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The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 16: In the Shoes of a King
Jake's laugh held more pain than humor. "Right. Fifty thousand dollars just lying around?" He shook his head."Things change." Mason straightened, decision crystallizing. "Let me do this. For my nephew.""Nephew?" Tommy perked up, studying Mason with curious eyes."Yeah, kid." Mason's throat tightened. "Uncle Mason's got your back.""Ha! I'm onto you, Mason—I caught what you did there. That sneaky little mood-boost of yours? It totally worked. "Let's say I could," Mason pressed. "Hypothetically."Jake studied him, something shifting in his expression. "Then I'd have to ask where the money came from. And who you really are. Because the Mason Rivers I know barely had two nickels to rub together this morning."Mason muttered under his breath, "Can't blame him for doubting."Tommy coughed again, and Jake's attention immediately returned to his son, murmuring soft reassurances."I love you, Daddy," Tommy whispered, his small voice carrying surprising strength despite his frail frame.Maso
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 17: Wolves in the Henhouse
Mason gave a slow nod, the silence saying everything.“Good. We’re still a team. More than that—we’re family here. When one bleeds, we all bleed. When one wins, we all win. Whatever storm's brewin', we weather it together, capisce?"The room went wide, some of the guys got too excited and started poppin' off rounds into the ceiling. Good thing the room was bulletproof, probably they'd had got some explaining to do to the neighborhood.Mason soaked it in, feeding off their energy. This was the juice he needed."What's the play, boss?" Viktor leaned forward, interest kindling in his eyes.Mason laid out what he'd caught wind of at the warehouse, watching his lieutenants' reactions closely. "Ethan Langford's in deeper than we thought. And Ramirez? This punk's pushin' stuff that makes our merchandise look like penny candy at the corner store."That hit them hard. A few murmurs slipped through the crowd, but Mason raised his hand, silencing them."We've got a potential rat, yeah. But here'
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 18: Rats and Traps
"Numbers don't lie, boss," Eve said, leaning closer to examine the numbers. "Something ain't adding up here," she said, tapping the screen. Ethan's company's solid. Why dump forty percent of golden shares?"Mason sprawled in Leo's chair like he owned it, which technically he did now. "See, that's why I keep you around. Sharp nose." He scratched his chin. "Think harder, doll. What went down at that warehouse last night?"Eve's eyes widened as the pieces clicked. "Their communication leak. You think—" she paused. "That could be nothing," Eve said half-heartedly.Mason snorted. "Yeah, and I could be Mother Teresa. Come on, doll, you're smarter than that."Mason tapped the screen, highlighting a series of transactions. "Bingo. Our friend Ethan's trying to get ahead of something big. Something that spooked him enough to liquidate fast.""Again, could be coincidence," Eve offered, but her tone suggested she didn't believe it.Mason barked out a laugh. "In our line of work? Coincidence is ju
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 19: Identity Games
Just as he lounged in Leo's leather chair, drumming his fingers against the desk while waiting for his coffee, his phone buzzed – Platinum Reserve Bank's number flashed across the screen.The call transported him back to his old life. A bitter memory surfaced...Three months ago, Mason Rivers had trudged six blocks to Richmond Savings Bank, his beat-up Honda sitting empty in his driveway, too low on gas to risk the drive. The security guard, a pot-bellied man with a permanent sneer, had blocked his path like a bouncer at a club."Executive entrance is for premium customers only." The guard's badge read 'Peterson.'"I just need to make a withdrawal," Mason had explained, sweat beading on his forehead from the walk."Round back," Peterson had jerked his thumb toward the general entrance. "With the rest of 'em."Inside, the teller – Nancy, according to her nameplate – hadn't bothered looking up from her phone. "Balance?""I... I need to withdraw sixty dollars."Nancy's fingers had clacke
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 20: Chicago's New God
