The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 64

With Carlo and Angelo dead, Nico solidifies his control over the city, but the battle for power is far from over. New enemies begin to emerge from the shadows, and Nico must navigate a world where trust is a luxury he can’t afford.

As rival factions regroup and old alliances shift, Nico’s reign is tested like never before. Power is fleeting in the city's dark underworld, and Nico will discover that ruling from the shadows is more dangerous than he ever imagined.

The war for the throne continues.

The city had always been a beast with a mind of its own, alive and breathing in the dark corners where power-shifted hands and blood soaked the streets. Nico stood at the centre of it now, his grip on the throne tightening with every move he made, every rival he buried.

Carlo was gone. Angelo was gone. But in their absence, the vacuum was still pulling, still hungry for more.

Nico stared out from the balcony of Santoro’s old penthouse, now his. The skyline was a familiar sight, but it didn’t bring him comfort. The city wasn’t resting; it was waiting.

Waiting for its next move, for the next fight. Nico had won battle after battle, but the war was far from over. His victory felt hollow, the weight of the empire he’d claimed pressing down on him with every passing day.

Luis walked in, his steps heavy, the tension between them almost palpable. The successes had come with a price, and Luis, more than anyone, had seen the toll it had taken on Nico. The man he’d once known—ruthless but driven by a cause—was starting to transform into something darker. Power did that to people, and Luis couldn’t shake the feeling that Nico was standing on the edge of a precipice.

“We’ve got new intel,” Luis said, his voice breaking the silence. “Word is, some of the smaller crews are starting to test our control. They’re holding back for now, but it’s only a matter of time before they make their move.”

Nico didn’t turn to face him, his eyes still fixed on the city below. “Let them. If they come for us, they’ll meet the same fate as the others.”

Luis hesitated, then stepped closer. “Nico, this can’t just be about killing off anyone who steps out of line. We’re trying to build something here. If we keep running things like Santoro did, the city will always be a war zone. The people, the crews—they need a reason to trust you, to follow you. Not just fear.”

Nico’s jaw tightened. He had heard this before, from Luis and others. The calls for stability, for a new kind of rule. But stability wasn’t something you just claimed. It was something you fought for, bled for. “Trust doesn’t exist in this city,” Nico said, his voice cold. “Not anymore.”

Luis exhaled slowly, frustration building. “Maybe not right now. But we have to give them something. If we keep pushing them like this, eventually they’ll push back. Harder than before.”

Nico finally turned, his eyes hard and unyielding. “I’m not Santoro, Luis. But I’m not Mackin either. We don’t get to build an empire without blood. This city doesn’t care about hope or trust. It cares about power.”

Luis studied Nico’s face, seeing the shadows that had begun to take root in his friend. The man standing before him was different—colder, more detached. Luis had followed Nico through the worst of it, but even he could feel the shift. “What happens when they start coming for you, Nico? Because that’s what’s next. You can’t crush everyone who stands against you forever.”

Nico stepped closer, his voice a low growl. “Then let them come.”

The tension between them hung thick in the air before Luis finally relented, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Alright. I’ll keep an eye on the streets. But don’t wait too long to make a move. The longer this drags on, the harder it’ll be to keep control.”

As Luis left the room, Nico turned back to the city, his mind racing. He knew Luis was right, in a way. The city wouldn’t stay in line forever. But Nico didn’t have the luxury of waiting for trust. Not now. Not when the ghosts of the past still haunted him.

Across the city, those ghosts were stirring. In the dimly lit back rooms of bars and warehouses, whispers of rebellion had begun to grow louder. Mackin Jones’ old lieutenants had been scattered, driven underground by Santoro, and later by Nico. But they were still there, still waiting for their chance to reclaim the power they had once held.

In a seedy bar on the outskirts of the city, a group of Mackin’s former allies gathered around a table, their faces shadowed by the dim light. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and the tension between them was palpable.

These were men who had fought for Mackin’s empire, who had seen it fall, and who had watched as Santoro and now Nico took everything from them.

At the head of the table sat Franco, one of Mackin’s most loyal lieutenants. He had kept his head down after Mateo’s death, biding his time, watching as Nico rose to power. But now, with the city in turmoil, Franco saw his opportunity.

“Nico’s got the city by the throat,” Franco said, his voice low and gravelly. “But he’s not invincible. He’s spread too thin, and the smaller crews know it. They’re waiting for the right moment to strike.”

One of the men, a younger lieutenant named Enzo, leaned forward. “So what do we do? He’s already taken out Carlo and Angelo. He’s not going to stop until he’s got the whole city under his control.”

Franco’s eyes darkened. “We don’t go after Nico head-on. That’s what Carlo tried, and look where it got him. We hit him where he’s weak. His alliances. His men. We make them question whether following him is worth the risk.”

