Tumelo and I stand in front of Timothy’s gate at Kwagga D. The guards refused to let us in, but they’ve notified Timothy about us. The house is a two-storey, painted grey and white. Tumelo kept pestering me about her sister, so I ended up spilling the beans about what happened to Pearl. I’m starting to regret this because she refuses to leave. I had no choice; otherwise, she wouldn’t have driven me here.

The gate opens. My hand travels to my waist, where my gun is.

He frown-smiles. “Oh, this is a surprise.”

Tumelo starts attacking him. “You killed my sister, you murderer! I want my sister! I want my sister!”

He shifts his eyes to me, piercing me with his gaze. In a second, he hits Tumelo with the gun, and she lands on the ground near my feet.

He saunters toward me with the gun pointed in my direction. “You can’t keep your mouth shut, can you?”

“Where is my brother?”

He tilts his head as if connecting the dots, nodding. “Amogelang Shweni. Peakanyo Shweni. You don’t get tired of provoking me, do you? It’s always you, in everything, every day. Where are my diamonds, Peakanyo?”

A tremor runs through my body, shaking every foundation.

“Mr. Masilela, I don’t know what you’re talking about…” My voice trembles as I back away.

His expression darkens, and without warning, he points the gun at Tumelo and fires three shots into her upper body.

“No!” I scream, dropping to my knees as her body slumps lifelessly to the ground.

“You see, Peakanyo,” he sneers, towering over me, “I don’t have time for games. Your brother for my diamonds. Where are they?”

“I don’t have them! I swear!” My voice cracks, tears streaming down my face as I try to compose myself. “The diamonds were destroyed in a car explosion. I have nothing to give you.”

His face twists into a menacing snarl. “Destroyed? You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying! Check the wreckage outside London Theatre if you don’t believe me!”

His fury intensifies. “Then your brother’s life means nothing.”

He nods at one of his armed men, who steps forward and grabs me by the arm. I struggle, but his grip is unyielding as he drags me inside the house. I’m shoved into the living room, where Timothy follows, pacing back and forth like a predator deciding how to kill its prey.

“Boss, what about the kid?” one of his men asks.

Timothy stops and looks at me with a cruel smile. “He’s leverage. And you, Peakanyo, will bring him back to me. If not…” He raises his gun, letting the silence fill the room before speaking again. “Your whole family will pay.”

Before I can respond, the door bursts open.

“Phelo!”

He storms in with his gun drawn, aiming directly at Timothy. His eyes widen at the sight of Tumelo’s body on the ground, and his face contorts in rage.

“Drop your weapon, Timothy!”

Timothy chuckles darkly, motioning to his guards. “You think you’re a hero, Mokoena? You’re outnumbered.”

“Maybe,” Phelo says, taking a cautious step forward. “But I’ll make sure you’re the first to go down.”

The tension is suffocating. I glance at Tumelo, and guilt consumes me. This has gone too far. I should have handled things differently.

The situation escalates when Lucy enters the room, her face pale with fear. She clutches her belly protectively and pleads with Timothy.

“Timothy, stop this madness! Please!”

“Lucy, stay out of this!” he barks, his voice booming.

She doesn’t back down. “I won’t! You’ve done enough damage! Let them go!”

Timothy sneers. “You think I’ll let her walk free after everything? She knows too much!”

“You can’t kill everyone who stands in your way,” Lucy cries. “You’ve already taken enough lives.”

Her words distract him for a moment, and Phelo takes the opportunity to lunge forward. Gunfire erupts.

I duck behind the couch as chaos ensues. Bullets ricochet off the walls, and I hear shouting from all directions. The room fills with smoke and debris as the fight intensifies.

When the gunfire stops, I peek over the couch. Timothy is lying on the ground, clutching his side as blood pools beneath him. Lucy is crying, cradling her belly, while Phelo stands over Timothy, his gun still drawn.

“Are you okay, Pea?” Phelo asks, rushing to me.

“I’m fine,” I manage, my voice shaky. “But Tumelo…”

Phelo glances at her lifeless body and swallows hard. “I’ll call it in. We’ll make sure justice is served.”

I nod weakly, tears streaming down my face. This nightmare has finally come to an end, but at what cost?