Rising Phoenix

Chapter 13; A Dance of Shadows

Reyansh’s Perspective:

She continued, "These mafia groups are- the Sniper Mafia, the Dagger Syndicate, and the Cobra Cartel. And you are the leader of the Sniper Mafia, Mr. Rout," she said, looking straight into my eyes, her confidence unwavering.

My heart raced as I absorbed her words.

"So, for my first favor, I want you to find out about every member and every piece of information available about the Dagger Syndicate. And try to find out more about Don Gomez, his right-hand man, along with his involvement in framing the daughter of Don, Analisa Gomez, for a crime she didn't commit. I want you to gather as much evidence as possible to find the truth and help me clear her name." she said, her voice firm and determined to seek justice to clear the name of Analisa Gomez.

I nodded, trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of the task she entrusted to me.

I stood up and moved towards the glass mirror and overlooked the city skyline below.

The city beneath me buzzed with activity, oblivious to the dark criminal world that lurked within its shadows.

As the leader of the Sniper Mafia, I knew that tackling the Dagger Syndicate would be no easy feat.

"You may be well aware that it is not an easy task to find out about every member and every piece of information about a secretive and powerful criminal organization like the Dagger Syndicate," I said, turning back to face her. "It will require extensive resources, careful planning, and strategic maneuvering to infiltrate their ranks and uncover the truth," I continued, my tone serious.

"I am well aware of the task and the significant challenges that lie ahead. But I am also very well aware of the person from whom I am seeking this favor and the abilities that you possess, Mr. Rout," she replied with confidence dripping from her words, but here is the thing- she is not confident about me, but she is confident about her own decision to enlist my help.

"I am amused by your confidence that I will do as you ask if you are forgetting that you are standing in front of the leader of the most powerful mafia gang in the criminal world. I can accept your proposal and then proceed to double-cross you. I can kill you with the snap of my finger just like you killed my sister and none would get a whiff of it. I am not to be taken lightly even when you have the upper hand," I moved dangerously close to her and said in my most dangerous voice that makes even the toughest criminals tremble with fear.

At the mention of my sister, something passed over her face- a flicker of remorse or sadness perhaps, but it was momentary and quickly replaced with a resolute expression. She squared her shoulders and met my intense gaze directly.

With a calm demeanor, she again turned towards the glass wall and looked straight. She replied in an unwavering voice, "Do you know I have heard the stories about your ruthless nature and the power that you hold, Mr. Rout? I know that in this dark world we both inhabit, trust is a rare and precious commodity. But you must have underestimated me if you believed that I would come to a lion's den without prior knowledge of the risks and consequences. You may be a mafia leader, but there are many things I have up my sleeves that you may not be aware of. And that is going to be my secret weapon in this deadly game we are about to play."

With her words, I realized that this woman possessed a cunning intelligence that matched, if not surpassed, my own. Her ability to maintain composure and hold her ground in the face of my threats demonstrated shrewdness and strategic thinking that I had not anticipated.

"You know I am way deep into this game, that I was well aware from the time I stepped onto this battlefield that there is no turning back. My life was destroyed..." she trailed off, a hint of vulnerability in her tone as I watched her closely, "and now I will destroy their life to the extent that they will beg for my mercy," she continued, looking straight into my eyes with a promise to unleash her full vengeance.

With a sly smile she continued, "And about your threat to double-cross me and kill me with the snap of your fingers, I must say, Mr. Rout, that you underestimate me greatly. By the end of the meeting, you will be the one who will protect and defend me from any potential harm that may come my way".

She again looked straight at the glass wall, her reflection mirroring a steely determination. I followed her line of sight and was surprised when I saw the building of Miller's Group towering in the distance. It became clear to me that she had a plan, and it involved taking down one of the most powerful corporations in the city.

"Oh. You are overconfident about that. Still, I will think about your proposal, but I am not going to grant either of your wishes. The first promise you asked for is way riskier and requires more strategic planning and plans than you may realize. That is the only favor I'll be granting you while you are expected to fulfill the deal we agreed upon," I responded, acknowledging her astuteness and the gravity of her words.

After registering my words, she gave me a smirk, "Very well, Mr. Rout. My first request is indeed a risky one, but the rewards will be worth it. As for the second favor I mentioned, you will be the only one who will help me with fulfilling it."

She moved back to her seat, crossing her legs and leaning back with an air of confidence and authority.

"Don't you want to know where the twin sister of your mother is that you've been searching for all these years? Do you know that the family you wiped off the face of the earth who murdered your parents were only the pawns in a much larger game of power and deception? They were the pawn of a game set by a figure who is behind all the chaos and destruction upheld in your life. To some extent, that person is also involved in the murder of your sister," she paused, waiting for my reaction.

"I am not the murderer of your sister, Mr. Rout, I am the victim who was framed for the murder of your sister," she explained calmly, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and determination.