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The Hustler’s Gamble 24: the counter strike
Jamal had drawn first blood, but he knew The Syndicate wouldn’t let it slide. Taking Vortex had sent a clear message, and now, the real war was about to begin.Sitting in Malik’s apartment, Jamal leaned over a map of the city, his mind racing through every possible move. Khalil sat opposite him, casually flipping a knife between his fingers, while Malik worked his laptop, gathering intel.“They’re going to hit back soon,” Malik said without looking up. “They’ve already tightened security at their other spots. No one’s making a move without direct orders from the top.”Jamal smirked. “Good. That means they’re feeling the pressure.”Khalil exhaled. “Feeling pressure and folding are two different things, bro. We just killed one of their guys. You think they’re gonna sit back?”“No,” Jamal admitted. “They’re going to come for me.”A Sudden AmbushJamal’s prediction came true faster than expected.Three nights after taking Vortex, he was heading to his car after a meeting with a potential
The Hustler’s Gamble 25 : Blood and business
Jamal had secured an alliance with Ogundele, but he knew that promises and handshakes meant nothing without action. The Syndicate wasn’t going to sit back and let him rise again. If he wanted to survive—and win—he had to strike first. A Calculated Strike Jamal, Khalil, and Malik sat in a dimly lit warehouse on the S.S, studying a layout of The Syndicate’s major operations. “They’ve got three key money sources,” Malik said, pointing at the map. “A high-stakes gambling spot in the city,a drug warehouse, and an illegal offshore money laundering hub .” Jamal rubbed his chin. “The gambling spot—how much does it make?” Khalil smirked. “A lot. It’s where politicians and criminals mix. The Syndicate doesn’t just make money from the bets; they control debts, blackmail people, and move cash through the system.” Jamal exhaled. “That’s our target.” Malik frowned. “You sure? If we hit that, it’s war.” Jamal’s jaw tightened. “It already is.” A Night of ChaosThe gambling den was hidden beh
The Hustler’s Gamble 26: the hurt for the kingpin
Jamal knew that if they want to reduce the blood shed, they had to take down the Syndicate’s leader. But first, they had to find out who he was. The problem? No one knew his name. The Syndicate wasn’t like The Dominion. They didn’t parade their power or flaunt their wealth. They moved in the shadows, leaving no loose ends. Jamal, Malik, and Khalil sat in one of Khalil’s apartment, going over every piece of information they had. “We know they own politicians,” Malik said, sipping his beer. “They control businesses, smuggling, and money laundering. But no one has ever seen their boss.” Jamal drummed his fingers on the table. “Every organization has a weak link. We just have to find it.” Khalil leaned back. “And I might know where to start.” Jamal and Malik turned to him. “There’s a man named Pascal,” Khalil continued. “He’s high up in the Syndicate’s money operations. If anyone knows who’s pulling the strings, it’s him.” Jamal nodded. “Where do we find him?” Khalil smirked. “Th
The Hustler’s Gamble 27 : walking into the lion’s den
Pascal’s confession had given them their first real lead—The Broker’s second-in-command was attending a Syndicate meeting tomorrow night. This was their chance to get closer to the man pulling the strings. But it was also the most dangerous move yet. Khalil leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You realize what this means, right? We’re walking straight into their den.” Jamal nodded. “I know. But if we don’t take the risk, we’ll always be playing defense. We need to make a move before they do.” Malik sighed, tapping away at his laptop. “I managed to track some online chatter. The meeting’s happening at a private club in Victoria Island. High security, invitation-only.” Jamal smirked. “Good thing we’re not the type to wait for an invite.” The Plan They spent the next few hours crafting their strategy. Step one: They needed an entry. Malik hacked into the club’s security system, accessing their guest list and surveillance. Step two: They needed disguises. Rico, who had
The Hustler’s Gamble 28: caught in the crossfire
