The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 113

The city had fallen into an uneasy calm.

The Borsens were at the height of their power, with the Southside, Eastside, and now even the edges of the Westside firmly under their control. But Luis and Maria knew better than to mistake calm for peace. Power in the city was always shifting—a fluid, dangerous force that could turn in an instant.

Even as they celebrated their victory over Volkov, they were aware that the silence carried with it the weight of anticipation—the sense that something new was on the horizon.

Luis sat in his penthouse office, the vast city sprawled out before him through the floor-to-ceiling windows. This was his kingdom, but the view came with a constant reminder: nothing in this city was permanent. He thumbed through the latest reports, detailing the state of their newly expanded empire.

The remnants of Santiago’s network had been absorbed, and Volkov’s influence had been erased. For now, no one dared challenge the Borsens’ reign.

But Luis knew that peace in this city was fragile and somewhere in the shadows. A new player was undoubtedly waiting to rise.

Maria entered the room, her presence as sharp and commanding as ever. She had thrived in the chaos of their rise, and now, as they stood above the city, she seemed more focused than ever.

The victory had been theirs, but Maria was always looking ahead—always plotting the next move. Complacency wasn’t in her nature.

“Bones sent word,” Maria said, handing Luis a folder. “There’s been talk in the Westside—whispers about someone stepping in to fill Volkov’s shoes. No one knows who yet, but it’s starting to get attention.”

Luis glanced through the folder, his expression unreadable. He had expected this. Power vacuums never stayed empty for long, and while they had crushed Volkov’s operations, the allure of the Westside’s wealth was too strong for someone not to make a move.

Maria sat across from him, her gaze sharp. “We need to stamp this out before it grows. If we let someone else rise, it’ll be another Volkov all over again.”

Luis nodded, his mind already turning over the possibilities. “We need to find out who it is first. If we hit too soon, we’ll only drive them underground.”

Maria’s eyes narrowed. She hated waiting, hated the idea of giving anyone even the smallest chance to regroup. “Then we hit their money. Whoever it is, they’ll need cash to fund whatever they’re planning. If we cut them off before they can even get started, we’ll cripple them.”

Luis leaned back in his chair, considering her words. She was right. Money was always the weak point—even in a city as ruthless as this one, cash flow determined power. Without it, no empire could grow.

“We’ll start with the banks,” Luis said, his voice calm but firm. “Find out which accounts Volkov had hidden and who’s been trying to access them. Follow the trail, and we’ll find our target.”

Maria smiled faintly, satisfied. This was the kind of strategy she thrived on—precision, control, the dismantling of enemies before they even had a chance to rise.

The next few days were quiet, but it was a quiet filled with action beneath the surface. Luis and Maria’s network of informants moved swiftly, gathering intel on anyone who might be trying to step into Volkov’s shoes. The streets had eyes, and in a city like this, no one could stay hidden for long.

Luis sat in a dimly lit room in one of their Southside operations, watching as Bones went over the latest intel with him. The information was sparse, but it was enough to start drawing connections. Volkov’s former accounts had been accessed—small, discreet withdrawals here and there, enough to fund something without drawing attention.

“Who’s behind it?” Luis asked, his voice low.

Bones shrugged slightly. “We’re not sure yet. The accounts are being accessed through proxies—shell companies. But someone’s moving money, and it’s not random.”

Luis stared at the data, his mind working through the possibilities. This was someone smart, someone who knew how to stay off the radar, but no one could hide forever.

“Keep digging,” Luis said finally. “We’ll follow the money.”

That night, Maria stood in their penthouse, her sharp eyes scanning the city below. Everything was quiet, but the tension was thick in the air. She could feel it—the same way she always had before something big was about to happen. There were no obvious threats on the horizon, but Maria knew better than to be lulled into a false sense of security. This city never slept, and neither did its enemies.

Luis joined her on the balcony, his face thoughtful. “The money’s moving,” he said quietly. “Whoever it is, they’re being careful. But we’ll catch them.”

Maria’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Careful isn’t enough in this city. Sooner or later, everyone makes a mistake.”

Luis nodded. He wasn’t worried. They had built an empire, and it was stronger than any challenge that could rise. But Maria was right—the city had a way of testing even the most powerful, and they needed to stay ahead of whatever was coming.

“We’ll make sure they do,” Luis said, his voice filled with quiet resolve. “And when they do, we’ll end it.”

