A couple of hours after the drive-by attempt, Lucas Stevens was pacing in the living room of his Upper East Side penthouse. The clock read 4:37 a.m., but sleep was far removed from his eyes. He had gone to bed hours ago with Evelyn by side but woke to the buzzing of his phone at 3:15 a.m. and since then he had been on the phone. The first buzz was from a discreet source from his network in the NYPD, a sergeant who owed him favors from the mayoral campaign.The text had been short.**There was a Drive-by in Forest Hills and the target was Bradley Turner. The assailants were captured with no fatalities on his side. Some Cops are still on scene and Fingers are pointing your way, some say it's tied to the Jordans. So Tread carefully**Lucas had stared at the screen for a moment longer than necessary with his rage building like a storm. A drive-by? On Bradley? The man was a senate candidate now, a public figure and would be protected. An attempt like this was clumsy, high-risk and would sp

Exactly two days after the drive-by attempt on Bradley Turner's life, the media frenzy exploded across New York City. The story broke on the morning news cycles, fueled by leaked police reports and anonymous tips that painted a picture of violence in the quiet neighborhood of Forest Hills. The headlines on NY1 boldly bared, "Senate Candidate Survives Drive-By Shooting and Assailants Found Dead in Holding Cell." The Post screamed "Mystery Hits targeting Turner. Suspects committed Suicide in Custody." Speculation ran wild ranging from gang-related to political rivalry. The assailants' deaths which were ruled as suicides by overdose sparked logics and conspiracy theories. Talk radio hosts debated whether it was ‘Coincidence or cover-up?’ Online forums buzzed with ‘Jordan ties?’ all were whispers because nothing solid linked the family to the actions. Social media trended #TurnerAttack, with voters split between sympathy for Bradley's ‘underdog survival’ and questions about ‘who wants

Lucas Stevens sat in his Upper East Side penthouse study, the TV was mute as the channel kept circling around speeches of different Senatorial candidates and their various views and reaction towards the drive-by attempt on Bradley’s life. Then it circled back to Bradley Turner’s first official speech after the drive-by attempt.Although he had successfully delivered a convincing speech at the conference, pulling out a compelling and believable act about not knowing who was behind it and scorn for the attempt while promising Justice must prevail. It fueled his fury because his perfect plan was ruined by the death of the assailants and Bradley was turning the attempt into sympathy fuel, causing his polls to tick up in District 30.He then picked up his phone and dialed the number Kane had pulled up from his investigation which was Bradley’s campaign line. It rang twice before someone picked up."Turner for Senate. How can I help?""This is Lucas Stevens, calling for Bradley Turner," Luc

Victoria Jordan sat at the head of the long mahogany table in the estate's formal dining room, her facial expressions carried a mask of controlled authority. The room was filled with red Jordan pins on the map from earlier meetings, but tonight it was a family-exclusive gathering, one that Lucas wasn't invited to, just the extended clan summoned for what Victoria called ‘a matter of legacy.’Leo sat to her right with his arms crossed and his jaw tight in defiance after his rogue drive-by attempt and the deaths in holding. Evelyn was to her left, pale and silent, the anonymous call about Maya was still haunting her including the recording she had from her secret meeting with Bradley, though she hadn't shared any of it.Around the table were the cousins, aunts, uncles, second-tier Jordans from upstate properties and Hamptons estates, all called in because the fight against Bradley Turner had escalated beyond the inner circle.The family's business was discussed first with matters of re

Bradley froze in the doorway of the Hunts Point warehouse. The scene before him was a nightmare frozen in time. Nick Payne was slumped in the chair, zip-ties cutting into his wrists, his throat slit open in a ragged gash, blood pooling on the concrete floor in a dark, spreading stain. Leo Jordan stood over the body, knife still in hand, his face twisted in a mix of triumph and surprise. Victor Kane hovered a step back with crossed arms, wearing an impassive expression but alert. The swaying overhead light casted long, grotesque shadows across the rusted beams and abandoned crates, making the horror feel even more surreal.This was the first time Bradley had met Leo face-to-face since the assault charges years ago due to that garden fight where Bradley had finally hit back, leading to his arrest, imprisonment, and death. Leo looked older, harder in Bradley’s eyes. His once-gym-sculpted body was now softened by alcohol and rage, his eyes were bloodshot and his jaw was clenched. The man