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The Hustler’s Gamble 49: The aftermath
The SUV tore through the streets of Lagos, weaving between late-night traffic as gunfire echoed in the distance. They had made it out—but just barely. Jamal sat in the back, gripping the hard drive like it was his lifeline. Beside him, Nadine reloaded her pistol, her hands steady despite the adrenaline rushing through her veins. Malik glanced at the rearview mirror. “We’ve got company.” A black SUV was tailing them, fast. Khalil cursed. “They’re not letting us go easy.” Jamal’s jaw clenched. “We lose them. Now.” Malik swerved into a side street, but the SUV followed. Then came the gunshots. Bullets shattered the rear windshield. Nadine ducked, swearing under her breath. Jamal grabbed his rifle. “Hold it steady.” Malik spun the wheel, sending them onto an empty bridge. Jamal leaned out of the window, aimed, and fired—one shot, two shots. Boom! The SUV skidded, then flipped over, crashing into the guardrail in a fiery explosion. Silence. Malik exhaled. “That was to
The Hustler’s Gamble 50: The endgame
The tension in the room was suffocating.Jamal remained behind cover, his grip tight on his gun as The Broker stood in the open, perfectly composed despite the chaos. His tailored black suit was spotless, his eyes cold and calculating.“You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long,” The Broker said, his voice calm. “But I have to admit, I underestimated you.”Jamal could hear the approaching footsteps—reinforcements. They were running out of time. Malik whispered, “We need to move. Now.”Jamal’s mind raced. They were trapped, but if they played this right, they could turn the tables.He glanced at Khalil and Nadine. “We split. Confuse them. Pick them off.” Nadine nodded, gripping her pistol. Khalil reloaded his rifle.Jamal turned back to The Broker. “You talk too much.”Then, he moved.Chaos UnleashedJamal rolled out from behind the pillar, firing three quick shots. One guard dropped, but The Broker had already disappeared behind his men.Malik took down another two with precise shot
The Hustler’s Gamble 51: shadows never die
Jamal had always known that peace was a fleeting illusion. Two weeks had passed since they left Lagos, but the weight of the past never truly lifted. The city might have moved on, but the streets never forgot. They had settled in a quiet coastal town, far from the chaos of Lagos. The air was different here —cleaner, lighter. The kind of place that could make a man believe in second chances. Jamal sat at a small café near the beach, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. Nadine sat across from him, eyes on the waves, her expression unreadable. Malik and Khalil had chosen to stay behind in Lagos, each finding their own path now that the war was over. But for Jamal and Nadine, Lagos was too loud, too full of ghosts. Still, the silence didn’t feel right. Not for long. A Visitor from the Past The first sign that their past wasn’t done with them came in the form of an envelope. It was waiting for them on their doorstep one morning, no name, no return address. Just a single folded note
The Hustler’s Gamble 52: The trap
Jamal kept his expression neutral, his body still as Julius smirked at him from across the dimly lit room. The tension in the air was suffocating, like the city itself was holding its breath. Nadine stood at his side, her stance tense, fingers twitching near her waistband where her gun was holstered. Behind Julius, his men stood armed, their gazes locked on Jamal and Nadine. “You really thought you could walk in here unnoticed?” Julius asked, taking a slow sip of his whiskey. Jamal didn’t respond. His mind was already running through the possible exits, the number of men in the room, and the odds of them making it out alive. Julius set his glass down and leaned forward. “You’ve always been a stubborn bastard, Jamal. I have to admit, I almost admired it.” He chuckled. “But this? This is just suicide.” Nadine scoffed. “We’ll see who’s walking out of here.” Julius turned his gaze to her, his smirk widening. “Ah, the woman. I should’ve known you’d be part of this. You two make quite
The Hustler’s Gamble 53: The game deepens
