The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 109

The days following Javier’s visit were marked by a careful balance of power.

Santiago hadn’t made any direct moves, but Luis knew better than to take the offer of a partnership at face value. Santiago was powerful in his own right, controlling a section of the city that had always remained insulated from the chaos that defined the South and East.

But now, with the Borsens growing in strength, Santiago wanted a piece of what they had—and Luis wasn’t going to hand it over easily.

Maria spent her time carefully orchestrating their next steps. The Westside was different, but it wasn’t untouchable. Santiago had operated quietly for years, but that didn’t mean his empire couldn’t be infiltrated. They had men watching every corner, every whisper coming from Santiago’s side of the city.

Luis, however, had something more direct in mind. It was time to meet Santiago face-to-face.

“Set up a meeting,” Luis told Bones one morning. “With Santiago himself. If he wants to make a move in this city, he’s going to have to do it in the open.”

Bones nodded, his face hard. “And if he refuses?”

Luis smiled coldly. “Then we know exactly what kind of player we’re dealing with.”

The meeting was arranged for the following week, at a neutral location deep in the Westside. Santiago was cautious, but he had agreed to meet—an indication that he was willing to negotiate. Luis and Maria arrived at the venue, an upscale restaurant tucked away in a quieter part of the city, where power and wealth often mingled behind closed doors.

As they stepped inside, Luis immediately noticed the difference. This wasn’t like the Eastside or Southside, where tension and violence simmered just beneath the surface. The Westside had an air of sophistication, but Luis knew that beneath that surface, the stakes were just as high, if not higher.

Santiago was waiting for them in a private room, flanked by a few of his men. He was older than Luis had expected, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. This was a man who had built his empire on patience, on knowing when to act and when to bide his time.

“Luis, Maria,” Santiago greeted them with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

Luis and Maria took their seats across from him, their expressions calm but unreadable.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Luis said, his voice cool. “You want stability, and so do we. But let’s be clear—we control the Southside and the Eastside. If you want to work with us, it’ll be on our terms.”

Santiago’s smile widened slightly, though it didn’t soften. “I admire your confidence, Luis. But the Westside isn’t the same as the territories you’ve taken over. We don’t operate with the same aggression. We prefer things to run smoothly.”

Maria leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. “Aggression is what keeps us on top. You’re offering peace, but what are you looking for?”

Santiago’s gaze flickered toward Maria, impressed by her directness. “I’m offering a partnership. Your control over the Eastside is solid—for now. But things in this city change quickly. The Westside is stable, and I can offer you access to resources you don’t currently have. In exchange, I want a guarantee. No expansion into the Westside without my approval.”

Luis’s eyes narrowed. That was the crux of it. Santiago wasn’t just offering peace—he was trying to set boundaries to limit their influence.

Maria’s lips curled into a smile. “You’re worried we’ll take what’s yours.”

Santiago’s smile faded slightly. “I’m not worried. I’m being pragmatic. I’ve survived in this city for a long time because I know how to manage my relationships. You and Maria are powerful, but there’s more at play here than just territory.”

Luis leaned back, his gaze cold. “We’re not looking for territory. We’re looking for control.”

Santiago’s eyes flashed with understanding. “Then perhaps we’re not so different.”

Luis didn’t respond immediately. The Westside was tempting—stable, wealthy, and untouched by the chaos that had defined the rest of the city. But Santiago wasn’t offering an alliance out of fear. He was offering it because he wanted something more.

“We’ll consider your offer,” Luis said finally, his voice measured. “But make no mistake—if we decide to expand into the Westside, it’ll be on our terms.”

Santiago smiled faintly, though the tension in the room was palpable. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

As they left the meeting, Maria turned to Luis, her eyes sharp. “He’s holding something back.”

Luis nodded, his mind racing. Santiago was playing a longer game, one that wasn’t immediately obvious. But Luis wasn’t fooled. Santiago wanted more than just peace—he wanted leverage.

“We’ll dig deeper,” Luis said, his voice firm. “Find out what he’s not telling us.”

Maria smiled coldly. “And then we take it.”

The reign of Luis and Maria Borsen was far from over. They had taken the city by storm, but now the challenges were changing. With Santiago in the picture, the game had shifted to a new level. But Luis and Maria were ready. They had always thrived in the shadows, and now they would extend their control into the Westside—whether Santiago liked it or not.

The city was theirs to shape, and this time, there would be no limits.

