The incident with Tunde had left a bad taste in Nkechi's mouth. Chief's jealousy was a dangerous, unpredictable thing. For the next few weeks, he was even more controlling, more possessive. He would call her at all hours, just to know where she was and who she was with. He had her install a tracking app on her phone, a "security measure," he called it.

The sex, too, had changed. It was darker, more about punishment and control than pleasure. He would tie her to the bed, a blindfold over her ...