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BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 39: THE GAMBIT
Carrick walked through the grand halls of the Gale Estate, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. Everything here was as he remembered, immaculate, cold, and exuding power. The air smelled of expensive cigars and old money, but beneath it all, he could still sense the rot.Victor walked beside him, scanning the surroundings with the sharp instincts of a seasoned strategist. Behind them, two guards trailed closely, their presence a silent reminder that they weren’t welcome guests.At the end of the corridor, a pair of towering mahogany doors loomed. One of the guards stepped forward and knocked twice before pushing them open.Inside, Zachary Gale sat in his high-backed leather chair, a glass of scotch in his hand. The room was lined with bookshelves, their contents untouched for years, more for show than for knowledge. A single chandelier cast a warm glow over the room, highlighting the man who had once called himself Carrick’s father.Zachary looked up, a slow smile forming o
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 40: THE CHAIN BREAKS
Carrick strode down the marble-floored hallway, his heartbeat steady but his mind racing. Zachary had agreed to release Anthony, but Carrick wasn’t naïve. His father didn’t surrender without a contingency plan.Victor matched his pace, his hands in his pockets, but his sharp eyes scanned every corridor.“You think he’ll actually let Anthony go just like that?” Victor asked, voice low.Carrick exhaled slowly. “No. He’s probably trying to stall, find a way to neutralize the threat without giving up leverage.”Victor nodded. “Exactly what I was thinking. We should have someone monitoring the drop. Could be a setup.”Carrick pulled out his phone and sent a quick message. “Already on it. Jason and Elena are en route to the location. If anything’s off, they’ll signal us.”Victor smirked. “Always two steps ahead, huh?”Carrick gave a small shrug. “It’s the only way to survive.”They reached the entrance of the estate, where a black SUV was already waiting for them. As soon as the guards open
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 41: THE GATHERING STORM
The tension in the warehouse was thick, an invisible weight pressing down on everyone. Carrick sat at the head of a large wooden table, his fingers drumming a steady rhythm as he processed Anthony’s words.Domino was returning.Victor leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Alright, let’s break this down. If Domino’s coming back, it means Zachary’s shifting gears. What’s the play?”Carrick’s expression remained unreadable. “Domino isn’t just some enforcer. He’s the ideal heir, ruthless, efficient, and completely loyal to Zachary. If he’s coming back, it’s because my father wants to speed up whatever ‘Phase Two’ is.”Jason, standing by the wall with his arms crossed, frowned. “What exactly do we know about Domino’s operations?”Anthony shifted in his seat, still a little sore from his captivity. “Last I heard, he was handling a lot of Zachary’s off-the-books dealings overseas. If he’s coming back, it means Zachary thinks he needs his best weapon on home turf.”Victor smirked. “A famil
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 42: A GAME OF SHADOWS
A heavy silence settled over the room.Victor’s words still hung in the air, chilling everyone to their core.Domino was already here.Carrick sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled as he processed the revelation. This changed everything.Jason’s jaw tightened. “This means Zachary was never waiting for the right moment. He was setting us up from the start.”Elena crossed her arms. “If Domino’s already moving, then Zachary’s next play is in motion. We’re already behind.”Carrick exhaled slowly, controlling the irritation bubbling inside him. He had underestimated just how far ahead his father was playing.But that didn’t mean he was out of the game.He glanced at Jason. “What else do we know?”Jason hesitated. “Not much. Word just started circulating about an hour ago. Some sources say he landed this afternoon. Others claim he’s been here for days, operating under the radar.”Anthony leaned forward. “If he’s been here longer than we thought, that means he’s had time to lay grou
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 43: SHACKLES OF THE PAST
