Kendrick Yong hated airports, the earliest memory of one was one of his father's numerous trips abroad for business, Jié Yong had worked himself to the bone and his business had expanded naturally but with that success came lesser time with his family and Kendrick had loathed the time when his old man would leave, sometimes for weeks, maybe even longer. His mother would pretend not to be affected but Kendrick would hear the sniffles she masqueraded as coughs as she watched her husband slip from her, even as she waved goodbye.

Airports were goodbyes and he hated them. This time it was more frightening, that he might not see Grace, that right now wherever she was, she was far out of reach and out of his help. It was that same helplessness of a ten year old boy who was afraid that he'd never see his father again.

Besides him, Sanmi was trying and failing to stay calm, but unlike Kendrick, it wasn't because of the man standing right in front of them, Toluwanimi Kingston in the flesh again.

When they had arrived at the airport, someone had come for them, a tall, voluptuous girl with the raspiest voice Kendrick had ever heard and told them Toluwanimi Kingston was waiting for them, in his own terminal, where his own private jet stood galantly. Kendrick didn't know much about jets but he knew lavish things when he saw it.

The interior colours of the jet was nothing special but it was when Kendrick had sank into plush looking white leather seats that he had known, there was a mini fridge wedged between each sofas and as Tolu Kingston sat on the opposite seats, Kendrick caught the slight glittering of lights splattered like stars on his head, the overhead lights were stars. He thought of the Dome and almost smiled.

Tope stood, pacing to and fro and biting down guiltily on her fingertips.

"We're trapped," Those were the first words Toluwanimi Kingston spoke and they weren't said to describe their current situation, he was talking about the curvy hostess who had slammed the door behind her and clicked it shut, forgetting them entirely. "Zara is very forgetful."

When Kendrick looked, he saw that there was no sign that Tolu Kingston was troubled, he leaned back in his seat and let his arms fall on the armrest, the poster picture for serenity.

The girl who had brought them to the terminal gave a slight nod as if what he had said was a challenge, then she walked over to the door and gave it several raps, sure enough, seconds later, there was the sound of hurried footsteps and then the familiar sound of the door clicking open again. Kendrick heard the faint mutter of an apology behind it.

"Well we are trapped!" Sanmi snapped, hurling himself from besides Kendrick and jutting one finger at the mogul. "Why aren't we going after my sister yet? You have the resources and we're still here, waiting."

The corner of the older man's lips quirked up in a bitter smile.

"We aren't going after her." Toluwanimi said.

Sanmi really looked like he wanted to hurl something at the man but he settled for clenching his fists.

"What do you mean we aren't going for her?" Sanmi hissed. "You forget that she wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for you, fucking with ORION when you were a teenager."

Toluwanimi Kingston shifted in his seat and when he looked at Sanmi, there was a cold look in his eyes. At once, Tope went for Sanmi, placing a hand on his shoulder that he was quick to shrug, Sanmi wasn't looking but Kendrick did, and caught the voluptuous girl shoot Sanmi the most contemptuous look that would have made the said boy flinch if he saw it.

She shifted slightly and Kendrick recognized the protective stance, come to think of it, there was a distinct resemblance between both girls, it was in their firm cupid bow shaped lips, one red painted and the other bare of even lip gloss. They were related.

"There is no we because I'm going alone, all of us going head to head with Remilekun's schemes is foolish. I need you to stay." Tolu Kingston affirmed, giving Sanmi a pointed stare, the tall boy didn't quite back down but his shoulders relaxed. "Project Eden was downloaded on my computer on the day of the breach and Grace unlocked the first level of encryption, we need to find how she knew, I have my suspicions but I have no way of confirming them, but you do - ask your father if Grace was ever given any memento as she grew up, most likely book of sorts."

