The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 94

The night was unusually quiet, the city lying still beneath a sky heavy with clouds.

Luis stood at the edge of the penthouse balcony, looking down at the streets below. It was the calm before the storm, the eerie silence that always came before something big. And tonight, something big was going to happen.

Maria moved behind him, her footsteps soft but deliberate. He could feel her presence without turning around, her sharp focus like a knife slicing through the night air. She was ready. They both were. Everything they had planned was in motion now, and there was no stopping it.

“They’ll start noticing soon,” Maria said, her voice low. “Once the first assets go dark.”

Luis nodded, his hands resting on the cool railing. The city felt different tonight like it was holding its breath, waiting for the first crack in the foundation to appear.

“It won’t take long,” he replied. “Once they realise what’s happening, the panic will spread.”

He could already picture it—the chaos, the confusion. The crews were scrambling to figure out why their funding had been cut and why their supply lines were disappearing. The businesses suddenly find themselves adrift, with no direction and no protection. The power vacuum would be instant.

And that was exactly what they wanted.

Maria leaned against the railing beside him, her eyes scanning the city. The beast beneath them was about to be unleashed, and part of her relished the idea. For years, they had built and fortified this empire, but now, tearing it all down felt like the ultimate act of control.

It was like holding a match to the very thing that had once consumed them.

“I’ve got the Southside ready,” Maria said, her voice all business. “First to go are the distribution hubs. Without them, the smaller crews won’t last a week.”

Luis glanced at her, his expression sharp. “And Miguel?”

Maria’s lips pressed into a thin line. Miguel had been a wildcard, a necessary tool in their game but always unpredictable. If he caught wind of what they were doing, he could easily throw a wrench into their plans.

“I’ve got him under control,” Maria replied coolly. “For now.”

Luis didn’t press further. He trusted her judgement. Maria had always been good at handling Miguel, keeping him on just the right side of useful without letting him become a threat. But he knew, just like her, that control was a temporary illusion in a place like this.

The phone in Luis’s pocket buzzed, breaking the silence. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

“It’s started,” he said, a dark smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Maria straightened, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. “Who?”

“The Dockyard,” Luis replied, pocketing the phone again. “They’re cutting ties.”

Maria smiled the cold, calculating kind. The Dockyard had always been one of the city’s most volatile sectors—a breeding ground for chaos. With their leadership structure falling apart, it wouldn’t take long for the rest of the city to follow.

“Good,” Maria said, her voice as sharp as glass. “Once the dockyard goes down, the rest will crumble.”

Luis nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him. It had taken years of manoeuvring, subtle moves, and ruthless plays, but they were finally here. At the precipice. Ready to watch everything burn.

“They’ll come for us, you know,” Maria said after a moment, her voice thoughtful.

Luis didn’t flinch. “They always do.”

Maria turned to face him fully now, her gaze steady. She knew what was coming, just as he did. Once the city realised what they were doing—once the rival crews and corporations understood that the empire was being dismantled from within—it would only be a matter of time before the retaliation came. But that was the beauty of it. They’d be long gone before the flames reached them.

“And you’re ready for that?” Maria asked, her voice softer now.

Luis met her gaze, his eyes steady, as dark as the city below. “I’ve been ready for this my whole life.”

Maria nodded, accepting his answer without question. They both understood what this meant. It wasn’t just about dismantling their empire—it was about erasing themselves from it.

The ultimate act of control wasn’t holding onto power; it was walking away before the inevitable crash. They would burn it all, and no one would even know where to find them in the aftermath.

Luis stepped back from the railing, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he turned towards the penthouse. The game was in motion now, and there was no turning back. Inside, the dim lights of the penthouse cast long shadows on the floor, reflections of the secrets that had built their empire.

Luis could feel the tension rising, the anticipation of what was to come.

“Is everything in place?” he asked, his voice low but firm.

Maria followed him inside, her expression calm as she spoke. “It’s all ready. The accounts are being drained as we speak. The crews won’t know what hit them until it’s too late.”

Luis nodded, satisfied. “Good.”

The clock was ticking. In a few hours, the first cracks would spread—accounts would freeze, assets would vanish, and the network of deals and alliances they had built over the years would begin to unravel. Each of their competitors would find themselves exposed and vulnerable. It would be a feeding frenzy, and they wouldn’t be around to see the carnage.

Maria poured herself a drink, the sound of liquid hitting the glass the only noise in the room. “And the businesses?”

