consequences

Working with the boss directly had been an eye-opening experience, especially at night. Saba hosted an incredible number of nightclubs, and the boss owned a dozen of them, along with two casinos and a shady 24-hour bar. Nasir got to see a whole new world of nightlife in Saba. Nighttime in the city was different, merrier, and more lucrative than during the day. The nobility graced nightclubs, warehouses turned into clubs, and casinos with their presence. It meant more money and more exposure for Nasir. In just two days, he learned more working with the boss than he had in years with Pal.

Nasir accompanied the boss to places he wouldn't dare set foot in during the daytime. However, the downside of working with the boss was his ongoing feud with Maira. They often crossed paths, and she frequently threatened him. Nasir was surprised she hadn't discovered anything yet about what he had told her. It was evident she was desperate to find any information that could guarantee her freedom from the boss.

One evening, Nasir received his instructions. "Boy!" The boss's voice startled him, although the man always spoke in a sweet and meek manner, making everything sound like a flirty threat.

"Boss," Nasir acknowledged, stepping forward.

"Take this to Tenney Square. Someone will approach you there. He'll ask for an address. Give this to him, but be cautious; the man is being followed by the SI (State Investigation) for a while." Nasir weighed the satchel in his hand. This was just one of his many routine tasks: delivering shady packages to shady people who were wanted for criminal offenses.

Tenney Square was undeniably one of Saba's most sophisticated landmarks. It sat majestically at the heart of the upper town, where the city's nobility resided. The square's history was fascinating; it had been commissioned by the sultan's wife in honor of her maternal uncle, who used to run a humble GSM shop in that very location. She named it after her late mother, who tragically passed away while giving birth to her. Nasir observed the building for a while, taking in its grandeur, before making his way to where he was supposed to stand.

A man clad in a dark suit, adorned with a London hat that strategically concealed half of his face, approached Nasir. Nasir maintained his stance, his eyes narrowing as he observed the stranger.

"You must have my package," the man asserted. Nasir's instincts flared; this wasn't the person he had been expecting to meet. He sized up the stranger, his gaze scrutinizing the man from head to toe. In that moment, Nasir deduced the truth – this man was an SI officer.

Nasir thanked his lucky stars that he had adhered to his usual protocol. Both the package and his firearm were safely stowed away in his car, parked a mile away in an inconspicuous lot. This tactic often irritated those he dealt with, but it was his way of ensuring his safety. He didn't hold the package until he met the intended recipient. This approach might have frustrated some, but it left him with nothing incriminating on his person. His youthful appearance further shielded him; he could easily claim to be underage, making it difficult for authorities to press charges.

"What package, sir?" Nasir asked innocently, his expression veiled by layers of deceit.

The SI officer's eyes narrowed as he studied Nasir. "Don't play games, kid. You know what I'm talking about. Now, hand it over."

Nasir maintained his façade of innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about, sir. I'm just here enjoying the night."

The officer was growing impatient. "Look, boy, I don't have time for games. I've been tracking this package for weeks. Now, hand it over or we'll do this the hard way."

Nasir hesitated for a moment, then feigned surrender, reaching into his pocket as if he was about to retrieve the package. But in a swift, unexpected move, he sprinted away from the officer, disappearing into the bustling Tenney Square.

The officer gave chase, but Nasir's knowledge of the area and his agility allowed him to quickly lose him in the winding streets. As he hid in the shadows, Nasir knew he had to lay low for a while until things cooled down. He couldn't afford to be caught by the SI.

Nasir couldn't shake the feeling that Maira might have something to do with the SI officer showing up at the drop-off. It was a risky thought, but he had learned not to trust anyone completely in this dangerous world he was a part of. He needed to find out if she was playing a dangerous game of her own.

He reached out to a few of his hacker friends for help in monitoring SI activities and searching for any information about the package he was supposed to deliver.

That night, while browsing through the dark web for any leads on the SI's activities, Nasir stumbled upon a coded message. It was a message meant for someone else, but Nasir's hacking skills allowed him to decipher it. The message hinted at a possible meeting between Maira and a high-ranking SI officer.

Nasir's heart raced as he realized Maira's may possibly find something about the boss. He had to find out more. He continued to monitor the dark web, intercepting messages and tracking Maira's movements. It seemed like she was indeed playing a dangerous game, possibly trying to double-cross the boss.

With this newfound information, Nasir knew he had leverage, a way to protect himself and possibly gain an advantage in this treacherous world. He decided to approach the boss with what happened at the square, but he had to be cautious. He couldn't trust anyone fully, not even the boss. And he wasn't mentioning Maira's involvement, that could be his only leverage to protect himself.

"Boss, we've got a problem. The SI intercepted the delivery, and I suspect the client is in their custody," Nasir urgently informed the boss over the phone.

"The package?" the boss inquired, concern lacing his voice.

"It's still with me, but an SI officer might have seen my face. I need to lay low for a while. Send Maira to retrieve the package. I'll be at my apartment in the morning," Nasir explained, his voice tinged with caution.

"The package, make sure it's safe," the boss urged before ending the call. Nasir had intentionally requested Maira for this task, wanting to confirm her involvement.

The night passed with Nasir monitoring the SI. He combed the dark web, analyzing all possible loopholes. Morning arrived, bringing both excitement and nostalgia. Nasir awoke to find two men in his apartment, dressed in suits that screamed SI. They meticulously searched through his belongings, and one of them fixed Nasir with an intense gaze.