Kendrick bit back his words, so even Toluwanimi Kingston didn't know about the riddle book and he didn't want to tell him, he didn't trust him. He was half tempted to ask what Project Eden was, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"We both agreed to give her away when she was merely days old, it was supposed to be a back up plan in case things went wrong and they did. I took her to Raymond Ilori's doorstep, with nothing but a baby blanket. I think Tamika had somethings sent to her, she never confirmed it and her lawyers remained tight lipped after her death." He continued. There was a far away look in his eyes but none of the grief that Kendrick had once seen.

"I couldn't find Tamika's copy of The Art Of War too." He mused.

"I'll check," Sanmi finally said, his throat bobbed as he swallowed, settling back besides Kendrick, there was a contemplative look in his eyes.

Satisfied, Toluwanimi Kingston fixed his deep set stare on Kendrick.

"Kendrick Yong?" It was the first time Kendrick had been addressed by the man, but there was a wariness in the man's eyes that out Kendrick on edge.

"Me." Kendrick said stupidly, then winced.

"You and Grace are friends," He said although the words were uttered like a question, one eyebrow raised, Kendrick spotted a scar on his forehead, a shiver ran down his spine. Grace had the same scar.

He registered the man's words and nodded absentmindedly, wondering what the man would think if he knew that things were shifting away from the platonic stage to something else. Kendrick eyed Sanmi's defined muscles that flexed as he moved, thinking that he knew exactly what he would think, no, he wouldn't even think, he'd just pummel Kendrick and Kendrick would have let him, he used to laugh at those characters in movies that caught feelings in the middle of chaos and he was becoming one of them.

"Yes, we are." And partners in revenge.

Toluwanimi Kingston raised another brow as if he could hear Kendrick thoughts.

"I'll admit, I never put much thought to you, I thought you were just another eyes and ears The ORION Project had stuck on Grace, but you know too much, don't you?" It was another question that really wasn't a question.

"You told her the truth." Toluwanimi Kingston said the word truth with dripping disdain and a frown on his face. "For your own protection, I hope they never find out, or else, they'd take you out. ORION has no taste for rebels."

Kendrick nodded because it was true.

"I want you to stay behind, I've been told you have your own reasons to want revenge, I think The ARTEMIS Project can sway you to our side." He said, looking down briefly on his glittering gold cufflinks, he flexed his wrist and they caught the star lights.

Kendrick mulled over the man's words, he wasn't sure he wanted in another cult, one he wasn't even sure was the right one, there was no lesser evil, just evil.

"Bring Grace back and we'll see."

***

She was staring at a night full of stars, it was beautiful, but the sight was unfamiliar, it made her want to puke again like she had done when Joshua had forced her into his father's private jet. Abuja was beautiful and the airport was even more crowded now at night than it had been back in Lagos but it wasn't for her, and right now it was just a prison.

It was raining lightly and the men standing by the new limo Joshua wants leading her into reached out with black umbrellas that matched with the black of their wet suits. Grace dared to cast a glance behind, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ewatomi and Rafael behind her.

When Joshua had spoken haughtily of a family reunion, she had expected her real father, she hadn't expected all her siblings but Sanmi kidnapped as leverage, but she had to give it to Phillips, he was threatening her cooperation and he hadn't even mentioned a word of it, it had been when she stepped up the steps into the jet and saw Ewa and Rafe guarded closely by two burly men in soldier uniforms and rifles slung over their shoulders that she had known.

She had puked then, she wanted to puke now.

Behind her, Ewa and Rafe were being flanked by double the men that had been on the jet, to Rafe's credit, he didn't appear scared, and Phillips might be despicable but he had let them have the star treatment, the hostess had rolled a trolley filled with sugary scented snacks, fruits and soft drinks, even if Ewa had spat back in her face and flipped Joshua the finger when he had asked if she was comfortable.

If Grace hadn't been locked in her panic, she might have noticed the glances between Joshua and her sister, she might have guessed that they knew each other, but she hadn't and she didn't now, when Joshua shot one glance behind him before pushing Grace into the back of the limo.

