THE END

I still had my Italian passport. The same passport Giovani had made for Chisom and I and, it was still very valid. That was why it was easy for me to obtain a two weeks visa to the United States. Before going, I moved my family to Lagos and got an apartment for them somewhere at the Island. I wanted them somewhere safe. Warri was no longer safe for us. I couldn’t tell how many more goons Giovani had out there looking for me and my family. 

When I was sure my family was properly settled and safe, I flew to the US. I had already communicated my coming to Mia. The plan was that, she was going to pick me up from the airport and then, take me to a secure guest House somewhere in Texas. Mia didn’t know that I had come to Texas to kill her father. She knew I was coming to see her and her mum. She had hinted to me that she wanted to start a foundation for the less privileged in Nigeria. She thought I was coming to Texas so we could have a chat about that.

What both of us didn’t know was that Mia’s father had bugged her phone and had been listening to my every conversation with her. In fact, he even knew when I departed Nigerian and knew what flight I took and when I would be landing at Houston. So, he sent his most trusted man, Carlos to the airport to see if it was really me. He gave Carlos strict instructions to make sure he wasn’t seen by me. 

As soon as I got off the plane, I saw Mia waiting for me. She gave me a tight hug, collected my luggage and put in her car. She was very happy to see me.

“How was your flight?” She asked.

“Bumpy but good.” I replied, smiling. 

“You look more handsome than the last time I saw you.”

“You can say that again, and all the thanks go to Akpu.” I said, laughing.

“What is Akpu?” She asked, pronouncing it in a funny way.

“It’s a delicious African delicacy. Don’t worry, someday, you will enjoy it.”

“I can’t wait.”

Carlos had been given strict instructions to make sure I didn’t see him at the airport. However, he took no notice of that. He had always hated me for having more attention than him. He was angry that I was made special by Mr. Giovani. He had always believed my abilities were overrated. He hated me with a growing dislike. Because he hated me, he underestimated me and became careless. That was his mistake. I spotted him while I was getting into Mia’s car.

“Mia, Mia.” I whispered urgently. “Someone’s on our tail.”

“Who is it?” She asked, turning around.

“Carlos”

“What? How is this possible?” 

“I don’t know. We have to lose him.”

Mia stepped hard on the gas and the car sped up a small hill that wasn’t far from the airport. The hill led to an exclusive area in which were homes of the wealthy. We slowed down speed when we got to the area because the area had a speed limit. The guest house Mia had arranged for me was in that area. People were not allowed to get into that area, unless you were a resident or had a booking at one of the luxury guest houses. That was why we were allowed to enter.

 She produced a card which showed that she had already made reservations at the guest house. Since Carlos had neither of the above credentials, he was denied entry into the estate-like neighbourhood. In anger, he turned around and went back to report to his boss. 

You would think that Mr. Giovani would be angry to know that I had come into America. No, he was happy instead. He wanted me dead as much as I wanted him to. He had been frustrated when he couldn’t hear back from the people he had sent to kidnap my daughter in Nigeria. He figured that somehow, I had killed them. He had been at a loss as to what to do next until he learnt through Mia’s phone that he had bugged, that I was coming to the States. 

We had now reached the guest house and Mia parked in the parking lot reserved for guests. I got out of the car apprehensively, looking over my shoulders. I thought we had been followed. Mia noticed how nervous I was and asked me to calm down. She assured me that everything would be fine and were not followed.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes, this is a secluded area. People are not allowed in here anyhow. However, that doesn’t mean we would let down our guard. Carlos has realized that you are in the country. He will definitely go back to tell his boss, my father, and they will begin making plans. We have to be careful and endeavour to be ahead of them.”

“What was Carlos doing at the airport?” I asked.

“Who knows? Probably running an errand for his boss.”

“I don’t think so. What if he knew I was coming?” I was skeptical.

“How would he know that?”

“From your phone. He must have wiretapped your phone.”

“OMG! That is true. That means we aren’t safe here either.”

“Yes, so, you have to ditch that phone immediately and we have to leave this place tomorrow.”

