CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

It's around midnight, exactly 1 a.m., when they move through the tunnel TK scouted. The guard at the entrance is already asleep when they slip past, and for a terrible, exhilarating second everything feels almost too easy. Outside, the other two guards lie slumped against the wall, passed out and unaware of what's about to happen, the tranquilliser gun TK found online having done its work. The power to the three shops they plan to hit has been cut; the mall is swallowed in darkness, a soft blanket that hides them as they hurry in.

Dressed in black, faces hidden behind balaclavas, they move quickly through the tunnel. The drill hums low as they break toward the shop above, dust and soil raining down on their faces. The hole grows little by little, just enough to squeeze through. Sika steadies Tumi at the opening, hearts pounding, breath loud in the stillness.

"It is," Tumi whispers.
Sika nods and pushes her gently inside. Behind them, silence hangs heavy, broken only by the faint echo of the drill and the slow, even breathing of guards who won't wake for a while.
They all slip inside and TK sets a timer. The shop is a cave of shadow; the CCTVs are only at the front, not in the storeroom, foolish, Sbo mutters under his breath and can't help a soft, satisfied chuckle. When they pop on their little touch-lights the place blooms into tinny, nervous light and chaos begins: boxes of phones, laptops, watches, small printers, everything that looks like money, gets shoved into big bags with greedy hands.

Diamond goes straight to the safe. She exhales, a tiny prayer squeezed from between her teeth, this is rush hour, no slow motion, she tells herself, and she can't afford to mess it up. The safe looks promising, old, bulky, the kind that gives hope. She works with practiced focus, long picks moving, listening with her ear to metal as others keep throwing stuff in. She can feel the pulse of the room: adrenaline, the scrape of fabric, the metallic clink of goods hitting canvas.

Sbo freezes for a second when he spots a printer tucked on a lower shelf, the exact model Nikky wanted to print her chilli-jar stickers. His face softens and something like shame and tenderness passes through him. He will give it to her, he promises himself, and he will apologise for following her that morning. Tumi moves like water, peeking through the doorway.

Tumi, steady, opens the door a little to check, no guards this side. Her eyes dart quickly, scanning for cameras. She spots a CCTV and bends down, moving low to avoid its view. Slipping to the cashier register, she presses the buttons quickly. She doesn't fully know how it works, but she trusts Sbo can crack it if needed.
Tumi picks up the cash register and quickly cuts off the wires attached to it. She bends again, avoiding the CCTV. Phones and other gadgets hang on the shelf; she knows they can't take them now, there's no time. She moves back to the storeroom and looks at Sika, who nods. They throw the cash register into the bag and wait for Diamond, who is busy telling them she is close. Then they click.

Diamond looks at them and smiles. She slowly opens the safe and chuckles lightly. All of them peek inside; stacks of cash, more than they expected. Nobody speaks. Diamond grabs a bag and starts throwing the cash inside until nothing is left. She closes the safe and stands up, spotting a piece of cardboard, tearing it apart.

"It is to hide the hole," she whispers. They shrug, a brief shared moment of satisfaction. Shop one done. Two more to go.

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As Sbo and Tumi rush back to the entrance to load the bags into their cars, Sika's truck idles at the mouth of the tunnel very far from the guards posts. TK, Sika, and Diamond move on toward the second shop. TK exhales heavily, like something's been sitting on his chest.

"Guys, there'll be other people who come and rob the shops too," TK starts. Sika turns, frowning, confused.
"What are you talking about?" Sika whispers.
TK stops in his tracks and the others halt too. He looks at each of them, voice low.
"What we are doing here is risky and this is a mall. Anything can happen. So I made sure some people would come and rob this place too. They know nothing about this tunnel. They'll use the main entrance with the CCTVs, get caught, and take the blame," he says. He had planned this perfectly, arranging a fall guy to protect the team. Simple, dirty, effective.
Sika huffs softly. "You should have told us about your little plan," he snaps. "Do you even know these people who are going to take the fall for us?"
"Does it matter?" Diamond cuts in, sharp and practical. "Let's do our job. We have little time. The guard will wake up." She starts moving. TK follows, ignoring Sika's anger. He did what he thought he had to do to protect the crew.

They do the same routine at the second shop, only this time the safe fights them. It's old and bolted into concrete. They try the picks, then brute force. Finally they break it apart and wrestle the heavy vault out of its bed. It seems impossible, but luck is on their side tonight. The safe opens and they scoop cash and valuables straight into the bags.

Tumi peeks through the doorway, then freezes. She closes the door gently and looks at the team, panic in her eyes.
"There are three men with balaclavas trying to break in at the front," she whispers. "We need to move. The other criminals are here."

