The safehouse was eerily silent.
Victor paced, his hands clenched into fists. "How much time do we have before Joseph retaliates?"
Mutua exhaled. "Not much. The bank's security footage is already being reviewed. He'll know exactly who was involved."
Peter, still shaken from the heist, clutched the stolen files. "What do we do with these? If we don't act fast, I'm as good as dead."
Julius leaned forward. "We hit him hard. Leak the financial records to the national anti-corruption agency and the press at the same time, so he can't suppress it."
Anita hesitated. "That will push him over the edge."
Elijah swallowed hard. "He already ordered Victor's assassination. We crossed that line a long time ago."
Victor stared at the files. Offshore accounts, massive bribes, illegal land deals, it was a roadmap of Joseph's empire.
He had wanted to play this smart. But there was no time left for caution.
His voice was steady. "We expose him. Tonight."
Mutua nodded. "I'll make the call."
But before he could dial, his phone buzzed. A single message.
"Run."
Then...
Gunfire erupted outside.
The windows shattered as bullets tore through the safehouse.
"Down!" Julius tackled Peter to the ground.
Victor hit the floor, his heart racing. "How did they find us?"
Anita crawled toward the laptop, still connected to the press contacts. "I need two minutes to send the files."
Mutua returned fire, his jaw clenched. "You have one."
Elijah grabbed a pistol, hands shaking. "They're surrounding the house."
Julius peeked through the bullet-riddled blinds. "At least ten men. He sent professionals."
Victor's mind raced. They had to escape. But if they left now, the evidence wouldn't reach the public.
Anita typed furiously. "Almost there…"
A voice boomed from outside.
"Nyagah! Surrender, and we'll let you live!"
Victor knew that was a lie.
The power flickered, then the lights went out.
Mutua cursed. "They cut the electricity. They're coming in."
Anita hit enter. "Sent!"
Victor grabbed a gun. "Then we fight our way out."
The front door exploded inward.
Joseph's men stormed in, rifles raised.
Julius fired first, dropping one attacker instantly. "Move!"
Mutua took out another. "Back exit!"
Elijah ran ahead, throwing open the rear door only to freeze.
A black SUV blocked the way. More gunmen emerged.
Anita cursed. "They're everywhere."
Victor clenched his jaw. "We hold them off as long as we can."
A burst of gunfire forced them into cover. Mutua shouted, "They're trying to pin us down!"
Victor's mind raced. They needed a distraction.
He grabbed a gas canister from the storage room and rolled it toward the door.
Julius shot it.
The explosion rocked the house. Flames roared through the front room, forcing Joseph's men back.
"Now!" Victor yelled.
They sprinted through the back alley as sirens wailed in the distance.
Joseph's men scrambled, retreating as approaching police cars screeched to a stop.
Victor didn't slow down.
They had won this round.
But Joseph wasn't finished.
The morning news was chaos.
Every major station ran the leaked documents.
"Governor Joseph Mwangangi linked to offshore corruption empire."
"Millions stolen in fake county projects."
"Authorities launch urgent probe into Governor Joseph's finances."
Victor watched from their new hideout. The battle had shifted. Joseph was no longer the hunter, he was the hunted.
But then Mutua's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and his face went pale.
"What is it?" Victor asked.
Mutua clenched his jaw. "Joseph just made his move."
He turned the phone around. A breaking news alert flashed across the screen.
"Governor Victor Nyagah accused of treason and grand corruption. Arrest warrant issued."
Anita gasped. "He's framing you."
Julius cursed. "He's using his last weapon, the system itself."
Victor exhaled. "Then we don't just fight Joseph." His eyes hardened. "We take down his entire network."
---
The county was on fire.
Protests erupted in the streets, some in support of Victor, others calling for his arrest.
The police force was divided. Some still followed Joseph. Others hesitated.
Anita scrolled through social media. "People are demanding answers. They don't know who to believe."
Mutua leaned against the wall. "Joseph still controls key people in the judiciary. If you're arrested, the case won't be fair."
Victor rubbed his temples. "So what's our move?"
Elijah hesitated. "We need a public platform. Speak directly to the people."
Julius scoffed. "How? We can't just walk into a press conference. We'd be arrested on sight."
Anita's eyes lit up. "No, but we can hijack one."
Mutua raised an eyebrow. "That's risky."
Victor smirked. "Then it's perfect."
That evening, Joseph held a press conference to deny the allegations.
He stood behind a podium, cameras flashing, his voice steady.
"This is nothing but a desperate attack from criminals trying to destroy my legacy."
Then...
The live broadcast cut out.
The screen flickered...
And Victor's face appeared.
He sat in an undisclosed location, looking straight into the camera.
"My fellow citizens," he began, voice firm, "you have been lied to."
Behind him, Anita projected Joseph's financial records onto a screen. The stolen files. The proof.
Joseph's smug expression on live television turned to horror.
"The truth is here," Victor continued. "The people must decide what happens next."
The feed cut abruptly.
Julius exhaled. "That should shake things up."
Anita's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID.
"It's from State House."
Victor's heartbeat quickened.
Joseph was no longer his only problem.
---