All these while Leri had been hiding in a jewellery shop.

Through the tinted glass of her sunshades, she stared unbelievably at the building. A white and blue modern building with no roof, high walls and glass slits on its front showcasing jewellery.

Who would’ve thought?

Her eyes itched and she blinked, refusing to scratch it back due to the contact lenses she had on. Astrid had applied it for her earlier that morning, thus the foreign feeling since it was her first time.

Her braids were gone and in its place were neatly plaited cornrows underneath the curly wig she wore.

Aminat had suggested that she change appearance for her safety because if Dahlia mistakenly discovers her alive, then she would really be truly dead.

The thought of her dying for real sent shivers along her spine.

She picked up her phone and checked the time, wondering what Astrid was doing inside the shop. They were supposed to go to her home, temporarily to see her family and explain to her mother why she was not going to be around for a while.

A while was whenever the whole Dahlia mess was over and she was safely behind bars. But until then, she had to stay close to Aminat and her team for assured protection and safety.

The pristine white vehicle grasped Leri attention. It was her dream car, a Ferrari Portofino. She had come across the vehicle on a movie and had researched on it. Leri couldn't help but feel envious of its owner.

The car approached her, making her quickly move away from her previous spot for the car to park and the next minute was a perfect blend of shock and unbelievable surprise as the rear seat window slid down to reveal Astrid on the steering wheel.

She pushed open the door for Leri who was still frozen on the spot.

“This is your car?” Leri whispered furiously. It couldn’t be.

Astrid rolled her eyes and pushed the horn. “Just get in the bloody car.”

“This is-” She lowered her voice to a fierce whisper, “This is a freaking Ferrari Portofino. I can’t believe it.” She covered her mouth with a hand as she stared at the car in awe.

“You wouldn’t mind taking okada home right?” Astrid asked, “if you do not enter, I will happily give you some transport money and go home to continue my korean series in peace.”

“You’re joking right?” Leri raised hopeful brows.

“3,” Astrid began to count, “2.”

Leri entered carefully, as if the car was fragile as glass and would break anytime. She was sitting in a Ferrari. She was sitting in a Ferrari!

With mouth opened in wonderment, she stared at the interior of the car. It was screaming luxury, class and wealth.

Before she could pour out her questions, Astrid had pushed chocolates in her mouth to prevent her from speaking.

“No it does not belong to TJH and yes it is my personal car.” Astrid had answered her unspoken questions, while Leri chewed on the malteasers chocolate. “By the way, I do not know the directions to your house so you would have to assist me.”

Leri nodded as she glanced at Astrid. Who was she? How she could have accumulated so much wealth buy own a car that cost over forty million naira?

“How long have you been with TJH?” Leri inquired.

“This is my third year.” She answered, “oh it feels just like yesterday I came to Nigeria.” She chuckled.

“You came because of TJH?” Leri asked again.

“I wish,” Astrid scoffed, “I came for a personal reason. TJH found me along the line, and I don’t bloody regret it.”

“This isn't the way to my house.” Leri noticed, momentarily panicking. What if Astrid was working for Dahlia?

“We have stop by at somewhere first,” Astrid explained. “I have to switch cars.”

Leri automatically relaxed while Astrid put on the radio. A wizkid song started playing.

“You’re a Wizkid fan?” Leri asked with a grimace.

“Who isn’t?” Astrid shrugged.

“Me.” Leri pointed to herself, “I prefer Davido, 30BG gang.” she announced proudly.

“That noise maker.” Astrid said, “all he ever does is shout.”

“And all Wizkid ever does is not shout,” Leri argued, “I can’t be straining my ears to listen to his lyrics.”

“My car, my song choice.” Astrid pointed out. Leri rolled her eyes and they both laughed afterwards. Astrid was so easy to flow with and converse, unlike Wura.

“How does one become part of TJH?” Leri blurted out.

Astrid studied her for a couple of moments before responding. “You undergo training for a year, and afterwards there’s an aptitude assessment which will determine your capability and strength.”

“Where’s the training center?” Leri asked again.

“That’s confidential.” Astrid said, “you want to be a jewel? Do you think our job is fun and games?”

Leri shook her head. “I never said I wanted to join.”

“Many of our agents have lost their lives on missions,” Astrid said, “you must be ready to risk it all and face anything.”

Was she ready to do that? Leri wondered. She had her family she couldn’t risk, moreover, she couldn’t fight to save her life, she couldn’t hold a gun, neither did she have any useful talent.

“Do you remember Isola Isreal?”

“Yes,” Leri could not forget that name, in fact, no Nigerian could forget that name. “last year, he abducted thirty pregnant women. He kept them hidden for a month until they were mysteriously found.”

Astrid nodded. “My team handled the mission. That daft cow was insane, mentally deranged in pain and grief. He abducted pregnant women who resembled his dead wife and locked them.” Astrid sighed in memory, “when we confronted him, he slashed a knife along my neck and I nearly lost my life. I still have the scar, a memento from my first mission. ”

“Wow.” Leri whispered.

