Astrid sneezed.

She sneezed once again earning a glare from one of the armed men in the room.

The third sneeze was the loudest and Astrid wished she had her hanky with her. It was that dratted place, full of dust and reeking of wet cement.

“What is your problem?” her kidnapper strolled into the room, hands crossed against each other and face contoured in annoyance. Astrid still found it difficult to wrap her head over the fact that she was Dahlia’s sister.

“It’s not my bloody fault you brought me to this dusty place,” Astrid told her, “and I doubt your generosity extends to you giving me a hanky?”

“I’m not a fool Astrid,” She replied, “that would mean I would have to untie your hands.” she eyed her, “now you don’t expect me to let you, my only leverage escape before I get what I want right?”

Of course. The bullets. “What do you want with them anyways?” Astrid asked nonchalantly.

“That’s none of your business.” She replied her harshly, before checking the time on her wrist watch, “let’s hope your people come through or you’ll be dead before tomorrow.”

Astrid laughed, bobbing her head back and forth.

“Did I say anything funny?” SC inquired.

“No,” Astrid said with a smile playing on her lips, “I’m imagining the look on your face when you discovered that the bullets were fake. How did you feel?” Astrid pouted her lips and batted her eyelashes.

“Shut up.” SC said through gritted teeth but Astrid couldn’t hold in her laugher, so she burst into another fit of laughter.

Astrid’s laughter abruptly died as SC tightened a hand around her throat, chocking her.

“Let me warn you that you’re my prisoner and if you keep up this irritating attitude, I will put a bullet through your skull and watch you die.”

Astrid struggled for breath as she spoke. “But you can’t because you need me.”

Her kidnapper let go of her throat, and she kept on breathing unevenly, until she steadied her breathing.

“What-what is the meaning of that tattoo on your fore arm?’ Astrid decided to try her luck by asking.

SC glanced at the tattoo before answering, “my loyalty.”

“So your master choose a cow because cows are loyal to their masters? That means you’re a cow.” Astrid raised a brow . “Don’t you get tired of doing all of these? Don’t you want to be free?”

“Freedom means nothing to me. This is my destiny.”

Astrid shook her head. “No. This is the path you choose. I don’t believe in destinies, I believe you build your own path, I believe in choices.”

“So how about you?” SC asked, “Why do you plan on doing with the bullets in your possession if not for power and wealth. We’re the same Astrid, doing the dirty works for our superiors so don’t try to be a saint in my presence.“

Astrid laughed. “Okay let’s get some things straight here. One, I’m not a pawn. Unlike you, I have a choice and the particular one I choose grants me freedom. Two, do you even know how dangerous Gothium is?”

“I don’t care,” SC said, “I’m taking what rightfully belongs to my master. “she spat, “Dahlia, so perfect, so immaculate. Who would’ve thought? People are not always what they seem, like you Astrid Baek.”

Astrid narrowed her eyes at her, wondering she meant by that. There was no way that she could’ve known who she really was.

“Bold of you to talk about Dahlia Kagabel like that,” Astrid told her with a smile, “you harbour so much hatred for her? Why? Inome Lebagak?”

SC frowned, taking a step backwards. “I don’t care about her. I can kill her without feeling anything, any day and any time.”

Astrid shrugged. “Okay. If you say so.”

At that moment, a rush of chilly breeze blew in through one of the windows and Astrid shivered as the cold clung to her bare skin. She glanced at the darkness outside and sighted lighting high up in the sky. It was about to rain.

Astrid’s phone rang out and SC picked it up and put it on loudspeaker.

“We’re at the location.” She recognized Aminat’s voice.

“Are you with it?” SC was referring to the bullets.

“Yes.” Aminat said after a moment.

“I’m on my way.”

“How are we sure that Astrid is still alive?” Aminat said again, “we want to hear her voice for confirmation.”

SC edged closer to Astrid, stretching the phone closer to her.

“I’m bloody tired here,” Astrid spoke into the phone, “there’s dust everywhere.” She sneezed.

“Astrid,” Aminat’s voice was relieved, “you’ll soon be safe, hold on for a little while.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard throughout today.” Astrid murmured.

SC snatched the phone away from her and chuckled. “I’m the one who decides her fate, not you.” She ended the call and snapped her fingers, “Obi, get the car ready, the rest of you, let’s move. Osas and Waheed, stay here with her.”

“Wait,” Astrid’s voice made her halt and turn, “once you get the bullets, will you leave us alone?”

SC shrugged. “Yes of course.”

“Okay,” Astrid nodded. “Good luck.” she said with a smile and watched the procession march out of the room.

Astrid heaved a sigh of relief. Inome wasn’t thinking far ahead. All she was interested in were the bullets, all she wanted was to get her hands on them.

