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The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 104: One Bullet Away
"You think this is about justice?" Mason's words dripped with cynicism. "This city runs on power, Maria. And power? That's always been your sweet spot."Her jaw clenched, but she didn’t bite. Not yet. “Keep talking. Dig your own grave faster, Mason.”“Go ahead, Detective,” Mason taunted, his voice smooth like bourbon but tinged with steel. “Show me the guts you think I lack. Pull the trigger. What’s holding you back?”“Simple,” she shot back, unfazed. “Every shot comes at a cost. This one? It’s your life.”“Funny how the morals shift,” he replied, an amused smirk flirting with the edges of his mouth, “you can’t pull the trigger, can you?” His words forward, slow, deliberate, daring. “Because deep down, you know it’s not just my blood on your hands. It’s Leo’s. Ramirez’s. Hell, maybe even your own.”The name Ramirez hit like a slap, but Maria didn’t flinch. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.“You don’t know the first thing about me.”“I know you’re dangerous.” His tone was soft, b
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 105: Why Choose on the Razor's Edge?
"Always knew something was off with you, Maria," Mason tone carried a bit of admiration. "Green recruit to one of Leo's trusted lieutenants in three years? That's one helluva ride."Maria shrugged, the corners of her mouth lifting into a faint smile as if the comment didn’t bother her, but it also didn’t please her. "You've been itching to dig, Mason," she countered, each word carefully measured. "Wondering how Leo and I crossed paths. That curiosity's been eating you up worse than bottom-shelf whiskey on a cold Chicago night." Her eyes sparkled with a defiance that matched the strength simmering beneath her skin."Questions like that could get a guy dead faster than yesterday’s beer, Maria." His gaze hardened, a wall rising against whatever intuition urged him to soften. "Wise people bury that kind of curiosity six feet under."She leaned forward, closing the distance between them. No theatrics, just pure, focused intensity. "Is that what you think? That you’re so wise? Or maybe we’r
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 106: Sins of Survival
"You want to know how I landed here?" His voice scraped like broken glass, a raw blend of whiskey-soaked memories and bone-deep exhaustion. "This wasn't some goddamn choice. This was pure, raw survival."Maria remained silent, her posture rigid yet attentive. The church's guttering candle threw shadows across her face, transforming her from a hardened cop to something more—a listener, a potential ally.Mason's narrative began to unfurl, each word carefully selected, like a street veteran hustler revealing his most guarded secrets. "Before Olivia. Before this whole damn empire, I was just another South Side kid trying to dodge the knockout punch life kept throwing. St. Catherine's Orphanage? That wasn't just some building. That was a war zone where survival was the only currency that meant anything."He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle between them. Maria's green eyes never left his face, studying every microexpression, every slight tremor in his voice."Construction
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 107: The Temporary Game of Revenge
"Survival? In this city, it's just another breath," Mason said, shrugging off the weight of uncertainty. "Frankly, I didn’t know how much revenge fueled my journey until the lines blurred. I stood at a crossroad, one leading back to the man I used to be—a loving husband, a simple contractor—and the other leading to the dark heart of Chicago's underbelly. Olivia thought she knew power," he growled, "but power in Chicago isn't about money. It's about understanding the rhythm of the streets."His fingers drummed a restless beat against the church wood, each tap a punctuation mark to his narrative. "The day everything changed, I wasn't looking to become a kingpin. I was looking to survive."The day everything changed wasn't marked by heroics. It was survival, pure and simple. Mason's voice dropped low, gravelly as broken concrete. "I didn't set out to become Leo King. Hell, I was just trying to keep breathing when the world wanted me six feet under."Maria watched him, her green eyes shar
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 108: Protection Comes in Different Packages
“Survivor or not, Mason, you can’t expect me to ignore the law. Playing vigilante with your current life sets you up for failure, no one can escape those kinds of stakes, trust me.” Her voice firm, holding its ground.Mason's response came measured, almost too calm. "See? That's where we differ." His eyes, dark as the Chicago River at midnight, locked onto Maria. "You're sitting on a throne built of rules. I'm floating on tides of chaos. I don't crave darkness; I don't revel in blood—but it's what I've got.""Wake up!" Maria challenged, dramatically waving her fingers to his face. "This isn't just a game—those tides? They'll swallow you whole. I'm not trying to destroy you, Mason. I'm trying to save you from your mistakes."Mason studied her—really studied her. The way her green eyes flickered between accusation and something deeper. Something almost protective. He looked for a crack in her resolve, that moment of understanding that might change everything."Save me?" A bitter laugh e
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 109: A Proposal?
