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                      Vendetta
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The crack of dawn descended gloriously over Arinze's serene house. An announcement successfully delivered by the crowing of strange cockerels beckoning on daylight to begin their day's journey. Arinze unfortunately hadn't slept a wink the night before and appreciated the summons of the covert birds.

The clock in his bedroom room chimed in accordance with nature's alarm, alerting him of the birthed morning. He exhaled deeply, his eyes dancing around the fairly illuminated walls of the room. He could fairly see the alphabets haphazardly written on the wall in front of his wife's desk. As parents, they had slowly become inured to finding spots in their house scribbled on by their little daughter. The couple had given up on scolding their daughter and held on to their mother's word that the excitement to write would wane with time.

Maroon colored drapes which were set apart to invite images of the artful and starry skies also let in greying pictures of the naked heavens gradually being lit by the orange sun.

The position of his house earned him the daily show of watching the sun emerge gloriously from the clouds. His father had once told him, that men and sun were alike. He had likened sunrise to  the awakening of a king and had insisted that the time a man rose from bed determined if he was going to be successful or not.

He tried to be as gentle as possible as he untangled Olivia's hands from his body, her incoherent mumble notifying him of her part consciousness. He waited patiently for her breathing to even out before moving. Olivia's soft snores wafting through the air was signal that he had successfully moved out of the bed without waking her.

He tiptoed to the corner of the room where he had forgotten his footwear, slipped in his feet and sauntered out of the room. His wounds still ached but his hunger for a drink sent him on the mission of retrieving a bottle from the mini bar in his living room. His sides which had received series of jabs from Chijioke seemed to disagree momentarily, drawing groans from his lips. He stretched the more, guiding his hands to the bottle of whiskey in the middle. His favorite drinks were always placed in the middle of the bar.

A sigh of relief hovered on his lips but a smile came instead as he realized Olivia was behind him. He had never truly gotten out of bed successfully without waking her. He often felt as if she had a sensor embedded on their beddings that whispered words of his disappearance to her.

He retrieved a glass from the bar and poured himself a significant amount of the drink. The caramel brown hue of the whiskey seemed overshadowed by the looming darkness that hadn't completely faded from that part of the house.

Olivia yawned loudly, sauntered towards him and wrapped her hands around him. Arinze knew he often enjoyed when she hugged him from behind.

"Ututu oma" she whispered, resting her head on his back.

He responded to her greeting, throwing out an apology for waking her. Gently drawing into his nostrils her soft fragrance. The scent of the powder she had begun to generously apply on her body before bedtime. It was one of the cravings associated with her pregnancy.

Nostalgia tabled to his mind an almost similar image of his father doing the same thing. He often drank the popular Seaman schnapps quite early in the morning, a ritual their mother no doubt loathed. Soon he began to invite his two sons to take swigs of the drink, then brush their teeth to douse their mother's suspicions.

A sounded emanated from his lips and even Olivia was stunned by the sudden outburst of laughter . He took a big gulp the drink then turned to face Olivia.

"Our mother knew that we drank with him"

She didn't understand what he meant till he explained further, painting a genuine smile on her face.

"Onyedikachi and I began to slip in shots to our rooms."

Olivia listened with apt attention, noting how her husband's face lighted while he discussed the mischievousness he had wrought with his younger brother. He chuckled lightly then reached out to hold her stomach.

" We are going to have a boy"

This time it was Olivia who couldn't hold her laughter in.

"Arinze this is why you shouldn't be drinking so early". She retrieved the glass in his other hand and kept it on the table. She ran her hands around his face noting the swellings and bruises that had formed clearly.

"We'll go to the hospital later... I don't even know what we're going to tell your mother and Adannaya"

"We'll tell them a boy is coming" He suggested with a smile

Olivia's glare shot down his smile, replacing it with a quite somber look. "The bump on your face should be proof enough.. Arinze do you think this is funny?"

"Chijioke looks worse, trust me I look fine. A beating coupled with his ugliness " He began again with a grin , only to be slapped on the shoulder.

"It doesn't seem like a beating when your face looks like this. It was a fight and you did receive your fair share of the punches" Olivia placed her hands on his shoulder, then prodded his jaw which caused him to wince . She offered a knowing grin, to solidify her point.

"My mother has probably heard about the fight and if she hasn't she will very soon. News fly around quickly in this village."

"And that is what I don't want anymore. This thing that has gone on between your families needs to stop. I knew Chijioke as a boy he wasn't that bad. You were once friends with Iheanyị's children what is stopping you from just settling things amicably like adults? " Olivia lamented, seeking a better response this time

" My Father's grave" Arinze's reply was curt and she could see the pain written all over his face.

"They lost someone too you know". Her hands retrieved the braids which dangled in front of her eyes and fixed them back into the hair net she wore.

