2024-12-24 21:48:43Hakimi barged into Riqqo's office, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing. "I'm Hakimi. Akashi's father," he said, his voice low but dangerous.
Riqqo leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ah, the forever polite Hakimi. Nonsense, brother! Drop the courtesy," he said, bursting into a laugh. Leaning forward, he jabbed a finger into his chest. "We're family, okay?"
"Family?" Hakimi’s voice cut through the air like a blade. "Then why did you hurt Akashi?"
Riqqo groaned and waved dismissively. "The kid who thought he could steal from me? Don’t tell me he cooked up some story and sold it to you."
"My son didn’t steal from you, Hakimi growled, fists trembling at his sides. Clear his name and give him his job back."
Riqqo’s laugh was sharp and mocking. "Why would I? Isn’t he too young to work anyway?"
Hakimi stepped closer, his tone cold and unwavering. "You’ve never been a good uncle, so spare me your concerns. If you don’t give him his job back, I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of operation you’re running. I’ll go to the police, the media. I’ll ruin you."
Riqqo’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flash of anger. "You think you can threaten me?"
"This isn’t a threat. It’s a promise. My son is innocent, and I’ll prove it," Hakimi shot back, his voice steady and resolute.
The tension in the room was suffocating. Finally, Riqqo leaned forward, his smirk returning. "Fine. He can have his job back. But if either of you steps out of line, there will be consequences."
Hakimi nodded, a grim sense of victory settling over him. "He won’t let you down. Neither will I."
"You may leave," Riqqo said, turning his back on Hakimi. Without another word, Hakimi walked out of the office, his shoulders heavy but his resolve unbroken.
Hakimi pushed open the door to his home, the confrontation with Riqqo still fresh in his mind. He found Akashi seated at the dining table with Khadijat and Amira. Akashi’s hair hung loosely around his face, unkempt and shadowing the tension in his eyes. The girls sat quietly beside him, their expressions curious yet subdued.
Hakimi lingered for a moment, his heart aching as he watched them. He cleared his throat, and their heads turned toward him. "I’ve got some news for you, son," he said, forcing a smile as he placed a hand on Akashi’s chair.
"What? Did you win the lottery?" Akashi quipped, attempting a grin. The girls laughed lightly, but the humor didn’t reach Hakimi.
"Not quite, Hakimi said, his voice faltering. I talked to Riqqo. He’s agreed to give you your job back."
Akashi’s face darkened, his grin disappearing. "I don’t want to go back there, Dad."
Hakimi’s chest tightened. "I know it’s hard, Kashi, but we need the money. I can’t handle the expenses on my own."
Akashi’s fists clenched. "They already think I’m a thief. Going back will only make it worse."
Hakimi’s gaze fell to the floor, shame pressing down on him. "I’m sorry, son. But please… do this for the family."
The room was silent. Akashi’s eyes searched his father’s face, reading the desperation etched in every line. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. I’ll go back. But only because you asked."
Hakimi nodded, his victory tainted by guilt. He turned away, leaving the siblings to their conversation.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the house was filled with muted voices. Hakimi stood by the doorway, eavesdropping on his children.
"You know," Akashi said, a faint smile playing on his lips, "I had to sneak back into the exam hall last week. They kicked me out because we couldn’t pay the fees. But I disguised myself and finished the papers anyway."
Khadijat gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You didn’t!"
"Oh, I did, Akashi chuckled. Wrapped a scarf around my face and slipped right past them."
Amira giggled. "You’re unbelievable."
Hakimi’s heart sank deeper. Their laughter was a cruel contrast to the humiliation Akashi had endured. Quietly, he stepped away, retreating to the dimly lit parlor. He sank into the worn couch, his head in his hands. Guilt clawed at him, sharper than ever.
Later that night, Hakimi sat alone in the darkness, a cigarette burning between his fingers. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional crackle of the ember. He stared at the floor, the weight of his failures crushing him.
He crushed the cigarette in the ashtray and stood, his reflection in the cracked mirror above the sink staring back at him. Hollow eyes. A man beaten down by life. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to wash away the despair.
Slipping quietly into the children’s room, he found them huddled together, fast asleep. Akashi lay between Khadijat and Amira, their faces peaceful. Hakimi bent down and kissed their foreheads. "I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The walls of the house felt like they were closing in on him. He couldn’t stay. The guilt was suffocating. Opening the front door, he stepped into the cool night air. The moon cast its light over the quiet streets as Hakimi walked, his feet carrying him toward a familiar yet uncertain destination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hakimi stood at the entrance of a dilapidated building, the night air thick with smoke and dampness. His heart hammered in his chest. This wasn’t where he wanted to be, but desperation had led him here—to his estranged brother, Riqqo.
Inside, Riqqo lounged at a table, feet up, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His sharp eyes flicked to Hakimi as he entered, a slow, cruel smile spreading across his face.
