2026-02-22 21:18:19
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60. Drive-by ambush
In the estate’s private gym of the Jordans, Leo Jordan was slamming his fist into the heavy punching bag, the impact echoing off the mirrored walls like a gunshot as Sweat dripped from his brow, mixing with the frustration that had been building for weeks. It was past midnight, the house silent above him and Victoria was fast asleep in her suite. He couldn't stand it anymore and was tired of waiting for the strategic patience Lucas and Victoria had preached. Bradley Turner was getting stronger by the day and more popular. His primary win in District 30 felt like a slap in his face and the city was already whispering of how Bradley had caused Leo's borough president failure last year with the leaks, the donor flips and the amplified meltdown. And now, Bradley's polls showed that he had strong potential of winning the general election. So Leo couldn't tame the anger any longer. Waiting for the go-ahead from Victoria and Lucas appeared to be a weakness therefore he had to act and toni
59. Shadow alliance
Since the primary was concluded and both Lucas and Bradley had won their nominations pending the general election, the political landscape of New York shifted into a tense standoff. Although they were running for different districts, Lucas in 28 and Bradley in 30, their campaigns were aimed squarely at each other with a proxy war between old money and rising redemption. Lucas's Jordan-backed machine churned ahead, while Bradley's underdog story gained traction in Queens. Yet in the Stevens-Jordan household, the victory felt hollow, shadowed by Bradley's improbable rise.Evelyn Stevens sat alone in the sunlit living room of the Upper East Side penthouse with a half-finished cup of tea cooling on the side table beside her. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Central Park, but her eyes were unfocused, lost in the swirl of autumn leaves below. Bradley's rise threatened Lucas's campaign, it was a direct challenge, a ghost from her past now haunting her future. She had
58. The primary grind
As the days went by, Bradley continued his training, experimenting every possible scenario that he might face in coming days.One of the days, Bradley closed the simulation, the virtual debate stage faded from his vision like a dream dissolving at dawn. Sweat cooled on his forehead, the new study in the Forest Hills colonial was still smelling of fresh paint and unpacked boxes. He rubbed his eyes, trying to force sleep off. The new system's skills; Charisma Boost and Debate Mastery were now feeling like second nature after an hour of intense practice. Lucas's AI avatar had thrown everything at him ranging from smears on his Rikers past to jabs at ghost candidates to questions on Jordan ties. But Bradley had countered each time either precisely or persuasively as the boosts dimmed fit,amplifying his delivery to near perfection.He glanced at the clock and it was 12:45 a.m. Maya was asleep upstairs, her purple room was now a sanctuary of unicorns and normalcy. The relocation had been a
57. New skills.
As Alex left with a nod and a promise to coordinate the Queens endorsements, Bradley closed the door. the new house was settling around him with unfamiliar creaks. The Forest Hills colonial was an upgrade from the Astoria bungalow.Maya was still upstairs with Maria unpacking her unicorn collection in the purple-painted room, her laughter drifting down the stairs like a reminder that life was moving forward. The relocation had been smooth, Isaac's team handling the logistics while Elena Vargas handled the security sweep ensuring there were no bugs or tails. It was truly befitting his new status as a senate candidate and public figure.He walked back to the study, the room was already set up as his war room, desk with dual monitors, whiteboard scrawled with district maps and a secure laptop humming quietly. Maya’s drawing of him at a podium hung on the wall. It truly tells of a child’s colorful vision of his future. He sat down, rubbing his temples as the weight of the primary quest p
56. Primary victory
As Bradley Turner stepped out of a black SUV, the flash of cameras greeted him like a storm of lightning. The sidewalk in front of the New York State Board of Elections office was crowded with reporters and microphones thrust forward as questions were shouted over one another. It had been one week since his story broke. One week of headlines screaming "Dead Man Runs for Senate" and "Rikers Survivor Challenges the System."The city was abuzz with talk shows dissecting his resurrection and voters flooding Isaac's office with calls of support.Bradley was no longer a ghost. He was a public figure, a symbol of redemption and the Jordans' worst nightmare made flesh.He raised a hand, smiling calmly for the cameras as he said, "Thank you all for coming. I'll have a full statement soon. For now, know this, I'm here to fight for justice, for reform, for every New Yorker who has been left behind. With Mayor Jones's endorsement, District 30 will have a voice that knows what it's like to be bur
55. Stepping into the light
The Jordans' estate loomed dark and silent under the late-night sky as Victoria paced the study, her heels clicking against the polished hardwood like a metronome counting down to something inevitable. Leo sat in the armchair, nursing a scotch, thoughts of his primary loss reopened a raw wound that festered with every glance at the headlines. Lucas arrived at 9:45 p.m. with Evelyn. She had barely spoken since the morning meeting because her thoughts were a whirlwind of denial and creeping dread.They gathered around the oak table, the lamp casting long shadows that danced like conspirators on the walls. Victoria poured drinks without asking what each person preferred since the air was thick with tension.Victor Kane arrived at 10:02 p.m., escorted in by the estate security. He wore a grey suit with a tablet clutched in his hand like a weapon. He didn’t sit when offered but stood at the end of the table with an impassive face.“Updates,” Victoria said, “You’ve had twelve hours. So what
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