Although Inome didn't show it, she couldn’t mention her master’s name, like Tayo, she was frightened, so she used loyalty to cover it up. That made Astrid more curious, more desperate to know who this mystery man was. Of all things, he choose a cow, why?

“You be fine girl o,” one of the men eyed her lustfully, “shey I no go marry you like this? Osas what do you think?”

“She too slim jare, like bone.” Osas hissed, “I like fat women.”

“Bloody idiots.” Astrid muttered as she glared at them, “nicompoops.”

“Did she just call us poo poo,” Osas looked at his partner.

“No be shit be that?” Waheed said, “this bone dey insult us here, we go slap you, you go see.” Waheed said angrily, “if not for SC, I go shoot you.”

SC? Astrid wondered. What was SC?

“Waheed, calm down o,” Osas warned his partner, “no do anything stupid abeg, make SC no kill us this night.” There was fear in his voice as he spoke her name.

“But that no mean….” his voice faded as he redirected his gaze somewhere else in the room, “wetin be that?” He took few strides, then he knelt and picked up something from the ground. “na diamond o,” He exclaimed, “Osas come and see.”

His partner soon joined him and marveled at the sight, “this looks original o,” he examined the diamond, “we fit see like one million naira if we sell both of them.”

Astrid could only smile as she watched them, because she knew exactly what those diamonds were. They weren’t just ordinary diamonds, they were freeze diamonds.

“Osas I can’t move,” Waheed was panicking as the jewel dropped from his hands.

“Me too,” Osas agreed.

Wura strolled in through the door that moment, looking very deadly but chic in her all black leather jump suit, combats boots and signature afro wig that hid several knives and other pointy objects.

“Two fools,” Wura announced calmly as she played with a dagger in her hands.

“Wura.” Astrid breathed out, unable to believe that it was Wura who had to rescue her.

“Who, who are you?” Osas asked while struggling to move “why can’t I move?”

Using two fingers, Wura flung the dagger in their direction. It missed them, hitting the wall instead. The looks on their face were priceless.

“My next hit will be on your forehead.” Wura warned as she approached Astrid and knelt behind her chair. She began to cut the ropes on her hands.

Astrid wriggled her wrist as they broke free before getting up from the chair and stretching her body.

“Are you hurt?” Wura asked her in concern.

“Those bloody ropes gave me blisters on my wrist.” Astrid complained with a murmur before staring at Wura, unsure of how to react. “Thank you.” she whispered finally.

“Sure.” Wura nodded, immediately and unexpectedly punching Osas on his face. He blanked out.

She was about doing the same to Waheed when Astrid stopped her. “This one’s mine.”

Without pity, Astrid clenched her fist and propelled it into his face. Blood coated his nose as he also, blanked out.

Wura picked up the freeze diamonds with her hanky and slipped them into one of the pouches on her belt. She took out a pistol and threw to Astrid who caught it.

“In case of any surprises.” Wura explained to her, “my bike’s outside, let’s go.”

“You know I don’t like bikes,” Astrid complained, “why didn’t you bring a bloody car?”

“Astrid we don’t have time abeg let’s go.” Wura told her with a sigh.

“But its about to rain and-” Astrid was stubborn.

“The more reason why we should leave faster.” Wura interrupted as she doubled up her pace.

“I had no idea you were going to come rescue me.” Astrid told her, walking to meet Wura’s pace.

“Why not?” Wura said, “we’re friends.”

Astrid paused. “Wura, you told me I was unwanted.”

Wura sighed. “I’m sorry.” she swallowed, “I-it’s been a lot lately and I’m terribly sorry.”

Astrid smiled before hugging Wura. “I’m here for you Wura, you can always talk to me.”

Wura sniffed and nodded. “Talking to other people is hard for me, but I will try my best not to push you away or say hurtful things to you.”

“Yay,” Astrid did a little victory dance, “you’ve finally come to your senses.

“You’re not serious,” Wura laughed, “get on the bike jare and let's go.”

The scent of coffee was soothing to Astrid. Raising the cup to her lips, she took a sip and exhaled in relief as she felt the liquid warm her insides.

It was good to be back, she thought with happiness as she glanced at the important people around her. The twins were arguing over something, Leri was on her phone, Wura was reading something on one of the monitors on the wall, while Tomiwa was on his laptop.

“I hope you’re not experiencing pains anywhere?” Aminat asked with worry evident in her facial expression.

Astrid shook her head in response. “I’m just cold, nothing too serious.”

“Should I give you aboniki ointment?” Aminat asked, “I have one in my bag.”

Astrid scrunched up her face. “You know I do not like those stuffs. They’re too hot for me.”

Aminat rolled her eyes, mirth danced in her eyes. “This is your third year in Nigeria and you still refuse to use them.”

