Novels by Evangelyn Olumati

VETTAIf you're going through hell, keep going. That's all I can say to motivate myself. You won't find a way out if you stop to wallow in self pity. I don't know what I feel. Is it sadness? Is it rage? Maybe it's both. I should have walked away from my father when mum died. Took Olive and disappeared. Mum told me to, begged me to. It was the last thing she asked before she died. She knew how this would turn out, but I didn't listen. I couldn't bear to leave my father alone. I love him too much. I knew if I left, he wouldn't last a day in these streets with all that debt. Sooner or later, he would be killed. My heart couldn't bear it. I just couldn't do it. How do I leave him at his worst? Now I feel like a fool. A big fat fool. I've gotten myself trapped with no way out. As I speed walk back home, I'm overly conscious of my environment, taking in every movement and motion, every flicker of light and imprinting to memory, making sure nothing is off. They could be watching. No, they'

"Boss-" One of my men barges into my office, disrupting my meeting. I give him a cold glare, temped to shoot the mother fucker in the leg"I'm sorry boss" he apologizes, looking at his feet."Return in an hour" I say to him and turn back to my meeting with Rico and Dominguez. "Where is Marley?" I ask. She should be here already. I know I upset her last time, but she's supposed to be over it by now. She can't be missing meetings like this. She's still a part of the team. "I gave her a call, but she said if you want her in the meeting, you should call her yourself." Rico tells me, a small smile playing on his lips. Dominguez barks a laughter. "What did you do this time?""Nothing of consequence" I reply curtly. Marley is a stubborn hot head. She reminds me of myself, and I should be proud of her. She's strong and likes to stand her ground, but she has to understand why I shield her from some things. These waters are testy and not very friendly, especially to women. So if leaving her o

DINOI sit with Rico and Dominguez my right hand men and most trusted friends, going through the files Rico got from hacking into Gonzalez' server. Rico is my right hand. The eyes, ears and brain. Dominguez, my left. He is the muscle. We are thick as thieves, but I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in their heads if they try any stupid move. "Mr Roderigo, we will be landing in half an hour." The flight attendant said. I nodded and absent mindedly signalled him to refill the wine glasses. One file had piqued my interest. I look up to see him still standing there, and point my nine-millimeter at his head. "Why are you still here?""I'm so-" he tried to apologize, shaking like a fish."Don't apologize. Get out." Things spoken in here were more sensitive than the Watergate tapes. He zoomed off, almost tripping in his hurry. Dominguez snickered, enjoying the scene. I shot him a death glare. "What's stopping me from blowing your head off ?""The fact that you need me, you know you do." H

VETTAThere was so much noise around me, so loud and frightening, but I couldn't place where it was coming from, or if it was even real. I was enveloped in thick darkness and couldn't move. My heart was beating so rapidly and my mind thinking so many things at once. Confusion, fear, panic were the emotions I felt. Where am I? I tried to move and realized I couldn't. My right hand was angled at an awkward position above my head that was very uncomfortable, my left hand on my stomach. I was lying on my side. I tried again, harder. I struggled, but it felt like the struggle was only in my head. I couldn't move, my body wouldn't listen. Filled with a dread, I tried to scream, but I couldn't open my mouth. What is this? Beads of sweat were beginning to form on my forehead and temples. I tried again, begging my body to cooperate, it wouldn't budge. I felt tears roll down my left eye into my right. It stung and I blinked rapidly. I was crying. Why are my eyes the only thing functioning? The

DINO I hit the punch bag with so much strength, channelling all my frustration into series of blows as if it were the ultimate source of my problems. With each swing, I feel pressure in my arms, shoulders and chest. I'm drenched in sweat and my body is beginning to wear out, but I force it to go harder. I feel her presence when she walks in, but I choose to ignore her. I'm in the gym in the lower basement of the house, and only one person knows it exists, so I know she's the one. I work out mostly at night, and I don't like to disturb the peace of other people, hence the hidden gym. It's sound proof and has a hidden door. Minutes pass and I feel her still watching me. "You should be asleep Marley," I say between short breaths. "So should you." She responds. I stop and pick up the bottle of water I kept on the bench, then turn to face her while drinking. "What do you want?" "Where were you yesterday?" She asks "About my business." She scoffs and raises a brow. "Your business?"