Maria felt the weight of his words, like a lead anchor dropping straight to her core. "Then who’s bigger than the law, Mason? No one is above the authorities—not Leo, not the crime families. You think I give a damn about some fragile peace? My job is to clean up this city's rot, starting with Leo King.""You really think Leo is just another problem to solve?" Mason challenged, his dark gaze locking on hers. "You arrest him, and this city'll crack open like a fault line. Chicago ain't some neat little case file you can close and forget. You'll spark a war that'll make our past look like a goddamn picnic, and the suits downtown—the government? They won't lift a finger to save your ass."The room vibrated. Decades of street knowledge hung between them like a heavy fog.Maria held her ground, her detective's badge feeling heavy on her chest. "I don't believe in boogeyman stories, I've heard this song and dance before. Criminals protecting criminals. You're all the same—justifying your exi
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 110: The Proposal
The shadows from the stained glass windows stretched across the floor, casting fractured light on the tension-filled conversation. Mason leaned against the rotting pew, arms crossed, a playful glimmer in his dark eyes masking his underlying desperation. Maria glared back, unwavering, her stance only growing more rigid.“Let’s cut the crap, Mason,” Maria challenged, arms crossed defiantly. “What exactly is this grand proposal of yours?”Mason pushed himself off the pew, a smile creeping onto his face. “Alright, here’s the deal.” He paused, savoring the moment. “How about we show these crime lords something worth more than their petty cash?” The confidence in his tone mingled with a hint of mischief as he eyed her reaction.Maria raised an eyebrow. “You meaning what? Art classes or therapy sessions?” she shot back, sarcasm dripping from her voice, a habit she’d honed from years outsmarting the knuckleheads in her precinct. “I mean, you gotta be kidding me.”“See, what if we give them so
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 111: Negotiating Darkness
But Mason was ready. He leaned forward, eyes blazing with a conviction that went beyond simple ambition. “Ironically, they're the ones already investing. We're not taking them down—we're offering them a seat at a table they've never seen before. A legitimate future. Who wouldn’t want a seat at the table when it comes to playing god over fate? We give them a glimpse into a better, brighter Chicago—a city that thrives on respect instead of fear.”“Care?” Maria's voice rose, cutting through the church's musty silence. “These crime lords barely care about the breathing bodies on these streets. You think they'll care about the positive side of your fancy tech?”“That's where you're wrong.” Mason's tone softened, but the edge remained. He moved closer, close enough that Maria could see the determination etched into every line of his face. “I've shown them something new. Something that makes money. I'm giving them a distraction from the business-as-usual crime that plagues this city. They're
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- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 122: The Queen's Silence
Mason went still as a statue, like someone had just pulled a heater on him at a deal gone wrong. "Come again?""Don't play dumb – it doesn't suit you," Helena said, that South Side edge creeping into her sophisticated tone. "You already put it out there at the luncheon, running your mouth to the media about taking over. Plus those South Side projects you've owned up to handling? You've made quite the name for yourself. Time to own it."Mason's whiskey glass hung suspended between table and lips like his brain had short-circuited. "Hold on now. I'd barely declared my interest—""This ain't up for debate." Helena's voice carried that special kind of authority that made even the hardest street soldiers stand at attention. "You're moving back to the family house. Eve's gonna back your play, but the crown's sitting on your head.""And where does that leave me?" Charlotte piped up, her eyes sparkling with that Lake Shore Drive mischief. "Surely I have a role in this grand plan?"Helena’s ga
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 121: Mason King
The dining room had been a war zone of flavors—roasted duck drizzled with plum glaze, garlic butter potatoes so soft they melted in your mouth, and desserts that looked too perfect to eat. Now, hours later, the King family had retreated to the living room, everyone full, tired, but unwilling to call it a night just yet.Mason leaned back into the oversized couch, trying to make himself invisible. He was getting good at it—blending into the luxury he still wasn’t used to. A crackling fire lit the room, its glow softening the sharp angles of the family he was playing house with. Charlotte was perched cross-legged on the floor, a glass of wine dangling from her fingers as she scrolled through her phone. Eve sat stiff-backed beside Helena, shoulders squared as though a rogue thought might blow her cover.Helena commanded the space like she commanded everything else in her life, one leg crossed over the other, sipping her wine with the patience that came from years of making Chicago's elit
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 120: The Fall of a King
Midnight. Pier 19.The air hung heavy with tension at the warehouse—every breath tainted with the sweet, metallic stench of premium cocaine and bitter anticipation. Ramirez's footsteps echoed through the concrete maze that had made him Chicago's most feared supplier. The dim fluorescent lights cast an eerie glow over endless rows of perfectly stacked crates, each one worth more than what most people made in a lifetime."Che cazzo," Ramirez muttered under his breath, checking his Rolex for the third time. Thirty-six years of running Chicago's largest distribution network had taught him that waiting meant weakness, and weakness meant death.He stood motionless, muscles tense beneath his tailored Armani suit, waiting for Leo's men to make their move. Maria's intel had promised an attack, but the warehouse remained dead silent except for the distant hum of the industrial ventilation system."The stupid bastard's taking his sweet time," Ramirez spat, his Chicago accent bleeding through his
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 119: Blood is the Final Result
Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe sat a warehouse at the edge of nowhere like a forgotten secret. Inside, blue light from dozens of monitors painted Diego, Yuri, and Katya in digital twilight. The place smelled of coffee gone cold and ambition gone hungry.Diego lounged in his chair, expensive boots propped on metal like he owned the place. The Armenian cognac in his hand caught the screen light, amber turning to gold. Six months of their lives spent crawling through digital vaults, and what did they have?"Míra esto," he drawled, Spanish accent thick with irony. He gestured at the largest diamond on display, his lips curled in amusement. "Six months breaking into banks, and what's our prize? Rocks." He took another pull from the bottle. "Pretty ones, sure. But Chicago?" He shook his head. "They fight over these things like they're made of pure power.""These aren't mere stones," Yuri's voice rumbled like distant thunder across the warehouse. His massive frame hunched over the monitor, thi
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 118: Father's Wisdom, Son's War
Ethan's head was pounding, each throb a reminder of how spectacularly everything had gone to shit. The kind of mess that made South Side gang wars look like kindergarten squabbles. His fingers pressed against his temples, trying to massage away the reality that was bearing down on him like a freight train.The whiskey bottle beckoned. He grabbed it, poured himself a glass like his life depended on it. Arthur's eyes followed the amber liquid, and without a word, Ethan knew his old man wanted in.The chair screamed against concrete as Ethan shoved it back. Chicago's finest furniture didn't belong in this basement office, but then again, neither did they anymore. He passed the bottle to Arthur, his movements sharp, controlled—barely"That woman," he spat the words like poison, memories of the King's annual luncheon burning fresh. "Helena fucking King. You know what she did? One phone call. Maybe not even—could've been a damn text for all I know. That fast." He snapped his fingers, the so
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 117: The Aurora's Secret
Ethan felt the cold crawl down his spine like a drunk spider, the name Thomas hanging in the air thick as Chicago fog. Thomas wasn't just a name—he was a goddamn legend whispered in back alleys and dimly lit bars. A cipher that spelled out chaos, sharp as a razor's edge, dangerous as a loaded gun.His voice cut through the silence, that particular tone Arthur knew too well—part confusion, part intrigue. The kind of voice that said he'd seen some shit but wasn't about to back down."That Thomas King you mentioned..." Ethan drawled. "Same Leo's old man?"Arthur paused. Not the kind of pause that meant he was thinking—the kind that meant memories were wrestling beneath his skin.He exhaled slow, a rasp that spoke volumes. "Yeah, Ethan. Same Thomas King."Ethan leaned back, those sharp eyes narrowing. The smirk that crawled across his lips was pure cynical, knowing. "Huhhhh. Thought that bastard was worm food by now."Arthur's mouth twitched. Not a smile. Something darker. "Oh, he's dead
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 116: The Aurora Borealis Revelation
Ethan slammed his fist against a close desk, sending a thunderous crack through his father's meticulously organized workspace. Blueprints and papers scattered, each document a testament to his mounting frustration—the Aurora Borealis diamond dancing just beyond his grasp. "Damn it!" he hissed, reaching for his phone. His fingers hovered over Marcus's contact before he dialed, his breath ragged, bitterness coating every syllable when the connection clicked. "You better pick up, Marcus. We've got a serious goddamn problem."The line crackled with Marcus's trademark edge—part irritation, part calculated cool. "What now, Ethan? Another half-baked scheme?" "Cut the smart-ass routine," Ethan exploded, heat rising from his collar like steam off Lake Michigan in December. "I want that real diamond by tomorrow, or I'm burning your entire operation to the ground. You hear me?"Marcus's laugh was razor-sharp. "Watch yourself, hotshot. I ain't some corner boy you can intimidate. Remember who ex
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 115: When Diamonds Deceive
Mason rolled up to the King mansion like he owned every square inch of Chicago's most brutal real estate. The place wasn't just a house—it was a statement. Massive oak trees framed the property like sentinels, their branches casting long shadows that whispered old secrets. Leo's SUV cut through the wrought-iron gates—those gates had seen more drama than a South Side courthouse on a Friday night.The gates swung open with an electronic hum, a technological ballet that screamed money and power. Mason knew this wasn't just an entrance. This was a threshold between worlds.He paused. One heartbeat. Two.His eyes—sharp as a loan shark's accounting ledger—scanned the estate. Every window, every marble pathway was a narrative waiting to spill. Old money mixed with new power, and the combination was volatile as hell. The mansion glinted in the evening light, a chrome-plated promise of everything and nothing.Staff materialized like ghosts. Maids in pressed uniforms. Security personnel who mov
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 114: Who Left Me at the Gates?
"Hey, Jake," he said, the lie sliding smooth as butter, "LangCorp pushed the interview to Tuesday."Jake responded with a satisfied grunt. "Works for me. Gives me time to wrap things up at the site."The conversation shifted, and Mason's voice softened. "How's Tommy doing?"Jake's tone dropped, carrying the raw weight of a father's worry. "He's holding steady. But his next round of meds? Ten grand. Been breaking my back trying to scrape together every dollar.""Faith, Jake," Mason said, his voice low and steady—the voice of someone who'd seen Chicago chew up dreams and sometimes, just sometimes, spit them back whole. "Tommy's a fighter. This city don't break kids like him easy."A pause, then Jake lowered his voice. "You know I’ve always got your back, bro. Nothing’s played out yet, but don't wait too long to find out if this whole doppelganger thing is a winning play.""Yeah, I know," Mason replied softly, but it felt like a lie. The truth haunched on his shoulders like a lead weight