Jamal sat across from Obinna Lawal, his hands resting on the polished mahogany table of the private lounge. The air was thick with the scent of cigars and expensive whiskey, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the walls.Obinna was calm, too calm. His eyes held the confidence of a man who had nothing to fear, a man who had seen countless men like Jamal rise and fall.“The Broker is not someone you find, Jamal,” Obinna said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “He finds you. And when he does... well, let’s just say it’s rarely a pleasant experience.”Jamal leaned forward, his voice low but firm. “I’m not looking for a meeting. I’m looking for an end.”Obinna chuckled, shaking his head. “You think you’re the first person to try? The Broker is untouchable. He doesn’t deal in petty crime. He deals in power—real power. He has judges, police commissioners, senators. You take out one man, and ten more will replace him.”Jamal wasn’t fazed. “You talk like you know him personally.”Ob
The Hustler’s Gamble 54: The unseen enemy
The atmosphere in the penthouse had shifted from opulent elegance to a tense standoff. Jamal’s heart pounded as he faced the man in the black suit, whose smirk conveyed both confidence and menace.“Leaving so soon?” the man repeated, his voice carrying a subtle challenge.Jamal forced a calm demeanor, masking the adrenaline surging through him. “I’m afraid I have other engagements,” he replied smoothly.The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, assessing Jamal with a predator’s gaze. “Interesting. I don’t recall seeing you at our previous gatherings.”Jamal offered a polite smile. “I travel frequently. Perhaps our paths simply haven’t crossed until now.”The man’s smirk widened. “Perhaps.” He extended a hand. “Victor Adewale.” Jamal accepted the handshake, noting the firm grip. “Jamal.”“Just Jamal?” Victor inquired, arching an eyebrow.Jamal’s smile remained fixed. “For now.”Victor chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. “Mysterious. I like that.” He glanced around the room, then back at Jamal.
The Hustler’s Gamble 55: The price of war
The echoes of gunfire still rang in Jamal’s ears as he pressed himself against the wall, his breath shallow. Smoke curled through the private lounge, the air thick with the scent of gunpowder and blood. Victor Adewale stood across the room, his pristine suit now stained with crimson as he clutched his side where a bullet had grazed him. Jamal exchanged a quick glance with Malik and Khalil. They had neutralized most of the gunmen, but the damage was already done. The Broker’s men had made their move. Victor’s expression was unreadable, his smirk still intact despite the chaos. “Well, that escalated quickly.” Jamal’s grip on his gun tightened. “You knew this was coming.” Victor let out a breathy chuckle. “I suspected. But even I didn’t think they’d be this bold.” Malik scanned the room, checking the bodies. “We need to move. More will be coming.” Victor winced as he straightened up. “That’s an understatement. You’ve just declared war on an empire.” Jamal holstered his gun, steppi
The Hustler’s Gamble 56: Breaking point
Jamal’s grip tightened around his phone as the image of Nadine, bound and helpless, burned into his mind. His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out Malik and Khalil’s voices. The Broker had taken her. They had crossed a line. Victor leaned back in his chair, watching Jamal with cautious curiosity. “I take it that was personal?” Jamal’s jaw clenched. “They have Nadine.” Victor sighed and poured himself another drink. “Well, that complicates things.” Jamal shot him a glare. “This isn’t a game.” Victor took a slow sip before replying. “It is, Jamal. And right now, you’re playing into their hands. They took her to bait you.” “I don’t care.” Jamal’s voice was ice. “I’m getting her back.” Malik stepped forward. “We’ll do it together.” Khalil nodded. “No way we’re letting them get away with this.” Jamal took a deep breath, forcing himself to think. “The message came from a scrambled number. Can we trace it?” Victor smirked. “Already ahead of you.” He turned his laptop toward th
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77: Ghosts in the dark
