It was a warm evening in Kumasi, and the streets of the residential areas a few miles away from the underbelly of the industrial area where crime reigned were bare, save for a few workers returning home, and a few red light district ladies starting up early for the night.

One of such ladies busily strutted down the cracked sidewalk, her sleeveless blouse clinging to her curves and tight denim shorts barely covering her thighs. She chewed gum loudly, popping bubbles as she walked, her eyes fixed on her phone, oblivious to the shadows around her.

A sharp whistle cut through the silence of the street. She turned, her gum pausing mid-chew, and spotted a rugged, tough-looking man leaning against a lamppost. His tight black shirt hugged his lean, muscular frame, and he stared at her intently, his poise radiating a mix of danger and charm.

Her eyes lit up, a grin spreading across her face as she took in his rugged appeal. These were the sort of guys that made her eager to throw off her clothes and get railed out of her mind! Perfect timing that she had been targeted by this one.

She sauntered toward him, hips swaying, already smitten to the core.

“Hey there, fine mami,” he purred, his voice smooth and warm, with an almost predatory glint hidden in his dark eyes. “I was just passing by, and that sexy lil’ shape of yours caught my attention, you know. Ass looking fine as fuck in them booty shorts. Couldn’t resist. Just thought I’d ask if you’d interested in having some fun with me.”

The lady’s grin widened, her fingers brushing his chest as she stepped closer. “Oh, honey,” she responded with equal desire, “the feeling’s very much mutual. I love what I see right now, and trust me, I’d love to have some fun with you. I’d give you the moment of your life.”

His smile deepened, playing the part. “I bet. I can see you’ve got quite the freak in you. And that’s just what I need.”

“Oh, you struck the lottery, daddy!” she giggled. “Good thing you ran into Miss AP, then.”

“Ohhh, that’s your name, huh? Nice. You can call me Pardus.”

“Okayyyy, Pardus. Pleasure to meet you. And it’ll be an even bigger pleasure to ride you and show you how sweet I am down here.”

“Then let’s not waste time, babe. Follow me to my car, and we’ll get this fun started.”

He gestured toward a sleek black SUV parked just around a corner, its tinted windows gleaming under the streetlights.

Miss AP nodded eagerly, popping her gum as she followed, her excitement bubbling over. “Absolutely. Lead the way, hot stuff,” she purred, her voice sultry.

He nodded as they walked toward the SUV, and she giggled as she walked beside him, her heels clicking on the pavement, as her mind got lost in fantasies of what would go down between them in the next couple of minutes.

They rounded a road turn…

… and suddenly, a dark van screeched out of the shadows, its tires smoking. Masked men in black tactical gear burst from the side door, grabbing Miss AP before she could react. She screamed for help, thrashing as one muffled her cries with a gloved hand, hauling her into the van.

Pardus immediately slid into the front seat, his charm replaced by a predator’s glare. “Move!” he barked at the driver. “Straight to Viper Squad’s headquarters! Now!”

***

“I LOVE THIS GAME, HAHAHAHAHA!”

The only sound louder than Onca’s psychotic yell and laughter at that moment was that of his semi-automatic rifle spitting fire.

With Uncia gripping the wheel of the black SUV, while Onca stuck halfway out the window, strapped and hungry for bloodshed, the city’s underbelly was not a safe place to be.

Especially if you were a Viper Squad associate.

With the duo navigating the narrow, graffiti-streaked streets of the industrial district, their death mission was as cold-blooded as could be. They had just rounded a corner deep in Viper Squad territory, and once Onca sighted the associates, there was only one action to carry out.

Bullets tore through the group of fleeing and frightened Viper Squad associates running, their bodies crumpling to the pavement before they could find sanctuary. Blood splattered the concrete sidewalks, leaving the corner looking like a scene out of John Wick.

Onca’s eyes gleamed with adrenaline, his grin wide and unhinged as he reloaded with practiced speed. Uncia, stoic as always behind the wheel, stifled a laugh, his lips twitching.

“Chale, Patrice Evra wouldn’t appreciate you stealing his catchphrase for this carnage,” he quipped, shaking his head as he swerved to avoid a crate in the road.

Onca ducked back inside, still chuckling as his rifle rested across his lap. “Bro, Evra’s got no idea what real fun is,” he shot back, wiping sweat from his brow. “This is the game, brother! The motherfucking game!”

The dashboard speaker crackled, and Panthera’s voice came through, laced with amusement. “I heard that, Onca. You’re a fucking lunatic, you know that?”

Onca only chuckled in amusement.

