The smell of scorched earth and blood clung to the air as the remnants of the Blake family’s forces regrouped. Austin stood at the head of the tent, his gaze fixed on the large tactical map spread across the table. Every red mark on the map was a wound, a reminder of the Resilient’s ferocity. But Austin wasn’t defeated. Not yet.“We’re not winning this with brute force,” Lady Katerina said, her voice sharp and unyielding. “They’re counting on us to throw ourselves into the grinder.”Austin’s jaw tightened. He hated retreating. Hated the taste of failure. But Katerina was right. They’d underestimated the Resilient, and now it was time to outthink them. “Send a message to the El Maleq,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “We need their support.”James frowned. “You think they’ll back us without demanding their pound of flesh?”“They’ll back us,” Katerina cut in. “They know the Resilient are a threat to everyone. It’s in their best interest to keep the Blake family on top.”Austin gl

The hospital room was deathly quiet. The faint hum of machines barely masked the steady tick of the wall clock. Lady Katerina lay on the hospital bed, her face pale but serene. The bandages on her chest hid the severity of the wound, but Austin knew better. He stood at her bedside, his broad shoulders rigid, hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You asked to see me,” he said, his voice low, rough. He didn’t look at her face; he couldn’t. The woman who had been a pillar of strength for the Blake family now looked so fragile, her breaths shallow and strained. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her lips curved in a faint smile. “It’s time.” “Don’t say that,” he snapped, his tone harsher than intended. He turned to her finally, his eyes blazing with frustration and something deeper. “You’ll pull through. You always do.” Katerina’s smile widened, though it cost her. The pain etched in her features was evident. “Always so stubborn, Austin. But this... this is differ

The war was over, but the silence it left in its wake was deafening. Cities that had been battlegrounds now bore the scars of Austin’s conquest: shattered buildings, scorched earth, and a populace weary of the bloodshed. Yet amidst the rubble, a new world was being forged. Austin had no intention of letting the old order crawl back from the ashes. The grand hall of the Blake family’s headquarters buzzed with activity. Delegates from the former Mafia factions sat stiffly around the long table, their postures wary. Some still bore the bruises and cuts from their recent battles, their pride as battered as their bodies. Austin entered without ceremony, his presence demanding silence. Dressed in a sharp black suit, his gaze swept over the room. He didn’t need to speak for the tension to settle like a weight on everyone’s shoulders. “We’ve spent decades clawing at each other’s throats,” he began, his voice sharp, cutting through the room. “For what? Territory? Power? Pride? And where

Austin sat at the head of the table, his presence alone silencing the murmurs that rippled through the room. Representatives from the El Maleq family, the Shadow Council, and other former Mafia factions filled the massive conference hall. Farhan stood to his right, his gaze sharp and unreadable, while Senator Hayes leaned back in his chair, his face set in an expression of calm calculation. "This isn’t a negotiation," Austin said, his voice low but carrying. "This is a reality check. The days of fractured territories and petty rivalries are over. From now on, the Blake family is at the center, and I lead the world. Anyone who can’t live with that is free to leave—preferably without causing a scene." Farhan smirked slightly, but his eyes scanned the room for any signs of dissent. The silence was heavy, the weight of Austin’s words pressing down on everyone present. Senator Hayes finally spoke, his voice measured. "No one’s questioning your power, Austin. But centralizing everyth

The whiskey glass in Austin's hand was half empty, the amber liquid swirling around as he tapped his fingers lightly against the rim. His mind, sharp as ever, wasn't focused on the business of the day. Instead, it was on the conversation that had been simmering in his mind for weeks now. Across from him sat Farhan Maleq and James, two of the few men who had stuck by him through thick and thin, who had seen him rise and fall, and now, who were part of the very foundation he had built. They weren’t just allies anymore; they were family.Farhan leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Austin. The years had changed him, just as they had changed Austin, but there was a familiarity in the air. It was the kind of silence you could only share with people who had seen you at your worst and still stuck around. The weight of the world they’d carried together was too much for just words to explain.James, ever the quiet one, was staring into his glass, eyes unfocused but filled with a k