“Yup.” Astrid popped the P, “It’s more of dangerous than fun.”

“But I want to help,” Leri told her, “I want to help in catching Dahlia, I want to do something.”

“The best way to help us is to stay safe with the team. Tommy won’t forgive us if anything happened to you.”

“Tommy?” Leri raised a brow.

“Tomiwa, duh.” She said and Leri didn’t like the way she said his name like she owned him, or was special to him.

“Are you guys dating?” The words rushed out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Astrid burst into fits of laughter which lasted for more than a minute, killing Leri with impatience.

“My boyfriend is back in London.” She said, “Tommy and I are just friends and I can never date him. That’s just silly.
” she scoffed and shook her head to prove her point.

Leri heaved a sigh of relief.

“Come to think of it, I’ve not seen him since yesterday morning. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine,” Astrid shrugged, “he’s taking care of the most important person in his life.”

Leri’s heart dropped to the bottom of her chest and crashed into bits. The most important person in his life?

It was heart wrenching.

Leri felt at ease in the familiar comfort of her home. The citrus lavender air freshener scent smell lingered in the air.

“Make yourself at home.” she gestured towards one of sofa.

Astrid smiled. “Your house is so homey. It’s making me miss my Mum even more.” she said as she settled on the sofa and crossed her legs over each other.

Before she even got the chance to call for her mum, she walked into the living room with a face mixed in relief and happiness.

“Omo mi,” She caressed Leri’s cheek, “you’re back. Look at your face, it’s getting rough, did you eat plenty groundnuts at Abuja?”

“Mummy I’m fine, seriously.” Leri withdrew her palm from her cheek. “How are you, how is Iyanu and how is the house?”

“How am I?” Her mum’s voice rose an octave, “you just left without saying anything, and your phone has been switched off for two days now. Do you want to give me an heart attack? Do you want me to die before carrying my grandchildren?”

“Mummy calm down.”

“If you tell me to calm down again, I will slap that wig from your head,” She said furiously, “and why are your eyes looking like that?”

Leri faced palmed in embarrassment. Her mother had chosen that time to display, in front of Astrid.

“Mummy this is my colleague,” she gestured towards Astrid who rose with a smile, “her name is -”

“Chidinma ma’am,” Astrid interjected with a Nigerian accent, “I was the one who called to inform you about the urgent conference Leri had to attend.”

“Oh it was you,” Her mum said, “thank you omo mi, God will bless you.” she smiled at her, “you’re a very pretty young lady, omo ge. God wil bless you once again.”

“Amen ma,” Astrid smiled, “I really like your house, I like the colors.”

“Oshey my dear. I was the one that suggested these colors sef,” Iya Ileri boasted, “sit down my dear, are you hungry? There’s homemade chin chin and Zobo in the fridge.”

“Mummy she’s not -” Leri started to say.

“Gbenu e sun,” Her mum glared at her.

“Yes Ma’am, I would love to have chin chin and Zobo.” Astrid said with a polite smile.

“Bola,” her mum yelled, “bring chin chin and Zobo for our guest,” She faced Astrid, “you’ll love it, I made it myself since my daughter has decided that she will never learn. Better be talking sense into her head for me.”

Leri rolled her eyes. “Mummy I-”

Astrid laughed. “I will Ma’am.”

“Oshey dear,” She said before turning to Ileri, “iwo tele mi.”

Leri followed her in silence until they arrived at her room. It’s scantiness did not go unnoticed. It was as someone was in the process of moving out.

“Mummy are you going somewhere?” She had to ask.

Iya Ileri inhaled deeply and exhaled. “I’m going to Ibadan tomorrow to join your father. He isn’t going to back anytime soon and I miss him. I miss cooking for him and making him happy.”

Leri didn’t know if she was happy or sad about the news. Yes, her family was going to be safe, but she couldn’t go with them, she couldn’t see her Dad.

“Are you following me and Bola?”

Leri shook her head sadly. “I can’t. I have a couple of meetings and work outings that will last a while.”

Her mum nodded In understanding. “Take care of yourself. You have the spare house keys with you abi?”

Leri nodded. “But I’m not going to stay here. My workplace already provided accommodation for me.” The lie flowed out easily from her mouth.

“This one that I can’t reach you over the phone again, how will we communicate?”

Leri blinked in realization. Faizah had given her a new sim card that morning after plaiting her hair after disposing her old one.

“I bought a new sim card on my way here,” she took out her phone, “where’s your phone, let me save it for you.”

Leri watched her mother grumble while searching for her phone and her heart ached. What would’ve happened to her mum if she had died? What would have happened to her brother and father?

By now they’d be mourning her and making preparation for her burial. She shivered at the thought, suddenly grateful for the gift of life. The opportunity to wake up every day to see the people she cared about, and although she had argued with her family often, they were everything to her. She couldn’t loose them, or let anything take her away from them.

