved. Seeing that it was as clean as the cellphone itself, he left device in its former position and glanced at his wristwatch again. It was 9.50 am. He has to make a call with the cellphone in ten minutes time. Wondering who he would be meeting at food joint, he glanced through the menu book and checked the coffee list.

After a short while Frank paused. Without moving his body an inch and his hand still holding the menu book, his eyes slowly rolled as he cautiously looked the restaurant again. Someone was staring at him, he always knew when he's been watched. He calmly placed the menu book on the table, acting normal in movements and took a casual glance around. He saw nothing unsual, just customers having their breakfast of fast-food or coffee. Frank thought for a short while and then looked over his shoulder. And also saw nothing unusual. Then his eyes rested on one of the customers, a teenage girl sitting alone in a table at the corner of the restaurant and reading a book with a soda cup in front of her. The girl looked up when Frank stared in her direction and gave him a faint smile with a steady stare, like she knew him.

Frank ignored her and turned away. And dismissed the feeling he was having as him just being a bit paranoid. Then he checked his wristwatch again. Seeing it was sharp 10 am, he quickly dug one hand into one of the pockets of his trench coat and got hold of the cellphone on the table with the other hand.

"Hi".

Frank paused. He looked up and saw himself staring at the teenage girl he had earlier seen sitting behind him. She was now standing in front of him and holding the book she was reading.

"Excuse me?", Frank began. The girl gazed at him for a short while and sat on the chair infront of him.

Frank eyebrows furrowed as the girl made herself comfortable on the chair and dropped the book on the table. With one hand still holding the cellphone and the other slowly slipping out of his pocket, Frank took another cautious glance around the restaurant, checking to see if there was any other thing else at play.

"Do i know you?", he then asked and looked at the girl.

The girl gazed at Frank again, longer this time. "Maybe....or maybe not", she finally answered his question.

"Meaning what?", Frank demanded.

The girl just shrugged and said nothing.

Frank sighed. "Look, little girl, i dont have time for sh!ts", he muttered and slipped his hand back into his pocket. "Whatever it is you are....selling, i am not buying. And you need to get out of here cos i'm expecting someone", he continued and brought out the piece of paper from his pocket.

"Well no need for that", the girl said.

Frank ignored her and dialled the number written on the paper. He gave the girl a cold look and held the phone earpiece close to his ear. When the line stared ringing, Frank's eyebrows furrowed again, a cellphone was ringing and it was coming from the girl sitting in front of him. The girl sighed as Frank stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face and took out the cellphone from pocket of the black jean trouser she was wearing.

"I told you no need for that", the girl said. She tapped the End button and silenced the phone . "I'm here.....and it's good to see that you are not the late type", she continued and placed the device on the table.

After getting over the surprise of finding out who he's about to work for, Frank then remembered that Zack didnt give any information about his employer. Then for the first time he took a closer look at the girl. She was probably in her mid-teen and mixed race because of her fair skin and long hair that was neatly tied behind her head. She has some kind of an aura of coldness from the way she talked. And an unfriendly look on her face when she is not smiling.

"Mr Frank Decatur right?", she asked.

Frank nodded.

"Call me Sara", the girl said and extended her hand at Frank.

Frank hesitated abit and then shook Sara's small and soft hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you...Miss Sara", he said with uncertainty in his voice and forced a weak smile

CHAPTER TWO.


Reggie watched the Gulfstream G550 jet taxi towards the hangar and reached for the Cuban cigar in tucked in the inner pocket of his black suit jacket. He stood flanked by two men. They were both heavyset, fearsome and his bodyguards. One of them immediately took out a lighter and held the flame close to the clipped end of the cigar till it was fired up.

Reggie blew a cloud of cigar smoke and ran his tongue over his thick lips with a satisfying smirk as the aircraft approached. Aboard the private jet was his overseas connect, with a deal that would firmly cement his position as the top Don in the entire southern part of the country. Something he had always envisioned and worked towards achieving, using any and every means. Some were negotiations and most were through violence. This wasnt the first time his business associate had come into the country for business deals. But this time the man was coming for a different purpose other than the cocaine shipment and the payments.

The private jet came to a halt several metres away with its roaring engine dying down and the morning sunlight gleaming on its white coloured streamlined body. Reggie glanced at the other bodyguard and motioned at the man to stay ready. Then he filled his lungs with cigar smoke and turned his attention to the several vehicles parked a few meters away from their position, five black Chevy SUVs with about ten men in black wears standing around the vehicles. Those were the rest of the men he had brought with him.

Reggie took another drag from the cigar and motioned at his bodyguards. And they followed him as he walked towards the aircraft. As they approached the Gulfstream jet, the cabin door opened. A white man came out and stood at the doorway. He seems to be in his mid thirties and wore a dark shade sunglasses. He was expensively dressed in a mob outfit with a well cut and clean hair.

The man stared at Reggie as he approached and then glanced around the hangar and that the SUVs. He made a gesture in the air with his right hand started descending the stairs of the plane. Then eight other men emerged from the plane. They were all thicksets; quite bigger than Reggie's bodyguards and all dressed in black suits. Six were black and two of Mexican origin. Four of them following the white men as he headed towards Reggie while two waited near the plane.

The white man came a few meters closer to Reggie as he approached with the men and paused. He took another look around the hangar again and continued in his steps.

"Mr Hadampson i presume", Reggie began when the two men met.

"Mr Reggie", Hadampson smiled. Both men shook hands. Everything ready?", he asked.

"A hundred percent ready", Reggie replied.