Jamal sat in Rico’s backroom, staring at the map laid out before him. The Syndicate had pushed him into a corner, stripping away his resources, his allies, his money. But he wasn’t finished. Not yet. He traced his fingers over a marked location—one of their warehouses in Ajah. A potential target. Malik leaned back against the wall. “We need more intel before making a move. Rushing in blind is how we got burned last time.” Khalil nodded in agreement. “They already know we’re coming. We have to outthink them.” Jamal sighed. They were right. The Syndicate wasn’t The Dominion. These guys were precise, brutal. They didn’t make careless mistakes. If they were watching him, that meant everyone connected to him was at risk. His mind flashed to Nadine. She had already noticed someone following her before. That wasn’t a coincidence. If the Syndicate was tracking him, it made sense they’d keep tabs on anyone close to him. He had assumed she’d be safe, that laying low would keep her out of t
The Hustler’s Gamble 29: no more running
Jamal stared at the message on Khalil’s phone, his jaw tightening. The Syndicate wasn’t just threatening anymore. This was a declaration of war. They wanted him gone. Good. Because now, he wanted the same for them. He set the phone down and looked at Malik. “What do we know about the Broker?” Malik ran a hand over his beard. “Not much. No one knows what he looks like, where he operates from, or even his real name. He moves through layers of middlemen. But from what I’ve dug up, he’s been in this game for years—long before The Dominion came into existence.” Khalil leaned against the table. “He’s careful. That’s why he’s still alive.” Jamal exhaled slowly. “Then we make him come to us.” Nadine, who had been sitting quietly on the couch, finally spoke. “How?” Jamal turned to her. “We hit them where it hurts.” She frowned. “You mean their money?” Jamal nodded. “Every criminal organization runs on money. The Syndicate’s power isn’t just in their men—it’s in their cash flow,
The Hustler’s Gamble 1 : Rock bottom
Jamal Carter sat on the edge of his worn-out mattress, staring blankly at the eviction notice taped to his apartment door. His eyes felt empty, and his mind was numb. He had been struggling to make ends meet for months, and now he was facing the very real possibility of being homeless.The eviction notice was the final straw. Jamal had been living on instant noodles and tap water for weeks, stretching out his last few dollars. His fridge was empty, except for a half-drunk bottle of cheap soda and a takeout box with nothing but dried sauce stains.Seventy-three dollars. That was all Jamal had to his name. No job, no prospects, no backup plan. He had been searching for work for months, but every door he knocked on seemed to be closed.For years, Jamal had convinced himself that things would change. That he'd find the big break, the right opportunity, the moment that would turn his life around. He had watched others do it, guys from the neighborhood who started from nothing and climbed t
The Hustler’s Gamble 2 : The buy-in
Jamal woke up early, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. He had barely slept, thinking about the five hundred dollars Deion had given him. It was a lot of money, and Jamal knew he had to use it wisely.He got out of bed and started getting ready for the day. He had a lot to do before the buy-in event that evening. He couldn't just show up looking like he was down on his luck. He needed to look like he belonged.Jamal stood in front of his mirror, looking at his limited wardrobe options. He didn't have much, just a few old T-shirts, some faded jeans, and sneakers that had seen better days. He knew he needed to dress better if he wanted to make a good impression.He picked up his phone and called his friend Tariq. Tariq had always been a sharp dresser, and Jamal knew he could count on him for help."Tariq, I need a favor," Jamal said when his friend answered. "I need a suit." Tariq laughed. "A suit? You got a job interview or something?"Jamal hesitated. He didn't want to tell Tariq a
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29: no more running
