2026-07-05 23:23:33
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CHAPTER 172
A loud, sharp shout echoed across the quiet ballroom, instantly cutting off nearby conversations.Heads turned from every corner of the room. Board members, politicians, and reporters stopped talking, their eyes locking onto Harlyn’s pale, shaking face.Harlyn covered her mouth, her face burning red as she realized she had caused a scene in front of the city's elite. But she couldn't take her eyes off the young woman standing beside Slayde. If Slayde Burgess had truly aligned himself with the Riviera family, Harlyn and the De La Cruz family were already ruined.Whispers spread through the grand ballroom like wildfire."Did she just say Riviera?" a senior board member gasped, almost dropping his glass."The real Riviera family? They're actually here?" an oil tycoon murmured to his wife, his eyes lighting up with excitement.Within seconds, the icy tension surrounding Harlyn vanished, replaced by a wave of eager smiles and high-society intrigue. The crowd completely ignored Harlyn's
CHAPTER 171
Harlyn walked into the grand ballroom, her silk dress rustling softly against the marble floor. She paused near the entrance, holding a glass of champagne she had no intention of drinking.Her eyes swept across the crowded room, scanning the glittering chandeliers and tight circles of city leaders, but an uncomfortable knot stayed in her stomach. Every conversation seemed to be about the same thing: the harbor raid, the federal arrests, and the surge in Malx Holdings stock.Harlyn took a small sip of her drink, trying to hide the slight shake in her hand. Slayde Burgess had moved faster and hit harder than anyone could have predicted. She had spent years thinking she had the upper hand, but watching the morning news had shattered that belief. Slayde had taken down the Jerrycoil Syndicate's team, destroyed the Malta Group, and trapped Mateo De La Cruz in a federal investigation all in a single night.Harlyn stared into her glass, her thoughts swirling. Was the Syndicate really thi
CHAPTER 170
"You fixed nothing," Mateo growled, walking slowly toward the desk.He pulled a thick stack of legal papers from his coat and slammed them onto the wood. "Sign them."Mr. Malta trembled, looking down at the documents with wide eyes. "What... what is this?""Full transfer of your company's dock leases to my family's firm," Mateo said in a low, dangerous whisper. "You cost me millions last night, Malta. You made my family look weak on television. Now, you give me your trade routes to cover your debt, or my men take you to the harbor in a wooden box."Mr. Malta adjusted his coat, trying to stay calm. He forced a firm look onto his face, refusing to show weakness."Let's be reasonable, Mateo," Mr. Malta said, leaning his hands on the desk. "If you take my dock lease today, my company will collapse. If my company collapses, the bank freezes my assets, and your family's name stays tied to a ruined business. That helps neither of us."Mateo narrowed his eyes, silent as Mr. Malta continued.
CHAPTER 169
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
CHAPTER 168
Inside the Malta Group headquarters, the air smelled of stale coffee and defeat.Mr. Malta stood frozen in the middle of the room, his jaw open as he stared at the big wall-mounted television. A deep frown made him look ten years older. Sweat rolled down his pale, wrinkled cheeks.On the screen, the news anchor said, "To recap our top story, private security from the Malta Group launched an unauthorized attack on a harbor property owned by Slayde Burgess late last night. Police confirmed six Malta security guards are in federal custody, along with three armed members of the Jerrycoil Syndicate.""Six men..." Mr. Malta gasped, grabbing his thinning gray hair. "I sent six of my best men to bring my daughter home, and now they are on television in handcuffs!"The broadcast switched to live footage outside the police station. Reporters gathered on the steps as officers led Mr. Malta's head of security, bruised and zip-tied, past flashing cameras. Right behind him, the news showed pho
CHAPTER 167
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
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