"Their father killed mine.. It's not something you get over easily Olivia. My mother has been broken for years and still blames herself for his death. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding his demise and it bothers me. What if my father cheated on my mother?

What happened to his clothes? What was he doing with Ngozi? Why was he sending her letters? "

Olivia drew in a deep breath resigning to the idea that the answers her husband sought were the only things that'd bring him closure and possibly help resolve the feud." I don't want you involved in any more quarrels and fights"

"I don't enjoy the quarrels or court cases. I do enjoy calling them names but that's it." He could see the mistrust in her eyes as she stared back at him. He loved her deeply, something he was grateful to his mother for. A forced marriage that had blossomed well with a woman that loved him despite his abundant short comings.

" Olivia the land is our father's land, that's the only reason I'm going after it. He purchased it from Chijioke's father but that young man is showing his true colors. This is why I dislike these Ngwa people. Their greed is just unsettling. This is not the first time someone has tried selling our land in this village before. And cases of sons retaking and reselling lands their fathers sold has been springing up lately. Chijioke is doing this deliberately but I won't fall for his plot. We'll take it to the state court, Onyedikachi can handle the issues. I'll just have to focus my energy on other important tasks "

His statement brought a glint to Olivia's eyes and she pulled him into a warm embrace.

" I want you to focus on what we have, no more troubles. And yes your husbandly tasks can be very demanding "She replied with a devilish hint that sent his lips crashing on hers.

" You shouldn't be kissing a husband who tastes of whiskey, we don't want our son clearing the bar"He murmured against her lips, drawing her in for more access to her mouth.

A heavy banging on the door interrupted the couple. Arinze sauntered to the door to make necessary enquiries. The voice of a policeman who looked quite menacing as Arinze garnered from the peep hole resonated in the corridor.

His gatekeeper hadn't warned Arinze of the intruders and he found himself guilty of employing an incompetent person.

Arinze slowly opened the door and greeted the police officers who stepped in and began to question him almost immediately.

"You need to come with us immediately"

Were the words Olivia could make out as she drew closer to her husband but he let her go behind him, throwing out reassuring looks which didn't help her devastation. She couldn't tell if he was being remanded for a crime or just being brought in for questioning.

"Olivia please call Onyedikachi and tell him I'm at the station. Call my lawyer as well"

He tried capturing the tears that fell on her cheek but she shook her head before he could.

"I didn't do anything wrong, I promise you I'll be back before you know it"

The officers led Arinze away, while his wife followed behind sobbing.

She stopped when he was forced into their black vehicle and could tell he was already reprimanding one of the officers for pushing him. She watched them speed away and prayed earnestly that her husband would return. He hadn't given her details of the fight that occurred between him and Chijioke, but claiming he looked worse only heightened her fears.

What had Arinze done?

********************

Agatha had held a longer conversation with her husband that evening as they all worried about Chijioke's welfare. It had been a villager who found Chíjíoke sprawled by the road side that had saved his life.

He had been stabbed twice on his abdomen and was left to bleed out. The good Samaritan not only saved Chijioke's life but also covered the cost of the surgery he was subjected to. His spleen was ruptured and he had been transfused.

"He is still weak but he spoke to the police. He fought with Arinze that night and they've already brought him in for questioning" Those were the information garnered by Nnamdi after he spoke with the villager.

Mama was seated beside Ngozi who had begun to cry. She held on to Ngozi patting her back occasionally.

Agatha was soon drawn to tears, sniffing along with her sister as she breastfed her daughter.

"Why did he go back there again, I thought he said he was through with the land issue?"

The question was directed to Nnamdi who held his son sleeping peacefully in his arms.

"He didn't say but I was told he fought Arinze over a piece of land. Chijioke is going to be fine. You're all crying like he died, it was quite a scare but shouldn't we be thankful that he survived"

The three women exchanged glances, they nodded in acquiescence to the stated fact while Nnamdi gave a reassuring smile to his wife.

Mama opted to prepare a meal for the family, while Nnamdi led his wife and daughter to their room.

"I was warned about this" She began on a grim note. "They were very young but I was warned. Nnamdi I have this feeling that it wasn't Arinze who attacked Chijioke"

Agatha placed their baby gently into her crib. Then turned to sit beside her husband on their bed.

"I thought the same thing too. Chijioke is Iheanyị's only surviving son. I think we should focus on those who stand to gain more if he is killed"

More tears seeped out of Agatha's eyes and Nnamdi quickly wiped them away. She cleared her throat and pushed his hands away trying to rebuild the walls that were weakening with her vulnerability.

"I'll go to the village tomorrow, I want to make sure he's protected. I don't trust anyone at this point"

"Take Ngozi with you, I'm sure she wants to be with her son." Agatha's hands slowly found themselves entangled in her husband's and she relished the warmth they radiated.

Nnamdi seemed to be battling with emotions he couldn't convey and the confliction was written all over his face.

