The highway stretched endlessly ahead, dark and quiet except for the steady hum of the SUV.
Emma drove with sharp focus, eyes scanning every shadow, every passing vehicle.
Beside her, Darrick sat with his usual calm composure—
too calm for a man people were trying to kill.
Hours earlier, they'd barely escaped Lagos alive.
Now they were heading to Abuja where the $600 million contract was supposed to be finalized…
and where Darrick's enemies would be waiting.
Emma tightened her grip on the wheel.
"Tell me everything," she said.
Darrick looked at her. "About what?"
"About why people want you dead. About the contract. About why I'm risking my life for you."
He leaned back, considering her.
"You're direct," he said.
"We almost died twice tonight," she snapped. "I'm allowed to be direct."
Darrick sighed.
"The contract is for a major international tech security deal," he began.
"One that would expose years of government corruption and illegal money laundering."
Emma frowned.
"So the people trying to kill you… are the people you're trying to expose?"
"Exactly."
Emma felt her heart twist.
"So my parents… James's investigation… it's all connected to this corruption?"
Darrick hesitated.
That hesitation told her everything.
Emma's jaw clenched.
"They killed my parents to hide something. And now they want to kill you for the same reason."
"Yes," Darrick said quietly. "Our enemies overlap."
A heavy silence fell over the car.
Then Darrick added, "Your brother James… he must be extremely smart to come that close."
"He is," Emma said softly.
"He's the reason I fight so hard."
Darrick studied her profile, the hardened jaw, the fire in her eyes.
"You're strong," he said. "But not just physically."
Emma scoffed. "Save your compliments."
"They aren't compliments," he replied. "They're observations."
She tried to ignore the flicker in her chest.
---
🚨 A Shadow on the Road
Emma's eyes caught something in the side mirror—a pair of headlights following them for too long.
Too steady.
Too intentional.
Her instincts screamed.
"Darrick," she said sharply. "We're being followed."
He looked back calmly. "Black SUV?"
"Yes."
"That's not one of mine."
Emma sped up.
The car behind them sped up too.
Darrick's voice turned low. "They found us faster than expected."
The black SUV closed in.
Emma cursed and took the nearest exit—
a narrow road cutting through a dim industrial area.
The SUV followed.
"Darrick, get ready!" she shouted.
"For what?"
"For whatever happens next!"
She jerked the wheel, making a sudden U-turn that sent the SUV skidding.
The black car swerved to avoid crashing, giving Emma a few seconds.
She hit the brakes.
Darrick was thrown forward slightly. "Why are we stopping—"
Emma reached into the backseat, grabbed a metal pipe she used for fights, and threw open her door.
"Stay in the car," she ordered.
Darrick blinked. "Emma—"
"NOW!"
She stepped out into the road—
alone, fearless, fire in her eyes.
The enemy SUV stopped a few meters away.
Three men stepped out.
Guns drawn.
Faces covered.
Intentions clear.
Emma cracked her neck.
"Alright," she muttered. "Who's first?"
---
🔥 The Fight
The first man charged.
Emma ducked his punch and slammed the pipe into his stomach.
He collapsed instantly.
The second shot at her—
she rolled behind a concrete barrier and kicked his legs out when he got too close.
The third man aimed at her head.
A gunshot rang out.
Emma froze.
The man dropped—shot cleanly in the shoulder.
Emma spun around.
Darrick stood outside the SUV, holding a sleek handgun with perfect aim.
He met her stunned eyes.
"You said stay in the car," he said calmly.
"But I don't take orders very well."
Emma stared at him—
her chest pounding, adrenaline burning hot.
"You—" she started, but the words failed.
He stepped closer, his voice low.
"You're strong, Emma. But you're not alone."
Something inside her shifted.
Fear?
No.
Something warmer.
Dangerous.
Unexpected.
She swallowed hard and looked away.
"We need to go," she muttered. "There will be more."
Darrick nodded. "Then let's finish this."
They got back into the SUV and sped toward Abuja…
closer to danger,
closer to the truth,
and closer to each other.
Neither of them said it out loud—
but everything between them had just changed.