Second update for the day....
So I want to rant small before the chapter, please read this.
I appreciate you all that vote (not that I don't appreciate those that don't but you can do better)
Then those that comment 'thanks for the update' thank you so much for commenting but please I would love to hear your thoughts,not just a thanks, I know it's distracting and pretty hard to stop and comment but please it'll only take a few seconds and it'll put a really big smile on my face.

Thank you as you read this and insha Allah abide, may Allah bless you.

••••••

Zayn stared at Fahad blankly through the phone, "why are you so worried, he is your cousin isn't he?"

Zayn and the rest of his friends, which included Aliyu Haidar, Umar Farouq, the prince and his maternal cousin, that was all basically, he didn't keep much friends, more like any at all.

"Yes and a psychopath," Fahad replied pointedly.

He wasn't overreacting like they all made it seem, sure it was normal for a cousin to call and congratulate you on your wedding, but not that cousin, he is bad news on his own and worst, what he'd said was, "congratulations on your wedding cousin, your wife really is pretty."

That! That comment had his blood boiling.

"I honestly think it's nothing to worry about, he has been silent for a very long while, I'm aware of his movements." Zayn tried to assure but Fahad was having none of it because he shook his head.

"Yes, he has been quiet which should worry us, he is a mad person!"

"Fahad, I think you need to calm down," That made Fahad turn his attention to Umar who was on Zayn's right side completely, he had been pacing before, he stopped dead in his tracks and sent a glare to his friend and cousin, anyone would quiver but he was pretty used to it.

"Calm down?" He questioned looking at Umar then he turned to Zayn, "Zayn you said calm down–" He was pointing behind him like said cousin was standing there, "–the last time I saw that sick person was when he kidnapped Huda so don't tell me to calm down," He shook his head again the pulled out his phone from his pocket, he tapped for a bit before putting it to his ear. He tapped the red button on the iPad and ended the video call.

"Xavier."

••••••

Layla watched Khadijah laugh out loud at something Huda said, she couldn't help but smile at the two.

Since Huda walked into the house like she owned the party, the whole ambiance changed and it was all cheery, she has been making Khadijah smile which in turn made Layla happy.

She knew the difference between Khadijah's smiles and she was glad that specific smile was the real one, and better yet, she was even laughing. Not to exaggerate but that was probably the first time she had laughed in a month.

"Aunty Layla can I speak to you?" Her head snapped to Kamla who was a few feet away, her fair hands stained with red henna, it looked remarkable.

"Sure," She followed her to the front of the house, all the cars were parked outside to give room for the event, "is everything okay?" She asked when they were alone.

"Hamma Fahad called he said that he wasn't getting you on the phone and he sounded worried, he said to call him if anything suspicious is going on, I don't know but I saw some men outside and they don't look like they are from here." Layla's eyes widened.

"Okay, calm down I'll go and see who it is," she started heading for the gate but stopped and called out to Kamla who was on her way back inside, "please get my phone from Khadijah's room, I left it there." Kamla nodded before disappearing into the main compound.

Putting all reason aside, Layla opened the gate and stepped out, glad she had her veil on her head. She was the only one yet to get her henna done, she wanted Khadijah's own to dry first then she would do hers.

A blacked out SUV was parked two houses down, it wouldn't have looked suspicious save for the plate number which was covered, she shook head and kept walking.

She knocked on the tinted window and waited for whoever was inside to open it because someone was inside, she knew since the car was on.

The windows rolled down and her eyes widened seeing the caucasian man.

"Xavier?" He smiled politely.

"Miss Aliero, it's been a while." She nodded.

"Why are you here?" She asked, Xavier being called meant red light, that was never good.

"Mr Barkindo called, said to keep the house secure and have a watch over it 24/7,"

"Do you know why?"

"Not yet miss Aliero, he just gave the orders." She nodded understandably, obey before complain.

She exchanged a few pleasantries with the ex military man before turning back to the house, whatever it was that was happening, she hoped it would end well, for all parties involved.

"Do you know who it is?" Kamla asked quietly when Layla walked back into the house.

"Yes, Fahad sent him to for security," Kamla nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Where are they? Let me get my hands beatified, the bride's best friend has to look best." She joked with good humor.

•••••••

Abubakar Barkindo shook his head outraged, Fahad who wasn't all sunny didn't look at his father instead to Salis who looked apologetic.

"I'm so sorry for my incompetence sir, but my team haven't noticed any movement on his part–"

"–and he is here, he knows what is happening in my family." Abubakar Barkindo shook his head again, he turned to Fahad who had his heads in his hands.

