The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 44

With the first strike against Santoro’s inner circle, Mackin begins to unravel the intricate web of power that has protected Carmine for so long. But as Mackin digs deeper into Santoro’s world, he realises that this war will push him to his limits, forcing him to make alliances he never thought possible and betray those closest to him. The fight for control of the city is about to reach a breaking point, and Mackin knows that only one man will come out on top.

The question is: How far is Mackin willing to go to win?

The moment Mackin Jones stepped out of the club, the night air hit him like a wall of cold steel. The sound of distant waves crashing against the docks punctuated the silence as he walked towards the black SUV waiting for him. The message had been sent. Inside that building, the most trusted members of Carmine Santoro’s network had just learnt what it meant to cross Mackin. But as satisfying as it was to watch the fear spread across their faces, Mackin knew it was just the beginning. Santoro wouldn’t take this lying down.

Lambo was already waiting by the car, his expression hard as he scanned the darkened street. “The word will get to Santoro fast,” Lambo said, lighting a cigarette and taking a slow drag. “He’ll know we’ve started tearing his network apart.”

Mackin didn’t respond immediately. His eyes remained focused on the dockside club, its neon sign flickering weakly in the distance. It was a dirty, forgotten corner of the city—one that Santoro had used for years to conduct his real business. Now, that sanctuary was gone. He had torn open a wound, but Mackin wasn’t naive enough to think that Santoro wouldn’t retaliate. He was counting on it.

“He’ll hit back,” Mackin said, his voice low but filled with certainty. “And when he does, we’ll be ready.”

Lambo took another drag of his cigarette, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. “You think Vincent’s information will hold up? We’ve already stirred the hornet’s nest. Santoro won’t stop until he takes us both out.”

Mackin glanced at Lambo, his expression unreadable. “Leone’s been in this game long enough to know the stakes. Santoro is too dangerous for any of us to ignore. He’ll keep feeding us what we need to take him down.”

Lambo smirked, but there was tension in his eyes. “Yeah, but if Leone sees things tipping in Santoro’s favour, don’t be surprised if he changes sides. Men like him don’t stay loyal for long.”

Mackin knew the truth of that all too well. In this world, alliances were fragile, built on convenience and necessity. Loyalty was rare and often fleeting. Vincent Leone might be playing along for now, but Mackin had no illusions about the man. If the tide turned, Leone would switch sides in a heartbeat to protect his interests.

“We’re not giving him the chance to change sides,” Mackin said flatly. “By the time Santoro realises what’s happening, it’ll be too late for him to fight back.”

Lambo nodded, but the lingering doubt remained. “What about the media leak? Santoro’s men are already working overtime to control the narrative.”

Mackin’s eyes narrowed. “They can’t stop what’s coming. We’ve already exposed enough of his operations to get the public’s attention. Santoro’s been hiding behind the veil of legitimacy for too long. Now the city will see him for what he is.”

Lambo crushed his cigarette beneath his boot. “And if it’s not enough?”

Mackin’s expression turned cold. “Then we hit him harder. We take away everything he values, piece by piece.”

With that, Mackin stepped into the SUV, his mind already turning to the next phase of the plan. They had made their first strike, but the war was far from over. The real battle was just beginning.

At the same time, across the city, Carmine Santoro stood in his private office, staring out the large glass window that overlooked the glittering skyline. He had just received word of Mackin’s move against the club at the docks, and though his face remained calm, a storm brewed beneath the surface. Mackin’s boldness had caught him by surprise, but it wasn’t the move of a desperate man. It was the move of someone who understood the game.

But Santoro knew something else as well: Mackin’s aggression would be his downfall.

Behind him, Vito shifted uncomfortably, waiting for Santoro to speak. “Mackin’s coming for you,” Vito said, the tension in his voice evident. “He’s trying to dismantle everything you’ve built.”

Santoro remained silent, his eyes fixed on the skyline. The city stretched out before him like a kingdom, and for years, he had controlled it from the shadows. Now, Mackin was threatening to tear that control apart.

“Mackin is doing exactly what I expected him to do,” Santoro said quietly, his voice measured. “He’s trying to draw me into a fight. But Mackin has forgotten the most important rule of this game.”

Vito frowned. “Which is?”

Santoro turned, his eyes cold and calculating. “Power doesn’t come from violence or brute force. It comes from control. And Mackin, for all his strength, is starting to lose control.”

Vito’s frown deepened. “He’s hitting our businesses hard, Carmine. The media’s already running stories about the connections between our legitimate holdings and the offshore accounts. We’re going to lose credibility.”

