Forty Six

Unugwa

I placed my hand on my hot forehead. Andy has been declared missing, it's been almost 24 hours and no one has heard from him. His dad even contacted Goodwill but no positive result.

My mom has woken up thankfully but she's really sad, really really sad.

Anibe: hey, dad said we're leaving

I looked back and saw him wearing a hoodie. It's really cold tonight or is it the situation in ground that made everywhere chilly

I breathed out and sighed deeply

Anibe: you're worrying too much. I mean I expected you to worry but not this much

Me: I'm scared. Those guys wanted to kill him before, something tells me they didn't kidnap him. But they took him to finish the job

Anibe: gosh girl! You think too far. Come here

He pulled me into a hug and I really appreciated that. Made me feel secure for that minute

Anibe: your boyfriend is safe okay? He's gonna come back to you and you guys are gonna live happily ever after. And finally do it

I looked up at his face

Me: do what?

He smirked while biting his lower lip

I spanked his chest

Me: gosh! I can't believe you're thinking about that now!

Anibe: just to lighten up the moment girl. Come on, let's leave this hospital.

I nodded and we walked to mom's ward to help take her to the car. Dad doesn't believe the hospital is safe now

While we drove home with two other cars accompanying us, I kept thinking. Thinking Daniel had a hand in all of these. I feel like I should ask him and tell me if he's the one that kidnapped Andy, or if he knows the person behind it. But I also feel it's too dangerous

We got home and mummy went straight to bed. The house was like a fortress, heavily guarded by foreign security guards. Dad might have asked for their assistance

Anibe: dinner is in ten, go freshen up

I nodded and left for my room. My phone beeped and it was a message from Daniel to please meet him at a restaurant. I immediately replied

✉ I'm sorry, I can't. My brother and I were attacked by gunmen, my kid bro has been abducted and my mom is really not in a good condition. Going for a dinner date is just the stupidest thing right now

I dropped the phone and went to shower then came back to meet another message from him

✉ I'm sorry for what your family is going through, I'll come and visit you tomorrow

I scoffed and replied

✉ no thanks. My dad has completely shut us out. We can't visit or be visited

I then went downstairs for dinner.

Dinner was boring. Dad's face looked like hell and the atmosphere was too tense. I think we only ate because we needed the energy, because there was no appetite. Well, I don't know about Anibe though. That dude can eat freely even if he was the one kidnapped, he would even demand for food morning afternoon and evening.

I returned to my room and laid down, I slept off on time because I was tired. Though my sleep wasn't juicy because I had a very terrible nightmare. I saw Daniel pushing Andy down a very rocky cliff and I was tied to a tree, crying. He then moved to me with a knife and said he wasn't going to hurt me, but he was going to give me a mark so every other person would stay away. He was about to tear my face when I screamed both in the dream and in reality. I woke up panting.

I quickly touched my face and even ran to my mirror to make sure I was okay.

I heaved a sigh of relief and went back to my bed. Thank God my face is okay

In the morning, after breakfast, I went back to my room and pondered on the dream I had the previous night. I was contemplating whether to ask Daniel if he knows anything about my brother and Andy's abduction or not to ask. The urge to ask was so much on me that I actually dialed his number. He picked up on the second ring

📲hello Unugwa

📲hi

📲how are you doing?

📲I'm fine. I wanted to ask you something

📲what is it?

📲do you know anything about my....

📲about your what?

📲about any body in this city that is capable of kidnapping? If you have any suspect please tell me

📲this is a big city Unugwa, I couldn't possibly detect who is who because I don't even care about people's lives. But why did you ask me?

📲because there's no one else I could ask

📲I'm really sorry about what's happening to your family. I just wish I could...

He paused and I heard him sigh. I wiped the stubborn tears that had sipped out of my eyes

📲it's okay... Thanks..

