The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 30

The room felt smaller with Lana standing in the centre, her pale face framed by tension. Mackin Jones watched her carefully, his thoughts racing as he processed her warning.

Her words had left a sour taste in his mouth, but he knew he couldn’t afford to ignore the possibility that she was right. If Bruno had truly planned to use Mackin’s past against him, then the stakes were far higher than a mere family feud.

Lana shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting to the door as if contemplating an escape. Mackin could see the conflict in her expression—the guilt, the fear. But he wasn’t ready to let her off the hook just yet.

“Sit,” he said, his voice sharp and commanding.

Lana flinched but obeyed, sinking into the chair across from him. She kept her hands tightly clasped in her lap, her knuckles white with tension.

Mackin leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he stared at her. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know about Bruno’s plan.”

Lana swallowed hard, her throat dry. “I told you, I don’t know everything. Bruno never let me in on the details. But I overheard things... pieces of conversations.”

“Pieces?” Mackin’s voice was dangerously low. “I need more than pieces, Lana. I need the full picture.”

“I’m giving you everything I know!” She shot back, her voice cracking under the pressure. “Bruno was paranoid, always keeping his real plans hidden. But I know he was working with someone—someone powerful. Someone who had information on you.”

Mackin’s jaw clenched. “Who? Who had the information?”

Lana hesitated, biting her lip as she looked away. “I don’t know their name. But I know it was someone with connections—government, law enforcement, people who could make things disappear.”

Mackin’s heart pounded in his chest. Government? Law enforcement? If Bruno had managed to tap into those kinds of connections, it meant there were forces at work that Mackin hadn’t anticipated. The idea of someone within the system working against him made his blood run cold.

He stood abruptly, moving to the window, his mind whirling with possibilities. His reflection stared back at him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of uncertainty. If his past was exposed, if the secrets he had buried so deeply were brought to light, everything he had built would crumble.

Behind him, Lana spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mackin, I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want to betray you.”

Mackin’s fists clenched at his sides. “You chose Bruno,” he said, his voice tight with controlled anger. “You made your decision when you sided with him. Now you’re telling me that there’s someone out there who knows things about me—things that could ruin everything I’ve built.”

Lana looked down at her hands, her guilt palpable. “I didn’t know it would go this far.”

He turned sharply, his gaze cold. “You never knew what Bruno was capable of, did you? You underestimated him just like everyone else. And now, we’re all paying for it.”

The weight of her betrayal hung in the air like a dark cloud. Lana had been part of his life once—an important part. But now, she was little more than a reminder of the dangers of trusting the wrong people.

“Do you think Lachlan’s the one who has the information?” Mackin asked, his voice suddenly calm, almost detached.

Lana hesitated, her brow furrowing. “I don’t know. Bruno never mentioned Lachlan specifically, but... if Lachlan was involved with Bruno, then maybe.”

Mackin turned away again, the gears in his mind turning rapidly. If Lachlan had access to the information Bruno had uncovered, that changed everything. Lachlan wasn’t just a powerful adversary—he was the key to everything Bruno had set in motion.

“Get out,” Mackin said quietly, his back still to her.

Lana blinked, confusion clouding her face. “What?”

“Leave,” Mackin repeated, his voice cold and emotionless. “I’ve heard everything I need to hear.”

Lana stood slowly, her movements hesitant as she backed towards the door. “Mackin, I—”

“Don’t,” he cut her off, his eyes dark with anger. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. You’ve done enough.”

Lana’s heart sank, and she opened her mouth to say something, but the words died on her lips. She turned and left the room without another word, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

Mackin remained still, staring out at the city below. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but there were still too many unknowns. Lachlan was the central figure now—the man who held the key to everything. And if Bruno’s plan was still in motion, Lachlan would be making his move soon.

Mackin’s phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, his brow furrowing as he saw Lambo’s name on the screen.

“Mackin,” Lambo’s voice crackled through the line. “We’ve got something. One of our sources says Lachlan’s been in contact with someone high up. Might be the person Bruno was dealing with.”

Mackin’s grip tightened on the phone. “Who?”

“We don’t have a name yet, but we’re close. Our guy’s been tracking some encrypted communications. There’s been a lot of chatter about ‘the family’—and you know what that means.”

Mackin’s heart sank. The family. The Mackin name had always carried weight, both inside and outside the criminal world. But there were parts of that legacy Mackin had buried—parts that could ruin everything if they were exposed.

“I want that name, Lambo,” Mackin said, his voice low and urgent. “Find out who’s pulling the strings.”

“We’re on it,” Lambo replied. “But Mackin... this might be bigger than we thought.”

Mackin didn’t respond. He already knew it was bigger. Much bigger.

That night, Mackin sat in his office, the lights dimmed as he poured over documents, reports, and intelligence files. He couldn’t afford to rest—not when the shadows of his past were closing in. The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of paper or the distant hum of the city outside.

Lambo had sent him everything their team had gathered on Lachlan, and Mackin’s eyes scanned the pages with a laser-like focus. Lachlan had been a ghost in the business world for years, operating behind the scenes, always staying one step ahead of the law. But now, Mackin had a thread to pull—a way to unravel Lachlan’s carefully constructed web of power.

The phone on his desk buzzed again, and Mackin picked it up without looking.