" I'll take care of him" She began breaking the sudden silence that enveloped them. She spoke of Nnamdi's son.

The glint in his eyes melted Agatha's resolve and she found herself leaning towards him, not certain that she wanted to forgive him but plagued with the craving of feeling sated from being in his hold.

Nnamdi cradled her face wiping tears that wouldn't stop flowing.

"I... I...am so angry and hurt but... I love you. I love you very much"

He nodded to her words, caressing her the usual way he did while they were happy.

"Nearly losing Chijioke made me think of you... Us. We..."

The feel of his lips on hers was enough response for her unspoken words. He kissed her like a starved man presented with a feast. She returned his kisses, like they had quenched a thirst that had afflicted her for a long while.

They were both breathless when they pulled apart and Nnamdi could tell from her passion lidded eyes that she wanted more. But he still had at the back of his mind thoughts of her post delivery healing.

He tried stealing stealing one more kiss from her but she withdrew instantly. Placing a wedge between them with her hands.

He slowly got up, filling his pockets with his hands then walked to his daughter's crib and not turning to face her he declared words that further tugged at Agatha's heart.

"We will be fine my love, I promise". It seemed like a pledge he was making more to himself than her.

"We'll be leaving very early in the morning, I have to go tell Ngozi" This time he turned to look at her and she nodded in approbation.

He was almost at the door before she called out to him.

"Nna m.... Take good care of them.. and yourself ịnụ"

He gifted her a smile she found sensual and reassuring.

"When have I not done that for you?................ Always my love"

He left the room immediately and Agatha lay on their bed rubbing her hand on the part of the bed where he used to lay before. She realized that the bed truly felt enormous and empty without him. A plea for him to spend the night with her hovered on her lips but pride kept them sealed. It didn't help the fact that she wanted things to go back to normal.

She hopelessly missed her husband

Nnamdi met his mother chopping onions in the kitchen and asked after Ngozi. She directed him to the room where she was bathing his son Chukwura, a name she had bestowed on her grandson as Nnamdi didn't seem forthcoming with any.

"Nna... You're my son eziokwu. But if you don't fix your marriage soon and I mean soon , I'll find something else to place in between your legs as you don't deserve to be dangling that scrotal sac around. Your father treated me well till the day he gave his last breath. That is what makes a man. I promised that man on his death bed to raise you right! Which I have done so far but it seems you want to disappoint yourself and not me.

Nnamdi, I don't want you to lose this good woman God has blessed you with. Biko mezie ife a... I did not raise a dog neither did I train a goat... Ewu. Mba!  I raised a man"

He nodded and left the kitchen, her words hammering in his head. He didn't plan on losing his wife. It wasn't part of the agenda.

Nnamdi found Ngozi staring into space and assumed she was thinking about Chijioke. His son had been washed and seemed to be fast asleep.

He called out to Ngozi but she seemed far away. He reached and tapped her as she was still seated on the chair which she had used in bathing his son.

Startled, she turned to look at Nnamdi who seemed genuinely worried.

"Obinna never cried while I bathed him"

Stunned but excited Nnamdi prodded her with questions.

"Do you remember now? Do you remember everything?"

She slowly shook her head and pointed to Chukwura's crib.

"He did not cry"

Nnamdi led her away from the room happier that somehow her memories were returning even if she claimed otherwise.

They all ate separately in their rooms and when it was time for bed his mother's words drove sleep from his eyes as they kept replaying in his head.

He tossed and turned on the couch where he slept without getting a wink of sleep. Exasperation brought him to his feet and he sought his mother. He convinced her to sleep with his son while he made his way to their room.

He tiptoed into the room and was quiet as possible till he climbed onto their bed. He assumed his wife was sleeping but still wrapped his hands around her while he spooned her.

It took a moment before she sought his hand and linked hers with his. She had been awake the whole time. It wasn't long before sleep knocked and he willingly succumbed to slumber, muttering words that only him could hear.

I am not a goat

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Hello everyone!

Another update as promised 💃💃💃💃💃

Hope we enjoyed the chapter. The title was inspired by the movie Vendetta, it's a cool movie 🎦❤️. My favorite character was V and I loved the scene where he blew me away with vivacious, voracious words🤣🤣🤣. Don't mind me

Anyways, I really pushed myself to make the chapter longer and I hope Nnamdi and Agatha didn't bore us😂

Forgiveness is an essential part of living and honestly I hate seeing those love birds fight in my head.

Do you think Arinze tried killing Chijioke?

If not can you guess who?

Who else loves Nnamdi's mother? 😂😂😂. Every woman should have a mother in law like that.

So far so good! Keep reading, voting and commenting. You don't know how encouraging that is. Please, please, please comment. Share your thoughts, I do appreciate them a lot.

With plenty love

Michelle ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️