He dragged Mateo down the back hallway and pushed open the exit doors just as three police cars stopped in the alleyway."Police! Don't move! Put your hands up!" the officers shouted, drawing their guns and aiming them at the doorway.Slayde stood tall and calm, keeping his hands visible. He tossed the black gun onto the hood of the lead police car, then pushed Mateo forward.Mateo stumbled into the alley and hit the ground hard, right at the officers' feet."This man fired multiple rounds inside the restaurant and tried to kill me," Slayde announced calmly, adjusting his suit cuffs as the officers rushed to handcuff the groaning hitman. "His gun is on your car, and the bullet holes are in the bathroom wall. My legal team will send over my full statement."Mateo glared up at Slayde from the cold ground, his teeth clenched in humiliation as the police pinned him down.Slayde did not give him a second look. He walked past the flashing red and blue lights, got into his sports car, and

"No," Slayde said flatly, setting his empty glass on the table. "Extra guards will only slow me down. Make sure the board members arrive on time, and have the financial documents ready. We take full control of Malx Holdings tomorrow, with or without Harlyn's interference.""Understood, sir," Viktor said, bowing slightly before turning to leave the dark room.Left alone in the quiet room, Slayde stood up and walked to the big glass window overlooking the bright city skyline. The evening lights reflected in his cold eyes.Harlyn and Dominic were growing desperate, holding on to what was left of a fallen empire. They thought sending a group of armed men would change things, but they were completely wrong.

The next morning, the sun broke through the thick gray clouds over the city, casting a harsh glare across the glass skyscraper of Malx Holdings.Inside the Chairman's top-floor office, Viktor stood across from Slayde's desk, holding an encrypted tablet. The room was deathly quiet except for the hum of the air conditioner."The board members have all signed the initial transfer documents, Chairman," Viktor reported, his voice smooth and precise. "By four o'clock tomorrow afternoon, your control over Malx Holdings will be absolute. Harlyn Vance has been completely stripped of her voting rights."Slayde sat behind the heavy wooden desk, looking through a thin digital file. "And the Malta Group's trade routes?""Raina sent over the proposal last night, just as you instructed," Viktor replied, tapping his tablet to bring up a map of shipping lanes. "Her plan is solid, sir. If we integrate her family's private supply lines into our network, we will starve out Harlyn's remaining overseas b

The scarred man laughed, resting his finger against the trigger."Big words for a guy in a suit with nowhere to run! Shoot him!"Slayde didn't even blink. He didn't lift a hand, move his feet, or reach for a weapon. He stood tall at the railing, watching them like small bugs about to be crushed.Before the hitmen could pull their triggers, glass shattered high above as the huge skylight exploded downward.Heavy ropes dropped through the falling glass, and Viktor slid down first, landing hard on his feet right between the killers and the stairs. Behind him, four armored guards dropped down from the roof, their heavy boots slamming against the floor."Protect the Chairman," Viktor ordered flatly, pulling a sleek black gun from his jacket in one smooth motion.The scarred killer gasped, swinging his gun toward Viktor. "Kill them all!"Viktor didn't give them a second. He fired three fast shots, hitting the first killer in the shoulder and sending him spinning back toward the burning

The guards froze instantly, holding the panting young man against the wall.Mateo let out a long sigh as the exhaustion showed on his face. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache building up. He hated his son's weakness, but he could not risk a public scandal now, not with federal agents looking into the harbor incident.Mateo turned around slowly to look at his shaking son."Let him go," Mateo said, waving his hand.The guards let go immediately and stepped back into the dark corners of the room. Ezra stumbled forward, holding his neck and breathing hard, looking both scared and proud."Get out of my sight, Ezra," Mateo said flatly. "You want your girl? Fine. I will deal with Slayde Burgess my own way. But if you get in my way or speak again, I will make sure you never leave this house."Ezra straightened his wrinkled collar, swallowed hard, and backed out of the room without another word. The heavy doors shut behind him.Once the room was quiet, Mateo walked over to his desk