“Gone,” Luis replied, his tone casual, as if he were discussing something as simple as the weather. “By tomorrow, every trace of us will have disappeared. The Southside crews, the Dockyard—it’s all coming down. Even the Eastside will feel it.”

Maria sipped her drink, her eyes narrowing in thought. “We’ve always been careful. They’ll know we did this, but they won’t be able to prove it.”

“That’s the point,” Luis said, a cold smile tugging at his lips. “By the time they realise we’re behind it, we’ll be ghosts. Nothing but a rumour.”

Maria smirked. It was perfect. They had built their empire from the shadows, and now they would dismantle it in the same way—unseen, untouchable. The city would be left scrambling, the power vacuum devouring anyone who wasn’t strong enough to survive.

“They’ll try to hold onto the pieces,” Maria said, her voice carrying an edge of amusement. “But it’ll be too late.”

Luis turned towards the window again, his gaze fixed on the city. The beast beneath them was already starting to stir, sensing the shift in power and the instability that would soon spread. He could almost hear the panic that would ripple through the streets—the frantic phone calls, the desperate attempts to regain control.

“They think they’re in control,” Luis murmured, almost to himself. “They always think that right until the moment everything collapses.”

Maria didn’t respond immediately. She stood beside him, her presence a steady, familiar force amid the chaos they were about to unleash.

“You’re ready to leave it all behind?” she asked quietly, her eyes searching his face.

Luis didn’t hesitate. “I am.”

And he meant it. He was done with the city, with the endless cycle of power and betrayal. He had clawed his way to the top, but he had seen the truth that most men never realised until it was too late: the city would never stop taking. No matter how much you gave or how much you sacrificed, it would always demand more.

Maria watched him carefully, her gaze never wavering. “Then let’s make sure we leave no trace.”

Luis nodded, his mind already racing through the final steps. There would be no loose ends. No one to come after them. They would disappear completely, leaving only ashes behind.

“We’ll be ghosts,” Maria said softly, almost to herself.

Luis glanced at her, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small, grim smile. “It’s better that way.”

Later that night, the first calls started coming in. The Dockyard was in chaos, the Southside crews were scrambling to find out why their shipments had stopped, and the Eastside was already beginning to fracture as rival factions moved in on weakened territory. Luis listened to the reports with a cold, detached satisfaction. Everything was going exactly as planned.

Bones, his most trusted enforcer, entered the room with a hard look on his face. “It’s happening fast,” he said, handing Luis a tablet with the latest updates. “The Dockyard’s already a mess, and we’ve got three of the major players scrambling to cover their losses. It’s only a matter of time before they start pointing fingers.”

Luis scanned the information on the screen, his expression unreadable. “Let them. By tomorrow, they’ll have no one left to blame.”

Bones gave a short nod, his face serious. “And what about Miguel? You want me to keep him in check?”

Luis’s gaze flicked to Maria, who was already watching him closely. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

“Miguel’s not a problem,” Luis said, his tone final. “He’ll be too busy dealing with the fallout. By the time he realises what’s happened, it’ll be too late for him to do anything.”

Bones didn’t argue. He’d seen enough of Miguel to know that Luis was right. The man was ruthless, but he wasn’t as smart as he thought he was. He wouldn’t see the collapse coming until it was already upon him.

Maria leaned against the bar, swirling the last of her drink. “And Kane?”

Luis’s jaw tightened slightly at the name. Kane was a different kind of threat, one that required more precision. He’d played a long game, staying just outside the circle of power but always hovering on the edges, waiting for his chance. Luis had always known Kane would be a problem eventually.

“He’ll make his move,” Luis said quietly, his eyes darkening. “But not before the city burns.”

Maria’s gaze sharpened. “And when he does?”

Luis set the tablet down on the table, his fingers tapping lightly against the surface. “We’ll be gone by then.”

There was a moment of silence, a shared understanding between them. Kane was an enemy they could handle—but only if they were out of the way before he had a chance to retaliate. If they stayed too long, if they hesitated, Kane would come for them. And he wouldn’t miss.

“Bones,” Luis said, turning to his enforcer, “make sure the final transfers go through. I want everything in place before the night’s over.”

Bones nodded once, then left the room without another word.

Maria watched him go, then turned back to Luis. “It’s a dangerous game we’re playing.”

Luis didn’t flinch. “It always is.”

Maria smirked, her gaze lingering on him for a moment. Then she crossed the room, the sharp click of her heels echoing against the marble floor. She stopped beside him, her voice low.

“Then let’s make sure we win.”