Family revenge

ling windows. The city pulsed with life-neon signs blinking, cars streaming past like rivers of light-but in this tower high above, time se

orever carved in oil on canvas. The image felt like a silent judge watching over the room, rem

oor broke the silence.

e barked wit

t and right-hand man, stepped in with a cautious pace. Kabelo'

said, lowering his voic

s chair, his face unreadable as he stared through the window. Afte

ously, unsure wheth

d no warmth, only something darker a

office. He poured himself a glass of amber whisky, the liquid catching the di

even lower. "He thinks he can clean up the past, set thin

at he doesn't realize is that everythin

ed hard. "What

holds power now." He took another sip, then set the glass down with a sha

room was thick, a

-

wn had changed since he last walked these roads. New shops with sleek glass fronts stood where old corner stores once operated. Su

d once tried to stand against the corruption that now strangled the town. Others whispered be

of fresh fruit and spices. Behind a battered wooden stall sat an old man, his face weathered like

an said, voice cra

he corners of his mouth barely

tained cloth. "It's hard to forget the boy who tried to

in his palm. He handed it to the man, then pressed

rts again," Mal

es shining with a mixture of

-

room of one of Dumo's many restaurants, a circle of figures sat around a battered wooden table. The restaurant was

cut through

anning each face. "If Malik finds proof-the real reco

leaming in the low light. Known for her brutal tactic

he gets close," she said

a message. Something personal.

ger than before. He's not the scared

"Strength doesn't matter. Fear does. And we

windows grew louder, matching th

-

ent. He studied the files he had gathered-photocopies of old deeds, letters, and aff

als, business partners, paid witness

eply. The weight of the past pressed on his ches

more. He was fighting for the soul o

stood quickly, hand resting on the sm

and Ayanda slipped insi

ispered. "Dumo's already moving.

Then we have to

-

ned. Outside, the city slept unaware that its fate hung in a fragile balance-held

ow of Dumo loomed-waiting,

reaks, casting a gray pallor over the old family home. Inside, t

ly had g

nted to-but because

droplets race each other down the glass. Her jaw was clenc

nce Malik's name was mentioned. His silence was not peace-it wa

ost in the room. Malik stood just inside the doorway, dripp

welco

at f

the table. "After all these years-you walk in

alik replied evenly. "I'm here beca

ost, you disappeared. Dumo didn't turn us aga

was truth in Zama's word

e've all made choices we regret, Zama. But Malik comi

oving. We found watchers near the ga

t her, startl

," she said. "D

m went

"The jackal returns. Just like our father warn

ore tempered. "You said you have evid

he table. Inside were photos, maps, names, transaction records-evid

ms, we can bring down everything he's built. But it has to be strat

th suspicion. "And why

He knows your habits, your fears, your weaknesses. But me? I've been

n, eyes narrowed. "He

, voice steady.

-

ew

distance between them, the famil

reconci

f hea

f sur

inate the family's communication and keep the younger ones safe. Ayanda, sharper than anyone realize

but when they stood outside before sunset,

d once. "Fa

-

d into whispered planning and cautious

k we can

. It's about reclaiming what was stolen-and m

let's make sure he regrets e