Darius Kane leaned back against the bar, his sharp eyes scanning the casino floor. The chaos had begun to settle as security tried to calm the furious high rollers, but the tension was still thick in the air. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass before downing it in one go.Carrick watched him closely, reading every flicker of emotion that crossed his face. Darius was a man who had spent years working for ruthless employers, men like Zachary Gale, who valued loyalty only as long as it served their interests. Now, he had been backed into a corner, and he knew it.“Why should I trust you?” Darius finally asked, placing the empty glass on the bar. His gaze was sharp, but there was a hint of curiosity beneath it.Carrick smirked, sliding onto the stool beside him. “Because I didn’t have to offer you anything. I could’ve just left you to deal with Zachary’s wrath. But instead, I’m giving you a way out.”Darius chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got some nerve, kid.”Carrick’s smirk di

The black SUV sped down the highway, its tires cutting through the night as Carrick sat in the backseat, his mother’s hand gripped tightly in his. His heart was still hammering in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins from the firefight they had barely escaped. His mother, pale but composed, turned to him. “Carrick, you shouldn’t have come for me.” Carrick’s eyes flashed with anger. “How could I not? Zachary was using you to get to me.” She shook her head. “And now he will be furious. You’ve just declared war.” Victor, who sat in the front passenger seat, let out a dry chuckle. “War was inevitable. We just fired the first real shot.” Darius, behind the wheel, glanced in the rearview mirror. “No tails so far, but we should still move fast. Zachary won’t let this slide.” Carrick turned back to his mother. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head. “No, but... I saw Marco before we left.” Her voice trembled slightly. “Carrick, he won’t stop. He will come after you. He ha

The night was silent, but Carrick knew it wouldn’t last.The storm was coming.Zachary had made his move, attacking their businesses and setting up an ambush. Now, it was Carrick’s turn to respond.But this time, he wasn’t just going to fight.He was going to cripple Zachary Gale.Carrick leaned against the desk, his fingers drumming against the wood as he studied the information Elias had pulled from Zachary’s private ledger. The room was dimly lit, and the tension in the air was thick.Victor, standing with his arms crossed, broke the silence first.“So, let me get this straight...Zachary’s been stealing from his own people?”Elias nodded, his expression smug. “Yep. Skimming profits from his allies, running deals under the table, and...oh, this is the best part...he’s been making side agreements with rival families.”Darius let out a low whistle. “That’s suicide.”Carrick smirked. “It is. Once his allies find out, they’ll tear him apart.”Victor leaned forward. “How do we make sure

The weight of the city pressed down on Carrick’s shoulders. The war had been won, but there was no peace...not yet.From his penthouse office, he watched the skyline, the lights of New Manhattan twinkling like stars. This was his city now. His empire. And yet, his enemy still lived.Zachary Gale had not disappeared. He had not begged for mercy.And that made him a problem.The soft hum of the city below was a deceptive lullaby, masking the storm brewing in the underworld. Carrick exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk. He had stripped Zachary of his wealth, his power, and his men. But the man was still standing, still plotting. That was a mistake Carrick intended to correct.The door to his office creaked open.Elias stepped inside, his usual cocky smirk absent. “We have a situation.”Carrick turned, his sharp gaze locking onto him. “Go on.”Elias placed a file on the desk and flipped it open. “Zachary’s been making moves. He’s been seen meeting with former

The night air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood. The docks, once a battleground of betrayal, had fallen into silence. The echoes of gunfire had faded, replaced by the occasional groan of the wounded and the distant wail of police sirens.Carrick stood over his father’s lifeless body, his gun still warm in his grip. For a moment, he felt nothing. No satisfaction, no sorrow...just a hollow stillness.Marco stared at Zachary’s corpse, his expression unreadable. He had always been his father’s favored son, yet he didn’t speak. Perhaps he finally realized that Zachary had never truly loved either of them...only power.Darius stepped forward, nudging Zachary’s body with his boot. “Well, that’s that. Should we celebrate? Or are we mourning?”Carrick exhaled slowly, holstering his gun. “Neither. We’re not done.”Victor wiped blood from his sleeve. “You mean taking over the Gale Empire?”Carrick turned to him, his gaze sharp. “That’s exactly what I mean.”Elias chuckled, crossing