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2024-10-29 19:42:56Drake’s fists clenched at his sides as he stormed down the hallway, his mind racing with anger and frustration. Mackin’s return had thrown everything into chaos.
For years, Drake had been the heir apparent, the one who would take over the family’s empire once Bruno stepped down. But now, Mackin had waltzed back into the picture, and everything was in jeopardy. He had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let Mackin take it all away from him. Drake reached his private study, slamming the door shut behind him. His heart pounded in his chest, and he struggled to control the fury boiling inside him. Mackin had always been a thorn in his side, but he hadn’t expected him to return with this much power. Mackin was no longer the weak, broken man they had cast out. He had built an empire, amassed unimaginable wealth, and now, he was threatening to take everything Drake had worked for. Drake paced the room, his mind racing with plans and schemes. He needed to act quickly. If Mackin solidified his position in the family, it would be too late. "Father," Drake growled as he reached for his phone, dialing Bruno’s number. "We need to talk." Bruno’s voice crackled through the phone. "What is it, Drake?" Drake’s grip tightened on the phone. "Mackin’s return is a problem. A big one. We can’t let him gain any more ground. If we don’t stop him now, he’ll take everything." There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Bruno’s voice, when it came, was calm but laced with cold calculation. "I’m aware of the situation, Drake. But we need to be careful. Mackin’s not the same man he was before. He’s more dangerous now." Drake’s frustration boiled over. "Dangerous? He’s just a man with money. We can take him down if we act fast." Bruno sighed, his voice growing sharper. "Don’t be a fool, Drake. Mackin didn’t build an empire by being reckless. We need to be smart about this. We can’t let him see us coming." Drake gritted his teeth, his mind working furiously. "Then what do you suggest?" "We undermine him from the inside," Bruno said quietly. "Mackin may have power and wealth, but he doesn’t have the support of the family yet. We use that to our advantage. We sow doubt, make them question his motives. And when the time comes, we strike." Drake’s lips curled into a smile, the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind. "I can do that." Bruno’s voice softened, almost affectionate. "Good. Keep me updated." Drake hung up the phone, his pulse quickening with the thrill of what was to come. He would stop Mackin—no matter what it took. Later that evening, Drake convened a secret meeting with several key family members in one of the estate’s hidden chambers. The room was dimly lit, the flickering light from the fireplace casting shadows on the walls. Drake stood at the head of the table, his voice low and dangerous as he spoke. "We have a problem," Drake began, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the family members assembled around the table. "Mackin’s return is a threat to everything we’ve built. If he gains control of the family, we’ll all be out in the cold." There were murmurs of agreement, but a few of the older members of the family looked uneasy. "Mackin’s done well for himself," one of the men said, his voice hesitant. "He’s built a fortune. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing if he takes a more active role in the family." Drake’s eyes narrowed. "You’re a fool if you think Mackin’s going to share power. He’s not here to play nice. "He’s here to take everything," Drake finished, his voice hard. His eyes swept across the room, daring anyone to challenge him. The dim light from the fireplace flickered over his sharp features, casting ominous shadows. There was a murmur of dissent, but the fear in the room was palpable. The older members of the family exchanged glances, clearly torn between loyalty to tradition and the undeniable truth of Drake’s words. Mackin’s return had shaken the very foundations of the family, and Drake was determined to exploit that fear. Drake leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "We all know what Mackin is capable of. He’s not here to ‘play a role’ in the family. He’s here to dismantle everything we’ve worked for. He wants control, and if we don’t act now, he’ll have it." An older woman, her wrinkled face set in a deep frown, spoke up. "And what would you have us do, Drake? We cannot just cast him out again. He’s too powerful now." Drake straightened, his eyes glittering with cold calculation. "We don’t need to cast him out. We need to undermine him. We need to make him look weak, like the man we threw out years ago. The rest of the family and our business partners are watching. If they see cracks in his armor, they’ll turn on him." Another man, his voice shaky, asked, "How do you suggest we do that?" Drake smiled, the kind of smile that never reached his eyes. "We start by cutting him off. We use his wealth against him. We freeze his assets within the family businesses, make it difficult for him to access the funds he thinks he controls. At the same time, we start planting doubts in the minds of our associates. Mackin’s rise came too fast. We make them question how legitimate it all is." One of the younger men in the group shifted uncomfortably. "But what if it backfires? Mackin’s no fool. If he finds out we’re behind this…" Drake slammed his fist on the table, silencing the room. "He won’t find out. We’ll do it quietly. Mackin may be rich, but he’s not invincible. Everyone has weaknesses, and we’re going to find his." For a moment, the room was silent, the crackling of the fireplace the only sound. Then, one by one, the heads around the table nodded in agreement. Drake had them. He had stoked the flames of their fear and resentment, and now, they were willing to follow his lead. Satisfied, Drake straightened up, his expression dark and victorious. "Good. We’ll move quickly. Mackin won’t see it coming." As the meeting dispersed, Drake lingered by the fire, watching as his conspirators filed out of the room. His heart pounded with adrenaline. He could feel the power shifting back into his hands, the tides turning in his favor. Mackin may have returned stronger than ever, but Drake would not let him take what he had worked so hard to secure. Mackin’s empire would crumble. It was only a matter of time.
