The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 114

The Westside had always been different from the rest of the city. It was sleek and polished, hiding power beneath wealth.

Luis and Maria knew it all too well. But now there was a new force rising in the shadows, trying to take a slice of their empire. Avernus Holdings—the name had come up more than once, whispered in alleys, muttered by informants. It wasn’t just another local gang.

This was something bigger. Something more dangerous.

Luis leaned against the cool metal railing of the penthouse balcony, his eyes scanning the distant skyline. The city was a living beast, always moving, and shifting. And now the Westside was stirring.

“We’ve got a problem,” Maria’s voice cut through the night air. She stepped onto the balcony, her gaze sharp. “Bones just confirmed it. Avernus Holdings has been buying up properties, and making moves. Quietly, but quickly.”

Luis didn’t move; his eyes were still fixed on the city below. “How many properties?”

“Four, so far. They’re not just snatching up real estate; they’re securing footholds. High-value locations. And they’ve been recruiting,” Maria said, her tone laced with annoyance. “These aren’t amateurs. They’ve got backing, and they’re careful.”

Luis finally turned to her, his expression hard. “Who’s behind them?”

“Still working on that,” she admitted. “But whoever it is, they’re smart. No flashy moves. They’re building an empire, right under our noses.”

Luis’s jaw tightened. This wasn’t just about territory. Avernus was playing the long game, slipping into the gaps that had been left after Volkov’s fall. They weren’t coming at them directly—they were embedding themselves into the Westside, bit by bit. And Luis knew that if they didn’t act soon, it would be too late.

“They’re getting too comfortable,” Luis said, pushing off the railing. “We need to hit them before they get any more entrenched.”

Maria nodded. “Agreed. But we can’t just go in guns blazing. We need to know what we’re dealing with first.”

Luis ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. This wasn’t the kind of threat you crushed with brute force. Avernus was calculated, and patient. If they struck too early, they’d only push them deeper into hiding.

“We start by choking their money,” Luis said, his voice cold and certain. “No cash, no empire.”

Maria’s eyes gleamed with approval. “Then we follow the money.”

The next morning, Luis and Maria sat in a dimly lit back room of their Southside headquarters. The walls were lined with maps and photos of key locations throughout the city, each one marked with notes and red lines connecting them to Volkov’s old network. Avernus Holdings was the new focal point now, and their reach was spreading faster than anyone had anticipated.

Bones stood in front of a whiteboard, tapping a marker against his palm as he spoke. “They’ve been smart about how they’re moving money. Offshore accounts, shell companies, you name it. They’re routing everything through Lobov Financial.”

Luis’s eyes narrowed. Lobov Financial was a small bank nestled in the wealthiest parts of the Westside. It had always been discreet, keeping its clientele’s secrets well protected. But now, it seemed Avernus was using it to finance their quiet takeover.

“We’ll need to make a move,” Bones continued, his voice low. “But we have to be careful. They’ve got eyes everywhere.”

Luis leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. “What kind of security are we looking at?”

“High-end,” Bones said. “They’re not playing around. Armed guards, surveillance systems. Plus, the bank’s got ties to some local politicians. They won’t go down easily.”

Maria crossed her arms, her expression cold. “We’ve taken it down worse.”

Bones smirked. “True. But this time, it’s not just about knocking over some thugs. We’re talking about a legitimate institution with legitimate backers.”

“Legitimate on paper,” Luis corrected. “Underneath, they’re just as dirty as the rest of the city.”

Maria leaned forward, her eyes sharp. “So, we take the bank. And we cripple Avernus’s finances.”

Bones hesitated. “It won’t be that simple. Even if we hit them hard, there’s a chance they’ll move the money before we get there. They’ve got backup plans.”

Luis’s jaw clenched. Every empire had its weak points. And right now, Lobov Financial was the key to dismantling Avernus before they could spread any further.

“We need to cut off their escape routes,” Luis said. “We can’t just hit the bank. We need to trap them. Make sure they can’t move the money.”

Maria smirked. “Then we lock down the entire network.”

Bones nodded slowly. “I can make a few calls. There’s a guy I know who can get us inside their systems and freeze the accounts. But it’ll be risky.”

Luis met his gaze, his voice hard. “Do it.”

That night, the plan was set in motion. Luis, Maria, and Bones moved swiftly, taking their team to the Westside. Lobov Financial was a fortress, but they weren’t planning on walking in through the front door. They had a man on the inside—someone who owed Bones more than a few favours.

Luis watched the entrance from across the street, hidden in the shadows of a nearby alley. The air was thick with tension, the city lights casting long shadows over the silent streets. Maria stood beside him, her eyes sharp and focused.

“It’s too quiet,” she muttered.

Luis nodded. “It’s always quiet before it gets loud.”

Moments later, a faint buzz crackled in their earpieces.

“We’re in,” came the voice of their hacker. “Give me a few minutes, and I’ll have access to their accounts.”

“Make it fast,” Luis replied, his voice low.

He felt the seconds tick by, each one stretching out like an eternity. Every move mattered. They couldn’t afford any mistakes. If Avernus caught wind of what they were doing, it would be over before it started.

“Luis,” Maria’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “We’ve got movement.”

Luis followed her gaze. Across the street, a group of men—armed, no doubt—had begun to gather near the entrance of the bank. They weren’t part of the regular security detail. These were Avernus’s people.

“They know,” Maria said, her voice tight.

Luis’s mind raced. The window was closing. If they didn’t get out of there fast, the entire operation would fall apart.

“Bones,” Luis said into the communication, his voice sharp. “We’ve got company. How long?”

“Just a little longer,” Bones replied, his voice tense.

Luis glanced at Maria. They were running out of time.

“They’re coming this way,” Maria said, her hand already moving to her weapon. “We need to move.”

Luis nodded. “Cover me.”

They stepped out of the alley, moving quickly but quietly towards the side entrance of the bank. The armed men hadn’t seen them yet, but it was only a matter of time. Luis’s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This had to work.

As they reached the side door, Maria moved in front of him, her gun ready. “Let’s go.”

Luis followed her inside, the narrow hallway dimly lit, the silence almost deafening. They could hear the faint hum of electronics and the soft whirring of security cameras overhead. Every step felt like a countdown.

“We’re almost there,” Bones’s voice crackled in their earpieces. “Just a few more seconds.”

But those seconds felt like an eternity.

Suddenly, the door at the end of the hallway burst open, and three armed men stormed in, their guns raised. Avernus had found them.

Maria didn’t hesitate. She moved with deadly precision, her gunfire quick and accurate. Luis followed, taking down the second man before he had a chance to react. The third man fell a moment later, his body hitting the floor with a dull thud.

The hallway was silent again, but the tension hadn’t lifted. This wasn’t over.

“Got it!” Bones’s voice came through, filled with relief. “The accounts are frozen.”

Luis exhaled, his heart still racing. “We’re done here.”

Maria nodded, her eyes still scanning the hallway for any signs of movement. “Let’s go before more of them show up.”

Back at the penthouse, Luis and Maria sat in silence, the weight of the night’s events settling in. They had crippled Avernus’s finances, but this was only the first step. The real fight was still coming.

“We hit them where it hurts,” Maria said quietly, her voice filled with satisfaction. “But they’re not going to take this lying down.”

Luis nodded. “We’ve rattled them. Now, they’ll retaliate.”

“And we’ll be ready,” Maria replied, her gaze hard.

Luis leaned back in his chair, his mind already turning over the possibilities. Avernus was weakened, but they weren’t defeated. Not yet.

“We’ll keep the pressure on,” Luis said. “We’ve got them on the ropes. Now, we finish the job.”

Maria smiled, sharp and dangerous. “Let’s take them down.”