The war had never truly ended. Leo knew it now. The fall of the Phantom Syndicate had only been the beginning, a prelude to something much darker brewing beneath the surface of the city. Lucien Ashford was alive. And he was watching.The meeting room was filled with tension as Leo stood at the head of the long table, his arms crossed. Around him, his most trusted allies sat, waiting for him to speak. Evelyn, ever composed, was reviewing a file in front of her. Amara leaned against the wall, arms folded, her face unreadable. Philip sat stiffly, his fingers tapping against the wooden surface. Serena, who had only just managed to escape from Damian Cain’s stronghold, looked worse for wear but determined as ever.And then there was Damian himself—battered but still alive. Leo had let him live after their fight, knowing the man’s hatred for him could be turned into something useful. But now, as Damian sat there, a dark bruise forming on his jaw, Leo could see that the fire in his eyes had

The city’s skyline stretched endlessly, bathed in the glow of neon lights. From the rooftop of Zhao Enterprises, Leo stood in silence, watching the streets below. He had spent years tearing down enemies, exposing hidden forces, and reclaiming what was his. Yet, for every enemy he crushed, another seemed to rise in its place.Tonight, he had learned the truth. The Phantom Syndicate, the Black Vipers—they had all been distractions. The real enemy had always been lurking in the shadows, orchestrating everything.Echelon.A global criminal syndicate. Ruthless. Invisible. Powerful.Nicholas Voss had given him the name, but Leo didn’t need confirmation to know the weight of what he was dealing with. His father had been caught in the same war years ago, trying to stop Echelon before it consumed everything. Now, the same fight had landed on Leo’s doorstep.But unlike his father, Leo wasn’t a man who played by the rules. He wasn’t going to wait for Echelon to make the next move.He was taking

Leo stood on the rooftop of Zhao Enterprises, looking down at the chaos below. Smoke and fire painted the city in destruction, the echoes of gunfire and screams blending into the night. Echelon had declared war, and this was just the beginning.His grip tightened around the hilt of his blade. He had fought countless battles, taken down powerful enemies, but this......this was different. Echelon was a force unlike any other. Their attack had been precise, ruthless, and without hesitation.A voice crackled in his earpiece. "Leo, they're pushing through the east sector," Evelyn reported. "We've contained some of the fires, but their forces are everywhere.""I'll handle it," Leo said, his voice cold and certain."Be careful," Evelyn warned. "This isn't just about territory anymore. They're trying to break you."Leo cut the connection and leaped off the rooftop, landing with inhuman precision on the ground below. The streets were flooded with heavily armed men.....Echelon’s foot soldiers.

The city burned.Flames licked the night sky, painting the skyline in an eerie red glow. Sirens blared from every direction, but they were drowned out by the sound of gunfire, explosions, and the screams of those caught in the chaos. The battle had turned into a slaughter.Leo moved like a ghost through the battlefield, his mind razor-sharp despite the chaos. His coat was torn, his knuckles bloodied, but his steps were unwavering. The duel had been a trap, and now Echelon was making their final move—erasing every trace of resistance in one swift, merciless sweep.His earpiece crackled with static before Evelyn’s urgent voice cut through. “Leo! We’re losing ground—the eastern district is collapsing. Their forces are everywhere!”Leo ducked behind a crumbling wall, scanning the horizon. From his vantage point, he could see the devastation spreading like wildfire. Echelon’s attack had been planned with surgical precision, targeting key districts, businesses, and strongholds all at once.

The mansion stood at the edge of the city, its once-grand structure now worn and forgotten. Vines curled around the iron gates, the air thick with the scent of decay.Leo stepped through the entrance, his boots echoing against the marble floor. Dust hung in the air, disturbed by his movement. Everything about this place felt frozen in time, as if it had been waiting for him.His instincts screamed trap.His grip tightened around the gun at his side, every muscle in his body coiled, ready to strike.Then, a voice echoed from the shadows.“I was wondering when you’d come.”Leo turned sharply, his weapon raised.From the far end of the room, a figure emerged. Cloaked in a long, dark coat, his face hidden beneath the hood, the man moved with the ease of someone who had lived in the darkness for far too long.But it was his voice that sent a shiver down Leo’s spine. It was too familiar.The figure stopped a few feet away and slowly pulled down his hood.Leo’s breath caught.“…Gabriel?”Gab