The city was restless.
Even under Lagos's relentless hum, Arden and Ife felt it. Whispers of Julian's influence still lingered, creeping through offices, neighborhoods, and social circles. It was subtle—almost invisible—but dangerous. Every ally they reached out to mentioned someone disappearing, someone threatened. Julian hadn't been defeated. He was calculating. Waiting.
Ife sat in the safe house, laptop open, scanning reports, maps, and intercepted messages. Her eyes were sharp, her mind moving faster than anyone else in the room. Arden watched from the doorway, arms crossed, admiration mixing with concern.
"You've changed," he said quietly.
She didn't look up. "I had to. He made me see I couldn't survive being passive. Not him, not Arden, not my mother. I have to fight. And I will."
Arden approached, standing behind her. "And I'll fight with you. But don't forget—you don't have to carry it all."
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. "I know. But sometimes the weight is the only thing that keeps me awake enough to think straight."
A knock at the door pulled their attention. Victor opened it, eyes tight. "We have a visitor. Someone who wants to help… but only if they remain hidden."
Ife exchanged a glance with Arden. "Let them in."
A figure stepped in—masked, hooded, careful. Their voice was calm, measured. "I've been inside Julian's network. Watching him. You don't know who to trust, so I'm giving you an advantage."
Arden frowned. "Who are you?"
The figure lowered the hood. A woman. Sharp, confident, eyes scanning every corner. "Call me Zara. I was part of Julian's inner circle before he grew… unmanageable. He doesn't know I'm alive."
Ife's heart raced. "How can we trust you?"
Zara smiled faintly. "Because if I betray you, I'm dead. And I don't plan on dying yet."
The three of them huddled over maps and files.
Zara pointed to Julian's recent moves. "He's testing his remaining allies. Each disappearance, each financial leak—he's observing loyalty, obedience, fear."
"So what's the plan?" Arden asked, leaning in.
Zara tapped the map. "We need to cut him off from the people who still trust him. Make it impossible for him to act without being exposed. But he'll hit hard. Fast. And he'll try to take Ife personally."
Ife swallowed. "So, he's going to come for me."
Zara's gaze sharpened. "Not maybe. Definitely."
Arden grabbed her hand. "Then we prepare. Together."
Night fell, thick and humid. The city's lights flickered like embers in the dark.
Ife sat at a desk, reviewing every detail of Julian's known hideouts and past deals. Arden leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, watching her.
"Do you ever get scared?" he asked.
Ife didn't look up. "All the time. But fear isn't a weakness—it's a signal. It tells me what to protect, what to fight for."
Arden crossed the room and took her hand. "Then we fight together. No matter what."
A sudden beep interrupted them. A message from an unknown number:
She trusts you too much. Make her regret it. – J
Ife froze. Arden's eyes narrowed. "He's escalating."
Ife's jaw tightened. "Then we escalate too."
The next day, chaos began.
Julian's men struck financial offices, created diversions, spread rumors, and attacked anyone suspected of helping Arden. It was aggressive, brutal—but calculated.
Ife and Arden countered. With Zara's help, they exposed Julian's remaining allies, leaked information anonymously to the media, and turned public opinion sharply against him.
Still, Julian remained a ghost. Always one step ahead. Always watching. Always waiting.
That night, Ife stood at the balcony, phone in hand. Messages scrolled in—threats, warnings, even a video of one of Julian's men kneeling before him. Her mother's safety flashed through her mind. Arden's face. Their fight.
"I'm ready," she whispered.
Arden came up beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "We'll get him. Together."
She leaned into him. "I know. But… it's going to hurt."
He kissed her temple. "I'll hurt with you."
And somewhere in the shadows of the city, Julian watched.
His eyes were cold. Calculating. And now… personal.
The war wasn't just about power anymore. It was about them. And he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted.