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BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 51: THE COST OF WAR
The tension inside Zenith Headquarters was thick. Though the operation had been a success, everyone knew the Gale Family wouldn't take the loss lying down. The silence before the storm was unsettling.Carrick sat at the head of the long conference table, his fingers interlaced as he listened to the updates. The room was dimly lit, the only sources of light coming from the monitors displaying financial charts and security feeds.Jason leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “So, what’s next? The Gale Family isn’t just going to sit on their losses.”Anthony nodded. “Yeah, Zachary’s too prideful. He’ll strike back, and hard.”Victor smirked slightly. “That’s what we want, isn’t it?” He turned to Carrick. “We forced their hand. Now we see how they play their next move.”Carrick remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of him. Then, he exhaled through his nose. “They’ll retaliate in two ways.”Jason raised an eyebrow. “Two ways?”Carrick nodded. “First, they’ll g
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 52: THE SHIFTING BOARD
Carrick sat alone in his office, the city lights casting a faint glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His mind was sharp, processing every move that had been played so far. His conversation with Dante Romano had been a success, but he knew the old man wouldn't risk everything for free.A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.“Come in.”Jason stepped inside, followed by Victor and Anthony. The weight in their expressions told Carrick they weren’t here for casual conversation.“We’ve got movement,” Jason said, tossing a file onto Carrick’s desk. “Zachary’s making his play.”Carrick picked up the file and flipped through the pages. It contained reports, intercepted communications, and lists of suspected turncoats.Victor folded his arms. “He’s trying to turn your own people against you.”Carrick let out a quiet breath. He had anticipated this, but seeing the names in black and white made it real.Anthony leaned against the wall. “We’ve already questioned a few of the
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 53: THE ART OF WAR
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
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 54: A MOTHER'S WORTH
The streets of the old district were eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the low hum of the engines as Carrick’s convoy moved swiftly through the narrow roads. Street Lights flickered intermittently, casting long shadows against the crumbling brick buildings.Carrick sat in the lead SUV, his fingers drumming against the leather seat. His mind was running through every possible scenario. Why would his mother leave the estate without protection? She was no fool. She knew the dangers of being seen alone, especially now that Zachary had gone on the offensive.Jason’s voice crackled through the comms. “We’ve got eyes on her car. It’s parked outside an abandoned textile factory. No sign of her yet.”Carrick tightened his jaw. A setup. It had to be.He grabbed his gun from the seat beside him and checked the magazine before sliding it back into place. “Nobody moves until I say so.”Victor, sitting beside him, let out a slow breath. “You think Zachary would actually hurt her?”Carrick’s
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 55: A TOLL ON POWER
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
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 56: SHADOW MOVES
The air inside the Zenith headquarters was thick with anticipation. The latest strike against Domino had been a success, but no one in the room believed he would take it lying down.Carrick sat at the head of the table in the war room, fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface. The light from the overhead fixture cast sharp shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable.Jason leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, his sharp gaze bouncing between the faces gathered at the table. Victor sat at Carrick’s right, quietly scanning a report, while Anthony was checking his phone, his usual smirk absent.Elena stood behind Carrick’s chair, silent but observant. She knew better than anyone that the hardest part wasn’t winning a battle—it was anticipating the counterattack.The silence stretched before Jason finally broke it."Domino’s too smart to retaliate immediately. He’ll let us think we’re in control before he strikes back."Carrick nodded slowly. "That’s what I’
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 57: STRIKING BACK
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
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 58: THE TURNING POINT
The night air was thick with smoke, the flickering flames from the wrecked SUV casting eerie shadows against the surrounding buildings. Sirens wailed in the distance, but Carrick Gale barely noticed. His eyes were locked onto his older brother, Domino, whose usual smirk faltered for just a second before returning.Carrick took a slow step forward, his expression unreadable. Behind him, his men were already securing the hostages, pulling them from the remaining SUVs. Jason and Victor kept their guns trained on Domino’s remaining enforcers, ensuring no sudden movements.“Look at you,” Domino chuckled, shaking his head. “Acting like you’ve already won.”Carrick didn’t smile. “I have.”Domino’s jaw tightened, but he quickly masked his frustration with amusement. He glanced at the burning wreckage behind him, then at the hostages being escorted away. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, little brother.”Carrick tilted his head slightly. “Am I?”Domino’s eyes flickered toward Lorenzo, who was