Jamal sat on the edge of the battered couch in the safe house, his head bowed, hands clasped together. His chest still burned from the heat of the explosion. His ears rang from the sound of the blast, the ghost of it still echoing in his mind. His fingers brushed over a fresh cut on his brow, the sting pulling him back into the present.Khalil paced the room, the tension rolling off him in waves. Nadine sat at the table, nursing a cut on her arm. A bottle of whiskey sat in front of her, untouched.“We had him,” Khalil muttered. His fists were clenched. “We had him in our sights.” Jamal’s jaw tightened. “And he slipped away.”“He won’t stay hidden forever,” Nadine said, her voice sharp. “A man like that can’t resist control for long.”Jamal’s eyes darkened. “That’s what I’m counting on.”The room fell into silence. Rain tapped against the thin windows, a steady rhythm against the sound of their heavy breaths. Jamal’s mind ran through every step of the night. They had gotten close — too
76: the final play and final move
Jamal stood in the darkened hallway of the elite private club in Ikoyi. The black card Amara had given him earlier sat between his fingers, its glossy surface catching the dim light from the crystal chandeliers above. He could feel the weight of the room before he even walked in—the hum of whispered conversations, the tension behind guarded eyes, and the underlying current of danger that ran through the walls like electricity.Malik and Nadine stood behind him, both dressed sharply. Malik wore a dark suit with no tie, his posture relaxed but his eyes cold. Nadine, dressed in a sleek black dress, had her hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her hand hovered close to the concealed blade strapped to her thigh.“You sure about this?” Malik asked.Jamal’s jaw tightened. “If they want to play, let’s play.”Nadine’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t a game, Jamal.”Jamal’s smile was cold. “It’s always a game.”The heavy oak doors at the end of the hallway creaked open. A tall man in a tailored black su
75: a new throne
Jamal stood on the balcony of his penthouse in Ikoyi, overlooking the restless lights of Lagos. The air was thick with humidity, the distant hum of the city’s nightlife vibrating beneath his feet. A glass of whiskey sat untouched on the table next to him. He didn’t need the burn of alcohol to feel the weight of what he had done.It was over.The Syndicate was dead.The Broker was gone, taken out in a coordinated strike that left the underworld without a leader for the first time in years. Jamal’s rise to power was no longer a secret whispered in dark corners —it was a fact written in blood.Malik stepped onto the balcony, his expression as sharp as ever. He held a cigarette between his fingers, the ember glowing in the dark. “The last of the Broker’s men are scattering,” he said. “Some tried to regroup. Khalil handled it.”Jamal’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon. “And the money?”“Cleaned and secured,” Malik replied. He took a long drag. “The businesses under the Broker’s control—c
74: the gathering storm
Jamal stood at the edge of the waterfront in Victoria Island, the moonlight reflecting off the black waters of the Atlantic. The salty breeze tugged at his jacket, but his mind was far from the restless waves. His focus was on the phone in his hand and the message that had come through barely an hour ago.“Tomorrow night. The Syndicate meets. Be ready.”From The Broker.He had rattled the foundation of Lagos’ underworld. Now The Broker was forcing his hand. A meeting like this wasn’t just a threat—it was a declaration of war.Malik approached, hands in his pockets. “We sure about this?” Jamal’s gaze remained fixed on the water. “He wants to negotiate.” Malik scoffed. “That’s not what this is. It’s a setup.”“I know,” Jamal replied.Malik stepped closer. “Then why are we walking into it?”“Because he wants me to believe I don’t have a choice.”Malik’s eyes darkened. “And do you?”Jamal slipped his phone into his jacket. “We’ll see.”Behind them, Khalil and Nadine stood at the edge of t
73: The broker’s den
Jamal sat in the back seat of the black SUV, his eyes focused on the dark Lagos skyline as they approached the edge of the city. The Broker had finally responded. After months of chasing shadows, breaking down Syndicate operations, and dismantling the power structure beneath him, Jamal had forced The Broker’s hand.Malik drove, his hands tight on the wheel, eyes sharp as they passed through the dimly lit streets. Khalil sat in the passenger seat, his pistol resting on his lap, eyes scanning the road for any signs of a tail. Nadine was seated next to Jamal, her body tense, a compact submachine gun strapped across her chest. Julius sat beside her, hands cuffed, his mouth curled into an amused smile.“You nervous?” Julius asked, his tone mocking. Jamal didn’t look at him. “No.”Julius chuckled. “You should be.”The meeting location was in a private estate deep in Ikoyi—a secluded, high-security compound surrounded by electric fences and private security. Julius had arranged the meeting u
