Chapter 2
He had heard a lot of scary stories about the Lagos drug kingpin, Fatai Lion. The guy was a small time gangster before politicians picked him up as a thug to be used during elections, and over the years, he elevated himself to a corporate thug. Now, he owned companies here and there legitimately, but he was still someone no one wanted to fuck with.
Frank had left the fast life a few years ago, to live a quiet life of solitude till he died, now he was about to be drawn back into it…further deeper this time.
His agent, Demola had called him again before he left the hotel room that they had left Federal Palace Hotel, and were now at a club Xcape, drinking at the club’s lounge area downstairs. He was parked outside the club now, with his phone to his ear. A complete ringing session went by and Demola didn’t pick up. For a second, he felt like switching off his phone and going back to his hotel room. He waited a few seconds before dialing again. Demola picked up on the first ring. “What’s up? Where are you?”
“I’m parked outside.”
“Come in. You will see us immediately you walk into the lounge.”
“Umm! Okay.” He said and cut the line. He looked around his car to make sure he didn’t leave anything lying around that might attract thieves, then killed the car engine and stepped out. It was around 1am and there was still a lot of human and vehicular traffic around the pace. There was even a roadside barber setup opposite the road from where he was parked. He found that odd; not only was it weird to him that anyone would want to get a haircut this late, he also didn’t think he would see something like that in a highbrow area like Victoria Island.
He tucked his long sleeve denim shirt properly into his brown khaki pants, adjusted his glasses, and walked towards the main gate of the club.
The security guards, about four of them, saluted him as he walked into the club premises. They were dressed in black and heavily built. He nodded and kept walking. It was quite a long walk from the gate to the club building; through a narrow driveway that surely couldn’t take more than a car at a time.
The main club building had glass walls, and he could see the inside before he walked in. The place was scanty, and he saw Demola seated at a table by the left, talking to a man in white. There was a pool table to the right as he walked in, and he saw three mean looking men hanging around the place; he was sure they weren’t there to play. They all had on white native attire and blue cap, like they had been coming from a wedding. One of them, the biggest one, sized up Frank for a second before looking away. He was the tallest man Frank had seen in real life; tall and buff. He had a nasty scar on his face, running from beneath his right eye to his chin; it looked him he had a half-moon on his face. Frank swallowed saliva as he kept moving.
“Sir, this is Frank.” Frank’s fat and short agent, Demola said as he stood up to welcome Frank to their table. Without smiling, Fatai Lion stood up to shake Frank’s hand. He was also wearing white native attire with a blue cap. Fatai Lion was about Frank’s height, but his build made him appear quite intimidating. Frank didn’t think he needed bodyguards at all.
“Good evening sir.” Frank said with a smile.
“Please call me Fatai. It’s quite an honor to finally meet you in person.” The man said and it threw Frank off. Not only did his English sound polished, he also seemed to know who Frank was. He saw the shock in Frank’s eyes and smiled before saying, “Please take a seat. What would you be taking?”
“I think I’m good with Hennessey and Coke.” Frank replied with his eyes on the table. There was a half empty bottle of Hennessey and two plastic coke bottles on the table.
The man waved the waitress over. “Please bring a new glass cup.” He said with his eyes on the drinks on the table, as if doing some mental calculation. “Also, bring another bottle of Hennessey with a bucket of ice. We are going to be here a while.” He added.
