The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 25

The rain came down in sheets, drumming against the windows of Mackin’s penthouse like an incessant reminder of the storm brewing outside.

The skyline of the city, usually bright and imposing, was shrouded in mist and darkness. It was a fitting backdrop for the conversation that was about to take place.

Mackin stood by the large windows, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out at the city below. His reflection in the glass was stern, focused—a man deep in thought, weighed down by the burden of leadership. The war with Victor was escalating, and Mackin knew that the time for subtle moves and quiet power plays was over. If Victor wanted to play dirty, then Mackin would meet him head-on.

Behind him, Lambo was pacing, his boots clicking against the polished marble floor. He had been working tirelessly to gather intel on Victor’s plans, and now they had a lead.

"Victor’s been meeting with someone from law enforcement," Lambo said, his voice low and filled with tension. "A detective named Morales. They’ve been seen together at a few locations around the city, and from what we’ve gathered, Morales is feeding Victor information about the investigation into the family’s business dealings."

Mackin’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "So Victor’s trying to use the authorities against us."

Lambo nodded, stopping his pacing to face Mackin. "It looks that way. Morales has a history of dirty dealings, and it seems like Victor’s managed to get him on his payroll. If Morales has access to any critical information about the investigation, Victor could use it to his advantage. He’s playing a dangerous game."

Mackin exhaled slowly, turning away from the window to face Lambo. "We need to stop this. If Victor’s working with law enforcement, he could cripple our operations before we even have a chance to go fully legitimate."

Lambo crossed his arms, his expression grim. "There’s another issue. Morales isn’t just feeding Victor information—he’s actively sabotaging any efforts we’re making to clean up the family’s businesses. He’s been leaking details to our competitors, and some of our more vulnerable ventures are starting to feel the pressure."

Mackin’s eyes darkened. "He’s trying to box us in. Victor wants to make it look like we can’t survive without the old ways. He’s trying to prove that my vision for the family is a failure."

"Exactly," Lambo said. "And if he gets enough people on his side, he might be able to force your hand. Either you go back to running things the way Bruno and Drake did, or the whole empire collapses."

Mackin clenched his fists, his anger rising. He had known that Victor would be ruthless, but this—using law enforcement and sabotage—was more underhanded than even he had anticipated. Victor wasn’t just trying to challenge his leadership; he was trying to cripple the entire family. If Victor succeeded, everything Mackin had worked for—the legitimate empire he was trying to build—would be destroyed before it ever had the chance to stand.

Mackin turned to Lambo, his eyes cold and calculating. "We can’t let this continue. If Victor and Morales are working together, we need to shut them down. Fast."

Lambo nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. But we need to be careful. Morales is still a detective, and if we move too quickly or too aggressively, it could bring more heat on the family than we can handle. We don’t want to tip him off that we’re onto him either. Victor will be watching for any sign that we’re making moves against him."

Mackin paced the room, his mind racing. He had been trying to play this game clean—avoiding the dirty tactics that had defined the Mackin family for generations. But if Victor was willing to cross lines, then Mackin would have to decide how far he was willing to go to protect what he had built.

"We need leverage," Mackin said after a moment, his voice steady but filled with resolve. "If Morales is on Victor’s payroll, then there’s something we can use against him. Everyone has a weakness. We find it, and we turn the tables on him."

Lambo’s lips curled into a faint smile. "I’ve already started looking into Morales. He’s been keeping a low profile, but he’s got a few skeletons in his closet. If we dig deep enough, we’ll find something."

Mackin stopped pacing and turned to face Lambo. "Good. Keep digging. I want to know everything there is to know about him—his connections, his finances, his weaknesses. Whatever it takes."

Lambo nodded, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary calls. "I’ll get our people on it. In the meantime, I’ll also see if we can figure out who else Victor is working with. Morales can’t be his only ally."

As Lambo moved to leave, Mackin’s thoughts turned to the bigger picture. He had fought too hard to let it all fall apart now. Victor thought he could manipulate the system and use underhanded tactics to win, but Mackin was prepared to fight fire with fire. If Victor wanted to play dirty, Mackin would do whatever it took to beat him at his own game.

After Lambo left, Mackin returned to the large window overlooking the city. The rain still poured in torrents, blurring the lights of the buildings in the distance. The storm outside was a perfect reflection of the storm brewing within the family—a battle for control, for the future of the Mackin legacy.

But Mackin wasn’t afraid of the storm. He had weathered worse. And he was ready to face whatever came next.