No one wastes a second. They drop the bags carefully so nothing inside gets damaged. Diamond grabs a piece of cardboard and tears it apart. She slides through the hole, fingers working fast to smear dust and crud around the edges. She covers the breach as best she can and drops the cardboard so it looks like part of the store's packaging, not a tunnel exit.
They leave the storeroom in a breathless rush, hearts hammering, the sound of distant shouts and muffled movement pushing them forward. Two shops down, one to go.

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"We have thirty minutes," Tk says as they drill through the wall to their final shop. No one speaks this time. Tumi and Sbo have returned, safe and sound, from putting the bags in their cars and Sika's truck. Silence hangs heavy, thick with tension. They have to finish this perfectly, no mistakes. They know alarms could go off any moment now as their fall guys are busy trying to break into the shop.

The hole opens, but they freeze. A blinding light hits them square in the face. They glance at each other, confusion written on their faces. Why is there light? Didn't they cut the power?

Tk drops the drill on the floor, his chest tightening. He climbs the ladder they had brought, moving carefully.

"Tk," Diamond whispers, voice trembling with unease.
Tk looks at her and nods softly, a silent reassurance. Then, he peeks up through the hole and freezes. It's a supermarket.

Tk climbs down the ladder and looks at his team, then exhales hard.
"It's a supermarket," he says. They all gasp in shock and disbelief. Sika shakes his head.
"How?" he asks.
"There's no answer for that, Sika. We have no time," Tk says, looking each of them in the eye. "I'll go inside. I'll look for the cash."
Tumi chuckles, bitter and sharp. "Wa tsenwa?" she snaps, pissed off.
"No, you can't go alone. We go together," Sbo says immediately. Tk shakes his head; none of them knows this supermarket layout, and that makes it dangerous.
"I can do this. I'll find their bag of cash and come straight back. We're running out of time," Tk says, his voice pleading. But the men and women around him are stubborn; if they get caught, they want to get caught together.
"Time is running, bhuti. Tell us how we avoid the CCTV. Do we have to tamper with them? That could help," Diamond says, already thinking security and running through hacks in her head.

They all turn to Tk, waiting. He glances up at the small clock on his phone. The alarms could trigger any minute now, their fallback crew is making noise at the front entrance, and their fall guys are starting the distraction. Tk nods slowly and starts to explain, voice low and urgent, the plan rearranging in the small tunnel light: where they'll move, which blind spots to hug, which cameras to mask, who covers the door while one of them goes for the cash. Every second he speaks cuts the panic a fraction and stitches a fragile confidence back into the group.

The hole opens at the butchery sector. Tk looks around, no cameras on this side, and thank God for the gloves so no fingerprints are left on the crime scene. Tumi and Diamond push the little fridge next to their hole to use it when they're done. Tk checks the time; twenty-five minutes left. He leads the way, ducking and avoiding cameras. They know there's no money in the tills, so the manager's offices, or whatever those little offices are called, are their target. Sbo and Sika stay behind to watch the coast as Tumi, Tk, and Diamond run toward the offices.

Their hands are quick and trembling as they unlock the door and get inside. Tumi spots the electrical box and dashes to it, cutting the wires with shaking hands. Instantly, the whole shop goes dark. Even the CCTV computers are dead. They fumble through the office, looking for bags of cash. They know there's money here somewhere. They flip the room until they spot the locker. Diamond sighs hard and rushes to it.

"How much time do we have?" Diamond asks, panic in her voice. Tk doesn't answer her.
"You can do it. Or Tumi, go fetch the explosive from Sbo," Tk says, remembering he gave Sbo some. Tumi frowns but doesn't protest and runs out. Tk kneels next to Diamond, who is shaking.
"You can do it, Dee. Stop panicking," Tk says, trying to comfort her. Dee ignores him, continuing to struggle with the locker. She groans softly, tightening her eyes shut. She can't get caught. Not after all the sacrifices. She thinks of her aunt, Uncle Bob, her sister, Nikky, and of course her partners in crime, this team of hers. She sighs softly and tries again.

On the eighth try, Tumi returns with the explosive and the locker unlocks. They all sigh in relief. They open it, and disappointment washes over them, only two bags.
"It's okay, it's money," Tk says, throwing the bags onto his own. Then the alarm rings, loud and piercing.

•••••

[DIAMOND]
Tumi and I, finally able to use the fridge to hide this hole of ours, jump to the ground and sigh hard. The alarm is loud now, and we can hear voices. We don't know if the guards we sedated have woken or not. Sika picks up the bag and looks at us.

