The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 24

The atmosphere in the Mackin estate was heavy in the days following the vote. Although Mackin had won, it wasn’t a decisive victory.

The family was still divided, with Victor and his supporters simmering in the background, waiting for another chance to strike. Mackin knew that he couldn’t relax—not yet. The power struggle wasn’t over.

 

Mackin sat in his office, reviewing financial documents related to the family’s various business ventures. He had already begun the process of cleaning up the family’s operations, shutting down illegal enterprises and shifting the focus towards legitimate businesses. But the transition wasn’t going smoothly. Old habits were hard to break, and there were still members of the family who resisted the changes.

 

A soft knock at the door pulled Mackin from his thoughts. He glanced up to see Lambo standing in the doorway, his expression tense. Mackin gestured for him to enter, already sensing that the news wouldn’t be good.

 

Lambo stepped inside, closing the door behind him before approaching the desk. "Mackin, we’ve got a situation."

 

Mackin leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. "Go on."

 

"It’s about Victor," Lambo said, his voice low. "He’s been quietly rallying support from outside the family. Word is, he’s meeting with old associates of Bruno and Drake—people who’ve had ties to the criminal side of the Mackin empire for years. They’re not happy with the changes you’re making."

 

Mackin’s jaw tightened, but he kept his expression calm. He had expected Victor to make a move, but the timing was sooner than anticipated. "How many people are we talking about?"

 

"Enough to cause a problem," Lambo replied grimly. "He’s promising them that if he takes control, the family will go back to the way things were. No more talk of ‘cleaning up’ the business."

 

Mackin exhaled slowly, his mind racing as he considered the implications. If Victor gained enough support from the outside, he could launch a serious challenge to Mackin’s leadership. And the last thing Mackin needed was a full-blown internal war.

 

"Do we know where he’s meeting them?" Mackin asked.

 

Lambo nodded. "I’ve got a few leads. I can have someone follow up on it; see if we can get confirmation."

 

Mackin tapped his fingers on the desk, his gaze distant. "We need to stop this before it goes any further. If Victor’s pulling in outside support, it won’t be long before he makes his next move."

 

Lambo crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "I’ve been thinking about that. We could confront Victor directly and make it clear that if he keeps pushing, there will be consequences. But there’s a risk in doing that—it could force him to act sooner than he’s ready."

 

Mackin shook his head. "No, we can’t risk it. Victor’s already desperate. Confronting him now will just push him into a corner, and that’s when people make reckless decisions."

 

Lambo looked at him with a cautious expression. "So, what’s the plan?"

 

Mackin stood from his desk and walked over to the large window overlooking the estate. He gazed out at the sprawling grounds, his thoughts swirling with the weight of leadership. "We need to play this smart. Keep a close eye on Victor’s movements, but don’t let him know we’re watching. If he’s meeting with these outside players, we need to figure out who they are and what they want. Once we have that information, we can cut him off at the knees."

 

Lambo nodded, already formulating a plan. "I’ll get on it. I’ll have my contacts gather intel; see what we can find out."

 

Mackin turned back to face him, his expression resolute. "We’ve come too far to let Victor drag us back into the shadows. This family is going to change, whether he likes it or not."

 

Lambo gave a brief nod of understanding before turning to leave the office, leaving Mackin alone with his thoughts once again. The tension between him and Victor had been simmering for weeks, but now it was reaching a boiling point. And Mackin knew that if he didn’t find a way to neutralise Victor’s threat, the fallout could be catastrophic.

 

That evening, as Mackin sat alone in his office, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him, the door creaked open once more. This time, it was Lana.

 

She stepped into the room, her movements cautious, as if she wasn’t sure if Mackin wanted her there. Her gaze was soft, but it was filled with concern as she approached the desk. "You’ve been working late again."

 

Mackin glanced up from the stack of papers on his desk, offering a weary smile. "There’s a lot to be done."

 

Lana stood beside the desk, her arms crossed. "You can’t do it all yourself, Mackin. I know you feel like you have to hold everything together, but you need to let people in."

 

Mackin leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face. He was exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The battle with Victor was only one of the many challenges he faced. Balancing the legitimate side of the Mackin family’s business with the old criminal ties was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated.

 

"I don’t have a choice," Mackin said quietly. "If I don’t stay on top of this, everything will fall apart."

 

Lana frowned, stepping closer to him. "You’re not alone in this, Mackin. You have Lambo; you have the family members who support you. And you have me."

 

Mackin’s heart tightened at her words. He had kept Lana at a distance ever since her return, unsure if he could truly trust her again after everything that had happened. But deep down, he knew she was trying—trying to be the person he needed her to be, trying to atone for the mistakes she had made in the past.

 

"Lana," Mackin began, his voice soft but filled with the weight of years of unresolved emotions, "I don’t know if I can let you in. Not completely. Not after everything."

 

Lana’s face fell, but she nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I understand. But I’m here, Mackin. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I want to help you. I want to be by your side."

 

Mackin stared at her for a long moment, his mind warring with his heart. He wanted to believe her—wanted to trust that she had changed. But the scars of her betrayal still ran deep, and he wasn’t sure if he could ever truly let go of the past.

 

"I appreciate that, Lana," Mackin said finally, his voice thick with emotion. "But trust me, it takes time. And right now, time isn’t something I have."

 

Lana’s shoulders sagged with disappointment, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she offered him a small, sad smile. "I understand."

 

With that, she turned and left the office, leaving Mackin alone once again.

 

As the door clicked shut behind her, Mackin leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. The weight of his responsibilities was heavier than ever, and the battle for the family’s future was far from over. Victor was out there, gathering strength, preparing for his next move.

 

And Mackin knew that when the time came, he would have to be ready.