Enzo frowned. “You think we can turn his men?”

Franco smiled, a cold, calculating expression. “Everyone has a price, Enzo. We just have to find it.”

The others nodded in agreement, the plan taking shape in their minds. They knew they couldn’t take Nico down in a straight fight. But they could erode his power from the inside, planting the seeds of doubt and rebellion in the men who had sworn loyalty to him. If they could fracture his control, the city would start to slip from his grasp.

And once that happened, they would be there to pick up the pieces.

As the days passed, Nico’s control over the city tightened, but so did the pressure from those looking to tear it away from him. Mackin’s old allies were moving in the shadows, working to destabilise the fragile alliances Nico had built.

Once cowed by Carlo’s death, the smaller crews were beginning to rally again, emboldened by the cracks they saw in Nico’s rule.

Luis kept a close eye on the streets, watching as the tensions simmered beneath the surface. He knew Nico was right—this city had never been built on trust. But Luis also knew that power, especially in a city like this, was a fleeting thing. The more Nico crushed his enemies, the more enemies he created.

One night, Luis returned to the penthouse with troubling news. He found Nico in the study, going over the latest reports from their operations.

“We’ve got a problem,” Luis said, his voice heavy with concern.

Nico looked up, his expression unreadable. “What now?”

“Mackin’s old men. They’re stirring up trouble. Nothing big yet, but they’re starting to make moves. And there’s talk that some of your lieutenants are listening.”

Nico’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”

Luis hesitated. “Rocco, for one. He’s been acting strange lately, keeping his distance. I don’t have proof yet, but if he’s talking to Mackin’s men—”

“I’ll handle Rocco,” Nico said, cutting him off. His voice was cold, final. He wasn’t going to let betrayal take root in his empire, not now. Not ever.

Luis nodded, though he still looked uneasy. “Just be careful. If we start seeing more cracks, this whole thing could fall apart.”

Nico didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The city was his, and he would fight tooth and nail to keep it that way.

Later that night, Nico called for Rocco, summoning him to the penthouse under the guise of a routine meeting. But Nico knew it was anything but routine. He had seen this before, with Giovanni, with Lorenzo. Betrayal always started small—whispers in the dark, alliances made in secret—and then it spread like a disease.

When Rocco arrived, his face was carefully neutral, but Nico could see the tension in his eyes. He was nervous. Good.

“You wanted to see me?” Rocco asked, his voice steady, though there was an edge to it.

Nico nodded, motioning for him to sit. “We need to talk.”

Rocco hesitated for a moment, then sat down across from Nico. The silence stretched between them, heavy and thick. Nico could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken words that hung between them.

“I’ve been hearing things,” Nico said finally, his voice calm but laced with cold authority. “Things about you. About where your loyalties lie.”

Rocco’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t respond right away. “I’m loyal to you, Nico,” he said, though there was no conviction in his voice.

Nico leaned forward, his gaze piercing. “Are you?”

Rocco shifted in his seat, his hands resting on the table in front of him. “Of course I am. What else would I be?”

Nico’s lips curled into a faint smile, but there was no warmth in it. “You tell me.”

Rocco swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room, searching for something—an escape, a way out. But there was none. He was cornered, and he knew it.

“Look, I’ve been hearing things too,” Rocco said, his voice quieter now, more desperate. “The city’s on edge. Mackin’s men, the smaller crews—they’re all watching, waiting to see what happens. It’s not about loyalty. It’s about survival.”

Nico’s eyes flashed with anger. “Survival?”

Rocco leaned forward, his voice growing more urgent. “Nico, this city—it's not stable. Not like this. Everyone’s afraid. And when people are afraid, they start looking for a way out.”

Nico’s expression darkened. “Are you afraid, Rocco?”

Rocco hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, I am. And so are the others. You’ve got power now, but if you keep pushing people—if you keep ruling like Santoro—then it’s only a matter of time before they turn on you.”

Nico stood slowly, his eyes locked on Rocco. “Then maybe I need to remind them what happens to traitors.”

Rocco’s face went pale, his breath catching in his throat. “Nico, I’m not—”

Before he could finish, Nico drew his gun, the cold steel glinting in the dim light. He aimed it at Rocco’s chest, his finger steady on the trigger.

“Nico, please—” Rocco began, his voice trembling with fear.

But Nico didn’t hesitate. The gunshot echoed through the room, and Rocco slumped forward, blood pooling on the floor beneath him.

Nico stood over the body, his heart pounding in his chest, his breath coming in slow, measured gasps. He had made his choice. There was no room for doubt, no room for weakness. He had taken the city by force, and he would hold it the same way.

As he stared down at Rocco’s lifeless form, Nico knew that this was just the beginning. The war for the throne wasn’t over—not by a long shot.