Chapter 10

IQANDA LE GROOTMAN
CHAPTER 10

MANQOBA KHOZA

We were chilling on the bench at a Shisanyama, beers in hand, smoke from the braai filling the air. My brothers were all there— Mnotho, Thunjana, Gendeyakhe and Mqhele —talking trash and laughing loud like we always did.

Then Ngcebo pulled up in his clean Quantum, the sound system still thumping as he stepped out.

"Bhovungane, look who decided to join us!" Mnotho shouted, raising his bottle.

Ngcebo smirked and took a seat. "Isiphumile imali yesix, usephumulile unkabi," he teased. [Already got money for a six-pack, now you're resting, hitman.]

The guys laughed, but I wasn't paying attention. Something in Ngcebo's face was off.

He leaned forward. "Hlase, konje ubani igama lale nesi lakho?"[ Hlase, what's the name of that nurse of yours?]

I shot him a glare so sharp it could cut steel. "Ngizokushaya, ubiza umuntu wami ngenesi," I warned. [I'll beat you for calling my woman a nurse.]

He raised his hands. "Bafo, stop with jokes. This is serious."

My chest tightened. "Zobuhle Zwide," I said firmly.

Ngcebo cursed under his breath and dropped the bomb. "She's getting married today. Negotiations are happening right now. To a man she doesn't even want."

I froze, beer bottle halfway to my lips. "Ini?!" The bottle hit the table hard as I stood, fury boiling in my veins.

Without a word, I grabbed my Gucci hat from the bench, stormed to my BMW, and revved the engine. My brothers didn't even ask questions—they just followed. Mnotho, Ngcebo, Thunjana, and Gendeyakhe and Mqhele piled into their rides. The whole Grootman unit was rolling deep.

We hit Soweto in minutes, the very street where I dropped Zobuhle off the other day. My heart thudded hard when I saw the scene—cars parked outside, uncles in formal jackets, women in headscarves. Negotiations were in full swing.

Not on my watch.

We marched through the gate like soldiers, six men strong. Heads turned. Conversations stopped mid-sentence.

"Sanibonani," I greeted,my voice low but sharp. "We're here to stop these negotiations."

Gasps rippled around the yard. I unzipped my bag, pulled out a thick stack of cash, and dropped it on the table with a thud. My brothers followed stacking more notes like bricks of authority.

"We will triple the amount they've paid," I declared.

Zobuhle's mother stepped forward, arms folded. "My son-in-law paid R300 000," she said, her voice full of pride, but her eyes flickered nervously.

I chuckled, cold and humourless. "Ngcebo," I said without looking back.

He pulled out a cheque, signed it with a flourish, and slid it across the table. R900 000. Clean.

The room was stunned. The girl look young but tired . "Who do you think you are?" she sneered.

Slowly, I reached under my jacket and placed my gun on the table. The metal clinked against the wood, silencing even the birds outside.

"Singaxatshaniswa ubala," I said, voice steady, eyes sharp. [Don't let something small come between us.]

I leaned forward, locking eyes with everyone at the table. "Ngicela umfazi wami." [I want my wife.]

Mouths dropped open. The family that had come for negotiations sat frozen, wide-eyed and pale.the mother told this girl to fetch Zo she disappeared

And then I saw her.

Zobuhle. My Zobuhle. Standing at the doorway with a suitcase in her hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes locked on me like she couldn't believe I was real. My chest ached to run to her, to pull her into my arms and shield her from all this madness.

But I stayed rooted, jaw clenched, fists trembling. This wasn't the time for softness. First, I had to claim what was mine.

She was not looking at me I opened the door for her she was crying

Then the woman came running and knocked to Zoe window...she opened the door

"Zo I tried look what they did to me"she showed bruises and they hug

"Maybe this is for the best Zo"

And she removed Zobuhle from the doorway

"If you dare hurt my friend I promise I will cut your balls"iheee lentombazane. [this girl]
Zobuhle went back into the car and looked through the window and cried