The low hum of Rino’s black Maybach ca to a halt as he carefully maneuvered the steering wheels and hurled the car into the family’s garage.
The smooth purr of the tires on the garage floor made soft sounds, and once he had parked the car, he shut off the engine and exhaled.
He had made it back to the house, just as planned.
Stepping out of the car, he didn’t bother looking at the other parked luxury vehicles. He simply walked his way, entering the mansion through the side hallway that led to the residential wing.
After a few minutes of walking around the building, and climbing the long stairs, Rino reached his room and entered, closing the door behind him with a quiet thud. A wave of comfort surged through his body.
This was his ho. His space. He had returned to his optimum comfort zone.
Closing in further, he ran his fingers across the polished surface of his dresser, then yanked off his shoes, dropping them aside without a second thought.
Having pulled off his shoes, he walked barefoot across the linoleum floor of his room to his bed, and when he reached his bed, he crashed backward onto it.
He was back to the cozy comfort of his foams, and the fresh scent of his bed sheets.
He lay still for a mont, his hands spread wide sideways while he stared at the white P.O.P ceiling above him. The chandelier that hung in the ceiling had no lights on, causing it to be dim. But, observing it closely, one would notice that it glimred with understated opulence.
This is my room, Rino thought happily, satisfied.
He still had the fragnts of early youth in him, even though his actions were mature.
Laying still in his bed, mories ca flooding into his mind.
He began to think about Red Tann.
His new Ally.
The mbers, and their nicknas.
Every nickna they answered had a connection to what they were good at, or a particular virtue they had upheld among themselves.
Malcolm, the Creditor, probably proved why that was his nickna by staking the highest amount of money for the Card ga they had played.
For Kasper, he was the real investor in the midst.
It didn’t take him ti to suggest that their ti for playing the ga, should be as a form of investnt where they staked for their wins.
If not for Rino, the price could have gone to Kasper.
He was really the investor.
Then, there was Queenpin, Dalia.
He hoped she was not known by that na because of similar things like what had transpired between both of them the night before.
He wished there was sothing more to it than t the eyes.
But, why was he wishing? He already made his choice to let her off after that night.
Then, there was the strange girl, Amaka known as Cold Call.
He removed the card Amaka had given him from his shirt’s pocket, hoping to see so business na while he read its contents.
But there was no business na.
Boldly written on the card was CUS AMAKA and the different ans of getting to her. Different ways she can be contacted.
Then, Zaria, the Blogger Chick.
She was called that na because she was always updated with information to relay to the club.
But, where did she get her information from?
What pipeline of information did she tap into? Was she making use of it?
He didn’t want that to disturb him much as he thought it was a question for later. Much later.
Right now, he needed what he missed the night before.
Sleep.
Stretching himself with a lazy grunt, he rose from the bed and pulled off his shirt, tossing it onto the nearby couch.
Then, as he surrendered to the force of gravity, he fell back onto the bed and shut his eyes.
***
Dawn didn’t co, favoring Rino.
He got woken up by a knock.
Another knock.
Before it turned loud and urgent, yet oddly respectful.
Rino stirred himself from bed, his eyes blinking against the morning sun rays as he tried to open his eyes.
For a mont, he shielded his eyes from the bright sun before groaning and swinging his legs to the floor.
Rino still wasted ti, so, the sa knock ca again. This ti around, it sounded slightly softer.
He got up from the bed, and walked to the door in his bare chest, running sleep from his eyes.
When he got to the door, he opened it running sleep from his eyes.
"Ribby?"
He wanted to be shocked and yell at Ribby for having to wake him up from his sweet slumber.
But, before he could utter any statent, Ribby bowed towards him as always, his hands clasped one behind him while the second rested on his shoulders.
"Ribby," Rino sighed. "Please can you stop bowing like this to like I’m an unforsaken god of the kingdom?"
He wasn’t in support of a fellow human bowing to themselves, let alone soone older than he was.
Ribby was old enough to be his uncle, or sothing more than that self if they existed.
Ribby’s head slowly rose, eyes glassy with moisture. His lips trembled, and before Rino could say more, a tear escaped down Ribby’s cheek.
"Wait—cry?" Rino’s brow furrowed. "Please... don’t cry, I hope I didn’t say any of those words to hurt you?"
Rino didn’t know what to do with such emotion. He opened the door wider and gestured him in.
"Co in. Before soone walks past and makes a thing out of this."
Ribby entered quietly, wiping his face with the cuff of his sleeve.
Once inside, Rino folded his arms and leaned against the door.
"What’s going on?" he asked. "Why are you here this early?"
"You are urgently needed, Young Master," Ribby said between sniffles.
"Urgently needed?" Rino repeated, raising a brow. "By who?"
Ribby’s eyes t his. "Your stepmother. Madam Rose."
That was unexpected.
Of all the people he would’ve guessed... Rose Carter wasn’t even on the list.
Rino stood upright now, his sleep evaporating.
He gave a light nod and dismissed Ribby with a wave. "Alright. Thanks for the ssage. I’ll prepare."
Ribby bowed slightly—not as deeply—and took his leave.
As the door closed behind him, Rino turned toward the bedside where he dropped his phone.
It had beeped alert consecutively, two tis, when he deliberately ignored it for a third ti, it ant there was sothing seriously wrong.
Rino went over and picked up his phone, and it was a ssage.
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