Duke by Kiru Taye

Author:Kiru Taye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic suspense, urban romance, african author, african romance, mafia romance
Publisher: Love Africa Press

SIXTEEN

At ten at night, the door to a local bookie in the south side of Opal City was kicked in. Wood splintered against the brick wall and glass shattered into tiny fragments onto the floor.

The four men around a table in the back room sprang from their seats, scrambling for their items. The hefty man who stood guard pulled his gun out of his holster, and opened the door leading to the corridor.

Pius, the manager of the betting shop who was also the dealer tonight, quickly cleared the table of the cards in case it was the authorities who'd arrived unannounced. Gambling wasn't illegal, but there were restrictions on the type of gaming as well as the times, including the level of high stakes on the table tonight.

Pius quickly hid the cards and chips in the secret compartments. The last game would have to be voided. In the five years since he'd been working here, they'd never been raided by law enforcement. In fact, he knew of a few policemen who frequented the establishment after hours.

This shop was owned by Rocha Maduka, one of Duke Odili's capos, and Mason Maduka’s brother, and an inducted Yadili. He was untouchable as far as law enforcement was concerned, so whoever had ordered this raid, if this was what it was, was asking for trouble.

Crack. Crack. The sound of gunshots filled the enclosed space, and the men stiffened. Quickly, he ushered them toward the back entrance. Before they could escape, three men with metal pipes and guns blocked their path.

Pius didn't recognise any of the men.

"What the fuck," he shouted, perhaps unwisely.

In response, one of them rushed at Pius and smashed him into the wall, the rod in his hand digging into his throat and almost cutting out his breathing. With one man pointing his gun at the gamblers, the other went about smashing every item in the room with the makeshift weapons until splinters and shards showered the linoleum flooring.

When they were done, the men stared at him with icy gazes that made fear slither down his spine.

"This is just a warning. This is now our fucking territory. If you want to keep doing business here, you have to start paying protection money to us."

"What? We've never needed to pay money before. This shop is in Don Odili’s territory."

"Well, times have changed. The Baron has come to town, and you can thank Duke Odili for making it possible."

"What do you mean by that?"

In response, the man pulled back and smashed Pius's side with the pipe, sending him careening into the corner as pain seared down his body.

All the men laughed, and a few minutes later, they were gone. The gamblers didn't stay to help Pius either, and he had to drag himself off the floor in search of Uba, the doorman. He found the man in the reception area, with blood splattered across the white walls and floor. He placed a couple of fingers at the base of his throat to check for a pulse but got none.

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