Victoria Island
Red Bandits Headquarters
Kola leaned back in his chair, jaw tight, fingers drumming against the table.
"I hate this," he said. "If Adam was still running things, nobody would dare breathe wrong around us. Now look at us. Government pets."
Across from him sat Musa, older, heavier, scars lining his arms like old handwriting. He was once called Iron Jaw, Adam’s frontline enforcer, the man who never backed down in a street clash. Now his eyes carried more bitterness than fire.
"He wasn’t just feared," Musa said quietly. "He was respected. That man kept everything tight. No drugs on kids. No random killings. No loose mouths. The whole city knew his name, and the government hated him for it."
He gave a short laugh. "They didn’t kill him because he was weak. They killed him because he was winning."
A woman standing near the wall clicked her tongue. Her name was Sade, once known as Red Viper, Adam’s intelligence head. Slim, sharp-eyed, always calm. She crossed her arms.
"And now we take orders from the same people we used to bleed," she said. "Tayo sits in offices, shaking hands, smiling for cameras. Calls it survival. I call it betrayal."
Another man nodded. Bode, code name Grinder, logistics chief. Broad shoulders, quiet voice, always watching exits even when none mattered.
"He turned the Red Bandits into a tool," Bode said. "We don’t strike unless the government says so. We don’t move unless they allow it. Adam would’ve dragged Tayo into the street for less."
Kola scoffed. "Dragged him? Adam would’ve made an example. One nobody forgets."
A voice cut through the room.
"So it’s not just me that’s unhappy."
Every single one of them froze.
Weapons came up instantly. Guns, blades, compact energy pistols. Years of instinct kicking in at once.
The man standing a few steps away raised both hands slightly, more amused than threatened.
"Easy," he said. "Those toys look expensive."
They stared.
Same face. Same eyes. Same lazy posture that once terrified half the city.
Impossible.
Sade’s hand trembled. "No... that’s not funny."
Adam tilted his head, looking around. "Wow. New building. New layout. And those guns..." He squinted at one. "What’s that model? Doesn’t look ballistic."
No one answered.
Musa’s voice came out hoarse. "We buried you."
Adam sighed. "Yeah. That part was inconvenient."
Kola swallowed. "You’re dead. We saw it. Nuclear fire. No one walks out of that. And even if you did... you’d be old."
Adam glanced at his hands. Flexed his fingers. "Do I look old to you?"
Silence.
Sade stepped forward, eyes wet but gun still raised. "Say something only Adam would know."
Adam looked at her. "You hide knives in your boots, left side, handle angled inward. You hate sweet drinks. And you almost killed Musa once because he snored too loud after a job."
Musa’s eyes widened. "That was one time."
Sade’s gun lowered.
Kola dropped to one knee without realizing it. "Boss..."
Adam winced. "Yeah, don’t do that. I hated that even before I died."
He walked past them, studying the room, the screens, the symbols.
"So," he said casually, "how long has it been?"
"Eighteen years," Bode said quietly.
Adam nodded. "Makes sense. Architecture’s cleaner. People lie better when things look clean."
Sade wiped her face. "If you’re here... why now?"
Adam turned back to them, expression calm but cold. "Because I smelled something rotten."
Musa clenched his fists. "Tayo."
Adam smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "So he really did it."
Kola spat on the floor. "He sold us. Sold the name. Sold everything you built."
Adam sighed again. "Figures."
He looked at their weapons. "You can put those down. If I wanted you dead, this place wouldn’t exist anymore."
They lowered everything at once.
Adam stretched his neck. "I don’t have a lot of patience today. And I don’t feel like explaining where I’ve been or what I am now."
He turned toward the exit.
"So we’re going to see Tayo."
Musa hesitated. "Boss... he’s powerful now. Government backing. Private army. Political immunity."
Adam waved a hand. "Cute."
Sade took a breath. "If this goes bad—"
"It will," Adam said. "For him."
Bode stepped forward. "What do you want from us?"
Adam stopped and looked back at them. Really looked.
"The same thing I always wanted," he said. "Loyalty. And honesty."
Kola straightened. "You’ll have it."
Adam nodded once. "Good."
He took a step forward.
"Because after today," he added, "the government is going to remember why they were afraid."
No one spoke.
They followed him.
Not because he asked.
Not because he ordered.
But because every one of them knew the truth.
The Red Devil was back.
And someone was about to pay.
Elsewhere
"The anniversary starts in an hour," the woman said. "You’re expected thirty minutes early. The Red Bandits will operate as hidden security for the event."
She paused, eyes flicking to her tablet.
"There’s also a direct request from the president."
Tayo leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. He wore a clean red suit, tailored sharp, no wrinkles. The kind of look that said power without needing to shout.
"Go on," he said.
"There’s been a girl stirring protests lately. Student movements. Street gatherings. Media noise. Her name is Annabeth Alex Albert. Seventeen years old."
Tayo frowned. "Seventeen? Why is he scared of a child?"
"He wants her removed," the woman said plainly.
Tayo shook his head. "No. That’s crossing a line. Tell him we don’t touch kids."
She didn’t move. "You’ll change your mind once you know who she is."
That made him look at her.
"Explain."
"She’s the daughter of Alex," she said. "The man who blew himself up and took half of Aso Rock with him."
Tayo’s jaw tightened.
"The twin," she added. "Adam’s brother. Your former leader’s blood."
Silence stretched.
"She has the same fire," the woman continued. "Same speeches. Same crowd pull. The president believes if she’s allowed to grow, she’ll become a bigger problem than her father."
Tayo stood up slowly.
"So that’s it," he said. "We’re killing ghosts now."
"She’s not a ghost," the woman replied. "Not yet."
Tayo walked toward the glass wall, looking down at the city.
"Give the order," he said quietly. "End it."
The woman nodded. "I’ll—"
Bam.
The sound was sharp. Final.
Tayo spun around.
Iron Claw stood near the table, gun raised, eyes cold. Sade stood beside him, arm still extended, smoke rising from the barrel. The woman in the suit collapsed where she stood, eyes empty, blood spreading fast.
Tayo stared, frozen.
"What is this madness?" he shouted. "Have you all lost your minds?"
Footsteps followed.
Slow. Calm.
A figure walked in like he owned the place.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same presence that once ruled the streets.
Tayo’s breath caught.
"No," he whispered. "That’s not possible."
The man smiled slightly. Not kind. Not cruel. Just familiar.
"I see you’ve done well for yourself old friend," he said. "Nice office."