“I’ll use hot water to have my bathe and wrap myself up at night. I also have some mint sweets back at home.” Astrid explained.

“Okay o.” Aminat surrendered. “But you shouldn’t have gone alone that night.”

Astrid nodded. “I know, it was indeed foolish of me. Forgive me.”

“You’re safe now, and that’s what matters. Go home and rest.”

Astrid eyed Aminat as she drank her coffee. Something was definitively off about her.

“Are you okay?” She asked with a serious expression.

Aminat forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

“You do not look it.” Astrid told her, “there are eye bags under your eyes and you eyes look tired and distant.”

“My Mother-in-law keeps disturbing me for a child,” she said quietly, “and my womb is damaged so I am unable to produce one.” her voice reduced to an unsteady whisper.

“Have you considered adoption?”

Aminat’s laughter was dry. “This is Nigeria Astrid, where we don’t believe in adoption. There’s no greater joy than giving birth to your own child.”

Astrid watched her with pity, worry and sadness, unable to say anything.

“I’ve advised my husband to marry another wife who will bear him children.” Even as Aminat said it, her voice was tight and full of emotions.

“Aminat you don’t have to-”

“No.” Aminat cut her off. “It is not against my religion. Allah approves of it.”

“But will you be happy with that decision?” Astrid asked her with sincerity, “seeing another woman in your home, with your husband, on your matrimonial bed, every day? Isn’t that too much?”

“I-” Aminat stammered, “I have no choice Astrid, I’m in a very difficult situation and this is the only way.”

“There’s always a choice Aminat,” Astrid told her, “there is always a choice.”

Aminat sighed. “We will talk about this another time, it’s late. Tomiwa will drive you home.”

“Inome made a call today,” Astrid started saying, capturing Aminat’s full attention, “she thought I wasn’t listening and I can bet my car that she was talking to her master.” Astrid took a sip of her coffee which had already became warm, “she didn’t say his name, but she called him Alhaji.”

Aminat leaned against her chair and crossed her arms. “Interesting.”

“She also mentioned that the bullets belongs to this Alhaji rightfully. Could that mean that Dahlia isn’t even our real target?”

Silence hung in the air for a couple of moments before Aminat broke it. “Let’s talk about this tomorrow. You should go home, and that’s an order from your supervisor.”

Astrid used two fingers to salute her. “Yes maam.”

Rain poured heavily as Tomiwa drove Astrid home that night.

“I should have driven.” Astrid scoffed and pouted her lips like a child.

“You’re in no condition to drive.” Tomiwa reminded her, “not after what you’ve been through.”

“You’re like an annoying elder brother.” Astrid murmured, diverting her attention to the window, where the rain had blurred the sight. Uninterested, she returned her gaze to Tomiwa. “When did you return?” she asked him.

“Yesterday morning. I called you severally but no response.”

“I must’ve given you all quite the scare.” Astrid said with slight guilt in her voice.

“I was dead worried,” Tomiwa told her, “But I’m glad you’re safe now.”

Astrid nodded. “How is she?”

“She’s fine.” Tomiwa answered, “it turned out to be malaria typhoid and she spent a couple of days in the hospital. But she’s home now and perfectly okay.”

“I miss her,” Astrid smiled, “I wish to see her again soon.”

“You will,” Tomiwa assured her, “after this mission wahala when every where's safe.”

“Lovely.” Astrid clapped with joy. “Leri asked of you.” She added after a couple of minutes.

“She did?”

Was that surprise in his voice?

“Yes,” Astrid eyed him carefully, “she did.”

“Okay.”

“Tommy stop denying yourself happiness.” Astrid blurted out. “You deserve to be happy.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that,” Tomiwa refused to look at her.

“I’ve seen the way you look at her when she’s not looking,” Astrid smirked, “you like her.”

“I-” Tomiwa breathed out, unable to complete his sentence.

“That look of longing, desire and fascination.” Astrid continued, “you really do like her.”

“I have a baggage Astrid,” Tomiwa reminded her, “and she has a boyfriend.”

“Who told you that she is happy in her relationship?”

“Astrid-” Tomiwa warned.

“If she was happy she wouldn’t be asking me about you,” Astrid explained to him, “she wouldn’t even bloody care about your absence or presence. Stop being a coward Tommy.”

“If she knows about her, she might run away from me.” Tomiwa sounded hurt, “they always do.”

“Take that leap of faith Tommy,” Astrid adviced softly, “do not judge her based on your assumptions.”

Tomiwa sighed.

“If you do not tell her that you like her, I will do so on your behalf.” Astrid said stubbornly.

“Astrid don’t do anything stupid,” Tomiwa rushed his words, “don’t.” he said sternly.

“Dare me.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“I hate you.” Tomiwa murmured and she blew him a kiss in response.

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