That night, we couldn’t sleep. We both knew how dangerous Mr. Giovani was. In spite of the fact that we were leaving in a secluded, reserved and highly protected area, it didn’t cancel the fact that Mr. Giovani couldn’t still get to us. He was a drug lord and he had his way of getting into places. He could even have someone working for him in the area. All possibilities had to be considered for cautionary sake. However, dawn came without any incident, and we heaved a sigh of relief. Bad things usually happened at night. 

We had to use another car to leave. So, Mia used her credit card and got a rental car from the guest house. We got into it and headed out of the area. As soon as we crossed the gate that led out of the area, we noticed a suspicious looking car parked by the side of the road. We sped past it and waited for the car to follow us. It didn’t. Mia had ditched her phone and we had switched cars. So, whoever was tracking us was sure that we were still at the guest house. 

We drove until we came to the psychiatric hospital where Bianca Giovani was being held against her wish. 

“Stay in the car.” Mia said.

“Why?”

“You are black. It will be easier for my father’s men to spot you because of your skin colour.”

“But there are millions of black men in America.”

“Yes, that is true. However, remember they will be looking for an African with a young blonde girl as his companion. Both of us together will fit into that description perfectly. So, stay in the car. I just want to check on my mum. I will be back before you know it.”

“Alright.” I agreed.

I wasn’t, however, comfortable. Sitting in that car all alone, I felt like a sitting duck. Anyone, even a child, could walk in and put a bullet in my head. I felt very vulnerable. I wish I was in Nigeria where I could carry my gun freely.

Mia was in her mother’s ward, and she was intimating her about the recent developments.

“Mum, he is here.”

“Who? The African?”

“Yes, mum. Buchi is here. He flew in yesterday. As I speak now, he is outside the hospital, waiting in a car.”

“Why didn’t you bring him inside?”

“For security purposes, mum. Dad has found out he is around. In fact, his men had us followed yesterday but we lost them.”

“Oh! My gosh! Mia, your father is evil.”

“I couldn’t agree less, mum. Let me leave you for now. Now that he is here, I will talk to him about the foundation thing. If everything works out well, I could get you discharged and we could go to his country and set up a new life away from father.”

“It’s alright, my daughter. Just be careful.”

“I will, mum. Love you.”

“Love you more, mum.”

“Love you, most.”

While Mia was in the hospital, I rolled down the glass window of the car in order to let in fresh air. It was summer and it was getting heated in the car. I regretted that immediately. I felt something cold on my jaw and when I turned around, it was a pistol, a .45 pointed to my head. I looked up and it was Carlos. 

“Get out of the car and come with me slow and easy.” He spoke.

“What do you think you are doing, Carlos?”

“Exactly what you think I am doing. I am taking you to the boss. Been long-time you guys haven’t met. To say the truth, he misses you and needs to have a little chat with you.” He laughed. 

“What if refuse to go with you?” I dared to ask.

“Well, the boss anticipated that you would say that. That is why he instructed me that in case that happens, I should have the chat with you myself. He also advised that since I had been working too hard, chasing you and your little mistress, Mia, I could take a break and allow my gun to do the chatting instead. So, what’s it gonna be? A chat with my boss or a chat with my gun, Bushi?” He pronounced my name like an Italian would do.

I knew it was useless to resist. He would shoot and kill me before I made any move. Carlos was an expert shot and he had been giving an order to kill me if I ever resisted. I knew I was going to be killed anyway. However, every moment counted. In my life, the one lesson I had always learnt was that time was always of the essence. Just one second could make a whole difference. Just a second could make a difference between life and death.

I got out of the car and followed him to a big American Tundra Pickup truck waiting about twenty meters away. He instructed me to walk as casually as possible and to make sure I didn’t draw anyone’s attention to my plight. He also cautioned that he would shoot to kill if I attempted to escape. When we got to the car, he opened the back door and I got in, shocked to find Mr. Giovani himself waiting for me.

“Mr. Buchi.” He laughed, “Long time no see. What brings you to America? Is it my daughter’s juicy ass?”

“I came here to kill you.”

“Kill me? How the hell did you expect to do that? America ain’t Italy, Buchi. Here, you are a fish out of water. There is no ambassador to save you. You are completely in my power and in a few minutes, you will be dead.”

