The Zenith Headquarters was unusually silent, a stark contrast to the storm brewing outside its walls. The article had spread like wildfire, painting Carrick as nothing more than a power-hungry criminal, someone no better than the enemies he had sworn to eliminate. It was a well-crafted attack.. not just on his empire but on his reputation.Carrick sat at the head of the long conference table, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood. Jason, Victor, Anthony, and a few of his most trusted men were gathered around him, their faces tense.Jason was the first to speak. “We traced the article back to a journalist named David Leclair. But he’s just a pawn. The real power behind this smear campaign is Zachary’s PR firm.. Blackwell Strategies.”Victor let out a low whistle. “They don’t come cheap. Someone’s throwing a lot of money into making sure the city turns against you.”Carrick’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s not just about money. Zachary isn’t trying to kill me

The drive back to the Zenith headquarters was silent.Carrick sat in the backseat with his mother beside him, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Despite the night’s events, she looked as composed as ever, though he could see the subtle tension in her fingers.Victor drove, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror every few minutes, checking for tails. Jason and Anthony followed closely behind in the second vehicle, their convoy moving through the city’s quiet streets like shadows.Finally, Elena broke the silence.“You shouldn’t have come for me.”Carrick turned his head slightly, studying her. “And why’s that?”Elena sighed, her gaze fixed outside the window. “Because I’m not your weakness, Carrick. I don’t want to be.”Carrick frowned. “You think I see you as a weakness?”She gave him a pointed look. “You risked your position, your men, and your advantage just to get me back. Zachary wanted you to make a move, and you did.”Carrick leaned back against the seat, his expression unrea

The air inside the Zenith headquarters was thick with tension. Jason, Anthony, and Victor sat around the conference table, their expressions hardened by the news of their missing men. The abductions had been a bold move, a message from Domino Gale that he wasn’t going to go down quietly.Carrick stood at the head of the room, his fingers drumming against the polished wood of the table. His mind was already working, analyzing every angle, every possible move.Jason broke the silence. "We have two options, go in fast and reckless to get our people back, or play this smart and make sure Domino regrets ever trying this."Victor exhaled, crossing his arms. "Fast and reckless is exactly what he wants. He’s baiting us, trying to draw us into a trap."LAnthony leaned back, a smirk playing at his lips. "So what do we do? Sit back and let him think we’re scared?"Carrick finally spoke, his voice calm but filled with underlying steel. "No. We let him believe he’s in control. Then we rip it away

The Zenith Headquarters was quieter than usual. Despite the recent victory, tension still hung in the air like a storm waiting to break. Carrick Gale sat at the head of the long conference table, his fingers steepled in front of him as he listened to the latest reports.Victor Alistair stood to his right, arms crossed, his face set in a grim expression. Jason leaned against the far wall, nursing a glass of whiskey, while Anthony paced restlessly, glancing at his phone every few seconds.Finally, Jason broke the silence.“So what’s the move?”Carrick exhaled, tapping a finger against the polished wood. “Domino isn’t going to stay quiet for long. We’ve humiliated him, stripped him of his resources, and made sure his allies know he’s weak. He won’t let that slide.”Victor nodded. “He’ll retaliate hard. Question is, how?”Anthony threw his phone onto the table. “We’ve been tracking his movements, but he’s keeping a low profile. The only thing we’ve confirmed is that he met with Lorenzo ag

The first shot rang out like a war drum.Jason’s bullet tore through the air, forcing Domino to dodge to the side. Almost instantly, the hall exploded into chaos. Muzzle flashes illuminated the darkness, bullets ripping through the air as both sides exchanged fire.Carrick didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, using the moment of distraction to close the distance between him and his older brother. Domino barely had time to react before Carrick’s fist collided with his jaw.The force sent Domino stumbling back, but he recovered quickly, his smirk widening despite the split lip. “That's all you got, little brother?”Carrick didn’t reply. He swung again, this time aiming for Domino’s ribs.Domino twisted, dodging at the last second. “Tsk, tsk. You fight just like Father did, reckless.”Carrick’s glare darkened. That was a mistake.Using the insult as fuel, he fainted left before slamming his knee into Domino’s stomach. His older brother gasped, doubling over slightly, but before Carrick c