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Mackin sat in his office in the city, staring at the skyline as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the glittering buildings. His thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by the battle he knew was brewing within the family.He could sense the resistance—feel the undercurrent of fear and resentment from the old guard. But he wasn’t going to back down. Not after everything he had been through.The door to his office creaked open, and Mackin turned to see Lana standing in the doorway. His breath caught in his throat. She hadn’t changed much in the years since their separation, but her face seemed softer now, worn by guilt and regret. Her once fiery eyes now held a sadness that tugged at Mackin’s heart."Mackin," she said softly, stepping into the room. "Can we talk?"Mackin’s jaw tightened, memories of her betrayal flashing through his mind like a series of painful snapshots. He had once loved her more than anything, trusted her with his heart and his future. But she had
The Rise of Mackin Jones Chapter 17
The corridors of the Mackin estate were quiet—the kind of quiet that held secrets. Bruno Mackin lay in his bed, his body a mere shadow of its former self.The once powerful patriarch of the Mackin family now struggled with every breath, his chest rising and falling with the rhythm of a man long past his prime. But Bruno’s mind was still sharp, sharper than anyone realized.The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows over the sparse furniture. Mackin stood at the foot of his uncle’s bed, his hands in his pockets, his face an unreadable mask."You’ve come to see me," Bruno croaked, his voice weak but laced with bitterness.Mackin didn’t respond immediately. He stood there, watching the man who had once ruled the family with an iron fist, now reduced to a fragile shell. "I came for answers."Bruno’s eyes flickered with something—fear, perhaps—but he quickly masked it with a sneer. "What makes you think I owe you anything?"Mackin’s gaze never wavered. "Because I know what you did. You w
The Rise of Mackin Jones Chapter 18
Drake stormed into his office, slamming the door behind him with such force that the walls rattled. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he fought to regain control.He had never seen Mackin like that before—so cold, so ruthless. It was as if the years had hardened him into someone unrecognizable.Drake’s fingers itched as he reached for his phone, dialling a number he hadn’t used in years. The person on the other end picked up after a single ring.“It’s Drake,” he snapped into the receiver. “I need you to move up the timeline.”There was a pause, followed by a low, gravelly voice. “You sure about this, boss? It’s going to get messy.”Drake’s jaw clenched. “Do it.”He hung up without waiting for a response, his mind racing with plans of sabotage, of destruction. If Mackin thought he could come in and take over, he was sorely mistaken. This was still Drake’s family, his empire, and he would burn it to the ground before he let Mackin have it.The late
The Rise of Mackin Jones Chapter 19
Mackin stood on the balcony of his penthouse, gazing out at the city that had once felt so foreign and hostile to him.The twinkling lights of the buildings below stretched out like stars in the night, but tonight, the view brought no solace. The cold wind whipped against his face, but he barely noticed, lost in his thoughts. The weight of victory was heavy on his shoulders. He had taken down Drake, reclaimed his place within the Mackin family, and even avenged his parents’ deaths.But none of it felt like the triumph he had imagined all those years ago when he was destitute and hungry for justice. Instead, there was a hollow emptiness that gnawed at him, a pit in his stomach that refused to leave.Behind him, the sliding door to the balcony creaked open. Mackin didn’t turn, already knowing who it was by the soft footsteps. Lana. She had been staying with him in the penthouse since the night everything had come crashing down. Their interactions had been distant at best, awkward at
The Rise of Mackin Jones Chapter 20
Mackin sat across from Lambo in a dimly lit restaurant, the soft glow of the candle on their table casting flickering shadows over their faces.The restaurant was one of Mackin’s newest acquisitions, a high-end establishment known for its discretion. Tonight, they needed that discretion more than ever.Lambo leaned forward, his voice low and urgent."I didn’t want to bring this up before, Mackin, but there’s something you need to know. The power struggle within the family isn’t over."Mackin’s eyes narrowed as he listened intently. He had known that consolidating power within the family would be a challenge, but he had hoped that with Bruno incapacitated and Drake out of the picture, the worst of it was behind him."What are you talking about?" Mackin asked, his voice calm but edged with tension.Lambo glanced around the restaurant, ensuring no one was listening."There are others, Mackin. Allies of Drake. They’ve been quietly amassing support, and they’re not happy with the way thing
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The Mackin estate had always been a fortress, a symbol of power that loomed over the city like an indomitable colossus.But now, with Mackin Jones back in control, the estate felt different. The weight of betrayal and family politics had always lingered in the air, but Mackin was determined to change that.He was no longer the broken man his family had cast out. He had rebuilt himself, and now, he was going to rebuild the family—but on his terms.Mackin stood at the edge of the estate’s sprawling lawn, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The morning sun bathed the grounds in a soft, golden light, casting long shadows that seemed to dance across the perfectly manicured gardens.It was a new day, not just for the estate, but for the Mackin legacy. A legacy that Mackin intended to redefine.Behind him, the heavy oak doors of the mansion creaked open, and the sound of footsteps echoed on the stone patio. Mackin didn’t turn around. He didn’t need to. He knew the footsteps well.Lambo, his trust
The Rise of Mackin Jones Chapter 22
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The Rise of Mackin Jones Chapter 23
The grand hall of the Mackin estate was eerily quiet as the family gathered once again, this time for a formal vote—one that could determine the future of the Mackin empire. Word had spread quickly about Victor’s challenge to Mackin’s leadership, and the old guard had rallied their supporters in an attempt to wrest control back from Mackin. A vote of no confidence had been called, a power play that could see Mackin ousted from his position at the head of the family.Mackin stood at the head of the long table, his expression calm but his mind working furiously. He could feel the tension in the room, the undercurrent of uncertainty that rippled through the family. Victor was seated at the opposite end of the table, his eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. He had been working behind the scenes, gathering support from those who still clung to the old ways of doing things.The older members of the family—the ones who had been loyal to Bruno and Drake—sat stiffly, their faces lined with d
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