Carrick’s wrists ached from the zip ties cutting into his skin. His breathing was steady, but his mind was running a mile a minute.Domino had outplayed him.The dimly lit warehouse smelled of rust and old wood. The flickering overhead light buzzed, casting eerie shadows across the cold concrete floor.Across from him, Domino leaned casually against a steel table, swirling a glass of whiskey. His golden eyes glowed under the light, amusement dancing in them.“You look tense, little brother.” Domino smirked. “Didn’t expect this, did you?”Carrick didn’t answer. He refused to give Domino the satisfaction of seeing his frustration.Domino chuckled. “You were always predictable. The moment you heard I was meeting Russell, you came running.” He took a slow sip of his drink. “Didn’t even stop to think that maybe we were leading you this time.”Carrick clenched his jaw. He had walked straight into their trap, and now, he was at their mercy.A door creaked open.Footsteps echoed against the w
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 44: THE RECKONING
The air outside the Gale Estate was thick with smoke, the sharp scent of gunpowder mixing with the cold night air. Echoes of gunfire rang through the sprawling property as the Zenith Family launched their assault.Carrick sat strapped to his chair, watching as the chaos unfolded outside.Domino’s grip tightened around his coffee cup before he slammed it onto the table, the porcelain shattering on impact.“They’re here.” Domino’s voice was tight, his golden eyes flashing with rage.Carrick smirked despite the ache in his jaw. “You really thought they wouldn’t come?”Domino’s hands curled into fists. “You’re not worth this much trouble.”Carrick arched a brow. “Then why are you sweating?”Before Domino could respond, another explosion rocked the estate, shaking the walls and knocking a few paintings to the ground.A guard burst into the room, panting heavily. “Sir, the perimeter has been breached! They..”A bullet whizzed past the guard’s head, embedding itself into the wooden doorframe
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 45: ASCENDANCY
The flames consumed the Gale estate like a ravenous beast, illuminating the night sky with hues of orange and crimson. Smoke curled into the air, carrying the stench of burning wood and scorched earth. The once-mighty stronghold of Zachary Gale, the empire he had built with blood and betrayal, was now nothing more than a smoldering ruin.Carrick didn’t look back. He walked steadily toward the waiting cars, his men surrounding him like an impenetrable shield. The weight of the night pressed against his shoulders, but he carried it well.Victor walked beside him, glancing sideways. “So. You let him live.”Carrick didn’t respond immediately. His grip on his gun tightened before he slid it into his holster. “Killing him would have been easy. Too easy.”Jason, who had been checking the perimeter, snorted. “You sure that was the right call? Zachary’s the kind of bastard that doesn’t just roll over and accept defeat.”Carrick exhaled. “That’s the point. He won’t be able to accept it. He’ll w
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 46: THR CROWN AND THE THRONE
The meeting had ended, but the weight of it still lingered.Carrick sat in the private lounge of the club, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The warm amber liquid swirled lazily as he studied the city skyline beyond the tinted windows. It was a view of power—his power.Victor leaned against the bar, watching him. “You handled that well.”Carrick hummed in response.Jason, sitting on the leather couch across from him, smirked. “You actually got Vincent Leclair to acknowledge you. I think he'll just freeze over.”Anthony snorted. “Luciano too. That bastard doesn’t respect anyone, but he respects you now.”Carrick’s grip on the glass tightened slightly. Respect was a good start. But it wasn’t enough.“I don’t need respect,” he murmured. “I need loyalty.”Victor chuckled. “Loyalty comes with time. Fear, however…” He took a sip of his drink. “That’s immediate.”Carrick’s gaze darkened. “Fear is a tool, not a foundation. I don’t just want these men to follow me.. I want them to choose to foll
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CHAPTER 151: TERMS OF WAR