Luis and Maria rode in silence as their car cut through the dim streets, taking them back from the meeting with Santiago.

The Westside had always felt different, more polished, and more subtle in its power plays. But now, with Santiago’s offer on the table, it had become something else—a potential opportunity or a trap. Luis wasn’t sure which yet.

What he did know was that Santiago’s seemingly calm exterior masked something more dangerous. Santiago wasn’t afraid of them, and that made him more of a threat than anyone they had dealt with recently.

Maria broke the silence, her voice low but sharp. “He’s dangerous, Luis. He’s not like the others.”

Luis nodded, his thoughts mirroring hers. “He’s playing a long game. He doesn’t need brute force to win. He’s a strategist, and that makes him unpredictable.”

Maria’s eyes narrowed, her mind already turning over the possibilities. Santiago had made it clear that he wanted peace, but there was always a cost attached to deals like this. What Santiago wanted was to set boundaries to limit the Borsens’ expansion.

And in a city like this, limits were the one thing Luis and Maria could never tolerate.

“We can’t afford to trust him,” Maria said after a moment. “If we agree to his terms, we’ll be boxed in. The moment we give him an inch, he’ll take the rest.”

Luis’s jaw tightened. Santiago’s offer of partnership had been carefully worded, but the subtext was clear. He wanted control over the Westside, and he wanted Luis and Maria to stay out of it. But the Westside had resources—wealth, influence, connections—that Luis wasn’t willing to ignore.

“We’re not going to agree to anything,” Luis said firmly. “But we’ll let him think we are.”

Maria raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You want him to think he’s winning?”

Luis nodded, his voice cool and calculating. “For now. Let him believe he’s getting what he wants. But we’ll be moving behind the scenes. I want to know everything about his operation—his contacts, his supply chains, the people who back him. Once we know where he’s vulnerable, we’ll strike.”

Maria’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Good. Santiago may think he’s untouchable in the Westside, but he’s forgotten one thing: we don’t play by his rules.”

The following week, Luis and Maria set their plan into motion. They had already begun planting their influence in key parts of the Westside, slowly infiltrating Santiago’s territory without drawing too much attention. This wasn’t an all-out assault—it was a subtle, deliberate move to test Santiago’s defences and find the cracks in his empire.

Bones had been busy gathering intelligence, and his network of contacts had already started paying off. Santiago’s operation was strong, but there were vulnerabilities—loose ends, people who were unhappy with his quiet control over the Westside. Luis knew that if they could turn those people to their side, Santiago’s carefully constructed facade would start to crumble.

Luis sat in his penthouse study, reviewing the latest reports when Bones walked in, his expression as serious as ever.

“We’ve made contact with a few of Santiago’s men,” Bones said, handing Luis a folder. “They’re small players, but they’ve been around long enough to know how things work. Santiago keeps his circle tight, but not everyone’s loyal.”

Luis flipped through the folder, his eyes scanning the names and details. It was a start. The Westside might have been quieter, but it wasn’t immune to the same problems that plagued the rest of the city—greed, ambition, fear. Those were the tools Luis had always used to take control, and now he would use them to dismantle Santiago’s empire from the inside out.

“Good,” Luis said, his voice low. “Keep pushing. I want more names. Find out who’s willing to turn on him.”

Bones nodded. “It’ll take time, but we’re making progress.”

Luis leaned back in his chair, his mind already calculating the next steps. Time was something they had plenty of. Santiago had been playing the long game for years, but Luis was patient. He didn’t need to rush—he just needed to make sure every move they made pushed Santiago closer to the edge.

Later that night, Maria stood on the balcony of the penthouse, the city lights reflecting off the glass windows behind her. She had always loved this view—the way the city sprawled out beneath them, alive, buzzing with energy and danger. It was their kingdom, one they had fought to take and would fight to keep. But now, with Santiago in the picture, the stakes had risen.

Luis joined her on the balcony, the cool night air swirling around them. For a moment, they stood in silence, watching the city below. The Westside was out there, quiet and polished, but Maria could feel the tension beneath the surface. Santiago had controlled his territory for years, but now they were encroaching on his empire, and it was only a matter of time before he responded.

“He’s going to make a move soon,” Maria said, breaking the silence. “He knows we’re not going to stay out of the Westside.”

Luis nodded. “Let him. The moment he acts, he’ll show his hand. And we’ll be ready.”