"Boy! What kind of a name is that?" The deep-voiced man scrutinized Nasir. Nasir chuckled, realizing there was no way out. This confirmed that Maira had indeed been in contact with the SI and had tipped them off.

"You're the one from last night," Nasir grinned, giving the man an amused look. "The SI officer. Well, I don't have any drugs with me; nothing here is illegal."

"Well, I don't deal with drugs. I handle matters of the federation and criminal activities that may have taken root in this apartment," the SI officer retorted, giving Nasir a stern look. He exchanged glances with his partner before the one questioning Nasir continued. "We're not here about drugs. We're interested in a different package." He pulled out a photograph of the package Nasir had been holding for the boss.

Nasir, keeping up his act, furrowed his brows and acted bewildered. "Package? What package? I have no idea what you're talking about."

The SI officers shared a knowing look. They had expected resistance from Nasir. "Listen, kid, we don't want any trouble," the lead officer said calmly. "We know you're connected with some high-level criminals, and we're interested in one of those connections. Cooperate, and it'll go easier for you."

Nasir maintained his composed demeanor and looked the officer squarely in the eye. "Easier said than done."

The SI officer sighed, his expression hardened. "Boy, I know who you are. I've heard of you. I have friends in the shadows too. Don't push me to send you straight to the depths of hell."

Nasir continued to feign innocence, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. The SI officer's words hinted at a deeper knowledge, and that made Nasir uneasy.

The lead officer sighed, as if realizing Nasir wasn't going to cooperate easily. "Alright, kid, we can do this the hard way or the easy way. We have ways to make people talk. If you want to avoid that, tell us about the package, who it's for, and who you're working with."

Nasir remained silent, his mind racing. He knew he had to protect the boss and himself. Giving away too much information could be dangerous. And then the SI officer said, "Who it's for." Nasir realized that this meant they didn't have the intended recipient in custody yet. There was more to this situation than he initially thought.

He decided to tread carefully, still pretending ignorance. "I honestly don't know who it's for. I was just asked to deliver it to a location in Tenney Square. That's all I know."

The SI officer exchanged glances with his partner. Nasir's response seemed to puzzle them, and it was clear they were looking for something more substantial.

Nasir's mind raced with possibilities. "And when you asked 'who it's for,' that means you don't have the man in custody yet. There's more to this, isn't there?"

Nasir chuckled, realizing he wouldn't give in to their questioning any further. He secretly hoped they would bring Maira, as that would be the opportunity to set his plan into motion.

Nasir could sense their frustration and decided to play along, giving them a piece of information but withholding crucial details.

"I don't have it anymore. I handed it over to Maira, just as I was instructed," he replied, feigning reluctance.

The lead SI officer exchanged a glance with his colleague, who seemed annoyed by the slip-up. They knew they had hit a wall, but Nasir was determined not to reveal anything more.

"Stop me from throwing you in jail," the SI officer said, his frustration evident.

"Maira," Nasir said, the name loaded with a veiled threat. He knew that just dropping her name would put them on edge, and he wanted them to be cautious. Nasir flashed an innocent smile as he locked eyes with the SI officer.

"Fair enough," the SI officer mumbled absentmindedly, and the two men left without further interrogation. Nasir was certain that he would be under surveillance for a while. His mentor, Pal, had once told him that if the SI were involved in something, then the Sultan himself was aware, as they dealt with matters of crucial importance and national crises.

The Sultan monitors every single criminal that could cause a national crisis. These sorts of people are wiped off the surface of the earth. Nasir's eyes widened in fear. If he was really associated with criminals who had grabbed the Sultan's attention, it was a terrifying prospect.

"Come in," Maira knocked on his door a moment after the SI officers left. The teenage girl looked seemingly naive, but Nasir wasn't naive enough to fall for her deceptive facade. In his opinion, she was far more dangerous than even both the boss and Pal.

"The package, Nasir?" She demanded right away, her tone impatient. He gave her a rigid expression.

"I'm under surveillance. You can't go out with the package; someone will spot you," he explained calmly.

"So, the package is here, with you, boy. Do you know what you're playing with?" She cried out in frustration.

"So, it's you who tipped off the SI? The boss would find this information amusing," Nasir said coolly.

"Are you threatening me, boy?" she muttered, her tone tense.

"Nope," he replied.

"I'm just wondering, Maira, if you're in the SI as well," he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"How did you find out?" Maira's voice dripped with menace as she confronted Nasir.

Nasir maintained a cool facade, offering her a sly smile. "You can't help yourself, can you? Always glued to your phone, Maira." He let his words hang in the air, a subtle hint of triumph in his eyes.

Maira's face contorted with a mix of anger and anxiety. She realized that Nasir had been watching her closely, monitoring her every move through her phone.

"You little spy," she hissed. "What do you want?"

Nasir leaned in closer, his voice low and threatening. "I want to know what game you're playing, Maira. Why did you tip off the SI about me?"

Maira hesitated for a moment, then sighed in defeat. "It's complicated, Nasir. I have my reasons, but I didn't want to see you get into deeper trouble with the boss."

Nasir wasn't entirely convinced by her explanation, but he knew he had to tread carefully. "Alright, Maira. Just remember, I've got my eye on you now."He issued a stern warning, insisting that if the SI weren't turned off, there would be serious consequences, and then he casually dismissed her.