“Uncia, how do you put up with this guy’s madness?”

Uncia snorted, his eyes scanning the dark streets ahead. “Eh, his ruthless efficiency makes it worth tolerating. This nigga’s a nutcase, but fuck me, he doesn’t miss.” He glanced at Onca, who flashed a mock salute, still buzzing from the kill.

Panthera laughed, the sound sharp through the phone. “Fair point. He is one efficient motherfucker, that’s for sure- aha, there we go! Got some more targets for you. They’ve got a crew holed up in a chop shop two blocks east, corner of Harrow Lane. Six, maybe seven guys, armed but sloppy. That should be your next stop.”

Onca’s grin widened, his fingers drumming on the rifle. Uncia’s eyes met his, a silent agreement passing between them.

“On it,” Uncia confirmed, flooring the gas, the SUV lurching forward. “Let’s down these dickheads!”

“Yesirrrrrr!”

The duo’s faces lit with anticipation as the car tore through the streets, ready to unleash more bloodshed and cut down Viper Squad for good.

***

The van screeched to a stop outside Viper Squad’s headquarters – a squat, fortified warehouse ringed by chain-link fences and armed guards.

Gunfire instantly erupted, with Viper Squad sentries unloading on the approaching vehicle, bullets pinging off the van’s reinforced sides.

Thankfully for Pardus and his men, this van was bulletproof. This line of attack had been anticipated, and the leader of this little army knew exactly what to do next.

He grabbed a megaphone, his voice booming over the chaos.

“Hold your fire! We’ve got a hostage in here: Miss AP, your boss’s prized possession! Shoot at us, and she dies!”

The gunfire faltered, then ceased. Pardus and his men immediately spilled out of the van, rifles raised, dragging a struggling Miss AP with them. Her eyes were wide with terror, her screams muffled by the gag. The Viper Squad guards froze, weapons lowering as they recognized Salazar’s favorite concubine in the grip of the enemy.

Pardus stepped forward, his pistol in one hand, the other yanking AP by the arm. “Drop your weapons and get inside! Now!” he roared. “Anyone caught outside or still armed gets shot!”

His enforcers fanned out, their rifles trained on the Viper Squad guards, who tossed their guns to the ground and shuffled into the warehouse. Associates, friends, and trembling concubines followed, herded into the main hall by Pardus’s men.

Inside the warehouse, the huge and spacious hall was cluttered with crates and tables, and the air was expectedly thick with fear, with everyone present huddled together, their eyes darting between Miss AP and the armed 7Katz men before them.

Pardus gripped Miss AP by her hair, forcing her to face the crowd. He sneered at them, his voice dripping with venom.

“Fools! You insignificant little insects should’ve known better than to go up against the mighty 7Katz. We’re ruthless. We don’t fuck around. We punish any semblance of disrespect. And we do it with no fucking mercy whatsoever. You guys really thought you could challenge us? Steal from us? Go to war with us? You pieces of shit could never win a war against us. Never! And you’re about to learn what happens when snakes have the audacity to stand up to big cats.”

Outside, his remaining men moved swiftly, pouring kerosene around the warehouse’s perimeter, the sharp stench cutting through the night. The huddled group before Pardus and his men saw it, and began to whimper and beg for mercy, even though they knew it would never be heard.

Pardus turned to AP, his tone mocking and cruel. “Too bad we never got to have that fun, isn’t it? Guess we’ll save it for another lifetime.”

He shoved her toward the huddled group, her stumble drawing gasps from the crowd.

“Meanwhile, you and your idiot boyfriend can fuck each other all you want in hell. Adios, motherfuckers!”

As Pardus and his enforcers backed toward the exit, one of his men lit a petrol bomb, the fuse hissing. He hurled it into the hall, the glass shattering, flames erupting across the crates and tables. Screams filled the air as the fire spread, consuming the interior.

As his men ignited the kerosene outside, and flames roared up the walls, engulfing the headquarters in an unforgiving inferno, Pardus gave the blazing chaos a final, cold look, then led his team to the van.

“Let’s go, guys! Our work here is done,” he ordered as the van moved away. “The lackeys are done with. Tigris is handling the main dickheads now.”

***

The Movement Corner, as popularly known in the dark corners of Kumasi, was a cavern of shadows, its rusted beams and cracked concrete floors lit by a single flickering bulb.

 In the center of the warehouse, a meeting was in progress. The two leaders of Viper Squad, Rocki Boi and Salazar, were seated at a folding table, their hoodies and faded jeans blending right in with the grimy surroundings. Across from them were two judges, gray-haired and nervous-looking, their briefcases stuffed with legal documents to mask the real purpose of the meeting.