Jamal stared at the message on Khalil’s phone, his jaw tightening. The Syndicate wasn’t just threatening anymore. This was a declaration of war. They wanted him gone. Good. Because now, he wanted the same for them. He set the phone down and looked at Malik. “What do we know about the Broker?” Malik ran a hand over his beard. “Not much. No one knows what he looks like, where he operates from, or even his real name. He moves through layers of middlemen. But from what I’ve dug up, he’s been in this game for years—long before The Dominion came into existence.” Khalil leaned against the table. “He’s careful. That’s why he’s still alive.” Jamal exhaled slowly. “Then we make him come to us.” Nadine, who had been sitting quietly on the couch, finally spoke. “How?” Jamal turned to her. “We hit them where it hurts.” She frowned. “You mean their money?” Jamal nodded. “Every criminal organization runs on money. The Syndicate’s power isn’t just in their men—it’s in their cash flow,
28: caught in the crossfire
Jamal sat in Rico’s backroom, staring at the map laid out before him. The Syndicate had pushed him into a corner, stripping away his resources, his allies, his money. But he wasn’t finished. Not yet. He traced his fingers over a marked location—one of their warehouses in Ajah. A potential target. Malik leaned back against the wall. “We need more intel before making a move. Rushing in blind is how we got burned last time.” Khalil nodded in agreement. “They already know we’re coming. We have to outthink them.” Jamal sighed. They were right. The Syndicate wasn’t The Dominion. These guys were precise, brutal. They didn’t make careless mistakes. If they were watching him, that meant everyone connected to him was at risk. His mind flashed to Nadine. She had already noticed someone following her before. That wasn’t a coincidence. If the Syndicate was tracking him, it made sense they’d keep tabs on anyone close to him. He had assumed she’d be safe, that laying low would keep her out of t
27 : walking into the lion’s den
Pascal’s confession had given them their first real lead—The Broker’s second-in-command was attending a Syndicate meeting tomorrow night. This was their chance to get closer to the man pulling the strings. But it was also the most dangerous move yet. Khalil leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You realize what this means, right? We’re walking straight into their den.” Jamal nodded. “I know. But if we don’t take the risk, we’ll always be playing defense. We need to make a move before they do.” Malik sighed, tapping away at his laptop. “I managed to track some online chatter. The meeting’s happening at a private club in Victoria Island. High security, invitation-only.” Jamal smirked. “Good thing we’re not the type to wait for an invite.” The Plan They spent the next few hours crafting their strategy. Step one: They needed an entry. Malik hacked into the club’s security system, accessing their guest list and surveillance. Step two: They needed disguises. Rico, who had
26: the hurt for the kingpin
Jamal knew that if they want to reduce the blood shed, they had to take down the Syndicate’s leader. But first, they had to find out who he was. The problem? No one knew his name. The Syndicate wasn’t like The Dominion. They didn’t parade their power or flaunt their wealth. They moved in the shadows, leaving no loose ends. Jamal, Malik, and Khalil sat in one of Khalil’s apartment, going over every piece of information they had. “We know they own politicians,” Malik said, sipping his beer. “They control businesses, smuggling, and money laundering. But no one has ever seen their boss.” Jamal drummed his fingers on the table. “Every organization has a weak link. We just have to find it.” Khalil leaned back. “And I might know where to start.” Jamal and Malik turned to him. “There’s a man named Pascal,” Khalil continued. “He’s high up in the Syndicate’s money operations. If anyone knows who’s pulling the strings, it’s him.” Jamal nodded. “Where do we find him?” Khalil smirked. “Th
25 : Blood and business
Jamal had secured an alliance with Ogundele, but he knew that promises and handshakes meant nothing without action. The Syndicate wasn’t going to sit back and let him rise again. If he wanted to survive—and win—he had to strike first. A Calculated Strike Jamal, Khalil, and Malik sat in a dimly lit warehouse on the S.S, studying a layout of The Syndicate’s major operations. “They’ve got three key money sources,” Malik said, pointing at the map. “A high-stakes gambling spot in the city,a drug warehouse, and an illegal offshore money laundering hub .” Jamal rubbed his chin. “The gambling spot—how much does it make?” Khalil smirked. “A lot. It’s where politicians and criminals mix. The Syndicate doesn’t just make money from the bets; they control debts, blackmail people, and move cash through the system.” Jamal exhaled. “That’s our target.” Malik frowned. “You sure? If we hit that, it’s war.” Jamal’s jaw tightened. “It already is.” A Night of ChaosThe gambling den was hidden beh