"We'll meet at our spot," he says, rushing off first alone. He'll be using his truck, and it won't raise any suspicion since it's an auto truck of his business.
"Tirelo, let's move. See you soon, guys," Tumi says and waves at Sbo and me. They'll be using the same car. We can't all use the same car, all five of us, no, too risky.
"Let's go home, Diamond, it's been a long mid…"
"What are you doing here?" a voice says from behind. I turn, and the light hits his face. I freeze, my breath catching. What the hell is he doing here? He's wearing a long white garment, barefoot. I blink, and blink again. Maybe it's a ghost, but no, he's still here, frowning at me. My heart skips a beat. I don't even know why.

"Why are you calling me?" he says, annoyed. I huff. What the hell is he talking about?
"I didn't call you. I don't even know your name," I tell him. He chuckles bitterly, stepping closer.
"You called and told me to meet you here," he says. A what now? Oh nah, he's crazy.
"Who the hell is this?" Sbo says, confused, looking at the guy.
"I don't know him. I just met him days ago," I say quickly, knowing how Sbo's temper works, but it doesn't seem to matter. Sbo raises his gun and points it at the guy. I rush to stand in front of him.
"Sbo, no, please, don't hurt him," I say, pleading a bit. Sbo huffs, annoyed. I don't even know why I care so much about this person.
"We need to move before we get caught," Sbo says, reminding me. Yes, I can't be here. I turn and look at the guy. He doesn't look scared, just pissed.
"We need to go. Come," I say, stretching my hand out. He looks at it, looks at me, and faints. I quickly catch him before he hits the ground.
"Yooh, Modimo!!" Sbo cries out. He shouldn't be crying out, but help me here instead.

Sbo bangs the car door, pissed and furious at me. He jumps inside and starts the car without even looking at me. I understand his anger and frustration, but no one saw us. There was no guard, no one. It's eerily quiet, and I wasn't going to leave this guy at that tunnel alone and risk him getting arrested for something he didn't do.
He's still passed out in the backseat, sleeping soundly and peacefully. I wonder who he is, why he's following me this much, and what he meant when he said I called him. I guess I'll have to ask when he wakes up, because I'm really curious.

I turn and look at Sbo, whose jaw is tight, his hands gripping the wheel like it's the only thing keeping him from exploding.
"I'm sorry, but I wasn't going to leave an innocent man at that tunnel," I say softly. He huffs and shakes his head.
"You said he's a stranger. So why is there a stranger in my car, Diamond?" he asks, irritated.
I don't know either. As I said, I don't even know why I care about this man. I keep quiet, because I have no answer for Sbo. The heist went well. That's what matters. With all the hiccups and everything, we came out alive.

I turn to the window, watching the peaceful Johannesburg at midnight. My heart aches. Or maybe… This could be our last heist.

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I feel someone shaking me softly. I blink open my eyes slowly and groan, trying to turn and fall down, arg, I forgot I'm not in my bed. Jesus. Tumi is just standing there, looking at me, smirking. I don't know if she's smirking instead of helping me out. I slump onto the floor and sit up, looking at her. We are at Sika's place, our hideout. I guess I might have passed out on the couch when we arrived with Sbo. I need a cup of coffee and breakfast. Oh, I miss Nikky. I would have been woken up by the smell of breakfast instead of having it pushed onto the floor.

"The boys are asleep," she says and sits next to me. "What time is it anyway?"
"That was so close," she says softly. I nod; it was indeed. At least Tk's plan of having fall guys for us will work out.
"We need to rest now. We have enough money to last us for three months," I tell her. There's Nikky's birthday coming up too. Maybe I should book her a vacation to Magalies.

Tumi just keeps quiet and leans back on the couch, closing her eyes. We'll need all the sleep we can get. Tomorrow is work; we need to be presentable as law-abiding citizens. I rise from the floor. I might as well make coffee for myself and the man I left in the car. Sbo said or thought, it's a good idea to leave that guy in the car, since he's a stranger. I also need to arrive with at least scones and biscuits when I go back to the flat. Nikky won't ask too many questions if I give her some biscuits and keep quiet. The less she knows about this little crime activity of mine, the better.

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Two strong black coffees. I walk out the back door, trying not to make any noise that might wake Tumi, who has fallen asleep again. I need to talk to this mystery guy who keeps following me. Weirdly enough, today I'm not mad or angry at him, just curious. Curious about who he is and why he keeps following me like this.
As I said, the pull is still there, pulling me toward him, and even now, there's this strange force dragging me closer. I just… I hope he appreciates this coffee and…

I pause. My breath catches. The back seat is empty.
I blink, stepping closer to the car, my pulse spiking. I freeze, staring inside again. Nothing. No one. I close my eyes for a few seconds, trying to make sense of it, then open them slowly. He's gone.

