The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 118

The city had an eerie calm, like the moment before a storm.

Luis and Maria knew it well—it was the silence that came before the retaliation. Orlov hadn’t made a move yet, but they both felt it in the air. He was waiting, preparing, and biding his time to strike when they least expected it.

Luis stood in front of the massive windows of the penthouse, the city sprawled beneath him like a glittering maze of power and corruption. His mind raced, going over the steps they’d taken to weaken Orlov, but something nagbed at him.

They had hit him hard, taken out his warehouses, and disrupted his supply lines, but it didn’t feel like enough. Orlov was too smart, too calculated, to be brought down so easily.

“We’ve got eyes on his remaining assets,” Maria said, stepping into the room, her tone clipped but focused. She held a tablet in her hand, showing a live feed from one of their surveillance teams.

Luis glanced at her, his jaw tight. “Any movement?”

Maria shook her head, frustration flashing in her eyes. “Nothing. It’s like he’s disappeared.”

Luis knew that wasn’t true. Orlov hadn’t disappeared. He was somewhere, waiting for the right moment to strike back. They just hadn’t found him yet.

“We need to keep pushing,” Luis said, his voice firm. “Hit what’s left of his network. Force him to come out.”

Maria nodded, her gaze shifting back to the tablet. “Bones has a lead on one of his financial backers. Some shady bank offshore that’s been moving his money.”

Luis raised an eyebrow. “How reliable is the intel?”

“Bones says it’s solid,” Maria replied, her lips curling into a faint smile. “And you know he doesn’t mess around when it comes to money.”

Luis’s mind raced as he considered the possibilities. Orlov’s financial support was his lifeline. If they could cut that off, he’d have no choice but to come out of hiding.

“Then we move on it,” Luis said, his decision firm. “Let’s see how Orlov likes it when we choke off his cash flow.”

Later that evening, Luis, Maria, and Bones sat together in the war room—a secure, hidden space in their Southside headquarters where plans were made and deals were cut. The dim lighting and the hum of electronics created an atmosphere of intense focus.

Bones leaned over the table, his fingers tapping a keyboard as he brought up the details of Orlov’s financial network on the screen in front of them. “We’ve traced the money through several shell companies,” he explained, pointing to various offshore accounts and business names. “It’s a complicated web, but the key is here.”

He zoomed in on a specific account linked to a small, seemingly legitimate bank on the outskirts of the city.

“This bank has been laundering Orlov’s money for months,” Bones continued. “It’s clean on the outside, but underneath, it’s moving millions through shell corporations and offshore entities.”

Maria’s eyes gleamed with interest. “So we take it down. Freeze the accounts; seize the funds.”

Bones nodded, but there was a grim look on his face. “It’s not going to be easy. They’ve got high-level encryption and the bank’s got political protection. We’d be stepping on a lot of toes.”

Luis’s jaw tightened. It didn’t matter. Orlov had started this war, and they were going to finish it.

“We don’t need to play by the rules,” Luis said, his voice low but resolute. “We make it look like an internal issue. A leak, a fraud case—something to throw them off.”

Bones smirked. “I like the way you think.”

The next day, Luis and Maria moved swiftly, orchestrating their plan to cripple Orlov’s financial network. The bank had no idea what was coming. Luis had always been good at playing the game of power—knowing when to strike and how hard to hit. And this time, they were going to hit Orlov where it hurt the most.

They sat in the back of a sleek black car, watching the bank from across the street. The building was small, inconspicuous, nestled among high-end boutiques and luxury offices. From the outside, it looked like any other business catering to the city’s wealthy elite. But Luis knew better. This was a front, a place where dirty money was cleaned and funnelled back into Orlov’s growing empire.

Maria tapped her fingers lightly on the dashboard, her gaze fixed on the building. “Bones said the transfer is already in progress. We’ve got about an hour before they move the funds.”

Luis nodded, his eyes scanning the street. “We’ll be in and out before they even know what happened.”

A moment later, their comms crackled to life. Bones’s voice came through, steady and calm. “You’re clear to move. Security’s light—just a few guards at the front. The cameras are down. You’ve got about ten minutes to get in and get what you need.”

Luis and Maria stepped out of the car, moving with purpose towards the bank’s side entrance. This wasn’t just another heist. This was about dismantling Orlov’s empire piece by piece, stripping him of the power he’d built in the shadows.

They slipped inside, the faint hum of fluorescent lights the only sound as they made their way down a narrow hallway. The bank was quiet, but Luis could feel the tension building. This was the kind of operation that could turn deadly in a second if anything went wrong.

Maria moved ahead, her eyes sharp as she scanned the area for any sign of security. “Clear,” she whispered, signalling for Luis to follow.

They reached the main office, a large, windowless room filled with computer monitors and filing cabinets. This was where the real work happened—where money was moved, laundered, and sent back into Orlov’s hands.

Luis sat down at one of the desks, quickly accessing the bank’s internal systems. His fingers flew across the keyboard, bypassing security protocols with the skill of someone who had done this a hundred times before.

“We’ve got access,” he said, his voice low but confident.

Maria smiled faintly, standing guard near the door. “Let’s drain him dry.”

Minutes later, they walked out of the bank, the operation a success. Orlov’s accounts had been frozen, his assets seized, and his financial network in disarray. It was a crippling blow—one that would leave him scrambling to recover.

Luis felt a sense of satisfaction as they drove away from the scene, but he knew better than to let his guard down. Orlov was going to retaliate, and when he did, it would be brutal.

Maria leaned back in her seat, her expression calm but intense. “He’s not going to take this lightly.”

Luis nodded, his mind already turning over the possibilities. Orlov was dangerous, and this move would only push him deeper into a corner. But that’s where Luis wanted him. Desperation made people reckless.

“We’re forcing his hand,” Luis said. “Now, he has no choice but to come out and face us.”

Maria’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “Good. I’m tired of playing in the shadows.”

The next morning, Bones walked into the penthouse, his expression grim. “We’ve got a situation.”

Luis looked up from the reports he was reading, his brow furrowing. “What is it?”

Bones tossed a newspaper onto the table in front of him. The headline was bold and splashed across the front page: Financial Scandal Rocks Westside Bank—Political Fallout Looms.

Maria leaned over the table, her eyes scanning the article. “They’re covering it up,” she said, her voice tight with frustration. “Blaming it on fraud, but they’re protecting Orlov’s people.”

Luis’s jaw tightened. This wasn’t unexpected, but it was a reminder of how deep Orlov’s connections went. He wasn’t just a player in the city’s underworld—he had allies in high places, people who were willing to protect him.

“They’re trying to sweep it under the rug,” Bones said, his voice dark. “But it’s only a matter of time before Orlov makes his next move.”

Luis leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. They had hit Orlov hard, but retaliation was coming. And when it did, it wouldn’t be subtle.

“We need to be ready,” Luis said, his voice firm. “Orlov’s going to come at us with everything he’s got.”

Maria nodded, her gaze cold. “Then we’ll be waiting.”

That night, Luis sat alone on the balcony of the penthouse, the city stretched out beneath him like a glittering battlefield. The weight of the coming storm hung heavy in the air, and Luis could feel it—Orlov’s presence, looming just beyond the horizon.

He had faced enemies before, powerful ones. But Orlov was different. He was patient, methodical, and willing to wait for the perfect moment to strike.

Luis clenched his fists, his mind racing. This wasn’t just about power anymore. It was personal. Orlov had come for everything Luis had built, and now it was time to finish the fight.

He stood, turning back towards the penthouse, his heart steady with resolve. Orlov was coming, but Luis would be ready.

Because in this city, power wasn’t given. It was taken.