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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
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 47: THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
The air inside the Zenith Family’s headquarters was thick with tension.Carrick stood at the center of the strategy room, his sharp eyes scanning the faces around him. Victor, Jason, Anthony, and a few of his most trusted men were gathered, waiting for his next move.The map on the table was marked with red pins.. each representing Lorenzo Capello’s weak points.Victor leaned forward, arms crossed. “Lorenzo’s bleeding. Three of his business partners have backed out, and his men are scrambling. He’s losing confidence.”Jason smirked. “Good. Let’s keep squeezing.”Anthony, however, shook his head. “We can’t afford to get cocky. We’re hitting Capello hard, yeah, but that bastard is still standing. And Domino? He’s been too damn quiet.”Carrick nodded. “That’s what concerns me.”Silence settled over the room. Domino Gale was many things, but he wasn’t the type to sit back and do nothing. If he wasn’t striking now, it meant he was planning something big.Carrick tapped a finger against the
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 48: A GAME OF KINGS
The warehouse burned, flames licking at the crates stacked against the walls. Smoke curled toward the ceiling, casting eerie shadows over the men standing in the chaos.Lorenzo Capello staggered back, his face twisted in fury as the explosions sealed the exits, cutting off any escape route.Across from him, Carrick Gale stood unmoved, his expression cold and calculated. The flickering flames cast shadows over his features, making him look more like a ruler delivering judgment than a young man barely past seventeen.Domino Gale let out a low, amused chuckle, despite the situation.“Well, little brother, I have to admit.. you've outdone yourself.” He dusted off his charcoal-gray suit, unfazed. “But if you think this is over, you’re sorely mistaken.”Carrick didn't blink.“I never think it’s over, Domino. That’s the difference between you and me.”Lorenzo’s rage boiled over. He turned to Domino, voice low and venomous.“You said you had this handled.”Domino sighed dramatically. “Oh, rel
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 49: THE FIRST MOVE
The Zenith Headquarters loomed ahead as Carrick’s car tore through the streets. The city, usually a sea of neon lights and late-night traffic, was now a battlefield. The Gale Family had declared war, and they were making their first move.. attacking the very heart of the Zenith Family.Carrick's grip tightened on the wheel as he weaved through the chaos. Explosions lit up the night sky in the distance, and the sound of sirens and gunfire echoed down the streets. His mind was already strategizing, calculating the next move.Jason’s voice crackled through his earpiece again. “Carrick, we’re holding them off, but they’ve got numbers. We need you here, now.”“I’m three minutes out,” Carrick replied, his voice cold and unwavering.Anthony’s voice chimed in. “Make it two.”Carrick smirked despite the situation. “Don’t start the party without me.”Inside Zenith Headquarters.Jason crouched behind an overturned table in the strategy room, his pistol aimed at the entrance. The sounds of battle
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 50: CALCULATED STRIKES
The air inside Zenith Headquarters was thick with the scent of gunpowder and blood. Spent bullet casings littered the marble floors, and faint traces of smoke curled toward the ceiling. The once-imposing entrance hall, now a warzone, was eerily silent as Zenith Family members moved through the wreckage, checking bodies, tending to the wounded, and reinforcing their positions.Carrick Gale stood in the center of it all, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield with a detached precision. Despite the chaos, he appeared completely composed, his mind already working ahead.Jason approached him, wiping dirt from his face. “That was close,” he muttered.Carrick didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned toward Anthony, who was barking orders at the men. “Status report.”Anthony wiped a streak of blood from his forehead.. none of it his own. “We lost ten men. Fifteen more are injured, but nothing fatal.” He exhaled sharply. “Could’ve been worse.”Jason scoffed. “Yeah, if Carrick hadn’t wip
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 51: THE COST OF WAR
The tension inside Zenith Headquarters was thick. Though the operation had been a success, everyone knew the Gale Family wouldn't take the loss lying down. The silence before the storm was unsettling.Carrick sat at the head of the long conference table, his fingers interlaced as he listened to the updates. The room was dimly lit, the only sources of light coming from the monitors displaying financial charts and security feeds.Jason leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “So, what’s next? The Gale Family isn’t just going to sit on their losses.”Anthony nodded. “Yeah, Zachary’s too prideful. He’ll strike back, and hard.”Victor smirked slightly. “That’s what we want, isn’t it?” He turned to Carrick. “We forced their hand. Now we see how they play their next move.”Carrick remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of him. Then, he exhaled through his nose. “They’ll retaliate in two ways.”Jason raised an eyebrow. “Two ways?”Carrick nodded. “First, they’ll g
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CHAPTER 152: THE BLACK LEDGER
Rain hammered the rooftop like war drums. The night was soaked in shadows, the kind that made men forget their names and remember their sins.Carrick stood inside a derelict warehouse on the waterfront, the metal walls creaking with every gust of wind. Maps and surveillance photos were pinned to rusted boards. Red lines connected hideouts, cash routes, weapons caches. They all led to one place...Lucien’s last known fortress: an underground vault hidden beneath the facade of a wine cellar in Oldtown.Logan adjusted the strap of his rifle as he studied the layout."You really think he’s there?" he asked.Carrick nodded once. "Intel came from someone inside. Anonymous, encrypted. Could be a trap."Marco strode in behind him, rainwater dripping from his trench coat. "If it’s a trap, we spring it on our terms. I’m tired of playing defense."Victor, bruised and stitched, leaned against a crate with his arms crossed. "And what happens if Delilah’s there?"Carrick's eyes darkened. "Then we fi
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