The morning after the ambush, the city felt like a carcass picked clean by vultures. Smoke clung to the skyline, and the streets buzzed with a violence that no longer tried to hide itself. In the ruined conference room of what once was the Montrose Hotel, Carrick Gale leaned over a scarred table, maps and dossiers spread out like a battlefield. Marco arrived late, limping slightly, Victor and Silas flanking him like angry hounds. The air between the two leaders crackled. "You called for this meeting," Marco said, voice like gravel. "You better have something worth my time, Carrick." Carrick didn't look up right away. He tapped a folder at the center of the table. "Lucien," Carrick said. "And his pet ghost, Delilah Blackthorn. They're not just gunning for you anymore." Marco snorted, stepping closer. "No shit." Carrick finally met his gaze. His eyes were sharp, glacial. "They're coming for all of us." Silence stretched. Victor shifted, resting his hand on the butt of his p
CHAPTER 150 BLOOD IN THE STREETS
The first firebomb hit just after midnight.Carrick Gale stood on the balcony of the north wing of his estate, cigarette dangling from his lips, when the sky bloomed into angry red in the distance.Another explosion rumbled seconds later, closer this time.He ground the cigarette under his boot and turned on his heel, face hardening.Marco’s war had just escalated ... and it was bleeding into Carrick’s world.A knock rattled the door."Come," Carrick barked.Logan stepped in, breathless. His shirt was stained with soot and blood, his left sleeve shredded."They hit the Yarrow warehouse," Logan said. "Took out two guards. Set the whole place ablaze."Carrick’s eyes narrowed."And the DeSantis armory?"Logan hesitated."Gone," he said quietly. "Blew it sky-high twenty minutes ago. They're targeting every asset we have in the west sector."Carrick paced the room, the polished wood floors creaking under his boots."Marco’s desperation stinks like a dying dog," he muttered. "But this... th
CHAPTER 149: SMOKE AND MIRRORS
The smoke hadn’t even cleared from the ambush site when Marco slammed his fist onto the table back at the safehouse."Goddamn it!" he roared, sending a stack of blueprints flying.Victor stood nearby, a fresh gash bleeding across his brow, jaw set tight with anger.Silas limped in, clutching his side. "It was a setup," he rasped. "He knew every move we made."Marco’s face was carved from stone."He’s inside our circle," he said. "Somebody’s talking."Victor cursed low. "I’ll start running checks. Every man, every comm line.""No," Marco said, voice colder than steel. "I'll do it myself."He turned to Silas."Get patched up. You're no good to me bleeding out."Silas opened his mouth, thought better of it, and nodded, leaving the room.Only Victor stayed."You really think one of ours flipped?"Marco didn't answer right away. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, hands steady even though his gut boiled."Not just flipped," he said finally. "They sold their soul."Victor’s mouth tightene
CHAPTER 148: BLOOD IN THE SHADOWS
The first sign that something was wrong came with the silence.The war room was usually a hive ... phones ringing, men shouting, maps shifting. But tonight, there was nothing. Just an eerie, unnatural stillness.Marco paced the edge of the table, feeling the weight of it press down on his chest."Where’s Jax?" he snapped, glancing at Victor.Victor, frowning, checked his watch. "He should’ve reported in an hour ago."Silas lit a cigarette with trembling fingers. "Maybe he ran into heat. Cops, Carrick’s leftovers..."Marco shook his head. "Jax doesn’t miss check-ins. Not unless he’s dead."The word hung heavy in the air.A phone rang ... sharp and shrill.Everyone jolted.Victor grabbed it."Yeah?" His face paled almost instantly. "Boss... you need to hear this."Marco snatched the phone from him."Marco," a voice rasped. Jax’s voice ... barely recognizable, slurred and broken."It’s... a trap... he knew... he knew we were coming..."Gunshots crackled in the background. Screaming. Then
CHAPTER 147: FIRST STRIKE
Marco didn’t sleep that night.He sat in the war room ... a makeshift headquarters carved out of an abandoned speakeasy beneath the old theatre ... staring at the maps spread across the table. Each red pin marked a loyalty, each black pin a threat. And there were more black pins now than ever before.Victor entered, a mug of coffee in one hand, a pistol tucked into the back of his belt."You should rest," Victor said, setting the coffee down. "You look like hell."Marco didn’t move. "Carrick didn’t threaten me," he said, voice low. "He challenged me."Victor pulled a chair around and dropped into it, studying Marco."There's a difference?""Yeah," Marco said grimly. "One's a warning. The other’s a death sentence."Victor nodded slowly. "So what’s the play?"Marco leaned back, eyes burning. "We strike first."Victor's eyebrows lifted. "Now you’re speaking my language."But Marco wasn’t smiling."No messy fireworks. No grandstanding," he said. "We cut out Carrick’s heart while it’s stil