Maria’s smile was cold, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “When he does, we hit him hard. We take the Westside piece by piece until there’s nothing left.”

Luis turned to her, his gaze hardening. This was how they had always operated, and it was why they had survived in a city that devoured the weak. They didn’t just win battles—they crushed their enemies completely, leaving no room for retaliation.

“We’ll take the Westside,” Luis said quietly, his voice filled with cold certainty. “And when we’re done, Santiago will be nothing more than a name in the shadows.”

The days passed, and Santiago remained quiet, but Luis knew better than to assume it was a sign of weakness. Santiago was planning something, and Luis was determined to figure out what it was before it became a problem. Bones’ men had continued gathering information, slowly piecing together the puzzle of Santiago’s empire.

Luis sat in the back of a sleek black car, parked in a dark alley as Bones met with one of their newest contacts—a man who had worked for Santiago for years but had recently grown disillusioned. His name was Ortega, and he had information that could turn the tide in their favour.

As Bones and Ortega spoke, Luis watched from the car, his mind racing. Every piece of information was a step closer to dismantling Santiago’s control. And once they had enough, they would strike.

Bones returned to the car a few minutes later, slipping into the front seat. “Ortega’s given us a lead. Santiago’s been working with someone new, someone from outside the city. We don’t have a name yet, but he’s been funding a lot of Santiago’s operations lately.”

Luis’s eyes narrowed. That was unexpected. Santiago had always kept his power localised, focused on the Westside. If he was working with someone from outside the city, it meant he was gearing up for something bigger.

“Find out who it is,” Luis said coldly. “I want to know everything about this new player.”

Bones nodded, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary calls. This was the lead they had been waiting for. Santiago wasn’t acting alone, and that meant there was someone else pulling strings in the background.

Maria’s voice came through the phone on the console, breaking the silence. “What did we find out?”

Luis glanced at bones before speaking. “Santiago’s not working alone. He’s got outside help. Someone with money and influence.”

Maria’s voice was sharp. “Then we’ll cut that connection. Santiago’s nothing without his support.”

Luis smiled faintly. “Exactly. We’ll find out who it is, and then we’ll take them down.”

The days stretched into weeks, and the tension between the Borsens and Santiago began to thicken. The Westside remained calm on the surface, but Luis could feel the undercurrents of danger swirling beneath. Santiago was waiting for something—perhaps his mysterious benefactor, or maybe he was planning his next countermove. But Luis wasn’t waiting. He was making sure every piece of Santiago’s operation was chipped away, quietly and systematically.

Then the break came.

Bones burst into Luis’s office one afternoon, his face grim but triumphant. “We found out who Santiago’s working with.”

Luis looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowing. “Who?”

Bones handed him a file; the details scrawled out across the pages. “His name’s Nicholas Volkov. Russian, wealthy, and deeply connected in both legitimate business and the criminal underworld. He’s been operating out of Europe for years, but now he’s moving into the city.”

Luis’s grip tightened on the file. Volkov wasn’t just some backer—he was a major player, someone with the resources to cause real damage if left unchecked. Santiago’s partnership with Volkov meant this was no longer just a local turf war. This was a full-scale power play.

“We’ll need to move carefully,” Luis said, his voice low and controlled. “Volkov’s dangerous. We can’t afford to underestimate him.”

Maria entered the office just as Bones finished speaking, her eyes gleaming with interest. “Then let’s hit him where it hurts. We’ll dismantle his operation, just like we’re doing with Santiago.”

Luis nodded, his mind racing with new plans. This was a new game, one with higher stakes, but Luis had never back down from a challenge. Volkov might have money and connections, but this was Luis’s city, and he wasn’t about to let an outsider walk in and take it.

“Start digging into Volkov’s operations,” Luis ordered, his voice sharp. “I want to know everything—his businesses, his supply lines, his weaknesses.”

Bones nodded, already pulling out his phone to set things in motion.

Maria smiled coldly. “We’ll take them both down—Santiago and Volkov. And when we’re done, the Westside will belong to us.”

Luis’s gaze darkened with determination. The hunt for Volkov had begun, and with it, the next phase of their reign. The city wasn’t big enough for both Volkov and the Borsens, and soon, there would only be one name that held power over it.

“Let’s finish this,” Luis said, his voice low and dangerous.

And as the sun set over the city, Luis and Maria prepared for the battle that would decide their future—and the future of the empire they had built.