The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 65

With Rocco dead, Nico’s reign grows even more precarious as rival factions rise from the shadows and the threat of betrayal looms large.

The city begins to spiral further into chaos, and Nico is forced to confront the reality that ruling through fear and violence may not be enough to hold the empire together.

As Mackin’s old allies regroup and new enemies emerge, the battle for control of the city reaches its boiling point.

The cost of power has never been higher.

The echo of the gunshot faded, but the impact of Rocco’s death reverberated far beyond the bloodstained floor of the penthouse. Nico stood over the body, his heart still racing, his pulse thrumming in his ears.

Rocco had been a warning. A message to anyone who thought they could challenge his authority. But deep down, Nico knew it wasn’t enough. Not in this city. Not in the world he had inherited.

Luis arrived shortly after the execution, his expression grim but unsurprising. He had seen the signs—Rocco’s growing restlessness, his furtive glances during meetings, the whispers on the street. But Nico’s decision to act so quickly, so decisively, was still jarring.

“You think this was necessary?” Luis asked quietly, his voice tight with caution. “Rocco wasn’t the only one with doubts. Killing him might send a message, but it’s also going to put the others on edge.”

Nico wiped the blood from his hands with a cold, detached efficiency, his expression unreadable. “It’s not about sending a message, Luis. It’s about survival. If they’re on edge, good. They need to know that any hesitation, any crack in loyalty, ends the same way.”

Luis exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “You keep ruling like this, and sooner or later, someone’s going to push back. You can’t kill everyone.”

Nico’s gaze hardened as he turned to face Luis. “I don’t need to kill everyone. Just the ones who stand in my way.”

Luis held Nico’s gaze for a moment before nodding reluctantly. “Alright. But you know this isn’t the end of it. Mackin’s men are still out there, and with Rocco dead, they’re going to make their move. They’re waiting for you to slip.”

Nico nodded. He knew Luis was right. Mackin’s old lieutenants were biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And now, with Rocco gone, the balance of power was shifting once again.

“Let them wait,” Nico said finally. “We’ll deal with them when the time comes.”

But even as he spoke the words, a sense of unease settled in his chest. The city was a pressure cooker, ready to explode at any moment. And the deeper Nico sank into this world of violence and betrayal, the more he realised that every victory came with a cost.

In the dark alleys and forgotten corners of the city, the news of Rocco’s death spread like wildfire. The smaller crews, the ones that had stayed quiet after Santoro’s fall, were beginning to stir.

Some feared Nico’s ruthlessness, seeing Rocco’s execution as a sign that he wouldn’t hesitate to crush anyone who stood in his way. Others, however, saw it as a sign of weakness—a man who ruled through fear was a man who could be toppled.

Among those watching closely were Mackin’s old lieutenants. They had kept their heads down after Santoro had wiped out the last of Mackin’s crew, but now, with the city in turmoil, they saw an opportunity. The balance of power was fragile, and if Nico continued to alienate his men, they would be there to pick up the pieces.

In a dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Franco, Enzo, and a handful of Mackin’s old lieutenants gathered around a table, their faces shadowed by the flickering light of a single overhead bulb.

They had been biding their time for months, waiting for the right moment to reclaim what had once been theirs.

“We knew it would come to this,” Franco said, his voice low and gravelly. “Nico’s just like Santoro. He thinks he can control this city with a gun and a knife. But he’s making enemies faster than he can kill them.”

Enzo nodded, though there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. “He’s smart, though. And ruthless. He’s taken out Carlo, Angelo, and now Rocco. If we make a move, we’d better be ready for what comes next.”

Franco smiled grimly. “We’ve waited long enough. Nico’s reign is built on blood, but blood only goes so far. He’s losing control. His men are questioning him, and if we push hard enough, we can turn them against him.”

One of the other lieutenants, an older man named Sal, leaned forward. “What’s the plan, Franco? We can’t just rush in and expect him to fall. He’s got too many eyes on the streets.”

Franco’s expression darkened. “We hit him where it hurts. We make his men question whether following him is worth it. We take away his supply lines, his money, and his muscle. And when he’s desperate, when he’s scrambling to hold onto what’s left, we make our move.”

The others nodded in agreement, the plan taking shape in their minds. They had been waiting for this moment, and now, with Nico’s empire starting to fracture, they saw their chance. Mackin’s legacy had never truly died. It had only been waiting for the right time to rise again.