He's actually gone.
I place the two cups on top of the car, my hands trembling, and rush toward the gate, scanning the street, the corners, the shadows. Nothing. He's nowhere.

A heavy sigh escapes me, and I feel a sharp ping in my chest, a quiet ache that spreads through my ribs. "Where is he?" I whisper to myself. "Where did he go?"
My legs give in, and I sink down onto the grass, my face buried in my hands. My heart twists painfully. My mind's spinning.
What the hell is going on?
Why do I feel my heart breaking at not seeing his sight again? Who is this person, making me cry like this?

I sit here, silent and lost, holding the weight of a stranger who vanished like smoke… and yet somehow took a piece of me with him.

••••••

[MNOTHO]
My body rests against something soft and fluffy, a warm blanket draped over me. I stretch my arms and slowly open my eyes. The sun peeks gently through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. My gaze falls on a single bed next to me. I think… we must be in Nikky's room. How I got here is a blur, but I don't dwell on it. That thought doesn't matter right now.
I rise carefully, trying not to make a sound, and my eyes land on her. Nikky is sleeping so peacefully that for a moment, I forget she is the grumpiest, most stubborn person I've ever met. The sight of her calm, soft features makes my heart twist with awe and nervous excitement, a mix of tenderness and something almost dizzying.

What time is it anyway? I wonder silently, my hand stretching out instinctively, hovering near her face. My pulse spikes in my veins. Oh God… she'll kill me if she wakes up and sees me trying to touch her. But something inside me pushes me forward. I take the risk anyway. My finger grazes her cheek. I count slowly to five. She doesn't stir.

Her breathing is even, her eyelids flutter slightly but then settle again. She's a deep sleeper, mercifully unaware of me right now. Emboldened, I let my whole hand rest gently on her soft cheek. My heart skips a beat, a mix of fear, wonder, and excitement coursing through me. I feel like a teenager with a first crush, completely mesmerized, completely alive in this moment.

I smile softly, still stroking her cheek, careful not to disturb her. She is breathtaking, perfect, gentle, soft, and somehow, impossibly, she makes me feel things I didn't know I could. I wish I could pause time, just to stay here, tracing the quiet lines of her face, memorizing every detail, every little expression that belongs only to her. I smile as I remove my hand from her. It's all about taking risks anyway, and for her I will, and for her I will cross boundaries made by mankind, and break one of them. They don't matter to me now.
A phone vibrates on her nightstand. It's mine. My personal phone, my business phone. I left it in my car. I step aside from the fluffy sponge couch and snatch my phone carefully, trying not to wake this beauty up. 8 AM. A WhatsApp text notification flashes. It's from Tshengisile. I grunt softly. What does she want now? I told her to deal with Mtho's issue and involve his father too. I'm busy here.

I shove the phone in my pocket and take a moment to fold the blanket and sponge. I need to take Nikky out for breakfast. It's going to be a hard road, knowing how stubborn she is. Jesu!

The lounge kitchen side is clean and spotless; it doesn't show that last night we had a little get together. I need to make coffee at least to get some strength and wake up, to give me the energy to face this stubborn, grumpy lady. I spot the coffee machine. There's already coffee inside. I press my palm to the glass of the machine. It's warm. Thank God. Now I need to find a cup, so I open the cupboards looking for one.