24: the counter strike
Jamal had drawn first blood, but he knew The Syndicate wouldn’t let it slide. Taking Vortex had sent a clear message, and now, the real war was about to begin.Sitting in Malik’s apartment, Jamal leaned over a map of the city, his mind racing through every possible move. Khalil sat opposite him, casually flipping a knife between his fingers, while Malik worked his laptop, gathering intel.“They’re going to hit back soon,” Malik said without looking up. “They’ve already tightened security at their other spots. No one’s making a move without direct orders from the top.”Jamal smirked. “Good. That means they’re feeling the pressure.”Khalil exhaled. “Feeling pressure and folding are two different things, bro. We just killed one of their guys. You think they’re gonna sit back?”“No,” Jamal admitted. “They’re going to come for me.”A Sudden AmbushJamal’s prediction came true faster than expected.Three nights after taking Vortex, he was heading to his car after a meeting with a potential
23: the road to retaliation
Jamal had lost everything before—but this time, he refused to stay down. The Syndicate had pushed him to the edge, and now, it was his turn to push back.The S.S had changed since The Dominion fell. The power vacuum had made the streets more chaotic, and everyone was looking for a new king. Jamal had to make sure they saw him as the only option.But first, he needed to rebuild his empire.And that started with making money.A New HustleJamal sat in Malik’s dimly lit apartment, a map of the city spread out on the table. Khalil leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Malik clicked through files on his laptop.“We need cash flow,” Malik said. “Fast.”Khalil smirked. “So we’re back to basics?”Jamal nodded. “We do what we know best—hustle.”Malik glanced up. “I’ve been digging around. The Syndicate’s got their hands in a lot—real estate, smuggling, illegal gambling. But the easiest way to hurt them?” He turned the laptop around, showing a list of businesses. “Their money-laundering
22 : Fire and Blood
Later that night, Jamal met with khalil and Malik in an abandoned warehouse. Malik looked skeptical. “So, what did you give Rico?” Jamal smirked. “Let’s just say I still have friends in the right places.” Khalil shook his head. “You’re playing a dangerous game.” Jamal’s smirk faded. “I know.” Malik sighed. “So what’s next?” Jamal’s expression hardened. “We start taking back what’s ours.” Khalil chuckled. “And how do you plan to do that?” Jamal turned to him. “By hitting them where it hurts.” The fight wasn’t over. It was just beginning. Striking First Two nights later, Jamal stood on the rooftop of an abandoned building overlooking one of The Syndicate’s storage facilities. It was a warehouse near the port, a key part of their smuggling operation. Jamal adjusted the earpiece Malik had given him. “You in position?” Malik’s voice crackled through. “Yeah. Cameras are looped. You’ve got five minutes before someone notices.” Jamal nodded and signaled Khalil, who was waiting b
21 : A deal with the devil
Jamal hadn’t wanted to call Khalil. Too much history. Too much betrayal. But desperate men didn’t get to be picky. He found Khalil at a high-end lounge in the city. Unlike Jamal, Khalil was still thriving. Dressed in an expensive suit, a glass of whiskey in hand, he looked exactly like the kind of man Jamal had once despised. “You look like hell,” Khalil remarked as Jamal sat down. Jamal didn’t waste time. “The Syndicate took everything.” Khalil raised an eyebrow. “Not surprised.” “You said you knew people. People who worked with them.” Khalil nodded. “I do.” “I need information. Leverage. Something to hit back.” Khalil smirked. “You don’t have the resources to hit back.” Jamal’s fists clenched. “Then help me get them.” Khalil studied him. “You’re asking me to go against people who could destroy both of us.” Jamal didn’t flinch. “They already destroyed me. What do I have to lose?” Silence stretched between them. Then Khalil sighed. “Alright. There might be a way. But you won’