Back at the penthouse, Nico was already sensing the shifts in the underworld. His lieutenants were quieter, their loyalty increasingly uncertain. The smaller crews were growing restless, testing the boundaries of his control.

And Mackin’s old guard, the men who had survived the purge that followed Mackin’s death, were starting to surface again.

Luis brought in more troubling news as the days passed. “We’re seeing more movement from Mackin’s old crew,” Luis reported, his tone serious. “Franco’s been making deals, pulling in support from the smaller crews. He’s building something, and if we don’t stop him soon, it’s going to get out of control.”

Nico leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he listened. He had expected this. Franco had been a thorn in his side ever since he took down Angelo. He knew the old guard wasn’t finished. Not yet.

“What’s Franco’s angle?” Nico asked, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.

Luis shook his head. “He’s trying to turn your men. We’ve heard rumours that he’s been reaching out to some of the lieutenants, offering them a better deal. He’s telling them that you’re no different from Santoro, that following you is a death sentence.”

Nico’s jaw clenched. Franco was clever, using the same fear Nico had instilled in his men against him. It was a dangerous tactic, but it wouldn’t work if Nico could cut him off before it spread.

“I want Franco dead,” Nico said finally, his voice cold and decisive. “No more waiting. No more playing games. We take him out, and we make sure everyone knows who’s really in control.”

Luis hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll put together a team. But you know this won’t end with Franco. His death will be a signal to the others, and they’ll come for you harder than ever.”

Nico’s eyes darkened. “Let them come.”

The night of the hit came quickly. Nico’s crew moved in silence, slipping through the shadows of the industrial district where Franco had set up his base of operations. The warehouse where Franco was holed up was heavily guarded, but Nico’s men were efficient, taking down the sentries with swift, brutal precision.

Nico led the charge, his footsteps silent as he moved through the darkened corridors of the warehouse. Luis was beside him, his face set in grim determination. They had done this before—many times—and each time it had been a reminder of the world they lived in. A world where loyalty was bought and sold, where power shifted with every death.

They reached the main room where Franco and his lieutenants were meeting. Nico’s men moved quickly, surrounding the entrance, cutting off any chance of escape. Nico stepped forward, his gun drawn, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

Franco looked up as the door burst open, his face twisting into a snarl as he realised what was happening. “Nico!” he shouted, standing from his seat. “You think you can walk in here and take me down like the rest?”

Nico didn’t respond. His gun was steady, his eyes cold and calculating. “It’s over, Franco. This city isn’t yours anymore.”

Franco sneered, drawing his weapon, but before he could aim, Nico fired. The gunshot echoed through the warehouse, and Franco staggered back, clutching his chest as blood poured from the wound.

“You’re making a mistake,” Franco gasped, collapsing to the floor. “You think you can hold this city forever?”

Nico stepped forward, standing over Franco as he bled out on the cold concrete. “I don’t need to hold it forever,” Nico said, his voice low and deadly. “Just long enough to bury you.”

Franco’s body went still, his eyes glazing over as death claimed him. The room was silent, the weight of the moment heavy in the air.

Luis stepped forward, glancing down at Franco’s lifeless form. “It’s done.”

Nico nodded, but there was no satisfaction in his eyes. Franco was dead, but the war was far from over. Mackin’s men would see this as a declaration of war, and they would come for him with everything they had.

“We send a message,” Nico said quietly. “Make sure the city knows what happened here.”

Luis nodded, signalling to the others. As Nico stood in the bloodstained warehouse, his mind raced. Franco was gone, but the real fight was just beginning.

The news of Franco’s death spread like wildfire through the underworld. Some saw it as a victory for Nico, proof that he was still in control. But others saw it as a sign of the growing instability in the city. Mackin’s men were still out there, and with Franco dead, they were more dangerous than ever.

Luis returned to the penthouse with more reports of unrest. “We’re seeing more movement from the smaller crews,” he said. “They’re watching to see what happens next. Some of them are starting to turn on each other, but a few are still holding back, waiting for the right moment.”

Nico’s expression was unreadable as he listened. He had expected this. The city was a cauldron, and every death, every power shift, only made it boil hotter. But Nico wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot.

“We keep pushing,” Nico said finally. “We take out anyone who stands against us. One by one.”

Luis nodded, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “You know this won’t end until the whole city’s burnt down, right?”

Nico’s gaze hardened. “Then we burn it down.”