COLLISION OF HEARTS

CHAPTER1

“Freeze! Stop right there, in the name of the law!" Yelled a police officer, his voice commanding.

The sound of gunfire filled the air, and a sharp, bitter mix of cocaine and alcohol interwoven with the pungent, unmistakable, and earthy smell of weed filled the room.

Locked behind a firm wooden door, a young man in his twenties twisted his lips into a sinister smile upon hearing the arrival of law enforcement.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up—the cops," the young man said,

a hint of amazement curling on his lips.

Bound to a chair, bruised and battered, he let out a strained laugh and taunted,

“It’s over, Mr. Handson. There's no use dreaming of an escape plan now".

“Shut up!" Yelled Mr Handson as he dashed toward the window.

He glanced down, spotting several officers below, guns poised, their eyes fixed on him, waiting only for the order to open fire.

Mr. Handson, a stocky, average-height man in his 30s with a weary expression and rough, unremarkable features. His build is soft, and he carries a no-nonsense look, though he's far from handsome.

He has an air of experience and resilience that hints at a life lived with its share of challenges.

God's. I'm done for," he whispered.

Panic and fear etched across his face as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.

A thunderous BOOM echoed as the door swung open, blasted as if struck by an unimaginable force;

With calculated steps, the officers entered, positioning themselves strategically. Then, one of them commanded in a cold, emotionless tone, "Put your hands where I can see them—now!”

As the cuffs clicked around Mr. Handson’s wrists, he glared at the young man bound to the chair, his eyes seething with a mix of anger, jealousy, and hatred.

“It’s not over yet, boy,” he spat. “Remember this—when next I get out, you’re dead.”

With eyes burning with such intense hatred, Mr. Handson's words carried a venom that could make even the bravest and strongest of men wince in pain.

In agony and barely able to stand, the young man chuckled through gritted teeth, “See you in hell, Handson.”

After Mr. Handson was taken into custody, three young men, all around the same age as the one tied to the chair, walked into the room; Their hearts sank as they saw their friend slumped in a chair, bruised, motionless, and drenched in blood.

One of them, likely the Eldest, Jason, cried out, his voice thick with guilt; “Damn! I’m so sorry, man. If we’d gotten here a bit sooner, you wouldn’t have had to go through all this.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“No, there’s nothing to worry about,” the young man said confidently from his chair.

“This was all necessary and part of the plan. With Handson out of business for a while, we’ll be able to supply his district, gaining their trust. It’s a win-win.”

"Thank heavens the medics have finally arrived," Jason breathed a sigh of relief, "you need to quit taking such risks; what if we hadn't arrived in time?" Another one of the three voiced their concern.

"Well, you did, didn't you?" The young man remarked, noticing the lack of satisfaction on their faces, he said, "Fine, I promise it won't happen again.”

"It better not," Jason warned, a hint of anger in his voice.

"You should hope your mom stays in the dark; you know fully well you'll be dead meat if she hears about this.”

"Exactly, and that's why I got you all, to make sure that never happens," the young man said, managing a forced smile, plus, if she finds out, we're all dead meat. He began to laugh.

The medics then lifted him onto a gurney and hurried him outside.

As he exited out of the building, he was met with an overwhelming wail of police sirens and a throng of people, creating a cacophony all around him.

Standing off to the side, two officers likely in their 30s lit up cigarettes as they began to chat;

"What's the deal with this kid anyway? I mean, he's just a young business executive, and it takes much more to attract someone like Handson," the officer remarked, his eyes betraying a hint of confusion.

“Are you crazy serious!? You have no idea who that is?” exclaimed the other officer in disbelief.

Exhaling a puff of cigarette smoke, he said, “That’s Reymond Dwayne, AKA playboy Dwayne, and he's the governor's son.

Upon hearing such a revelation, the officer almost choked in shock and jolted, “are you serious? Wait, if he's father is the governor, then you're trying to say that his mum is also the mayor of this city? “How the hell did he end up in such a mess?”

“You know how kids are these days, so unpredictable,” the officer exclaimed in disappointment.