“You’re the head of security?”

Remaliah’s voice was low and deliberate as a wiry man approached him in the corridor outside Akushika’s ward.

The gentleman nodded nervously as he drew closer, already intimidated by Remaliah’s imposing frame and stern, booming voice. He had been informed of what happened, and upon knowing this was a retired soldier, was instantly anticipating a dressing down.

“What’s your name?”

The head of security answered nervously, “Seth Afrifa, sir.”

Remaliah nodded, then cleared his throat. “Mr. Afrifa, let me make something abundantly clear,” he started, his tone cold and commanding. “Your job… your duty, is to ensure that every patient in this hospital is safe from any form of danger or harassment. That is your first priority. Am I correct?”

“Y-y-yes, sir,” Mr. Afrifa answered.

“Thank you. Now, that useless buffoon who forced his way in here? The one who frightened my daughter while she held her newborn child? He had no business being anywhere near this ward. And yet, he waltzed in like it was his right. How did that happen?”

Beads of sweat formed on Mr. Afrifa’s brow. “Sir, I-I don’t know. It’s a huge error that’ll never happen again. I’m sorry.”

“You better be sorry! Because that is unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. If you did your job well, that useless hooligan would never have gotten past the entrance. Now, from this moment on, I expect you to do your job properly. That ruffian is never to come within ten feet of this hospital again. Not the lobby, not the parking lot, not the front door. Nowhere.”

Mr. Afrifa nodded furiously. “Yes, sir. Absolutely, sir.”

“Good. Because if I find out he’s been back—or if another incident like this occurs—believe me when I say this: you will be answering to me personally. And I will not be half as forgiving as I am right now. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Afrifa squeaked, now standing rigidly at attention.

Remaliah nodded stiffly. “Good. You can go now.”

***

As Remaliah reentered the room, calm had been restored. Akushika was propped up on the hospital bed, her pale face having regained some color, her breathing steady again, and Drusilla by her side. In her arms, sweet little Ellen slept peacefully, blissfully unaware of the earlier commotion her father had come to create.

“Shika,” he called softly, instantly switching to soft mode.

She looked up at him and beamed. “Sir Remmy,” she breathed.

He slowly approached her bedside, pulling a chair close and sitting next to Drusilla. “It’s alright now, Shika,” he warmly assured her. “He’s gone. And I’ve made it clear he won’t be back.”

Drusilla gave him a side eye. “Did you go and scare the security guys?”

Remaliah shrugged. “No. I just… reminded them of their job, that’s all.”

Drusilla turned to Akushika. “He’s gone to scare them ooo!”

Akushika laughed gently. “Well, if it’ll keep people like him away from the hospital, that’s good.”

“You see!” Remaliah remarked triumphantly. “So I did a good job. Because they won’t. Nobody needs to be harassed by some useless druggie at this point in time.”

Drusilla shook her head in amusement at his triumphant tone. Then her tone went serious. “By the way, Shika was just telling me. It turns out… that guy, he’s the one who got her pregnant.”

Remaliah was gobsmacked. Narrowing his eyes in shock, he whispered, “What?”

Akushika nodded with a sigh. “He’s the one. I still don’t know how this happened. Who told him I’m here, which hospital I am… I… I’m so confused…”

“Listen, listen, don’t worry about that,” he encouraged her. “We don’t know how that happened, but… that’s not relevant for now. What I know for now is that that kind of man has no business being anywhere near a baby. Or you. When I got close to him, I caught a whiff of something horrible on him. Cheap cologne barely masking the stench of drugs. That boy should be nowhere near you, and I’ve made sure of that.”

Akushika’s eyes welled up again, but this time, the tears were of gratitude. “Thank you, Sir Remmy.”

“Don’t mention it, sweetie. We are here for you. We love you, and we’re sticking by your side through all this, okay? Now, lemme hold sweet little Ellen for a bit.”

Akushika giggled lightly as she gently handed over the precious bundle of joy to him.

***

“Oh my God, look at her, she’s so precious! Awwww, my ovariieeeeeeeeessssss!”

“Eiii, Bukky! This one too, ovaries come inside? Don’t do and give Jonny any funny ideas oo!”

“Oga, abeg, respect yourself!”

Akushika laughed as she held the phone over the cradle in which Ellen lay. It was evening, and the Mills-Odois had left. The other squad had been caught up with other engagements during the day, but once they got home, they called her.

As the day went by and the hospital carried out the various tests on Ellen to ensure she was healthy enough, Akushika’s mood improved. Drill might have tainted the day with his unwelcome presence and foolish misbehaviour, but she wasn’t at his mercy. She had a family that would move heaven and earth to protect her. There was nothing to fear.

“Awww, but look at her! Such a precious little one,” Jonny commented. “My heart’s melting, I tell you.”

Akushika guffawed. “Jonny, you know that’s not a good thing, right? If your heart is melting, you need to get over here and see a doctor. Quick!”

The trio laughed over the phone.

“But yeah, she’s so precious,” she continued, feeling a rush of love speed up and down her spine. “So beautiful and so precious. I love her so much. I really do. It was totally worth it.”

“Awwwwww!”

That response perfectly summed it up.

“But Shika, you’re okay, right?” Bukky asked in concern. “Maa Dru told us what happened.”

“Yeah. And I still can’t understand how the hell he found his way here. Like, how?” Raymond questioned.

“Chale! Does the boy have juju or what? Coz e dey borst my mind pass!” Jonny agreed.

Raising the phone to her face, Akushika smiled gently and shook her head. “Well, we have no idea. But guess what? It’s not relevant. Coz he’s not relevant. Whatever he has in mind, it won’t work. I know that. As long as you guys are here for me and for her, that’s all that matters. So forget about him.”

Bukky smiled. “That’s all, my dear. To hell with that useless idiot. We’re here for you. 24/7. We got you, baby girl.”

“Oh yeah, simple as that,” Jonny agreed. “Unless he off we all before he go fit to come worry you again. That one too, never happening. So take it easy kraaa.”

Akushika nodded happily. That was all she needed to hear. That these loved ones were there for her.

“But on a real, Sir Remmy too, he no try. Ah, like he for give the Drill guy one hot steaming double cheeseburger outside the room! He go learn sense!”

“Nahh, nahh, Jonny, bad idea. If he did that, them go admit the kwasia for the hospital inside norr. Free chance to disturb Shika. The chest one be better.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Ahhhh, okay, okay, I see your point. True, true.”

Akushika laughed. “Brilliant analysis, RayRay. Top notch work there.”

“Why, thank you, my dear.”

Yeah, Drill has no business being near Akushika and the baby, since we know his real intentions…