“We’ve got a lead,” Lambo’s voice came through, sounding slightly breathless. “One of Bruno’s old associates. He’s willing to talk, but we have to move fast. Lachlan’s men are already looking for him.”

Mackin’s eyes darkened. “Where is he?”

“Old hideout near the docks. He’s laying low, but he won’t last long if Lachlan’s people find him.”

Mackin stood, grabbing his jacket. “I’m on my way.”

The docks were shrouded in darkness when Mackin arrived, the salty scent of the sea mixing with the diesel fumes from the nearby industrial sites. It was a cold, desolate place—perfect for hiding, but also perfect for an ambush.

Lambo was already waiting for him, his face grim as they stood at the edge of the pier, looking out at the rows of shipping containers stacked like forgotten monoliths. Behind them, a few of Mackin’s men stood guard, keeping a close watch on the perimeter.

“He’s in one of the containers,” Lambo said, nodding towards the rows of rusted metal boxes. “The place is a maze, but we’ve got him cornered.”

Mackin’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the scene. “How many of Lachlan’s men?”

“None so far, but it’s only a matter of time,” Lambo replied. “We need to get him out before they show up.”

Mackin nodded, his mind already calculating the risks. If this associate had valuable information—if he knew who Bruno had been working with—it could be the key to everything. But they had to move fast.

“Let’s go,” Mackin said, motioning for Lambo to lead the way.

They moved quickly through the maze of containers, their footsteps echoing in the still night air. The tension was thick, every shadow a potential threat. Mackin’s pulse quickened as they neared the container where their target was hiding, the sound of the waves crashing against the dock barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

Lambo knocked on the side of the container, his voice low but firm. “It’s us. Open up.”

There was a long pause before the door creaked open slightly, revealing a gaunt, nervous-looking man in his late forties. His eyes were wide with fear, and his hands shook as he gestured for them to come inside.

Mackin stepped in, his gaze cold as he sized the man up. “You’re the one who worked with Bruno?”

The man nodded quickly, his voice trembling. “Yeah. I... I didn’t want to, but Bruno didn’t give me a choice. He said... he said I had to help him if I wanted to stay alive.”

Mackin’s patience was wearing thin. “What did you help him with?”

The man swallowed hard, glancing around nervously before speaking. “It wasn’t just Bruno. There was someone else. Someone powerful. They were working together... planning something big. I don’t know all the details, but they were going to use something against you.”

Mackin’s jaw clenched. “Who was it? Give me a name.”

The man shook his head, his fear intensifying. “I don’t know! Bruno never told me. But I overheard things—mentions of ‘the family.’ Whoever it is, they’ve got deep connections. Law enforcement, government... people who can make things disappear.”

Mackin’s heart pounded in his chest. This was worse than he had imagined. If someone with those kinds of connections was involved, it meant that Bruno’s plan had far-reaching consequences.

“And what about Lachlan?” Mackin pressed. “What’s his role in all of this?”

The man hesitated, his eyes darting to the door. “Lachlan... he’s part of it, but he’s not the one pulling the strings. He’s just a player. There’s someone else... someone who’s been working in the shadows, orchestrating everything.”

Mackin’s pulse quickened. This was the confirmation he had been waiting for. There was someone bigger behind all of this—someone more dangerous than Lachlan or even Bruno.

“Who is it?” Mackin asked, his voice low and dangerous. “Tell me.”

The man’s breath hitched, his hands trembling as he shook his head. “I don’t know. I swear. But they’re coming for you, Mackin. And when they do... it’s going to be too late.”

Mackin’s eyes darkened as he processed the man’s words. The pieces of the puzzle were finally starting to fall into place, but there was still too much he didn’t know.

Before Mackin could ask another question, the sound of distant footsteps echoed through the dockyard. Lambo tensed, his hand moving to his gun.

“They’re here,” Lambo said quietly. “Lachlan’s men.”

Mackin’s jaw tightened. “Get him out of here,” he ordered, motioning to the trembling man. “We’ll deal with Lachlan’s people.”

Lambo nodded, grabbing the man by the arm and pulling him towards the exit. Mackin followed close behind, his mind racing as they moved through the shadows. Lachlan’s men were closing in, and they had to move fast if they wanted to escape unscathed.

As they reached the edge of the dock, the first shots rang out, echoing through the night. Mackin ducked behind a stack of crates, his gun drawn as he scanned the area for targets.

“We need to get out of here,” Lambo shouted over the gunfire, his voice tense.

Mackin nodded, his mind already calculating their next move. Lachlan’s men were closing in fast, but Mackin wasn’t about to let them win.

“Cover me,” Mackin ordered, his voice calm despite the chaos.

Lambo fired off a few shots, keeping Lachlan’s men at bay as Mackin moved towards the car. The tension in the air was palpable, every second stretching into an eternity as they fought their way out of the dockyard.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the car and sped away, the sounds of gunfire fading into the distance.

Mackin sat in the back seat, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just learnt. Lachlan wasn’t the mastermind—there was someone else, someone pulling the strings from behind the scenes. And whoever it was, they were coming for him.

But Mackin wasn’t going to let them win. He had fought too hard and sacrificed too much to let his enemies take everything from him now.

He stared out the window at the city passing by, his jaw set with determination.

This isn’t over.