I hung up and threw the phone away though it didn't smash against the floor. I hugged my legs and began to cry. I was so scared because I had no hope that Chubi was still alive. I somehow knew that Eden Alberto wasn't after the ransom. That he had plans of making my father leave this country and abandon his company, and I guess he just wants to hurt Lewis Del Solo with his only child.

But I thank God that he doesn't know that we know it's him. If he knew, maybe we'd all be laying in a pool of blood after being assassinated.

A knock on my door brought me out of my jeopardized thoughts.

I expected the door to open if it was Anibe but the person kept knocking. It might be my dad.

I wiped off my wet face and climbed off the bed. I walked to my door and opened it, it was actually a guard that was standing there

Guard: miss, your father said you should get ready to accompany your mom to the hospital

Me: hospital? But I thought he said a doctor will attend to her here

He smirked and suddenly I felt a sharp pinch in my wrist. I looked and saw a tiny syringe stuck into my flesh and that was all I remembered before waking up in a dark room, tied to a chair with duck tape on my mouth.

Daniel

I dropped the phone and ruffled my hair. I was feeling sorry for Unugwa because her brother is in the hands of fate. I don't know what my father might do to him, but I do know he can do anything.

I felt heavy and wanted to pour out my rage at something... Or should I just pour it on someone?

I smirked and found my way to the room Andy was kept.

I opened the door and found him sleeping peacefully, like he didn't know he was in danger. I carefully tiptoed to his tired figure and knotted my fist tightly

I wanted to give him a blow to wake him up but I couldn't. Something in me was saying Unugwa would hate me forever if she finds out I knew her brother and boyfriend were abducted and that I was part of the abductors.

I clenched my teeth and stood up from him, I turned away and walked out without looking back. Something in me was gone and I knew its absence made me weak.

I met the two guards that were watching over him coming back and I ignored their greetings and walked out.

I walked out of the old estate my father was using as his hideout. The estate was his inheritance from his great grandfather and it was a bit old fashioned. He refused to renovate it and I didn't know why until now. It's one of his warehouses for drugs and this is where he's keeping Chubi too.

I entered my car and drove out of the premises. I wasn't clear on what was wrong with me. I needed to talk to someone

I drove to the jail station and requested to see my mother.

She was looking so happy

I took the telephone and waited for her to sit down and take hers

Me: what's with the smile today?

Mom: the smile always appears whenever I'm told that Daniel Alberto is here to see me

I laughed

Mom: so how are you?

Me: I guess I'm fine

Mom: you guess?

Me: I'm just not feeling alright

Mom: I can see that. Tell me what's wrong?

Me: mom, that girl I once told you about. The black girl...

Mom: I remember her

Me: dad abducted her kid brother

Mom: what?

Me: and Andy. I told you I loved her and Andy was standing in the way, I also told you how I threatened him, and how I hit him with my car. Well, the day he was abducted by dad's men, I also threatened him. Now it seems to Unugwa that I have something to do with the abduction. She hasn't clearly told me but I know that's what she's thinking

Mom: Eden is not getting any better. I guess he took them because he wants their company to be affected

Me: exactly

Mom: he's such a psychopath. Who would go that far just because of a company?

Me: mom, I feel bad all of a sudden. I just don't know why

Mom: you don't want to be a part of this. That's why

Me: but I want Andy to suffer for taking Unugwa away

Mom: and you know Unugwa could kill herself if anything happens to Andy. You said she loves him right?

I nodded

Mom: Daniel... Love is very strong. It can bring forth deep hatred and anger. If she finds out what you did, you might never ever be friends again. She might hate you forever

Me: and what if she doesn't find out?

Mom: she will as long as she doesn't die. Nothing can be hidden forever.

Me: so what should I do?

Mom: if you claim you love this girl, then do what would make her happy

Me: what if I can't...

Mom: what if you can?

I sighed

Me: should I make you proud?

She smiled

Mom: at least, for once. Make momma proud by doing the right thing

I chuckled quietly