CHAPTER 146: SMOKE BEFORE THE FIRE
The night air was thick with mist and the sour stench of gasoline.Carrick Gale stood atop the rooftop of an abandoned textile mill, his coat whipping in the wind, a cigarette burning low between his fingers.Below him, the city lights flickered like dying embers."You were right," muttered Donovan, stepping up beside him. His breath steamed in the cold. "Marco’s moving against you."Carrick didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look at him."I know."Donovan hesitated. "It’s not just Marco. Salvatore met with him tonight. They're rallying others. Quiet-like, but... it's happening."Carrick took a slow drag from his cigarette, the tip flaring."So the rats finally show their teeth," he said softly.Donovan shifted uneasily. "What do you want to do?"Carrick turned, finally facing him. His eyes were pale blue and cold as glacial ice."Set a meet," Carrick said. "Invite Marco. Make it seem like I want to talk peace."Donovan frowned. "You think he’ll buy it?"Carrick smiled ... a thin, dead thi
CHAPTER 145: A KINGDOM OF ASH
The warehouse stank of oil, dust, and desperation.A single bare bulb swung from the ceiling, casting long, jittering shadows over the gathered men. Marco stood near the center, his fists shoved deep into the pockets of his coat, while Silas leaned casually against a rusted support beam, arms folded, eyes glittering like a serpent waiting for its moment to strike."So what’s the play?" Marco asked, his voice low.Silas smiled ... that same unsettling, knowing smile. "Simple. We bleed Carrick dry from the inside. Cut his supply lines. Peel away his allies one by one."Marco’s jaw tightened. "You make it sound easy."Silas shrugged lazily. "It's not easy. It's inevitable. Carrick's empire is rotting. All we have to do is give it a little... push.""Push too hard," Marco muttered, "and he'll lash out."Silas stepped closer, voice dropping. "That's the idea. Let him lash out. Let him make mistakes. Then we move in for the kill."Marco stared at him, heart pounding in his chest. The though
CHAPTER 144: A SERPENT AMONG WOLVES
The city was breaking apart at its seams, a rotting corpse wearing a golden crown.Marco walked through the crumbling alleys of the south side, the rain soaking through his jacket. He didn’t care. The world could drown for all it mattered.Carrick was slipping. And Marco ... once Carrick's sword arm, once his shield ... felt it deep in his bones: the time to choose sides had come.He wasn’t sure if he could betray the man who had once saved him.But as the blood pooled deeper around Carrick's throne, loyalty began to feel more like a noose.A sharp whistle echoed down the alley.Marco turned instantly, hand going to the gun beneath his jacket.Out of the shadows stepped a man ... tall, wiry, with an unsettling stillness to him. His long black coat clung to him like a second skin. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but his eyes were dead."You must be Marco," the stranger said smoothly, voice like silk pulled across a blade."Depends who's asking," Marco replied, voice t
CHAPTER 143: KNIVES BENEATH SMILES
The storm rolled in over the city as dusk fell, shrouding the skyline in grim clouds. Thunder grumbled low in the distance, a warning growl before the lightning’s inevitable strike.Inside the upper floors of the old Salvi manor, Arturo stood at the head of a long table. Around him were faces ... some familiar, some recently turned ... all carrying the same grim set to their jaws. They were the last of the De Luca loyalists, the bitter remnants of broken families, and the wolves who had long waited for Carrick Gale to falter.Alessia De Luca sat to Arturo’s right, her hands neatly folded, a mask of calm that barely concealed the rage boiling underneath."Carrick’s bleeding," Arturo said, voice low but carrying. "The shipment hit hurt him worse than he’s letting on. His allies are whispering. Some are jumping ship."A younger man, Gaetano, leaned forward, his knuckles white against the table. "Then we press now. While he's weak. Burn the rest of his operations to the ground!"Arturo sh