"What are we going to do about this?"

Fahad shrugged, "Xavier is here, I want them at Khadijah's residence at all times, I don't want her alone, her safety is my first priority," his father nodded in satisfaction, "and I need to have a talk with this man,"

"Hold on for a bit, let's see if he does something first, that's okay right?"

Salis left after promising to get the tabs on his cousin, his location, his phonecalls and everything.

"You have to be careful and your mother shouldn't find out," Fahad nodded understandably.

"This cannot be happening," Abubakar Barkindo muttered under his breath.

After he left his father, Fahad went back to the Aliero house to meet the rest of the family, only Jawad, Shaheed and the rest of their circle knew of the call, the other three should arrive anytime by tomorrow morning, they only waited for Farouq who lives pretty far, around the Adamawa region.

He decided to take a shower when he was told they were all in the gazebo.

"Fahad?" Kabir called from the living room, when he didn't hear anything after a few seconds he turned and left forgetting to close the door he way he found it.

"I didn't find him, maybe he's not back." He announced to the eight people sitting, trays of different delicacies arragneged on the round table, two pitchers, one of orange juice and the other nonalcoholic cocktail, set of disposable cups lay beside the tray the pitchers were.

"Someone said she saw him and he asked of us," that was Asad, who was on leave and arrived a week before for the wedding.

"Who?"

"I can't remember her name, mamie's maid, that fair one." Kabir rolled his eyes.

"Deena?" He asked.

"Oh yes her, her name never sticks." Asad replied absentmindedly refilling his cocktail.

"She basically grew up with us,"

"And so?"

"Okay now, cut it out," adda Nabila, the Aliero's first female born stopped her younger brothers who would breakout and start an argument, she knew them well enough.

The two men rolled their eyes, a habit Layla rubbed off on all of them.

"He is probably taking a shower, he has been busy," Jawad reasoned. He was seventy percent sure that was what he was doing.

"JD, go on a drive with me later?" He nodded at Waleedah who smiled widely, basically having him wrapped around her fingers.

Sure the men in the family were soft to the women but he had a very very soft spot for pregnant women.

Fahad heard the sound of a door then picked up his strides to the living room hoping it was one of his cousins, he wanted to go back to Khadijah's house and pick up Huda, Aneesah and the twins, they decided to stay longer after the henna to get closer to Khadijah's nieces because quote en quote they are so cool and have really good sense of humor.

He knew a part of him was hoping to see Khadijah who has been avoiding for a month, yes that long.

He went from being her go to person to hide and seek partner. Even Farhan that she talked to most of the time, she started avoiding him when he asked to take her out once, on Fahad's plea of course, he wanted to know she was fine but alas, she stopped talking to Farhan too.

He met the door closing and a figure turning the corner and with a shrug he picked up his phone that was on the center table and wallet, he was almost at the door when he turned back, only then noticing a folded white sheet of paper.

He racked his brain wondering who kept it there.

Maybe it's Shaheed or Jawad, he thought remembering the door. He pocketed it mentally making a note to ask any one of the two.

He walked with steady strides to the gazebo and found nine of them chatting and eating, Jawad who was the first to notice him made a hooting sound which earned a few laughs.

"The groom of the century blesses us with him presence, you are highly welcome your royal handsomeness."

Fahad only shook his head not knowing how to reply to that.

He loved that Jawad was fine and joking, most importantly he was glad he was okay with the wedding because a 'no' from him and he would've called it off. His words that night had been;

"If she is khair for you Fahad then it doesn't matter, I know how hard this is for you but you have to move on at some point," He stopped for a breath before adding, "we have to move on, insha Allah she is the best, pray on it okay, everything will be fine."

"Can someone get more samosas from the house, Waleedah ate all," Jabir stated out of the blue, his lips set in a grim line.

"Hey I'm eating for two," Said person yelled holding two samosas in her hand, she pushed one in her mouth and eyed him for added effect.

"Okay children, I'm tired of being the peace maker, please fight,"

"If he touches me I'll close him in the dungeon and feed him to the crows,"

"I don't fight girls," they said simultaneously.

"So Layla has relocated apparently," Kabir stated before catching himself and coughing, everyone's eyes drifted to Jawad who didn't blink or make a move to show he heard.

"What time is the wedding fatiha tomorrow?" Shaheed came to rescue with that.

"After juma'at but the turbaning is by twelve," Jabir replied accepting the tray gratefully from Asad who took his former seat.