"The Aurora Borealis Diamond." Eve's sigh carried decades of boarding school condescension. "Leo's always too busy for shopping, you know how brothers are. So when someone used his card to buy me exactly what I'd been eyeing? Well, that's just Providence, isn't it?""But Ms. King, the man who purchased it-""Did me a favor." Eve's tone hardened. "Unless you're suggesting my brother's card was used without authorization? Because that would imply a security breach at your establishment, and our lawyers do so love a good negligence suit."Mason suppressed a grin as he watched Eve work. She was a natural, playing the spoiled society princess with devastating precision."No! No, of course not, Ms. King. We simply wanted to ensure-""That my birthday present arrived safely? How considerate." Eve examined her reflection in the window. "Though I must say, all this fuss over a simple transaction... it makes one question whether the Morrison Auction House is equipped to handle clientele of our
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 21: The Real Rat
Night gripped Chicago's industrial district. Mason pulled Leo's custom Bentley into a darkened alley three blocks from Ramirez's warehouse, cutting the engine. Thunder rumbled overhead, nature's own percussion to accompany their mission.The trio sat tight, waiting on crew updates....Viktor's team struck first. Three black SUVs rolled silent through the midnight fog, headlights dark, engines purring like well-fed panthers. The docks loomed ahead, skeletal cranes cutting jagged shapes against the starless sky."In position," Viktor growled into his comm, Russian accent thick with anticipation. "North entrance clear.""Light 'em up," Mason said.Viktor's crew breached the warehouse, boots silent on wet concrete. Security cameras pivoted uselessly, looping old footage thanks to their tech guy's magic. The warehouse door yielded to shaped charges, whisper-quiet.Inside stood their prize - crates of Ramirez's weapons waited like sleeping dragons. Viktor grinned. Jackpot!"Package secured
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 22: When Clean and Quiet Burns
"Viktor and Thomas knocked it outta the park. Maria ate dirt. Carlos was our rat." Mason's words cut through to Eve and Sergei"House is quiet then," Eve said, loading another clip.Sergei grunted. "For now.""Time to cook Ramirez." Mason announced, straightening his suit jacket.Eve adjusted her tactical vest, checking her gear one final time. "You sure about this, boss? Joint's gonna be crawling after last night's mess.""Makes it sweeter." Mason gave her a stone smile. "Nobody looks twice at their own shadow. Sometimes the best place to hide is right under their nose."In the back, Sergei's meaty hands worked the explosives like a master chef. Each device promised fireworks that'd turn Ramirez's operation into Chicago's hottest barbecue."Packages ready?" Mason caught Sergei's reflection."Ready to sing." Sergei's scarred face split into a yellow grin.Rain began to fall, fat drops drumming against the Bentley's roof. Perfect cover for what they had planned."Remember," Mason's voi
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 23: Fire and Fury
"We're blown!" Eve did crackle over their earpieces. "Multiple tangos converging on the east side!"Mason swore, the comfortable weight of Leo's custom Glock settling into his palm. "Stick to the plan! Plant those packages!"Gunfire erupted, the sharp crack of 9mm rounds competing with the deeper boom of shotguns. Mason ducked behind a crate as bullets shattered the wood next to his head. Shouts and gunfire echoed throughout the warehouse, adding to its chaos.More shots, closer now. Mason returned fire, his rounds landing hit and miss with casual accuracy.Can't really fault the guy, he's never shot a gun. "Position!" Mason barked into his comm, ducking behind a shipping container as footsteps thundered above."East wing's hot," Eve's voice came tight with tension. "Two down, more incoming."Sergei's Russian accent rumbled through the static. "West side secure. Packages planted. Need five minutes."Mason moved through the warehouse like a ghost, muscle memory from countless drills gu
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- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 87: Chicago's New Testament
The spotlight found Mason like an old friend as he approached the podium. Three hundred of Chicago's finest waited in pristine silence, their expectations heavy as Lake Michigan storm clouds.He adjusted his tie and let his eyes sweep the crowd. Petrov, hunched over his cane, eyes sharp as winter steel. The Calabrese twins lounged like mirror-image panthers. Tommy Chen's tattooed dragons writhed beneath his collar as he lit another cigarette.And there, in the back, Helena King - the woman who'd claimed him today as her son. She watched from the shadows, her gaze dissecting him layer by layer."Ladies and gentlemen." Mason's voice carried quiet authority. "Thanks for sticking around this late."The words felt strange in his mouth - too polished, too proper. This wasn't his world. He belonged in construction sites and back alleys, not addressing society's cream in the Drake Hotel's grand ballroom.But Eve's eyes found his from the crowd, carrying that mix of challenge and faith that ma
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Mission Accomplished?
