The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 82

Luis has solidified his control over the city’s underworld, taking down Leo and uniting the smaller crews under his leadership. But the peace he has established is fragile, and the fire that once consumed the city still burns beneath the surface.

As Luis navigates the delicate balance of power, he must confront the reality that no matter how hard he fights, the city will always demand more. The war for control may be over, but the city is never truly tamed.

The city always wins in the end.

The city, at least for now, was quiet. But it was the kind of quiet that felt unnatural—like the stillness in the air before a storm. Luis had brought the underworld to heel. He had outmanoeuvred Marco, crushed Leo, and united the remaining factions under his rule.

The Dockyard was under his control, and the Southside had fallen in line. He was, for all intents and purposes, the undisputed ruler of the city’s underworld.

But Luis couldn’t shake the feeling that he was living on borrowed time.

The penthouse felt too big, too empty. Luis sat in Nico’s old chair, behind Nico’s old desk, but the weight of the empire he now ruled pressed down on him in a way it never had on Nico. He wasn’t like Nico—he didn’t crave power for power’s sake. But now that he had it, he was beginning to understand the burden Nico had carried.

The city demanded everything.

The door to the office opened, and Maria stepped inside. She moved with the same quiet confidence that had become her signature, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the room before she approached.

Luis had come to rely on her more than anyone else—her counsel, her strategic mind, her unwavering loyalty. She had helped him navigate the complex web of the city’s underworld, and without her, Luis wasn’t sure if he would have made it this far.

“You’ve heard the whispers?” Maria asked, standing in front of his desk. She didn’t sit. She rarely did when they discussed business.

Luis nodded, leaning back in the chair, his hands steepled in front of him. “They’re already starting to question me.”

Maria crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. “Not openly, not yet. But it’s only a matter of time. The city never stays quiet for long.”

Luis exhaled slowly, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He had known this was coming. No matter how many battles he won, no matter how many enemies he took down, there would always be another challenge. The city didn’t allow for complacency. The second you thought you were in control, it turned on you.

“What are they saying?” Luis asked, though he already had a good idea.

Maria’s eyes flickered with a hint of frustration. “Some of the smaller crews are getting restless. They see the peace you’ve brokered as weakness. They’re used to power being enforced with blood, and they think you’ve gone soft.”

Luis clenched his jaw. He had fought to avoid the kind of endless violence that had defined Nico’s reign, but maybe he had been too optimistic. Maybe the city didn’t want peace. Maybe it was only held together by the constant threat of violence.

“They’re testing me,” Luis said, his voice cold. “Waiting for me to slip.”

Maria nodded. “They’re waiting for you to show weakness. That’s how it works here. The second you let your guard down, they’ll move in. And once they see blood, the rest will follow.”

Luis stood, moving to the window to look out over the city. The skyline glittered in the distance, but it felt like a different world from the streets below. He had fought so hard to bring the city to this point, to stop the bloodshed, to unite the fractured factions. But even now, with the city under his control, it didn’t feel like a victory.

It felt like a reprieve.

“How many do you think are serious about moving against me?” Luis asked, turning back to Maria.

“Not many, yet,” Maria said. “But if they sense you’re slipping, that number will grow. We’ve got about two or three factions that could make a play. Marco’s old crew has reorganized, and they’re being led by one of his lieutenants—Salvatore. He’s ambitious. Leo’s remnants have scattered, but a few of them might try to rally. And there’s always the Dockyard.”

Luis’s eyes narrowed. The Dockyard had been a wildcard ever since Leo’s fall. The territory had been absorbed into Luis’s control, but it was a volatile place, full of hard men who had no love for anyone in power. If the Dockyard rebelled, it could set off a chain reaction that would unravel everything.

“We need to keep a lid on the dockyard,” Luis said firmly. “If that place goes, the rest of the city will follow.”

Maria’s expression darkened. “It’s already showing signs of unrest. The leaders there aren’t happy with the way things have been divided. They want more, and they’re not going to wait forever.”

Luis nodded, his mind racing. He couldn’t afford to let the dockyard slip out of his control. It was too critical, too symbolic. If he lost the dockyard, the smaller crews would see it as a sign of weakness, and everything he had built would start to crumble.

“We need to act before it becomes a problem,” Luis said. “Send a message.”

Maria’s eyes flickered with understanding. “Something public? A show of force?”

Luis exhaled slowly, his gaze distant. “No. Something smarter. We don’t need more bodies in the street. We need to remind them that we’re watching. That they’re never out of reach.”

Maria nodded, already considering the options. “I’ll put something together. But we need to be careful. If we push too hard, we could set off the very rebellion we’re trying to prevent.”

