That night, the house felt different.
Heavier.
Like something terrible was waiting to happen.
Ibrahim was preparing to leave.
His guards stood outside, alert and ready.
Weapons checked. Engines running.
Everything was set.
Even his anger.
Zainab stood quietly by the staircase, watching him.
Her heart wouldn't stop racing.
Something wasn't right.
She could feel it.
And she didn't want him to go.
Ibrahim walked toward her, adjusting his jacket. His face looked tired but his eyes were sharp.
"I'm going to meet an informant," he said.
Zainab swallowed.
"Please… be careful."
He nodded once.
Then, unexpectedly, he added
"If anything happens to me… go to Kano. Stay with my aunt. Hajiya Asma'u."
Zainab's eyes widened instantly.
"Nothing will happen," she said quickly, almost desperately.
Ibrahim held her gaze.
"You don't know the kind of people I'm dealing with."
He turned to leave.
But panic pushed the words out of her before she could stop them.
"Ibrahim"
He paused.
Turned back.
Zainab's voice trembled.
"Your fiancée… Safiya… I don't trust her."
Silence.
Ibrahim's expression changed.
"What did you say?"
Zainab forced herself to stand her ground.
"She came to my room this morning," she said. "She threatened me."
The air shifted.
Ibrahim's face darkened.
"You're lying."
The words hit her like a slap.
Zainab's chest tightened painfully.
She shook her head quickly.
"I swear I'm not lying!"
Ibrahim stepped closer, his presence suddenly cold, distant.
"Safiya has been with me for years," he said. "She is not your enemy."
Tears filled Zainab's eyes.
"So… you don't believe me?"
For a moment, he said nothing.
Just looked at her.
Then
"Don't talk about her again."
Her heart shattered in silence.
He turned.
Walked away.
The door slammed behind him.
Zainab stood there, unmoving.
Her hands trembled.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, one after another.
"I tried to warn you" she whispered.
But it was too late.
Outside the house…
Safiya stood near the gate, waving as Ibrahim's car drove off into the night.
Her expression was soft.
Perfect.
Convincing.
Until the car disappeared.
Then
The smile faded.
Completely.
She reached for her phone.
Typed quickly.
He's on his way. Make sure he doesn't come back.
She hit send.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Then she slipped the phone back into her bag and walked inside as if nothing had happened.
From the staircase, Zainab watched everything.
Her breath caught in her throat.
And in that moment…
Everything became clear.
She wasn't imagining it.
She wasn't wrong.
Safiya wasn't just jealous.
She was part of something far worse.
Something dangerous.
Something deadly.
And Ibrahim Danjuma
Was driving straight into it.