Blood for Power: The Mercenary's Return

Chapter 6: The King of the Underworld

Marcus stood in the big, dark room, feeling the weight of his choices on his shoulders. Tiana Rhodes, who was standing across from him, had just made him an offer. It was an offer that could give him everything he wanted: power, control, and revenge. But it cost something. She wasn't giving Marcus a way out. She was giving him a chance to go deeper into the underworld he had tried to get away from.

Tiana said in a calm voice, "I know what you're thinking." "You're thinking about your options and trying to decide if this is worth it." Marcus, it's the only thing you can do. The Vultures are getting a stronger hold on the city. "You'll lose everything if you don't act quickly."

As he thought about what she said, Marcus's mind raced. It was hard to resist the temptation. He could take over the empire, get back at Quincy, and finally bring down the system that had ruined him. But was it worth it? Was he willing to give up everything, his morals, his soul, his future, for power?

"You want me to help you get rid of Quincy?" Marcus asked in a cold voice. "And in return, you want me to take over?"

Tiana smiled, and her eyes sparkled with the same cold ambition that had driven her for years. "Exactly. Marcus, you have the power. You have what it takes to be the city's leader. You just need the right push.

Marcus made a fist. His own family had betrayed him, and everyone he had trusted had used him. Now he had to make the most important choice of his life: to go into the darkness or to leave.

The silence was broken by the sound of his phone vibrating on the table. He picked it up, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Jaxon's name on the screen. He answered right away.

"Marcus," Jaxon's voice came through the phone, strained and urgent. "The Vultures are on the move." It's worse than we thought. They're getting ready for a big war.

Marcus's chest got tight. "How bad is it?"

"We don't have a lot of time." They have chosen one of our safe houses. A number of your men are dead. There is a lot of blood. We don't know how they found us, but we have to go.

The words hit Marcus like a punch in the gut. He was already losing control of his plan before he even started. He could hear Jaxon's voice getting weaker as he went on.

We also found something, Marcus. An item that belongs to you. The necklace your mom gave you.

Marcus stopped moving, and the blood drained from his face. "What? How...?"

"I don't know, man, but it was found at the scene." We believe she has been playing a bigger role. Marcus, she's been involved. We're not just up against Quincy anymore. "We're up against something much bigger."

Marcus's grip on the phone got tighter, and his heart raced. His mom. The woman who had raised him and always seemed like the last link he had to anything real had been involved the whole time. He never could have imagined how bad the betrayal was.

"Watch the safe house," Marcus said in a cold voice. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

Marcus hung up the phone, and his mind was racing. Tiana was right about one thing: the Vultures were coming for him, and time was running out.

Tiana kept a close eye on him because she could tell he was in a bad mood. "What happened?" she asked, her voice full of interest.

"They've hit one of our safe houses," Marcus said, narrowing his eyes. "And my mother's role is more important than I thought. They discovered her necklace there.

Tiana's face got darker. "Your mom? How?

Marcus ran a hand through his hair and said, "I don't know." "But this changes everything."

Marcus's phone buzzed again before Tiana could answer. A text from Jaxon read, "They know where you are. They are coming for you." Quick."

The warning hit Marcus like a punch in the gut. He looked up at Tiana and made up his mind. "We need to do something right away. The vultures are on their way. "I have to take charge before they ruin everything."

Tiana nodded, and her eyes shone with determination. "Okay, let's do this." But keep in mind, Marcus, that this isn't just about getting rid of Quincy. It's about being in charge. "You have to be willing to give up things if you want to win."

Marcus was very angry. He snapped, "I've already lost everything." "What else do you want from me?"

Tiana's look softened, but it wasn't warm. "I don't want anything from you, Marcus. I just want you to know what you could have. Power. Take charge. If you want it, it's yours.

Marcus turned away, his mind racing with thoughts that didn't agree with each other. He couldn't wait any longer. His mother's betrayal, Jaxon's warnings, and the Vultures closing in meant that he had to go forward and into the darkness he had been trying to avoid his whole life.

"We're taking over Quincy's empire," Marcus said in a low, firm voice. "We have to do this now, or we'll die."

Marcus felt the weight of his choices settling over him like a heavy cloak as he got ready to leave. But before they could leave, the sound of a car engine revving outside broke the tension in the room. Marcus's head jerked up.

His heart raced as he said, "They're here."

Tiana's eyes narrowed, and she drew a gun. "Get ready." We don't have a lot of time.

As Marcus and Tiana walked to the door, gunfire broke out all over the world. The first group of Vultures had come, and they weren't there to talk.

Marcus barely had time to react when the door flew open and a group of armed men came in. A person stepped forward, their face hidden by a mask, but the emblem on their chest was clear. The sign for Quincy. The vultures were there in full force.

The figure said in a cold, mocking voice, "You made a dangerous choice, Marcus." "But you're too late. We already own the city.

He felt something cold and sharp against his neck just as Marcus raised his gun. A second person had come up behind him, and the gun against his skin made him feel very scared.

The voice said, "If you move, you're dead."