"On your left," a voice says behind me. I turn. It's Nikky, arms crossed over her chest. She's awake and looks annoyed.
"Do you want a cup of coffee?" I ask gently. She walks past me and brushes by.
"Go sit down. I'll make coffee, Mnotho," she says softly as she opens the cupboards. I nod lightly and sit on the stool, being an obedient man.
"Sugar or no sugar?" she asks.
"No sugar. I need to wake up. I do feel sleepy," I say. I really do, and I don't know why, because I slept so peacefully. Or maybe it's because I haven't had enough sleep the last few days. A cup sits gently next to my hands and she joins me, sitting across from me.
She frowns, staring at my hand.
"What happened to your hand?" she asks in a gentle voice. I blink, confused. She points at my left hand. My eyes drop to it. I freeze a little and compose myself fast. My knuckles are red, with tiny scratches. Now I need to tell my first lie to her. I can't tell her the truth. What if it ruins everything? A white lie is better.
I smile softly, picking up my cup.
"Well, some boys tried to hijack me and I had to fight them," I say. Someone did hijack our truck, and I had to deal with them. It's an inside job. One of the boys Bangizwe hired messed the delivery to Bloemfontein up, stole most of the equipment and some medications. I thought maybe it was one of our drivers, but the dashcam showed it wasn't them. They tried to fight those little thugs but failed. There were too many of them.
"Are you crazy?" she asks, eyes wide, shock written all over her face.
"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.
She scoffs, shaking her head.
"You can't fight thugs with your fists and big arms. What if you get hurt? Or get shot while trying to be Hulk?" she asks, perplexed. I press my lips together, trying not to laugh. My heart skips a little. My little Peach cares.
"I wasn't going to allow fools to rob me," I answer, grinning. "You care about me," I add.
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"I don't care. I was thinking about Bonga, who was about to lose a father because his father was busy playing Hulk," she replies, annoyed. A chuckle escapes me.
"Okay, I'm sorry, Peaches. Next time I'll use a gun," I say.
She lets out a breath, shaking her head with that half-defeated, half-amused look that always gets me. I can't help but smile wider.

I lean forward slightly, elbows resting on the counter. "Come on, let's go out for breakfast," I say softly.
"I do have food here in my flat, Mnotho," she answers, her tone calm but firm, always with an answer for everything.
"No," I say gently. "It's to say thank you for your hospitality last night, and to answer all those burning questions you have for me." I pause, hoping she'll soften, hoping that maybe her heart melts a little. "And I promise," I add with a teasing grin, "I won't ambush you with a hug."
She narrows her eyes, her lips twitching as if she's fighting a smile. "Or maybe you did that on purpose," she says, voice playful but wary.
"Yes, I did," I admit, unable to hide my grin. "I had no choice. I was so cold, and I needed some warmth, and you were right there to keep me warm." My tone drops, honest and low.
She says nothing for a moment. Then she stands up, turning to the sink. "Just go home to your family, Mnotho."
Her words sting a little. Can't she see it? Can't she see that I want her to be my family? Her, me, and that spoiled brat Bonga. He adores her already, which is a bonus. I wouldn't have to worry about my son and my woman hating each other.
"But you are my family," I say quietly, turning to look at her.
She chuckles softly and glances over her shoulder at me.
"Don't say that, Mnotho. Don't bring problems into my life," she says, her voice tight, almost trembling.
I raise my eyebrows, stepping closer, my voice soft but steady.
"I won't bring you problems, Peaches. I promise you," I say sincerely, meaning every word. "I'll bring you nothing but happiness."
She exhales slowly, as if fighting something inside her.
"Are you married? Your wife?" she asks, her tone almost cautious, like she's preparing herself for disappointment.

Oh, so that's what's been bothering her. The thought that I belong to someone else. I smile gently, taking one more step forward, close enough to catch the faint scent of her hair, something sweet and warm, like jasmine and fresh or sweet.

"I told you," I murmur, my eyes fixed on hers, "that I'm looking at her right now."
Her breath catches. She turns away quickly, but not before I see that flicker in her eyes, the one that tells me she felt it too. I grin softly, leaning on the counter.
"Don't worry, Peaches," I say, leaning closer, voice soft and teasing. "I'll be here when you decide to stop pretending you don't like me… breakfast included, of course."
She turns, eyes sharp, and gently pushes me.
"Okay, we can go, but I can't do breakfast. I have to go and see my mother," she says, voice low. Oh, that's bad.
"That's fine, we'll do dinner then, tonight. And please, just stop being stubborn and just let me in," I say softly, letting my gaze linger on her. I want her in my life, her laughter, her stubbornness, her warmth.
"Mnotho, I said yes, there's no need to lecture me," she says in disbelief. I chuckle, raising my hands in surrender, grinning just a little.
"Okay, I'm sorry, Peaches. I'll go home, rest, and come here to fetch you," I say, trying to keep my tone teasing, playful. "I'll call you, and check if you got back from your mom's place," I add, sliding my gaze down to her hands, noticing how small and delicate they are.
"You have my numbers?" she asks, eyes narrowing slightly. I nod.
"Then why didn't you call and tell me you were alright?" she asks, a little pissed, and I can't help but smile at how cute she looks when she's mildly annoyed.
"I didn't think you'd answer and…" I pause, cutting myself off. I can't make this situation worse than it is.
"I'm sorry, my bad. Next time, I'll call. I'll call you every hour now," I say, amusement dancing in my tone, teasing her without holding back.

She shakes her head and throws herself onto the couch. I watch her, still smiling, my heart twisting a little at how effortless she is, how much power she has over me.