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Chapter 106. A City in Ashes
The scent of blood and gunpowder clung to the air long after the last gunshot had been fired. The docks, once a bustling artery of trade, were now a graveyard of broken men and shattered alliances. Carrick Gale stood amid the wreckage, the barrel of his gun still warm from the violence he had unleashed. His men moved with calculated efficiency, gathering bodies, silencing the wounded, ensuring that no one who had defied him lived to tell the tale.Victor approached, wiping blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. "It's done," he said. "Silvio's loyalists are finished. The families that wavered will see this and fall in line."Carrick nodded, his gaze sweeping the carnage. "Good. Then let’s send the final message. Burn it all."Marco, who had remained silent throughout the battle, stepped forward now, his voice edged with restrained fury. "Are you serious? There are still workers in those buildings, people who had nothing to do with this. Burning the docks? That’s not strategy,
CHAPTER 105. INTO THE ABYSS
The estate hummed with a quiet, eerie intensity. Each step Carrick took on the cold marble floors seemed to reverberate through the halls, carrying the weight of the decisions he had made. It was clear now...Carrick Gale was no longer just a rising power. He was the storm, the unyielding force that shaped the city. But with that power came a growing unease, a creeping doubt that gnawed at the edges of his thoughts.Carrick sat at the long table in the council room, his fingers steepled in front of him. The weight of his leadership pressed heavily on his shoulders, but it wasn’t the pressure of the city or his enemies that troubled him most. It was the growing rift between him and his men...his brother, in particular. Marco’s words from the night before echoed in his mind like a warning bell, a constant reminder that the road he was walking was narrowing.The room had filled quickly after Carrick’s arrival. Victor, Darius, and Enzo stood by the walls, their usual confidence tempered by
CHAPTER 104. THE PRICE OF POWER
The following morning, the estate was quieter than usual, but there was an unease that hung in the air. It wasn’t just the silence...it was the tension. Carrick’s actions the previous night had rippled through the underworld like a stone dropped into a still pond. Every family, every loyalist, every rival had felt it, and now they were waiting. Waiting for the next move.Carrick stood at the balcony again, his eyes scanning the city. The streets were still, the tension palpable. People were walking on eggshells, and Carrick could feel it. The empire he was building was delicate. One wrong move, and it could crumble beneath him. But he wasn’t about to let that happen.Marco entered the room, his expression tight. The years of brotherhood between them hadn’t dulled the sharpness of their arguments, but today, there was something more in Marco’s eyes. Worry. Concern. A desperation Carrick hadn’t seen before.“Carrick,” Marco said, his voice steady but strained. “We need to talk. About la
CHAPTER 103. THE DARKEST CORNER
The cold wind whipped through the narrow alleys of the Gale estate, the moonlight casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets. Carrick stood by the edge of the balcony again, the same spot where he had stood earlier that day. But now, there was a gnawing emptiness in the air, as if the city itself was holding its breath. The power he had seized was not a comfort. It was a weight. A burden that pressed down on him every moment.Inside the estate, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The council room, usually filled with casual chatter and scheming, was eerily quiet. Carrick had been spending less time in the boardrooms lately and more time on the streets, dealing with the remnants of the old order. Each deal, each confrontation, had taken its toll. He had started to feel the cracks in his control, as if the power he had so ruthlessly claimed was slipping through his fingers like sand.“Carrick,” Marco’s voice broke through the silence. “We’ve got a problem.”Carrick didn’t turn a
CHAPTER 102: NO REST FOR KINGS
The streets of the city seemed quieter than usual as Carrick stood on the balcony of the Gale estate, but he knew better. It wasn’t peace...it was fear. Fear gripped every corner, every alleyway, every rival family. Carrick Gale wasn’t a rumor anymore. He was reality. But power like this came with a cost. He could feel it pressing against his back like the cold barrel of a loaded gun.Inside the estate, the council room was already filling up.Marco was the first to speak as Carrick entered, his voice laced with concern. “Enzo and the others are downstairs. They want to pledge formally.”Darius yawned and leaned against the wall. “Good. Let’s not keep them waiting.”Carrick adjusted his cufflinks calmly. “Bring them in.”Moments later, Enzo entered, followed by a dozen men. They were all hardened men, bloodied from years under Moreno’s shadow, but tonight, they looked like schoolboys waiting for a principal’s verdict.Enzo cleared his throat nervously. “Boss... I mean, Carrick, sir...
