The air between them was thick with unspoken words.
Ochieng's eyes remained cold, unreadable, as he stared at the woman who had once shattered his world.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
She took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "And yet, here I am."
For a moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.
---
Her name was Isabelle.
A woman of breathtaking beauty. Sharp as a blade, deadly as poison. Once, she had been everything to him—his love, his future.
Then she betrayed him.
Sold him out to his enemies. Left him for dead.
And now, she had the audacity to return.
---
Why Now?
Ochieng didn't move. His grip on the armrest of his chair tightened slightly, but his expression remained controlled.
"What do you want?"
Isabelle exhaled. "To fix what I broke."
A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Fix?"
She nodded. "I made a mistake, Ochieng. And now… they're coming for you. The people I once worked with. The ones who thought they killed you before. They won't make the same mistake twice."
Ochieng's gaze sharpened.
"Who?"
She hesitated. Then, two words left her lips, words that made the room seem colder.
"The Zenith Syndicate."
---
The Zenith Syndicate.
The unseen rulers of the underworld. The true monsters behind every war, every fall, every rise in power.
Even the Grand Masters who had once stood at the top of the city had bowed to them.
And now… they were coming for him.
--
Ochieng stood, towering over her.
"Why should I believe you?"
Isabelle met his gaze without flinching. "Because they've already made their first move."
A knock sounded at the door.
Tielen entered, his face pale. "Boss… we have a problem."
Ochieng's instincts flared. "Speak."
Tielen's next words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
"They've taken Magda."
---
War Begins Again
Magda—one of his closest allies. Loyal to the core.
Ochieng's expression darkened, his fury controlled but lethal.
Isabelle took a deep breath. "If they have her… then you don't have much time."
Ochieng turned to Tielen. "Call everyone. Every ally. Every hidden force we have."
Tielen nodded. "Understood."
Ochieng looked back at Isabelle, his voice deadly. "You wanted to fix your mistake?"
Her jaw tightened. "Yes."
His next words made her heart skip a beat.
"Then prove it. You're coming with me."
And just like that—
The war truly began.
---