Luis didn’t respond immediately. He knew she was right. The city was always on a knife’s edge, and one wrong move could tip everything into chaos. But he also knew that inaction was just as dangerous. If the Dockyard saw any sign of hesitation, they would take it as an invitation to strike.

“We’ll move carefully,” Luis said finally. “But we can’t afford to hesitate. The second they think I’m weak, it’s over.”

Maria gave a brief nod before turning to leave. But before she reached the door, she paused, looking back at him. “Luis… I know this isn’t what you wanted. But you’re in this now. There’s no turning back.”

Luis met her gaze, his expression grim. “I know.”

That night, Luis sat alone in the penthouse, the quiet hum of the city outside the only sound in the room. He had spent years following Nico, watching as the man built his empire on fear, violence, and bloodshed. Luis had seen the toll it took, not just on the people Nico ruled but on Nico himself. Power came with a price, and Luis had always known that.

But knowing it didn’t make it easier to bear.

He poured himself a drink, staring down at the amber liquid in the glass. For a moment, he considered what Maria had said earlier. The city didn’t stay quiet for long. There was always someone waiting in the shadows, someone willing to do whatever it took to take the throne.

And if Luis wasn’t careful, he would end up like Nico—another king who thought he could tame the beast, only to be devoured by it.

The door to the penthouse opened, and Luis glanced up, half-expecting Maria to have returned. But it wasn’t Maria.

It was Salvatore.

Luis stood, his body immediately tense, though he didn’t reach for his gun. Salvatore, one of Marco’s old lieutenants, was the kind of man who thrived in chaos. He had been quiet since Marco’s death, but Luis had heard whispers that Salvatore had been consolidating power, biding his time. And now, it seemed, he had decided to make his move.

“What do you want?” Luis asked, his voice cold as he moved to face Salvatore.

Salvatore’s smile was slick, like oil on water. “I came to talk. I thought maybe we could come to an understanding.”

Luis raised an eyebrow, though his expression remained hard. “An understanding? I thought I made things pretty clear when Marco went down.”

Salvatore chuckled, though there was no warmth in it. “You did. But things have changed. The city’s not as quiet as you’d like it to be. Some of the smaller crews—well, let’s just say they’re not as convinced by your new order as you might think.”

Luis’s jaw tightened. He had known this was coming, but he wasn’t about to let Salvatore walk in here and dictate terms.

“And you think you’re the one to challenge me?” Luis asked, his voice steady but laced with a dangerous edge.

Salvatore’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m not challenging you, Luis. I’m offering you a way out. You’re in over your head. The city’s always been bigger than one man, and you’re smart enough to know that. But you don’t have to lose everything. Let me take over the Southside, and we can work together. You keep your power, I keep mine, and we avoid a war.”

Luis didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at Salvatore, his mind working through the implications. Salvatore was dangerous and ambitious, but he wasn’t stupid. If he was making this offer, it meant he thought he had the leverage to back it up. And if Luis refused, there was a good chance Salvatore would make a move—soon.

But Luis also knew that giving in to Salvatore’s demands would be a sign of weakness. The second he gave up territory, the second he showed any sign of backing down, the rest of the city would see it. And they would move against him.

Luis moved slowly, stepping around the desk until he was standing directly in front of Salvatore. The tension between them was thick, like the air before a storm.

“You think I’m going to let you walk in here and carve up my city?” Luis asked, his voice cold.

Salvatore’s smile faded slightly, though his eyes remained sharp. “It’s not your city, Luis. It never was.”

For a moment, the two men stood in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. Luis knew he had to make a decision—one that would shape the future of his reign. He could let Salvatore walk out of here with his offer, or he could make a statement right here, right now.

Luis’s hand moved in a blur, grabbing Salvatore by the collar and slamming him against the wall. Salvatore’s eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Luis had his gun pressed against Salvatore’s throat.

“This city is mine,” Luis said, his voice low and deadly. “And if you ever try to take it from me, I’ll bury you.”

Salvatore’s face twisted in anger, but he didn’t struggle. He knew better.

Luis released him, stepping back as Salvatore straightened his jacket, his expression darkening. “You’re making a mistake, Luis. A big one.”

“Get out,” Luis said, his voice cold. “Before I change my mind.”

Salvatore hesitated for a moment, his eyes burning with hatred, but he turned and walked out without another word.

Luis stood there, the tension in his body slowly fading as the door closed behind Salvatore. He knew this wasn’t the end. Salvatore wouldn’t walk away quietly. But for now, Luis had made his choice. He wasn’t going to be bullied into giving up control. Not by Salvatore, and not by anyone else.

But as Luis stood alone in the penthouse, the weight of his decision settled heavily on his shoulders. The city wasn’t going to stay quiet for long. The fire was already rising again.

And Luis was running out of time to stop it.