She was still fighting exhaustion with defiance an hour later when Joshua tapped her shoulder, she startled and he pointed to wound down window, suddenly as quiet as she was. Grace caught a glimpse of ocean blue neon sights, lighting up the building and spelling out the name of the hotel, Blue Water Hotel & Suites. The hotel was a grand skyscraper amidst buildings of similar appearance, even the Domino next to it was a mini glass building.

As the limo took the rounded driveway, Grace couldn't help but gape at the fountain in the middle, it was built like a mini ocean and a majestic topless mermaid lounged in the center, flanked by statue dolphins with mouths open that spat out water over her, but somehow, the water went over the mermaid's head like a bridge.

"My mother owns it, you'll have your privacy here." Joshua told her quietly. When she scoffed a watery laugh, she thought she saw him flinch in the slightest.

"Has privacy ever meant anything to you? For God's sake, you basically kidnapped my sister, fuck you, Joshua." Grace said, although she was curious about Joshua's mother. After Remilekun Phillips had won the presidential election along side William St. Clair, their wives had faded into the background, Dinah Phillips more, there were barely any photos of her on the internet and she rarely ever appeared on TV by her husband's side during important events.

As if to mock her, his words were true, nobody bothered her up till she was led into the grandest suite she had ever seen in her life, several glittering chandeliers were suspended from the domed room that was the living room area, Grace took a slow spin, noting the flat screen television mounted on the wall and surrounded by small blue stones that glimmered when they caught the chandelier lights. There was a mini bar behind the soft blue coloured sofas.

Her wonder was caught short when she noticed Joshua from the corner of her eyes typing something into his sleek iPhone. Nice or not, this place was a prison and she didn't want to forget it.

As if noticing her gaze, Joshua looked up, lips tugging into that familiar cold smile, he knew she was amazed and Grace could tell he wanted to use it against her.

"I'll tell my mother you love it here, she'll be pleased that she didn't kick out a whole government ambassador for someone ungrateful." said Joshua. His words were light enough, but she knew that Joshua didn't make empty jokes.

"Where is she anyway? Or does the famous Dinah Phillips truly not care about her son enough to see kiss him goodnight?" Grace taunted, feigning a glee that she didn't feel. Joshua didn't look fazed, he only spared her a faint smug smile.

"Only idiots let their family problems get the better of them, you're striking dying flames there, Grace. And if you must know, my mother is busy picking out the stunning clothes you'll be wearing for tomorrow's press conference.

Grace's heart sank, she didn't know what press conferences entailed, but she knew very well that it involved the presence of journalists and other press people.

"Where is my sister?" She asked instead, swallowing the panic that was bubbling in her. She wanted to sink down on the fuzzy looking rug beneath her feet, but sitting would do no good, after all she had sat for most of the night.

"Ewatomi's fine, so is the little boy."

Something in the way he said her sister's name gave her pause, she remembered what Joshua had said when he had bumped into her that first time. Something about being friends with her sister, a chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning swept down her whole body and she violently shivered that even Joshua eyed her with concern.

"You know my sister," Grace said, her words were accusatory, laced with hurt. She was thinking of Ewatomi, thinking of a betrayal that probably didn't exist.

Joshua pocketed his phone and nodded.

"Tell me, Grace, when was the last time your sister had an episode?" He asked.

Grace parted her lips to speak, so sure of her answer, but something in Joshua's eyes stopped her. She heard the unspoken end of his question, when was the last time your sister had an episode and called you for help?

"That's right, you don't know." He said, shaking his head. "For somebody who claims to love her family, you're certainly oblivious to the secrets within that family, she stopped telling you because she found someone else to tell."

He grinned, flashing pearly white teeth at her. It was mocking. He pointed at his chest. Grace shook where she stood.

"Me, she started telling me, one day after your last rescue, she had another one but I was there to help her and you know the best fucking part, I stumbled upon her by accident. We were friends, I made time for her, I didn't make her feel bad for calling when she needed to."