Then Hadampson looked at the aircraft and gestured at the other two men. It was an "all clear" signal. One of the men hurriedly entered the aircraft and emerged with another white man. The man was older and dressed in a white suit with a white fedora hat. He stood at the doorway and took a casual look around the place, adjusting his suit with some air of authority as he did so and came down.

"Mr Peluzzini!", Reggie beamed with a smile as the white man came over. "Good to see you again sir".

"Reggie....my man!", Peluzzini began and spread his arms. "Good to see you too my good friend". He gave Reggie a hug and pat the man's back after breaking away.

"How was your flight?", Reggie asked.

"A long ass one as usual", Peluzzini took off his shades and smacked his lips. "And i need alot of rest. I hope there are some goodies to calm nerves down in this country?".

Reggie smiled. "Just say what you want and we will get you the best", he assured.

Peluzzini smiled and looked at Hadampson. "That's one thing about this guy that i like. Prompt service my friend!", he boomed with a smile. Hadampson remained silence with an expressionless look on his face. "Anyway.....", Peluzzini continued and looked at Reggie. ".....What about the other....thing that we discussed?", he asked, his tone of voice suddenly becoming serious.

Reggie took off his shades", "when we get to your suite, we talk about it", he replied.

Peluzzini motioned at Hadampson and his right hand man immediately gestured at the men who then followed him to the SUV that will be transporting them.

"You and i gonna ride together so that we can talk about it in the car", Peluzzini said to Reggie, patting him on his back.

Reggie agreed and told one of his bodyguard to follow him. Then he led Peluzzini to the several black SUVs as both men discussed business. Hadampson followed with one of Peluzzini bodyguard walking behind with a hard keen look on his face.


**********************************************


"So like i said, the shipment will arrive next tomorrow at the loading dock", Peluzzini said as Reggie refilled his glass. "So the ball in now in your court my friend".

Reggie nodded as he left the half-empty bottle of St-Remy brandy on the glass surface of the center table.

"I hope your man at the customs wont be a problem...as you had earlier say", Peluzzini asked and took a drag from the burning cuban cigar inbetween his middle and index fingers.

"He is the least of our concern", Reggie replied as he crossed the livingroom of the hotel penthouse suite and sat on the leather sofa in front of Peluzzini. "Infact i already have workers eating and sleeping at the dock, and waiting for the shipment to arrive so that they can go to work immediately.

"Good", Peluzzini muttered and exhaled a cloud of smoke from his lungs.

"And once they confirm that they got the product, then you sir, should tell me if you want your payment in cash or to be transferred to any offshore account, as usual", Reggie added with a smile and took a sip from his glass.

Hadampson who had been in the livingroom, standing and listening to their conversation looked at Peluzzini. Peluzzini glanced at him and nodded.

"Anyway, we are not here for the shipment", Hadampson began. "Infact the shipment and the payment are the least of our problem".

"The subject", Reggie muttered.

"Yes", Peluzzini nodded. "And what we really want to know.....i in particular....is, can you get the subject alive?", Peluzzini asked without looking at Reggie.

Reggie suspended the glass of drink he was about to sip close to his mouth and looked at Hadampson. Then he looked at Peluzzini who was thoughtfully staring at the burning end of his cigar and back to Hadampson.

Then the leather of the sofa crinkled as Reggie relaxed his frame on it and crossed his leg. "This is double the amount of product you had been shipping to me", Reggie began, gesturing the hand holding the glass of drink. "And you want to tell me that this person is more important to you?", he asked.

"More important than triple the amount", Mr Peluzzini muttered.

"So are you hundred percent sure you have all the info on the subject?", Hadampson asked with a firm voice. "Mr Peluzzini doesnt take disappointments quite well. And to fly all the way from the States to this place only to be disappointed wont be taken lightly", he added with a serious tone of voice.

Reggie chuckled and motioned at his bodyguard who was standing behind him. The man unzipped the slim black briefcase he was carrying and took out a file.

"Trust me my friend", Reggie said as the bodyguard handed him a file he took out from the briefcase. "All the information you need is here". He waved the file at Hadampson. Hadampson went over to Reggie and Reggie handed the file to him.

"But my question is, what is it about this person that made you to fly all the way from your country with eight tough guys", Reggie asked and gazed at Peluzzini keenly.

"Do you have any problem with it Mr Reggie?", Hadampson asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"No....not at all", Reggie replied and glanced at Hadampson with a superficial smile. Then he looked at Peluzzini. "You know very well that i can supply all the men you want, just say the number. Beside, from what i have seen and heard about this person, this is a very easy task. If you want this subject alive then it's just a matter of sending a couple of guys to go do a simple pick up, that's all".

Peluzzini chuckled and looked at Hadampson.

"Well that's why we brought our men", Hadampson said. "In case all your men fail to do the simple pick up".

Reggie was highly insulted by those words. But he decided to play it cool because he wasn't ready to sever ties with his major pure cocaine supplier. Not yet.

"We are just taking every precaution for this operation so as to avoid any f@ck-ups. So you should understand why we had to come with some of our men", Hadampson continued and handed the file to Peluzzini who made a quick glance through the documents in the file and handed it back to Hadampson with a nod of approval.

Seeing that Peluzzini was satisfied, Reggie got up and motion at his bodyguard who immediately left the room. "So....", Reggie began and picked up the bottle of brandy and went over to Peluzzini. "Since we are done talking business", he said and bent down to refill Peluzzini's glass. "I think it's time for the boys to play", he straightened up and pointed at the several girls that walked into livingroom with the bodyguard.

Peluzzini glanced at the beauties and raised his glass. "My man!", he boomed and made a toast.