The safe house was a dimly lit warehouse near the docks, its towering metal shelves casting long shadows over the concrete floor. The salty air from the sea mixed with the faint scent of oil and dust.Carrick stood at the center of it all, arms crossed, his mind racing through the next steps. His mother sat on an old leather chair nearby, silent, but watchful. Victor leaned against a crate, while Jason and Anthony took positions near the entrance, their eyes scanning for any movement.The room was thick with tension. The Gale Family wouldn’t stay quiet for long.Victor was the first to break the silence. “Your father’s going to respond, and it won’t be subtle.”Carrick’s jaw clenched. “I’m counting on that.”Jason scoffed, loading his pistol. “Yeah? Well, forgive me if I don’t exactly love the idea of having Gale hit squads breathing down our necks every second.”Anthony nodded. “He’s right. We need to go on the offensive before Zachary regroups.”Carrick turned to his mother. “He’ll

The city was alive with the hum of the night, but inside the black SUV, there was only silence.Carrick sat in the backseat, his fingers tapping against his knee. He wasn’t impatient, he was calculating.Two pieces of his father’s empire had already fallen. Lorenzo Corletti and Rafael Dominguez were out of the picture. That left one final piece before he could go for the king himself.Ezra Mallory.A former investment banker turned financial architect of Zachary Gale’s criminal empire. He handled money laundering, offshore accounts, and political bribes. If Zachary was the head, Ezra was the spine.Break the spine, and the body would collapse.Victor glanced at Carrick through the rearview mirror. “We heading straight for him?”Carrick exhaled, his mind working through the variables. “Not yet.”Jason, in the passenger seat, frowned. “Why not? He’s the last loose end before we can take down Zachary.”Carrick’s lips curled slightly. “Exactly. Which means he’s going to expect us.”Jason

The warehouse reeked of smoke and gunpowder. Fires crackled, casting eerie shadows across the wreckage of what had once been Zachary Gale’s last stronghold. Bodies of his men littered the floor, some groaning in pain, others forever still.Carrick Gale stood at the center of it all, his gaze locked onto his father, the man who had once ruled over him like a god, the man who had discarded him like trash.Now, that same man was on his knees, clutching a bloodied wound at his side, his suit torn, his breathing uneven.Jason approached from behind Carrick, his gun still drawn, though unnecessary at this point. “Docks are secure,” he reported. “Victor and his men have locked down every escape route. There’s nowhere left for him to run.”Carrick gave a slow nod but didn’t take his eyes off his father. Zachary Gale, the great kingpin, the feared ruler of the Gale Family… reduced to this.“You look smaller,” Carrick murmured, voice calm, almost thoughtful.Zachary’s eyes flickered with anger.

Carrick’s grip on his phone tightened as he read the message again. “If you want her back, let’s talk.” Jason was already pacing. “Domino doesn’t do ‘talks.’ This is a setup.” Victor exhaled sharply. “Of course, it’s a setup. He’s daring you to walk into a trap.” Carrick’s eyes darkened. He knows I won’t ignore this. Jason turned to him. “Boss, you can’t..” “I don’t have a choice.” His voice was quiet, controlled, but beneath it, a storm was brewing. Jason ran a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Carrick. That’s what he wants! He knows your mother is your weak spot. He’s pulling you in.” Carrick’s gaze flicked to Victor. “Location?” Victor was already working, fingers gliding over his phone. A moment later, he looked up. “A warehouse on the outskirts of the city. No doubt crawling with his men.” Jason scoffed. “Of course. Same old Domino. Too arrogant to pick neutral ground.” Carrick slipped his phone into his pocket and straightened. “Then we go prepared.” Jaso

The next morning, Carrick Gale stood in his office, gazing out at the city skyline. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden glow over Zenith Tower. But his mind was far from appreciating the view.Behind him, Victor and Jason stood near the conference table, where multiple monitors displayed details about Lucas Kane.Lucas wasn’t like Morello. He didn’t gamble, didn’t drink excessively, didn’t make reckless mistakes. He was disciplined, methodical, a loyal man.That was why he had to die.Carrick turned from the window and faced his men. “Where is he now?”Jason glanced at the screen. “Leaving his house. He’s got the same routine every morning—drives his son to school, then heads to his warehouse.”Victor exhaled. “You sure you want to do this?”Carrick’s jaw tightened. “You know the answer.”Jason smirked. “Alright, then. How do we play this? Sniper? Car bomb? Something dramatic?”Carrick’s expression remained cold. “No. I want it personal.”Victor nodded in understanding. “We tak