"We were friends, then we were something else."

Joshua could have slapped her in that moment and she wouldn't have flinched the way she did right now. Through blinking back tears, she saw his own face, it was devoid of emotions.

"Yes, Grace, we were together, dated or fucked, whatever you want to call it. It didn't last, because my father found out and sent Nina back to ground me. The thing is it didn't matter how long it happened, what mattered was Ewatomi learning to stand on her own, something you couldn't help her do."

He smiled that grand smile and when Grace's hand connected with the side of his face, he didn't lose that smile. Only raised his hand to block the next slap, twisting her hand with his own and letting go when she winced.

She was crumbling and he didn't even have to lay a fist on her, she was crumbling all by herself. He was right, she had never really stood for the family she claimed, and now she wanted a new one, feeling betrayed by the former one when she was the traitor.

"You're welcome, once again, Joshua Phillips saves the day." He drawled. "I am not your villain, you decide who that is."

Joshua Phillips looked at her as if he couldn't see the tears streaming down her cheeks, couldn't phantom why she finally slid down to the rug, head bowed so she could only see the shiny black of his shoes.

Joshua Phillips strikes again, makes you feel lesser again.

"Don't cry, Grace." He cooed, as if she were a child, a part of her itched to listen. "I just received the message, Tolu Kingston just landed in Abuja, you'll see daddy dearest in the morning."

"And then you'll tell me how you knew how to unlock the first encryption of Project Eden." He added as if it was an afterthought and not the endgame.

"Sleep well, Grace."

***

"Are you okay?" Tope asked.

Sanmi looked up from the glow of the computer and offered her the barest smile, she saw through it like she always did. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, flicking away hair sticking to it.

They were now in Tolu Kingston's office and it was almost midnight. He had been right about Project Eden, at least he had been right about the first few pages of what had been previously locked. Project Eden was a compilation of government secrets, loots recovered and their locations, oil wells that were hidden from the public and best of all, a dead pool - an extensive list of the country's most influential and they secrets they held, secrets that could put an end to the careers of many wealthy people.

He typed in the location of the oil well and frowned at what came up, it was the headquarters of the Yong Enterprises. He reached for his phone and forwarded a screenshot to Kendrick Yong - they had exchanged numbers so they could communicate if Sanmi heard something from Toluwanimi Kingston.

Somehow Sanmi thought Kendrick might want to know that his father was sitting on land that would soon be of interest to ORION. He wouldn't even be surprised if ORION sabotaged Yong Enterprises so they could buy the land off him.

Sanmi caught the name of the now late Senator Abayomi and his frown deepened, knowing that The ORION Project had something to do with the man's death.

"I'm fine," He answered, even as he cast a look at his phone on the desk, waiting from updates on Grace and for Ewatomi to return his calls. He wanted to tell her that he probably wouldn't make it home tonight and that she should cover for him, he wanted to know if Rafe had gotten a new inhaler too.

Tope settled down on the office seat facing him. Her eyes were tired but her smile was genuine.

"You're allowed to not be okay."

"Tell that to everyone in the world and then they'll tell you they aren't fine when next you ask them if they are. Nobody in this world is fine."

Tope cracked another smile at his words and he smiled too.

Sanmi straightened and he cast another look at his phone, then back at Tope's face. He was thinking of the last conversation he had with Ewa and what she had told him.

"We need to talk." Sanmi said, Tope merely raised a brow, the dull glow of the desk lamp showing off the glitter on her dress, she had taken off the jeans jacket she had worn with it and the left strap slid down to her arm with a wave of her weave on. Sanmi looked away.

"We've talked, Ilesanmi," She said. "I don't think there's anything left to say."

"Please, hear me out." He told her. For the longest moment, she said nothing before obliging him with a curt nod.

"Remember what you did when I told you to get an abortion?" He began, wetting his lips nervously, if she was offended by him digging the past she didn't show it.