Maria’s eyes gleamed in the moonlight. There was no room for mercy in this world they had built. Anyone who tried to take what was theirs would be crushed—completely, without hesitation.

Days later, the first real lead came in. One of Volkov’s former shell companies had been traced to a series of discreet wire transfers, all funnelled into a new entity that had recently emerged on the Westside. It was subtle, almost invisible, but Luis and Maria had learned how to read between the lines. Whoever this was, they were beginning to move openly, testing the waters.

Luis sat in the back of a sleek black car, the night sky heavy with clouds as they approached the Westside. He and Maria had decided to handle this themselves—direct intervention was sometimes the only way to send a message. Bones sat in the front seat, his face impassive as he gave them the latest update.

“The company’s listed under the name Avernus Holdings,” Bones explained. “It’s a front, obviously, but they’ve been moving cash through there for the last few weeks. We’re not sure who’s behind it, but they’ve started buying up properties on the Westside.”

Maria’s eyes narrowed. “They’re laying the groundwork. This isn’t just about business—it’s about control.”

Luis nodded. This wasn’t just another small-time player trying to grab a piece of Volkov’s fallen empire. This was someone with ambition, someone who wanted to carve out their kingdom in the city. But Luis wasn’t about to let that happen.

“We’ll pay them a visit,” Luis said calmly. “Let them know they’re not welcome.”

Later that night, Luis, Maria, and Bones entered the sleek, modern office building where Avernus Holdings was headquartered. The lights were still on, and a few men—security guards, by the looks of it—stood near the entrance. But Luis and Maria weren’t there to talk. They were here to send a message.

As they walked through the glass doors, the guards moved to intercept them, but Bones stepped forward, his presence alone enough to make them pause. Luis continued towards the elevator without breaking stride, his expression cold and focused.

The elevator ride was silent, the tension thick in the air as they ascended to the top floor. Luis could feel it now—the calm before the storm. They had been in situations like this before, and it always ended the same way. By the time they were done, there would be no doubt about who ruled this city.

When the elevator doors opened, Luis and Maria stepped out into the opulent, dimly lit office. A man stood behind a large desk at the far end of the room, his back turned to them as he stared out over the city.

“You’re a bold one,” the man said, his voice calm and smooth. “Coming here like this.”

Luis stepped forward, his eyes cold. “Boldness has nothing to do with it. This city belongs to us.”

The man turned, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the city lights. He was younger than Luis had expected, but there was a hardness to his eyes, a calculated arrogance that made it clear he wasn’t just another pawn. This was someone who had thought through every move, someone who believed they could rise in a city where everyone else had fallen.

“Does it?” the man asked, his tone smooth but filled with challenges. “The city’s big, Luis. There’s enough to go around.”

Maria’s smile was cold as she stepped forward. “We don’t share.”

The man’s smile faded, replaced by a calculating look. “You can try to hold on to everything, but sooner or later, someone’s going to take a piece.”

Luis’s gaze darkened. This wasn’t a negotiation. It never had been. The man—whoever he was—had made his choice the moment he decided to step into their world.

“You should have stayed in the shadows,” Luis said quietly. “Because now, you’ve just painted a target on your back.”

The man’s eyes flickered with something—fear, maybe—but he didn’t back down. “You think you can just wipe out every threat? That’s not how it works. This city will chew you up eventually, just like it does to everyone else.”

Luis smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “We’re not everyone else.”

Before the man could respond, Bones moved in, his large frame blocking the door as Luis and Maria closed the distance. There was no escape—not now.

The man’s bravado slipped, panic flashing in his eyes as he realised what was coming. He had thought he could challenge the Borsens, but now, in this quiet office, he was face-to-face with the reality of what that meant.

“You made a mistake,” Luis said, his voice deadly calm. “And in this city, mistakes get you killed.”

Minutes later, Luis and Maria stood outside the building, the night air cool against their skin. The message had been sent—loud and clear. Whoever thought they could take what was theirs had just learnt a hard lesson.

Maria glanced at Luis, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “That won’t be the last.”

Luis nodded, his expression calm but resolute. This was how it always went. Power shifted, challenges rose, and they crushed them—over and over again. But Maria was right. It wouldn’t be the last.

“We’ll be ready,” Luis said quietly.

As they walked into the night, leaving the blood of another rival behind them, Luis and Maria knew one thing for certain: the city was theirs, but they would never stop fighting to keep it.

Because in this city, power was the only thing that mattered—and they had no intention of letting it go.