Santoro walked to his desk and sat down, his movements calm and deliberate. “Let him. Mackin’s making noise, but noise is all it is. We’ve spent years building this network, and it won’t crumble because of a few headlines. What Mackin doesn’t realise is that while he’s tearing down one part of my empire, I’m already rebuilding it elsewhere.”

Vito seemed unsure. “So what do we do?”

Santoro leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face. “We stay patient. Mackin will overplay his hand. And when he does, we’ll strike.”

Vito nodded slowly, though his unease was still evident. “And in the meantime?”

Santoro’s smile widened. “We discredit him. We make him look weak. Mackin’s strength is built on fear, but fear can turn to doubt. Once the city starts to question his power, his empire will collapse on its own.”

Vito’s eyes lit up with understanding. “You want to turn his people against him.”

“Exactly,” Santoro said softly. “Mackin’s empire is built on alliances, on people who believe in his ability to lead. But if we can make them doubt him—if we can show them that Mackin isn’t the man they think he is—they’ll abandon him. And without their support, Mackin is nothing.”

The days that followed saw Mackin’s men moving with precision and ruthlessness, targeting Santoro’s businesses and cutting off his financial streams one by one. The media frenzy had started to build as the connections between Santoro’s legal holdings and his offshore criminal empire became public knowledge. The once untouchable businessman was being exposed for what he truly was, and the city was watching.

But Mackin wasn’t satisfied. He knew this war wasn’t going to be won through public opinion alone. Santos’s influence ran deep, and his allies in politics and law enforcement weren't easily swayed by media reports. To truly destroy Santoro, Mackin needed to hit him where it hurt most—his control over the people who mattered.

Sitting in his office, Mackin reviewed the latest intelligence reports. His contacts had uncovered more about Santoro’s persona connections—key figures in the government, judges, police chiefs, and even a few senators who were tied to Santoro’s network through money and favours.

“This is where we apply pressure,” Mackin said to Lambo, who stood across from him. “We go after the people who have been protecting Santoro for years. We expose their corruption; make them answer for their involvement with him.”

Lambo nodded, though he looked sceptical. “It’s risky. These are powerful people. If we make a wrong move, they could turn the city against us.”

Mackin’s eyes flashed with determination. “We don’t have a choice. If we’re going to win this war, we need to make sure no one is willing to stand by Santoro’s side when he falls.”

Lambo paused for a moment, then gave a grim smile. “All right, boss. Let’s shake the tree and see what falls.”

In the heart of the city, a press conference was being held. Mackin had quietly arranged for a reporter with ties to his network to ask the right questions—ones that would cast doubt on the integrity of certain city officials. It was subtle but effective. The media had already started to pick up the thread, and soon enough, the connections between Santoro and those in power would become impossible to ignore.

As Mackin watched the news coverage from his office, Lambo entered with a new report. “Santoro’s starting to feel the pressure,” he said, tossing the file onto Mackin’s desk. “His people are scrambling to keep things under control. But there’s one thing you should see.”

Mackin opened the file, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the document. It was a report on a recent meeting between Santoro and a key figure in the police force—one of Mackin’s former allies.

“He’s turning them,” Mackin muttered under his breath. “He’s trying to flip people in our network.”

Lambo nodded, his expression serious. “It looks like Santoro’s making his move. He’s trying to convince your allies that you can’t win this war—that you’re losing control.”

Mackin’s jaw clenched. Santoro wasn’t just trying to discredit him—he was actively working to steal the support Mackin had spent years building. If Santoro succeeded, Mackin’s empire would collapse from within.

“We need to send a message,” Mackin said, his voice cold. “Find out who’s been meeting with Santoro. We make sure they understand what happens when they turn against me.”

Lambo gave a grim nod. “Consider it done.”

The war between Mackin Jones and Carmine Santoro was now a full-scale battle, fought not just with guns and money but with influence, fear, and loyalty. Santoro had begun his campaign to undermine Mackin’s power base, using every resource at his disposal to convince the city that Mackin was no longer the man he used to be. But Mackin wasn’t backing down.

Each move Santoro made, Mackin countered with precision, targeting Santoro’s allies, exposing his connections, and cutting off the financial streams that had kept his empire afloat for years. But despite Mackin’s efforts, Santoro’s influence remained strong, and the battle was far from over.

The city was on the edge, caught in the middle of a war between two titans. And as the pressure mounted, Mackin knew that the final confrontation was coming.

There would be no more subtle moves. No more quiet attacks.

It was time to end this.