72: the broker’s move
Jamal sat in the safe house, the dim light from a single bulb casting shadows across the room. His hands were pressed together, fingers steepled under his chin. The cold steel of his gun rested on the table beside him. Khalil stood by the window, peering through the blinds, while Malik paced the room, his restless energy palpable. Nadine sat on the edge of the couch, her face tense, arms crossed.They had taken out Bako. That was supposed to weaken the Syndicate. Instead, it felt like they had stirred a hornet’s nest.“They’ll hit back,” Khalil said, his voice low. “Hard.”“They already have.” Nadine’s voice was cold. She gestured to the television mounted on the wall.Jamal’s eyes flicked toward the screen. The news anchor’s expression was grim as footage of burning buildings and police barricades filled the screen.“A wave of coordinated attacks swept through Lagos overnight. Multiple businesses and political offices have been targeted, including a car bomb outside the governor’s ma
71: Crashing the meeting
Jamal stood in the shadows outside the estate, his eyes fixed on the tall, wrought-iron gates. Beyond them, the Syndicate’s council was gathering. The estate was massive—a colonial-style mansion set back from the road, hidden behind manicured hedges and an army of security guards. Floodlights lit up the driveway, where black SUVs were lined in perfect rows.Khalil crouched beside him, adjusting the scope on his rifle. “Six guards at the entrance,” he said. “More on the perimeter.”“Cameras on the west and east walls,” Malik added, positioned on Jamal’s other side. He had a knife in one hand and a gun in the other.Nadine knelt behind them, her eyes narrowed. “We could hit them from the east side. Blind spot between the cameras.”Jamal shook his head. “They’ll expect that.” His gaze darkened. “We go in through the front.” Khalil frowned. “That’s suicide.”Jamal’s smile was cold. “No. It’s a message.”Nadine’s mouth tightened. “You sure about this?”Jamal’s eyes sharpened. “It’s the onl
70: A message in blood
Jamal stood at the edge of the rooftop, the lights of Lagos stretching out beneath him in a sea of glittering gold and white. The night air was thick and humid, clinging to his skin like a second layer. His hands rested on the cold steel of the railing as he stared out over the city.Behind him, Malik, Khalil, and Nadine were gathered around a table covered in blueprints, weapons, and burner phones. The safe house was quiet except for the hum of the ceiling fan and the low buzz of tension in the air.Malik tapped a finger on the blueprint. “The estate’s layout is tight. No obvious security, but that’s a trap in itself.”Khalil leaned over the table. “We’d need to breach the perimeter fast and quiet. If we trip an alarm, we’ll have every hired gun in Lagos coming down on us.”Jamal’s gaze was hard. “We’re not breaching anything.”Malik’s head snapped toward him. “What?”Jamal turned from the window. “We’re not sneaking in. We’re walking through the front door.”Khalil frowned. “That’s
69: loose ends
Jamal sat in the back seat of the black SUV, his eyes fixed on the dark cityscape rushing past the window. The night was quiet now, but the adrenaline still hummed in his veins. His hands were steady, but his mind was spinning.The Broker was dead.But his last words haunted Jamal.“You think this ends with me? I’m just the beginning.”Jamal rubbed his hands over his face. He should feel relief. This was the moment he’d been working toward for years—taking down the Syndicate’s shadowy puppet master. But instead of satisfaction, there was only a growing sense of unease.“We need to regroup,” Malik said from the seat beside him. His face was hard, his tone sharp. Jamal lowered his hands. “We’re not finished.”Malik’s gaze sharpened. “You don’t believe him, do you?”Jamal’s jaw tightened. “He had no reason to lie.”Khalil turned from the front seat, his expression grim. “What are you thinking?”Jamal leaned back, his fingers drumming on his knee. “If The Broker was part of something bigg