“Well, well. My little brother,” Riqqo mocked, his voice oozing with malice. “What brings you to my den? I didn’t think you’d miss me.”
Hakimi’s throat was dry. “I need your help,” he forced out, voice tight. “I need a job.”
Riqqo chuckled, a harsh, mocking sound. “A job?” He threw his head back in laughter. “You must be joking.”
Hakimi clenched his fists, his anger simmering, but he didn’t speak. Riqqo’s laughter died, replaced by a dangerous edge as he leaned forward.
“The only reason I’m even letting you in is because you’re my brother,” Riqqo spat. “But don’t mistake my tolerance for weakness. Come in here again with such crap, and you’ll regret it.”
Hakimi stayed still, his gaze unwavering. The threat hung between them, but he didn’t flinch.
“I’m serious, Riqqo,” Hakimi said, voice steady but strained. “I lost my job. I need something. Anything. I can’t stand by while my family suffers.”
Riqqo’s amusement faded, replaced by irritation. “I told you to leave! he snapped, voice rising. Get out!”
Hakimi didn’t budge, his eyes locked on Riqqo’s. For a long moment, their silence spoke volumes. Then, Riqqo’s anger softened, replaced by something like grudging acknowledgment.
“You serious?” Riqqo asked, voice quieter now.
Hakimi’s expression was grim. “Dead serious.”
Riqqo leaned back, eyeing him like a puzzle. “I didn’t think it would come to this. Here, sit.” He motioned to a chair, his tone now tinged with something almost… human.
But Hakimi wasn’t ready to settle. “Not until my request is accepted.”
Riqqo’s cold eyes narrowed, scanning him. Then, his lips curled into something like sympathy. “I heard about your wife,” he said, his voice low. “I’m sorry.” For once, his face showed a flicker of something genuine.
Hakimi stepped forward, his shoulders tight. “It happened,” he said, shrugging it off.
Riqqo shook his head slowly. “So, Hakimi, the ‘honest man,’ is asking me for help?” He smirked, his usual venom returning. “You want to work for me?”
Hakimi’s stomach twisted. He knew what Riqqo’s “business” was—drugs, arms, loansharking, illegal gambling. It was everything he’d sworn to avoid. But the thought of his family starving pushed aside any hesitation.
“I need to provide for my family,” Hakimi said, voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t let them suffer.”
Riqqo raised an eyebrow, watching him closely. “You know what kind of work I do, right?” He tapped his fingers on the table, eyes never leaving Hakimi. “You sure about this?”
“I won’t kill anyone,” Hakimi said through clenched teeth. “I won’t hurt anyone.”
Riqqo chuckled darkly. “And here I thought you were ready to dive in. One job, and you’d be set. But fine. You’re family. I won’t ask you to do anything you can’t handle.”
For a brief moment, Riqqo’s expression softened, almost as if there was a flicker of brotherly concern. “You really want to do this?”
Hakimi nodded. “Yes.”
Riqqo’s eyes were calculating. “This work means keeping secrets, Hakimi. Especially from your family. You understand that?”
Hakimi’s stomach churned, but his face remained neutral. “I’m ready.”
Riqqo studied him for a long moment, before standing up slowly, as if weighing the decision. “Leave now,” he said flatly. “Think about what you’re asking for. Come back next week—Monday, 10 p.m. sharp. If you’re still serious, I’ll have something for you.”
Hakimi’s heart hammered in his chest, but he nodded, his voice thick. “I’ll be there.”
As Riqqo turned to escort him out, his voice softened—almost sorrowful. “What happened to you, Hakimi?”
Hakimi froze. He didn’t have an answer, didn’t know what had led him here. What had driven him to sell his soul to the very man he’d sworn never to cross paths with again?
Riqqo’s voice was gentler now. “What pushed you to this point? You were always my innocent little brother. How did you end up here?”
Hakimi didn’t respond. His silence spoke volumes, and Riqqo, perhaps sensing the weight of his words, nodded slowly.
“Go home, Hakimi,” he said quietly. “You still have time to change your mind.”
Hakimi didn’t answer. He turned and left, the door creaking shut behind him. Outside, the night was still. But inside, a storm raged. He wasn’t sure how he’d survive the coming week, or if he had the strength to face his brother again. But one thing was clear: there was no turning back...