A massive payoff to secure the release of Viper Squad’s incarcerated members.

Stacks of cash sat in neat piles on the table, ready to be exchanged for the subversion of justice.

Rocki Boi, a broad and scarred guy, leaned forward, sliding one of the stacks toward the judges. “This should get our boys out by tomorrow. No delays. Once they appear before your courts, you let them go.”

The judges stared at each other, then at the stack of cash before them. This was life-changing money; money that would certainly do a lot for them and their families.

Before they could respond, though, the warehouse door exploded inward, splintering under a heavy kick.

Tigris strode in, with a number of 7Katz enforcers flanking him, their semi-automatic rifles trained on the group, their faces cold and unyielding as they yelled warnings at them.

“DON’T MOVE!”

“PULL OUT YOUR WEAPONS, WE’LL SHOOT!”

“FREEZE, MOTHERFUCKERS!”

The Viper Squad leaders froze, hands twitching toward their concealed weapons, while the judges shrank back, eyes wide with fear and confusion at what was happening.

“Well, well, well,” Tigris smirked, his voice dripping with mock warmth, a smile curling his lips. “If it isn’t good ol’ little Rocki Boi and Salazar. The two bosses of the fucking Viper Squad. Been a while since we last met with you dumb little snakes. Remember those little meetings with 7Katz before you shitbags grew fucking wings and decided to step on Leo’s toes? Good times, for sure.”

His smile instantly vanished, replaced by a snarl.

“On your fucking knees. Now.”

Rocki Boi’s jaw tightened, and Salazar hesitated, his hand inching toward his waistband.

“I said KNEEL!” Tigris’s voice boomed furiously, shaking the walls.

The judges dropped instantly, their knees hitting the concrete. Rocki Boi and Salazar exchanged a glance, then slowly complied, their faces twisted with defiance and fear.

Tigris circled them like a predator, his heavy boots echoing in the silence with each step. “You fools really had some audacity to hit back at us, you know,” he growled, cracking his scarred knuckles. “Stealing our stash, kidnapping our boys… you really thought yourselves to be big bosses, didn’t you? Bigger than us? How disrespectful. How fucking disrespectful. You need to learn your place. Snakes don’t kill big cats, you know. No, it’s the other way around.”

He paused, looming over them, his dark eyes burning with merciless malice. “As we speak, my brother Pardus and his crew are torching your headquarters to the ground. Onca and Uncia are downing every associate of yours back in the capital. Every Viper Squad dimwit is learning what happens when you cross us.”

He leaned closer to Rocki Boi, his voice a low hiss. “In your next life, you’ll know better than to mess with 7Katz.”

While he spoke, another enforcer appeared from the shadows, carrying a baseball bat wrapped in razor wire, the metal glinting wickedly. He handed it over to Tigris, who took it, testing its weight with a slow swing.

Rocki Boi’s eyes widened with terror, and Salazar opened his mouth to plead.

“No, no, Tigris, no…”

“Yo, Tigris, don’t do this…”

Of course, Tigris would rather lick the dusty floor in his birthday suit than hear these pleas.

He brought the bat down with savage force, smashing it into Rocki Boi’s skull. Blood sprayed, and Rocki Boi collapsed. Salazar screamed, scrambling backward, but Tigris swung again, the razor wire tearing through the Viper Squad co-captain’s flesh, knocking him over.

With both men on the floor, Tigris brought down the bat with brutal force, pummeling their heads over and over again. 

Ten seconds in, and he was done. The Viper Squad leaders lay in a heap, their blood pooling on the concrete, and their heads dashed to pieces.

Tigris turned to the judges, who were trembling, tears streaming down their faces as they beheld the gruesome sight before them.

He pointed the bat at them.

“You two. Stand up.”

They struggled to their feet, whimpering and pleading for their lives.

Tigris barely heard their pitiful cries as his bat swung low, smashing into the first judge’s right knee with a sickening crunch. The man screamed, collapsing as his leg gave out. The second judge tried to run, but Tigris was faster, shattering his knees with a single blow.

Both men writhed on the floor, their wails of agony echoing in the warehouse.

Tigris loomed over them. “See this as an act of mercy on my part.” He tossed the bat to his enforcer, blood dripping from the wires, and turned away. “Let’s go. We’re done here.”

His team followed, their boots echoing as they left the carnage behind, the judges’ screams fading away as they exited the warehouse.

Yeah, this was one hell of a wipeout! 7Katz are not to be toyed with at all!