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The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 35: Playing with Dynamite
Next in his list. Burke.Mason flipped Burke's business card between his fingers. The edges had gone soft, worn down like the man's principles.Eve watched from her position, cataloging the minute changes in Mason's posture - the tightening around his eyes, the way his jaw worked.Burke's had his hand in Leo's pocket for years. Time to remind him who signs his real paychecks.Mason's phone blue glowed as he dialed. Three rings, then a gruff voice: "Burke.""Commissioner." Mason let ice coat the word. "Word is you broke bread with Ricardo Ramirez today. Must've been quite the conversation."Silence crackled across the line. Then: "Who is this?""Playing dumb doesn't suit you, James." Mason's voice dropped lower, dangerous. "Neither does betrayal.""King?" Burke's voice went wobbly, uncertainty bleeding through. "Look, that lunch wasn't what you think-""Stow it." Mason sliced through the excuses. "I want Carlos in my custody by sundown."Burke sucked air. "That's... complicated.""Unco
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 36: Non-Negotiable
Gibson's Steakhouse was the kind of joint where money talked in whispers - all dark wood and brass that caught the light just so. In the Lancaster Room, Ethan Langford's fingers played a nervous tune on the tablecloth, matching the drum in his chest.Sophia sat across from Ethan, her Armani suit as sharp as the smile she wore. Next to her, Sergei's bulk filled an entire side of the table, while their lawyer, Harrison Wells, arranged papers with practiced precision. They'd picked this spot - their kind of territory, where deals got done over rare steaks and hundred-dollar pours.The whole setup stank of aged beef and old leather, mixing with the smell of Ethan's fear. His collar felt like a noose, custom-made or not."Another scotch, Mr. Langford?" Sophia's voice carried silk-wrapped steel.Ethan's hand trembled slightly as he lifted his glass. "No... no, I'm good."Smart man. Sophia's blood-red nails tapped the contract. "Shall we proceed?"The room's careful climate control fought a
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 37: Five Percent Paradise
Ethan stiffened. "Matter with you? This is pure profit."Sophia traded a look with Sergei. "Then we'll make that call ourselves."Ethan's glance dropped to his watch. The bruise from Ramirez throbbed. He exhaled. "How about you make it fast."Outside, the L-train thundered overhead as Sophia punched in Mason's private number."Talk." Mason's voice cut through the train's clatter."Recording's solid. Got Ramirez, the payment structure-" Sophia dropped her voice. "Plus a bonus. Our friend wants the wife installed as Operations Director. Overseeing his remaining stake."Mason's laugh had teeth in it. "Perfect." The L-train screeched around a corner. "That's better than we originally planned. Having her in-house... that's poetry.""What about the media leak? The investigation?""New play. Give him everything - Ramirez's payment, his cut, the wife's position. Let him think he's won." Steel crept into Mason's voice over the train's screech. "Olivia under our thumb beats any scandal."Someti
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 38: High-Rise Hunters
Trying to kill time, Ethan stood to watch Chicago from up here in his penthouse. Chicago spread out below him like his personal kingdom. The penthouse's floor-to-ceiling windows framed Chicago's skyline, all those lights twinkling like scattered diamonds.All that power. His power.Speaking of diamonds...Ethan's fingers tapped a familiar number. The auction house's receptionist answered on the second ring."Morrison's Private Collections, how may I assist you?""Judas Morrison. Put him on." Ethan's voice carried the weight of old money.A pause. "I'm sorry, Mr. Morrison is in a meeting—""Tell him it's Ethan Langford." He examined his manicured nails. "He'll take it."Muzak filtered through the line. Ethan's mind wandered to the King family's charity luncheon. Such a perfect opportunity. All of Chicago's elite gathered in one place, including their precious Aurora Borealis."Ethan!" Judas's voice boomed through the speaker. "To what do I owe the pleasure?""That King girl." Ethan kep
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 39: The Snake and The Saint
Mason strolled up to Jake's apartment complex in a modest sedan - not the kind of ride Leo King would be caught dead in, but perfect for keeping a low profile. The box with him held a stack of comic books, medical journals for Sarah, and a tablet loaded with games for Tommy.Chicago's late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the crumbling concrete, highlighting every crack and water stain on the building's facade. The place looked even worse than Mason remembered. A constant reminder of how the other half lived - the half he used to belong to.The security door buzzed him in, its hinges protesting with a screech that made Mason wince. Jake's voice crackled through the ancient intercom: "Third floor's still working, brother. Elevator's about as reliable as campaign promises."Mason took the stairs two at a time, his footsteps echoing in the narrow stairwell. The smell of curry from 2B mixed with cleaning supplies from the super's closet. Some things never changed.Jake waited in his
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 40: A Devil's Charity
Here was the moment - the chance to set his plan in motion. The weight of his plan sat heavy in his gut. Mason took a deep breath, letting the night air fill his lungs."Got a lead on a job," Mason said, keeping his voice casual. "Risk Assessment Manager position. Real corporate stuff, benefits package that'd make your union rep jealous."Jake's eyebrows shot up. "Yeah? What's the fine print?""No fine print. Company's called LangCorp Technologies." Mason watched Jake's face carefully. "They're restructuring, looking for fresh blood in management.""LangCorp?" Jake recoiled. "Ain't that your wife's new sugar daddy's company? Hell no, Mason. That's like twisting the knife."Mason held up a hand, shoulders strained. Thankfully he's managed so far to hide the injured shoulder away from Jake's notice. "Was his company. Word is Langford sold off seventy percent of his shares. Different beast now.""Still..." Jake's jaw worked. "After what that bastard did to you?""This ain't about him."
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 41: Family Obligations
Mason's phone buzzed. Again. Like a damn wasp that wouldn't quit.He squared up, pulling on Leo's blue-blood swagger like a tailored suit. Time to play make-believe with mommy dearest."Mother." Mason infused his voice with practiced warmth. "What a pleasant surprise.""Pleasant? Is that what we're calling it now?" Helena King's voice dripped acid-sweet sarcasm. "Six months of you playin' ghost on me, and now what – you expect me to be all sunshine and roses? Maybe I oughta ring you up every hour on the hour, yeah? Give ya a taste of what *pleasant disturbance* really feels like, sugar."Mason winced. "Listen, Ma—""Oh spare me the escuses, darling." Helena cut through his words. "Don't think I forgot the annual King Foundation Charity Luncheon darling. Saturday when the clock strikes noon. All the big shots and their dames'll be there, dressed to the nines." A pause pregnant with meaning. "Memory still working, or did that ghost too?"Mason's insides did a free-fall. Another test of
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 42: Queen Takes Knight
"Hmm." Eve tapped her chin in mock consideration. "Spend my Saturday watching Chicago's elite pretend they're not terrified of you while eating overpriced rubber chicken?" Something wicked flashed in her eyes. "Wouldn't miss it. And that's a 'you owe me big time.'" Eve stretched, the movement doing interesting things to her silk nightwear. "Besides, got the perfect present for mommy dearest, too."Mason's eyebrows climbed. "Present?""The diamond necklace you gave me on your birthday." Eve's face softened. "Eve..." Mason's voice softened. "That was a gift.""And now it's a strategic move." Eve's smile turned calculating. "Six months without showing face? She'll be expecting groveling. Instead, her boy's new... companion presents her with a small fortune in diamonds?" She shrugged. "Besides, what better way to say 'potential daughter-in-law material'?"Mason's brain stalled. "Daughter-in-law?""Well, what else would she think?" Eve's smile turned wicked. "We've been practically living
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