The chandeliers sparkled overhead as Mason and Eve stood frozen in time, the crowd's chanting growing louder. Eve's green eyes met Mason's, a mixture of challenge and vulnerability in their depths."What do you say, sugar?" Eve whispered, her voice carrying just enough edge to make it a dare. "Ready to give Chicago something to talk about?"Mason's hand tightened on her waist. The boy from St. Catherine's, who'd carved chess pieces from soap and stolen chocolate bars, warred with the man he'd become. Around them, smartphone cameras lifted like fireflies, ready to capture whatever came next."Your call, doll," Mason murmured. "Always has been."Eve's smile bloomed slow and dangerous. She reached up, fingers curling around his neck, and pulled him down to meet her lips. The kiss exploded through the room like summer lightning, electric and inevitable. Cameras flashed, capturing the moment Chicago's most eligible bachelor fell for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks.Helena watched
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 85: Collateral Desires
She studied him through hooded eyes. Vincent Romano - self-made billionaire, corporate shark, the man who'd whispered poison in Thomas's ear about bloodlines and legacy. The same man who'd nearly succeeded in destroying her marriage when no male heir appeared after Charlotte."Thinking about masks," Helena's voice carried cut crystal edges. "And the men who wear them.""No masks tonight." Vincent's thumb traced dangerous patterns on her waist. "Just truth.""Truth?" Helena's laugh could've frozen champagne. "From the man who tried to convince my husband I was barren? Who suggested Thai surrogates and discrete divorce lawyers?"Vincent had the grace to flinch. "Ancient history.""Nothing's ancient in Chicago." Helena's nails dug into his shoulder. "Power has a long memory.""Then let me make new memories." Vincent pulled her closer, cologne wrapping around them like expensive sin. "Let me prove my worth.""Worth?" Helena's smile could gut a banker. "And what exactly do you think you're
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 84: Ghosts of Yesterday's Crown
Meanwhile across the floor, Helena and Vincent wove through their own dangerous ballet, decades of rivalry and respect spinning between them like a spider's web made of platinum and poison."Your thoughts are thundering, Vincent." Helena's voice carried the kind of amusement that preceded bloodshed. "Rather crude for a man of your... reputation. Now drop the charming rogue act." Her tone could've frozen Dom Pérignon mid-pour. "What's your real play here?"Vincent's laugh rolled rich and dark. "Can't a gentleman simply savor excellence?""Gentlemen like you don't do simple." Helena's eyes narrowed. "And they certainly don't waltz with their greatest threat without proper motivation.""Threat?" Vincent pulled her closer, testing boundaries. "Such harsh language for such an... intimate moment.""Sweet talk is for amateurs." Helena's smile could gut a diamond. "I expected more finesse."Vincent's eyes mapped her features like territory to conquer. "Time's been kinder to you than most, Hel
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 83: Echoes of Yesterday's Promise
The orchestra's music washed over the ballroom like memories turned liquid. Eve pressed closer to Mason, her breath warm against his collar. The champagne and caviar crowd faded to background noise, leaving just the two of them spinning through moments stolen from fate itself."Ya know what's funny about dancing?" Eve drawled, her fingers tracing patterns on Mason's shoulder. "Gets a girl thinking about the old days."Mason's grip tightened on her waist, protective and possessive all at once. "That so, doll?""Mmhmm." Eve's eyes went distant, seeing past the glittering chandeliers to a concrete garden years ago. "Got me remembering this kid I knew back in the joint - St. Catherine's. Funny thing about them orphanage dumps," her voice carried whiskey-smooth over the music. "Sometimes you strike gold in all that garbage."Mason's heart stopped, then stuttered back to life. But his feet kept moving, muscle memory carrying them through the waltz. "Tell me more.""Had this sweet kid there.