“Take -” Her mum began but Leri cut her off with an abrupt hug.

“Mummy I love you so very much.” Leri’s voice was raw with emotion as she wrapped her hands around her waist, inhaling her perfume that had already become her signature scent.

“Kilo’n se eleyi?” Her mum asked, “are you okay?”

“Mummy I won’t leave you alone until you hug me back,” Leri said stubbornly, “you better hug me or we stay like this.

Surprisingly, her mother returned the hug, which made Leri genuinely contented.

Leri watched Astrid down half a bottle of Zobo as she drove.

“This is so bloody good,” Astrid said while nodding her head in approval, “just the perfect mixture of gingery and sweet.”

Leri chuckled as she assisted Astrid in capping the bottle. “Is this your first time drinking Zobo?”

Astrid bobbed her head excitedly. “I don’t regret taking it now and your Eomma was so nice, she gave me four extra bottles and a jar of chin chin.”

“Eomma?”

Astrid nodded. “That’s Korean for Mum. It’s what I call my mum.” She smiled sadly.

“How’s your mum like?” Leri asked softly.

“The best,” Astrid smiled as she spoke, “she raised me alone as a single mum and honestly I love her and I miss her. She’s a air hostess so I’m guessing she’ll be too occupied to miss me.”

“Don’t say that. I’m sure she’s missing every inch of you. Do you guys talk?”

“Of course. We spoke last week.” Astrid told her. “I talk to her at least twice every week.”

Leri smiled. “How about your dad, he’s the Nigerian right?”

Astrid nodded. “He’s fine and alive with his family.” she said, “I’m an illegitimate child you see, a product of temporary infatuation.”

Leri was speechless. Was she supposed to console her?

“But my mum calls me a blessing, so -” she shrugged as she tightened her hand around the steering wheel. “Anyways, we’re going to mushin to track an address.”

“Really?” Leri asked excited, “like a mission?”

“Relax, It’s not a mission,” Astrid said, “you can stay in the car.”

“No.” Leri shook her head, “I’ll follow.” she said with finality.

The grey colored bungalow was a face me, I face you building. A common type of building in Nigeria where Identical spaces on both sides of the house are separated by a long lobby opened at opposites ends.

A woman sat on a bench, with two children filtering groundnuts on a tray. As soon as they saw Leri and Astrid, they became cautious.

“Good afternoon,” Astrid greeted, “we’re looking for -”

She stopped talking when Leri gently grabbed her palm and gave it a small squeeze.

“Good afternoon o,” Leri greeted in yoruba language. Their faces relaxed a bit as the mother returned the greeting.

“We’re looking for somebody,” Leri continued in yoruba dialect before looking at Astrid questioningly.

“Bibitayo Ola.” Astrid told them.

The mother and her children exchanged knowing glances.

“We’ve not seen Tayo for almost two years now,” the mother explained.

“And what of his parents?” Leri probed further.

The mother shook her head, “his father died last year.”

“Mother, siblings?” Leri pushed on, but the mother shook her head sadly and Leri sighed as she thanked them before leaving with Astrid.

“Well this was a bloody waste of time.” Astrid breathed out.

“I agree.” Leri said as they walked along the street, “but who is this Bibitayo guy?”

Astrid sighed again as she kicked an empty bottle along her path, “we’re not the only ones after the bullets. I just found that recently that there’s an unknown gang after it and Bibitayo is one of them. I confronted him once when he was stalking me but he ran away, and i was able to get his name through a test I ran with his blood.”

“That’s interesting.”

“I’m after the leader of the gang. A lady whose name I don’t know yet, but if I can get Bibitayo to reveal her name, I would know my next step.” Astrid explained, “the problem is that I do not know his whereabouts.”

“Excuse me.” An unfamiliar voice made them halt and turn around to see a young lady.

“I heard you were looking for Tayo?” She looked about sixteen with a baby face and cornrows. She looked like a student.

“Do you know him?” Astrid waved away her question.

She nodded. “We grew up together, he was like my elder brother.”

“Was?” Leri pointed out the use of past tense in her words.

She nodded once more, “he told me never to talk to him again last month.”

“Why?Where did you see him?” Astrid inquired.

“When I went to my cousin’s house at Ikorodu. He was at a bar when I went to meet him.”

“Do you know where we can find him?” Astrid asked with hope in her voice.

She nodded. “He’s mostly at the bar on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I always see him there.”

Leri and Astrid exchanged knowing glances. Today was Wednesday.

“Can you give us the name of the bar? Address?” Astrid asked.

She bobbed her head severally before sniffing. “All Tayo ever wanted was to be a doctor. But he has changed and I’m scared for him.”

“Don’t worry,” Astrid surprised her by saying, “I’ll make his bloody dream come true.”

So sorry for the wait guys❤️ this chapter took a while to write.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share❤️❤️