CHAPTER 101. CEMENTING POWER
The night was far from over. Even as the flames from the Moreno estate flickered in the distance, Carrick knew this was only the beginning. Killing Moreno was a statement, a warning to any who still doubted his claim to power. But power wasn’t just about eliminating enemies...it was about control. Total control.As they drove back to the Gale estate, the tension inside the car was thick. Marco sat in silence, staring out the window, while Elias tapped his fingers against his knee impatiently.Darius finally spoke up, his usual smirk in place. “Well, that was fun. Can’t say I’ll miss Moreno. Guy was a snake.”Victor nodded in agreement. “Still, his connections ran deep. His men won’t just disappear. Some will scatter, but others will look for new leadership.”Carrick, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Victor. “Then we absorb them before someone else does.”Marco scoffed. “And you think they’ll just join you willingly?”Carrick smirked. “Everyone has a price.”Elias leaned forwa
CHAPTER 100: THE CLAIMS
The night air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood. The docks, once a battleground of betrayal, had fallen into silence. The echoes of gunfire had faded, replaced by the occasional groan of the wounded and the distant wail of police sirens.Carrick stood over his father’s lifeless body, his gun still warm in his grip. For a moment, he felt nothing. No satisfaction, no sorrow...just a hollow stillness.Marco stared at Zachary’s corpse, his expression unreadable. He had always been his father’s favored son, yet he didn’t speak. Perhaps he finally realized that Zachary had never truly loved either of them...only power.Darius stepped forward, nudging Zachary’s body with his boot. “Well, that’s that. Should we celebrate? Or are we mourning?”Carrick exhaled slowly, holstering his gun. “Neither. We’re not done.”Victor wiped blood from his sleeve. “You mean taking over the Gale Empire?”Carrick turned to him, his gaze sharp. “That’s exactly what I mean.”Elias chuckled, crossing
CHAPTER 99. UNDESERVING OF FORGIVENESS
Carrick sat motionless, his fingers drumming lightly on the wooden surface of his desk. His piercing gaze remained fixed on Marco, who stood before him with an uncharacteristic tension in his shoulders.“So, let me get this straight,” Carrick said, his voice slow, deliberate. “You came all the way here… to warn me about our father?”Marco exhaled, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Yes.”Carrick leaned back in his chair, studying his brother with cold amusement. “That’s interesting. Because the last time we spoke, you were quite happy to watch me die.”A flicker of guilt crossed Marco’s face. “I didn’t come here to argue, Carrick.”Victor, standing near the door with his arms crossed, scoffed. “Then what exactly do you want? Forgiveness? A fresh start?”Marco’s gaze darted to Victor before settling back on Carrick. “I don’t expect either of those things.”Carrick exhaled, shaking his head. “Then why the hell should I believe a word you say?”Marco took a step forward, his fists clen
CHAPTER 98. LINGERING SHADOW
The weight of the city pressed down on Carrick’s shoulders. The war had been won, but there was no peace...not yet.From his penthouse office, he watched the skyline, the lights of New Manhattan twinkling like stars. This was his city now. His empire. And yet, his enemy still lived.Zachary Gale had not disappeared. He had not begged for mercy.And that made him a problem.The soft hum of the city below was a deceptive lullaby, masking the storm brewing in the underworld. Carrick exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk. He had stripped Zachary of his wealth, his power, and his men. But the man was still standing, still plotting. That was a mistake Carrick intended to correct.The door to his office creaked open.Elias stepped inside, his usual cocky smirk absent. “We have a situation.”Carrick turned, his sharp gaze locking onto him. “Go on.”Elias placed a file on the desk and flipped it open. “Zachary’s been making moves. He’s been seen meeting with former