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 82: Sweet Poison
Charlotte King wasn't the type to stumble. Not in six-inch Louboutins, not in business, and definitely not into strange men at charity functions. But those eyes - deep brown with flecks of gold, like expensive bourbon in crystal - they made her forget about steady feet."Adrian De Silva." His voice carried Old World charm wrapped in New Money confidence. "And you must be Charlotte King." He caught her elbow as she steadied herself, his touch precise as a surgeon's."Must I?" Charlotte's eyebrow arched with practiced disdain, but her pulse quickened traitorously. The velvet box felt warm in her hands."The camera loves you," Adrian gestured to her phone. "Though it hardly does you justice.""Smooth." Charlotte's laugh held razors. "You practice that line in the mirror?""Only for the past hour." His smile turned self-deprecating. "Was it too much?""Honey, everything in this room's too much." Charlotte glanced around the opulent ballroom. "That's kind of the point."Adrian stepped clos
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 81: The Stranger's Charm
While Mason and Eve claimed their spot on the dance floor, Olivia dragged what remained of her dignity toward the restroom. The walls of the Drake seemed to close in, each step on Italian marble echoing her downfall. No escape route tonight – not with Ethan locked into this circus of a party. Her only refuge? The powder room, where at least she could fall apart in private.She stumbled inside, her dress snagging the door like some bargain basement knockoff. Cold marble bit into her palms as she gripped the counter, staring at her reflection through tears that turned five grand worth of makeup into abstract art."Pull yourself together," she hissed, voice raw. "You're Olivia fucking Parker. You don't break. You break others."But the mirror wasn't buying her tough act. Designer dress, couture makeup, social media throne – all of it crashing harder than her her father's career. Fresh tears carved new paths down her cheeks, and this time she didn't fight them.The bathroom door creaked.
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 80: The Battle for the Aurora Borealis Diamond
Eve moved with the grace of a street cat in designer heels, increasing the room's heartbeat, the small velvet box cradled in her hands."Mrs. King. Since we ain't been properly acquainted till now, I thought it right to mark the occasion." She extended the box with practiced elegance. "Something to show proper respect."Helena's fingers accepted the offering with aristocratic grace. "How... thoughtful." Her tone carried decades of social superiority. She paused, studying Eve with the intensity of a jeweler examining a suspicious stone. "Though one wonders what could warrant such... generosity.""Consider it a down payment," Eve purred, the street's edge barely masked by designer vowels. "On future family dinners."Charlotte perked up like a shark scenting blood. "Oh, this gonna be good." Her phone stayed steady, catching every micro-expression. The box opened with a whisper of expensive hinges.Light exploded.The Aurora Borealis Diamond caught the chandeliers' glow and multiplied it
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 79: The Weight of a Single Call
Mason watched Olivia crumble with the detached interest of a man studying a particularly fascinating car crash. The designer dress that had once made her feel invincible now looked like expensive wrapping paper after Christmas – beautiful, but ultimately disposable."You know what's funny?" His voice carried that particular South Side quiet that made smart people nervous. "All them followers, all them likes... and not one of them's gonna help you up off that floor."Charlotte's livestream count hit six figures. Comments flew past faster than bullets on a bad night:"THE QUEEN OF INSTA IS DEAD 👑💀""karma serving LOOKS tonight 💅""this tea is nuclear ☢️"Eve's laugh sparkled like broken glass. "Sugar, where I come from, we call this a biblical dropping of receipts.""Mr. Langford. Ms. Parker." Her voice cut through. "I believe your... performance has concluded. Though do remember – social media is forever. And Chicago..." Her smile promised winter in August. "Chicago never forgets."