"I burst out laughing." She said. "Then I told you we'd talk when you weren't wasted out of your mind."

Though it was the truth and there was no malice in her voice, he still recoiled.

"Three days later, I was still adamant and you were equally stubborn. I felt like shit for trying to influence your decisions so I panicked and told you that I wouldn't be present to help you raise any child."

"Where are you going with this, Sanmi?" There it was, the first strike of anger in her voice.

"You stopped taking my calls, so I came to your house."

He watched her face, looking for the realization that soon dawned on her face, her eyes widened and her lips parted a little.

"You met my parents, didn't you?" She said, a second later, she laughed, it was a humourless sound. "God, I knew it was bull when mom claimed to know I was pregnant by her woman knowledge."

"They might hate me, but I knew they loved you, I told them. Your father is a good fighter." He said, he laughed a little, remembering the force of the blow that was dealt on his cheek. Tope's mother had wanted to do same, she would have if her husband hadn't held her back.

"They had me flown out of the country for the abortion, they didn't want to risk it here, but they didn't force me. My father said if I was matured enough to get pregnant then I was matured enough to decide what I wanted to do."

"I don't regret it." Sanmi said, he fixed his gaze on her when he said it.

"It's too late to think of regret now." She admitted.

"Fuck, I am the shittiest person ever. I still am."

"I won't deny that." Tope said, offering him a smile that told him her word were a jest.

"What I want to say, is, our problem wasn't love, or an absence of it. I loved you then, I love you now."

She recoiled as if he had dared to strike her.

"You don't just say things like that, Sanmi."

"I say things like that because I love you, I stayed away because I did, but maybe I did because I was selfish too. And maybe that wasn't exactly love, at least not the kind you deserve, I might sound like the sappiest idiot ever but I believe love should be selfless."

"I want to be selfless for you, I want to be selfless for my sisters, for my brother." He said, thinking of his own parents. "If I weren't stupid, ORION wouldn't have had Grace so easily."

"I don't know, Sanmi, aren't some things better left dead?" Tope said softly. "I won't lie and say I've moved on, but once bitten, forever shy."

Sanmi shook his head. "I've been looking at rehabilitation centers."

He didn't say why, he had never really been one with eloquent words but Tope knew, her eyes softened and she reached to give his own hand a brief squeeze.

"Do this for you, Sanmi, don't do it for me."

***

The television was on, playing reruns of Arrow, Kendrick looked in time to see Oliver Queen dodge a blow from a masked man, but the man in the skull mask wasn't the scariest thing.

Amina Khalid was sitting in his living room and there was a gun lying on his coffee table.

***

Happy one year book birthday to The ORION Project!

I had a grand speech planned, it was going to be fantastic but right now, I've got nothing - and I'm not saying this to be poetic. I'm just filled with gratitude that you're with me, and that you love this book even more than I do. I love you, and God bless you for sticking around.

I hate to mention names but I want to thank SherryGold for being one of my first readers. For sticking with my through Women Of Steel to this book, for reaching me in a moment where I was really considering taking down this book.

To FikkieAdeniyi for being my wbff, to fisayomimyrrah2019 for sticking around, to ketinadeb for being my best friend, to TahliePurvis for continuing to stick up for undiscovered books (she prolly won't see this), to frostyella for being one of the closest writer friends I have on here and a fierce supporter of my works, y'all go support her, she's one of the queens of Nigerian Wattpad.

HopeKingston for being a queen, a swiftie and the biggest book nerd I could ever want in a friend. You're amazing, and I look forward to you staring in my books as film adaptations one day, lol.

Official_Tstwins, the_queenesther, ahanstasia, adenikecelebrity and soo many of you, even if it doesn't seem that much of a number. I'm happy you're with me.

The ORION Project ends in a matter of five to six chapters that I already have mapped out, I promise it won't take another year, lol. Now off to the next chapter.