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CHAPTER 37: THE CONFRONTATION
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the small but cozy living room where Khadijat and Amira sat on the worn sofa. The scent of breakfast still lingered in the air-freshly made tea and the faint aroma of bread Bashir had toasted earlier. Akashi leaned against the wall, flipping lazily through a magazine, his long hair loosely tied back.Bashir entered the room, his sleeves rolled up and a playful grin on his face. "Alright, you three, coats on!" he declared, clapping his hands together.Khadijat frowned, looking up from the book she had been skimming. "Why? Where are we going?""To see your father," Bashir said simply, his smile widening.At those words, Khadijat's face lit up, and Amira let out an excited squeal. "Really?!"Akashi, too, straightened up, his expression softening. "To Dad's restaurant?" he asked, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.Bashir chuckled. "Yes, now hurry up before I change my mind."The room burst into movement as the siblings
CHAPTER 36: A THIN LINE BETWEEN ALLIES AND ENEMIES
The meeting with Malik was set for midnight. Hakimi and Laila arrived at an underground café hidden in the heart of the city, accessible only through a narrow alley flanked by decrepit buildings. A flickering neon sign above the entrance read "The Rabbit Hole." The café's air was heavy with the aroma of roasted coffee beans, mixed with a hint of tobacco and something metallic.Hakimi scanned the room, his sharp eyes catching every shadow and corner. The place was dimly lit, with heavy velvet curtains draped over private booths. The hum of muted conversations and the occasional clinking of glasses filled the air. Laila nudged Hakimi toward the booth in the far corner, where a blonde haired man sat hunched over a laptop. He was dressed in black and wore a dark gloves. Malik.He looked every bit the eccentric tech genius. His wiry frame was wrapped in a mismatched hoodie and cargo pants, his wrists adorned with bands of worn leather and tech gadgets. His thick glasses magnified his rest
CHAPTER 35: THE SHADOWS CLOSE IN
The morning light barely seeped through the heavy curtains of Bashir's house. The air was quiet, almost too still, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Bashir shuffled to his front door, his old cat trailing behind him with a soft meow. He bent to pick up the morning paper but froze when his eyes caught a crimson-colored envelope resting on the doormat. What the hell was that? He silently prayed it was not what he was thinking.His hands trembled slightly as he opened it. Inside, scrawled in uneven red ink, was a single sentence:"You better stay out of it, or you'll regret it."The words seemed to leap off the paper, their menace almost palpable. Bashir's heart thudded painfully in his chest. He glanced around the empty street, the morning fog curling like ghostly fingers around the houses. There was no sign of anyone, but he felt like someone was watching him. Carefully, he folded the note and tucked it into his pocket, forcing himself to act normal as he turned back insid
CHAPTER 34: ALLIES AND SHADOWS
The cold night air was sharp and biting, slicing through Hakimi's coat as he stepped out of the truck. The streetlights buzzed faintly above, casting a dim yellow glow on the empty parking lot of a run-down diner. Hakimi stood still for a moment, his breath curling in front of him in pale clouds. Beside him, Akashi slammed the truck door shut, his movements sharp with bottled frustration."Why here?" Akashi asked, eyeing the flickering neon sign above the diner. The smell of old grease wafted faintly through the air, mingling with the faint hum of a passing car somewhere in the distance.Hakimi didn't answer immediately. His eyes scanned the lot, the shadows of parked cars, the dark alley to the left of the diner. His hand hovered near his coat pocket, fingers brushing the handle of the knife he had tucked inside. "It's quiet, he finally muttered, nodding toward the door. Let's go inside."The diner's door creaked as they stepped in, the bell above it jingling. Inside, the place looke
CHAPTER 33: ESCAPE BEFORE DAWN
Hakimi's blood ran cold as the words on his phone screen burned into his mind."It's today. Hope you'll comply with your part of the deal and bring what's mine."His breath caught in his throat, and he gripped the phone tighter, the edges digging into his palm. The weight of the threat sat heavy on his chest, making it harder to breathe. He felt trapped in his own body, paralyzed by fear and indecision. How had it come to this?He glanced at the dim glow of the clock on the bedside table. It was barely past midnight, the world outside cloaked in silence, but his mind was anything but still. His chest tightened as a flood of questions and regrets swirled within him. He had known the risks when he made the deal, but now, with his children's safety on the line, regret hit him like a tidal wave."Think, Hakimi, think!" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He couldn't stay here, not with the looming threat. His family came first. Always, and he certainly kne
CHAPTER 32: AKASHI'S SECRET INVESTIGATION
The morning sun streamed through the tattered curtains, casting a pale glow over the modest kitchen. Hakimi sat at the dining table, nursing a cup of tea as steam spiraled lazily upward. A worn newspaper lay open before him, but he wasn't reading. His eyes skimmed over the words without comprehension. His mind was elsewhere-on Riqqo's threat, the cryptic note, the stranger outside his house the other day, and the weight of keeping his family safe.The sound of lighthearted chatter pulled him back to the present. At the far end of the room, Amira was gently braiding Khadija's hair, something his wife has always done, her younger sister giggling at something she had said. The sight of his daughters filled Hakimi with a bittersweet ache. They were innocent, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them. He envied their ignorance.At the other end of the room, Akashi silently packed his bag, his expression stoic but his movements unusually deliberate. His mind wasn't on school. He h
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