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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
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 59: LINES IN THE SAND
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
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 60: WE MOVE FIRST
The Zenith Headquarters was alive with tension. Every footstep echoed through the halls as Carrick’s men prepared for what was coming. The attack on their businesses wasn’t just a provocation.. it was a declaration of war. Domino Gale had made his move, and now it was Carrick’s turn to answer.Seated at the head of the war room table, Carrick tapped his fingers against the polished surface, deep in thought. Jason, Anthony, and Victor stood around him, each waiting for his decision.Jason was the first to break the silence. “We’ve locked down all the businesses that were hit. Extra security, reinforced personnel. But it’s clear this was just the beginning.”Victor nodded. “Domino wanted to send a message. But if we don’t respond, it’ll make us look weak.”Carrick leaned back, considering his options. “He’s trying to bait us into a sloppy move.” His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “That’s not going to happen.”Anthony exhaled. “So what’s the plan?”Carrick turn
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 61: NO MORE CHAINS
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
BANG BANG BANG Chapter 62. BREAKING THE CHAINS
The roar of the engines filled the night as the two black SUVs closed in behind them, headlights slicing through the darkness.Carrick’s grip on the wheel tightened. This wasn’t over.“Jason, Anthony.. prepare for a fight,” he ordered, his voice sharp.Jason chambered a round, rolling down the window. “On it, boss.”Anthony pulled out a compact rifle, checking the sights. “What’s the play?”Carrick glanced in the rearview mirror. “We need to lose them before we reach the safe house.”His mother, calm despite the danger, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Carrick…”He didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t let them take you back.”She sighed, her gaze filled with an emotion he couldn’t quite decipher. “I know.”The first SUV behind them lurched forward, ramming into their bumper.The impact jolted everyone in the car.Jason cursed. “They’re trying to run us off the road!”Carrick gritted his teeth. Not happening. He yanked the steering wheel, controlling t
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CHAPTER 110. THE COST OF SILENCE
The early morning light filtered through a gray sky, casting the city in a muted, colorless haze. It was the kind of dawn that felt like it hadn’t earned the right to rise...like it was mourning something lost in the night.Carrick stood in the chapel at the far end of the estate, where the dust hung thick in the air and the stained glass no longer caught the sun the way it used to. No one came here anymore. Not since his mother died. The wooden pews were warped with time and weather, but the silence was clean.He lit a candle.Not for Elena. Not for Moretti. Maybe not for anyone.He just needed to light something that didn’t burn with hatred.Behind him, the heavy creak of the door gave away Marco’s approach.“I didn’t think you’d be here,” Marco said softly.Carrick didn’t turn. “Didn’t think I still believed in anything?”Marco didn’t answer. He stepped beside him and stared at the flickering flame.“You’re not the only one who lost something that night,” he said. “You keep acting
CHAPTER 109. ASHES AND ECHOES
The city awoke to the scent of blood and smoke. By morning, news of the massacre at the docks had spread like wildfire through the underworld. Whispers crawled through the alleys and bars, into the cigar lounges and the brothels. Moretti and Elena De Luca were dead. Executed in a blaze of violence that had left no room for doubt...Carrick Gale had drawn the line in blood, and dared anyone to cross it. But not all lines could be erased with bullets. In a shadowed office deep in the West District, Arturo Salvi stood with his back to the window, cigarette in hand, watching the city with narrowed eyes. He was one of the old blood...the kind who had ruled before Carrick, before Moretti, before the streets became a chessboard of death. Beside him, Alessia De Luca, Elena’s younger sister, sat in silence, her fingers clenched tight around a crystal tumbler of scotch. “They butchered her,” Alessia said, her voice hollow. “Left her in the dirt like some street dog.” Arturo didn’t turn
CHAPTER 108. EMBERS OF VENGEANCE
The stench of blood still clung to Carrick’s coat as he walked into the estate. The halls were quieter now, but not with peace...only with aftermath. Word of Moretti and Elena's deaths had spread faster than fire, and with it came both reverence and rage.He barely had time to remove his gloves when Victor approached, his face pale under the low lighting.“We have a problem,” he said without preamble.Carrick raised an eyebrow, his voice rough. “Only one?”Victor didn't smile. “Giovanni Serrano.”Carrick’s brow furrowed. The Serrano patriarch had kept to the sidelines, maintaining a thin veil of neutrality in the war. “What about him?”“He’s calling a meeting. Tonight. Neutral ground. Says he wants to broker peace before the city drowns in blood.”Carrick scoffed. “He’s late to the sermon.”Victor hesitated. “There’s more. He blames you. Says the massacre was dishonorable. Elena was his goddaughter.”That made Carrick pause. He turned away, staring out the window at the dark horizon.
CHAPTER 107 SMOKE AND BLOOD
The estate was alive with movement. Men armed to the teeth prepared for the war that was coming. Weapons were checked, ammunition counted, and alliances solidified. The air was thick with the scent of gun oil and cigarette smoke, a quiet hum of tension running through the halls like an electric current. Every man present knew what was at stake. If they lost, there would be no second chances.Carrick sat at the head of the table in the council room, his closest advisors gathered before him. His fingers tapped a slow, rhythmic beat on the polished wood as he studied the faces around him. Loyalty and fear mingled in their expressions, a silent acknowledgment of the battle to come."Moretti is making his move," Victor said, setting a map down on the table. Red markings indicated enemy movements, their areas of control expanding like a disease. "He’s pulled in every favor he’s ever had. Elena De Luca is backing him, and they’ve got the support of three smaller families that have turned aga
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...