“How did you find me? How did you know I was in the country?”

“Well. Through the phone of your girlfriend, Mia. I had her phone tapped. Of course, you are a smart man and got that figured out. That is why you had her ditch her phone thereby, slowing the progress of tracking you down a little bit. But we got you finally.” He laughed. 

While he enjoyed himself and luxuriated in the fact that he had captured me, I assessed the situation. Apart from me, there were just three other guys in the car. They included the driver, Carlos and Mr. Giovani. I was thinking to myself and wondering if I could take them out if I put up a fight. So far, I had seen just one gun and that was the one Carlos was carrying. It’s possible that Giovani himself could have a gun but I hadn’t seen anyone in sight here. I was going to die, anyway. So, why couldn’t I take my chances?

As I contemplated, I heard the sound of a car horn behind me. I looked around and discovered that it was the car Mia and I had rented from the guest house. That meant Mia had discovered that I had been kidnapped and had therefore followed me. How did she know? I would bother about that later. For now, I had to take action, or I would be a dead former militant and drug dealer turned vigilante. 

We branched into a side and lonely road with bushes and rocks on both sides, and I decided that now was the time for action. With a move quicker than lightning, I gave Mr. Giovani a karate chop on his neck, getting him at the jugulars, temporally cutting-off blood and oxygen to his brain. That made him become unconscious. Carlos realized what was going on and turned around to shoot but I held his gun, and a struggle began. 

As we fought, twice there was an accidental discharge and two bullets fled from the gun and buried themselves into the driver. One got him in the ribs, puncturing his lungs and made breathing difficult for him. The other got him in his head and he slumped onto the wheel and began the once in a lifetime business of dying. With the driver dead, the car swerved dangerously and crashed into the bushes, tumbling and tumbling until it finally rested just a few meters to a deep ravine. 

I don’t know how long I was unconscious. However, it must have been about thirty minutes because when I came around, I still felt a terrible pain in my head, and I was out of the car. I made a quick observation and noticed two things. Carlos laid by my side, dead and Giovani was standing in front of me. He had a gun pointed to me. 

“Get up!” He ordered.

I managed to get to my feet. There was no escaping for me. I was going to die this time around.

“Say your last prayers, Buchi. You are going to die now.”

“I am not saying any prayers. I want to die and go to hell so that I can meet you again and finish you for real.” I spat.

“Alright, so be it.”

He raised his gun and was about to shoot when Mia stopped him. She had a gun with her.

“Dad, please, let him go.”

“Mia, you came to save your lover. He’s a dead man already.”

“Dad, please. Don’t’ shoot him, please.”

“You have a gun with you? What do you intend to do with it? Shoot me?”

“I will, dad, if comes to it. Please, let him go, please.”

“No way, Mia. He has caused me too much trouble. His journey ends here.”

“Please, dad.”

Giovani was about to pull the gun when Mia fired three times. One bullet caught him in the shoulder spinning him crazily. The second got him in the stomach and the third in his chest. Giovani did a little dance of death as the hand holding his gun dropped to his side. He tried to raise the gun again, but life was draining from him fast and he didn’t even have the energy to stand upright. He was losing blood in large amounts. He finally managed to turn to Mia and gave her that, “I am your father, why-did-you-do-this-to-me?” look. Then, he went on his knees, tried to stand again but fell hard on his back. He was dead.

“Daaaadddd!!” Mia cried, running to him. But he was already as cold as stone. She wept silently for about three minutes while I stood by the upturned car, watching her. She walked up to me and I welcomed her into my arms.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

“Did you buy a return ticket on your way to America?”

“Yes, why?”

“I want you to go back to Nigeria tonight. I will notify the police once you are gone about the whole thing. I will take the blame and say it was self-defense. I don’t want you to be anywhere near the crime scene. Take the rented car, go to the guest house, return the car, get your belongings, take my own car and go the airport. When this whole thing is over, I will see you in Nigeria. Goodbye, Buch, and be safe.”

“Goodbye, Mia. See you in Nigeria soon.”

I got into the car and drove away.

THE END…