"Who's turbaning?" Asked Fahad earning confused glances from everyone except Shaheed who was as confused as him.

"Yours?" Mahmud stated like a question.

"For what?" He asked, "I didn't know of that."

"Mamie told me earlier, Tafidan Adamawa obviously," Mahmud added the last part in a matter of fact voice.

"I don't want it,"

"I don't think I can do anything about it, didn't you check the invitation card?"

"What invitation card?"

"It's your wedding, you're supposed to know these things." He shook his head.

He needed to talk to his father, what ever turbaning they were doing, he didn't want any part of it, but even as he said that, a part of him knew it was a done deal. What he didn't understand was why his father agreed to that. They were no longer on the same page, he decided.

Fahad reached for his pocket to get his phone when he felt the piece of paper he'd put there, he pulled it out and handed it to Shaheed who was closest to him.

"For what?" Shaheed gave him back, which almost made him laugh. Leave it to shaheed to not want to be the bearer of bad news.

"Didn't you drop this in your apartment earlier?" He asked keeping it in the table.

"No, I haven't been there since I left for asr,"

"Jawad?"

"We were together throughout, Kabir was the last to enter." Said person shook his head no.

Fahad shrugged and made to throw the paper but the curious part of him made him open it, he turned to the direction of the security light to get a better view.

In a fine cursive, his name was written on the back, something he hadn't noticed.

He knew it wasn't good but he went on and unfolded it.

First, congratulations on your wedding, your wife to be is very beautiful indeed, it would be a shame for her to end up like Nai'a, don't you think? You do have stinky luck with women.

PS: I guess it's now Tafida Fahad Barkindo, more useful to me, we'll meet at the wedding, so rude of you not to send me an invite, I thought we are friends.

That was were it ended, Fahad's blood went cold with each word he read.

"What does it say?" He didn't know who asked the question but he shoved the piece of dread to the closest person to him.

"Adda Nabila, Waleedah, adda Jiddarh please head back inside and make sure everyone is safe," he stated monotone, no questions asked they heeded and made for the main house. Asad followed after them, precautionary measures.

"What is going on?" Jabir asked getting to his feet.

"Someone is in the house," Mahmud and the rest stared at Shaheed dumbfounded.

"How is someone in the house? You can't get in." Mahmud broke the silence when neither Fahad nor Shaheed spoke.

"Just lock the house, no one should go in or out," Kabir nodded and followed after Asad who still haven't returned.

"The girl's are just returning, we can't lock them out," Jawad said thoughtfully.

"We have kids in here, have people look around, there's security cameras outside, get a clean copy I'm sure they tampered with it." Shaheed suggested, on second thought he stood up and went to do that himself.

They all left to do one thing or the other leaving Fahad with Mahmud who was looking at him with scrutiny.

"Who did you piss off Fahad Barkindo?"

Fahad's answer was a shrug because really, what could he say? Even he didn't know.

••••••

The three men looked at each other in the small dim out room, it had no windows leaving the one who just joined wondering how they were breathing, there was no fan or air conditioner or anything for ventilation but they seemed oddly comfortable.

The one behind the mahogany table cleared his throat. He was facing the opposite way, he couldn't tell if it was for dramatics or because he simply didn't want to be seen.

"Did you deliver my message?" He nodded.

"Use your words!" He jumped a little when the second man thundered, he had a sneer on his face, he could see since he was looking directly at him, unlike the boss who was facing the wall.

"Yes sir," He answered meekly.

"Good, you're done then," He clapped.

"Erm sir, the payment." The man that was facing him chuckled lightly then pulled out a gun before he could realize what was happening, he heard a click.

"I don't like traitors." Pocketing his gun he got up and waved the man facing the wall, "well boss I'm off for the night, I wouldn't want to miss the look on their faces." He adjusted his carton colored kaftan and ran a hand through his hair.

"Alright, I have a wedding to attend, tell them to lock up." He said referring to the guards outside the warehouse.

"Sure thing," He left with that.

Two uniformed maids walked in almost immediately with a gurney and lifted the bloodied man from the floor and rolled him out.

When he was sure the door was locked, he turned his swivel chair and squinted from the lights, the room was dim but having been turned to the darkest side for long, it was too bright for his eyes.

He blew a puff of smoke from his mouth with a cynical smile on his face.

"Now the chaos." He whispered into the night.

*****
Good night my lovelies, till we meet again, it's probably going to be around next week, I'm not promising though, I'll try my best to write, may Allah help me.

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Yours love

Amyrah