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The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 57: Family Bleeds Deepest
Mason forced his hands steady, though every nerve screamed to run. Eve's casual mention of Thomas's catchphrase had just opened a crater under his feet. The mirror showed him Leo King's face - the face he'd stolen along with everything else. Dead men's shoes always pinched, but these ones might just strangle him. Another thought pushed through the panic:Funny thing about Mason Rivers - he never ran from a fight. Not even when he should've. No family left to mourn him anyway. No wife crying at his grave, no kid growing up fatherless, no business partners to settle accounts with. Death might be knocking, but hell, maybe dying clean beat living dirty."Family bleeds deepest," he repeated, testing the words like a man testing thin ice. "Pop had his way with words, didn't he?"Eve's fingers traced the lapel of his suit, but her eyes had gone sharp as broken glass. "Had his way with everything. Man could make murder sound like poetry." She paused, head tilting. "You never used to call him
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 58: Elevator to Judgment
He shoved the image aside and stepped in. Game time. Time to dance with the devils who'd raised Leo King.Even if it meant burning with them.The black Cadillac Escalade carved through Chicago's Gold Coast, a ten-million-dollar coffin on wheels. Mason watched the streets blur past through bulletproof glass, his fingers drumming against his thigh. All that armor plating between him and a bullet, but his skin crawled like he was naked in a snake pit.Eve sat beside him, legs crossed at the ankle, one hand resting casual-like on her clutch. Mason knew better - that little designer number packed enough firepower to start a small war. Old habits died hard in his newly found line of work."Your head's making too much noise." Eve's voice sliced through his thoughts. "Your family's had their fingers in this city's throat since before either of us took our first breath. One fancy lunch ain't gonna change jack."Mason's laugh came out harder than he meant it to. "Yeah? Tell that to Thomas King'
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 59: The Vultures’ Ball
The Drake Hotel's Grand Ballroom blazed like heaven's own spotlight before them. Crystal chandeliers raining light on Chicago's finest vultures dressed in their Sunday best. White-jacketed waiters glided between round tables draped in cream silk, silver trays balanced with champagne flutes that caught light like stars. Some fancy orchestra arrangement filled the air - the kind of music that reminded you just how poor you really were.They glided past like royalty, leaving the press pack yapping at their heels. Mason's eyes did what they always did - catalog every face, every movement, every potential threat. Chicago's elite played their parts in this elaborate dance of power. Politicians flashing those trademark smiles that promised everything and delivered nothing but heartache. Society women dripping diamonds that could've fed half the South Side for a year. Real estate kings sharing jokes with judges, probably plotting which neighborhood to gentrify next. Judge Martinez holding cou
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 60: Digging Up Devils
While Mason hunted fresh meat at the Drake, someone else had him in their crosshairs. Maria wasn't just watching - she was dissecting his every move, piece by bloody piece.Maria's secret bunker smelled like three-day-old coffee and desperation. Yellow light from a desk lamp cast shadows across the walls, where photos, documents, and red string created a web of connections that would've made any conspiracy theorist proud.She slumped in her chair, rubbing tired eyes that had been burning from hours of screen time. Empty Red Bulls cluttered her desk like bodies after a mob hit. Her ancient Dell's clock read 2:47 PM - right when Mason would be playing king of the castle at the Drake Hotel.Maria cracked her knuckles. "Alright, you sneaky bastard. Let's see what skeletons you're hiding."Her wall had become a museum of mysteries. Photos of Mason - or Leo, depending on who you asked - dominated the center. Timeline sticky notes tracked his movements since that first night Eve dragged him
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 61: South Side Symphony
"Three years." Helena's voice had the kind of edge that made wiseguys reach for their pieces. "Three goddamn years I planted you in my boy's operation, and what lands on my desk? A fuckin' text message about some street mutt wearing his face?"Maria's fingers played a nervous beat against her desk, her free hand already reaching for another Red Bull. The aluminum can felt cold against her palm, like the Chicago winter trying to crawl through her office window. "Mrs. King, if you'd just let me-""Mrs. King?" A bark of laughter, harsh as gunfire. "Save the formalities, sugar. This ain't exactly a social call."The leather of Helena's Bentley creaked through the phone, and Maria could picture her there - Chicago's queen mother, probably wearing something that cost more than Maria's yearly salary, looking like she'd just stepped out of some high-society magazine while plotting murder."I didn't install Chicago's finest undercover detective in my son's operation to trade pleasantries." Hel
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 62: When Wolves Collide, Rats Feast
Meanwhile, at the Drake Hotel, money and murder mixed like gin and tonic.Mason Rivers, or rather, the man masquerading as Leo King, moved through the crowd of Chicago's elite towards the underworld's table.The Chicago Lords' table might as well have had a neon sign reading "DANGER" hovering above it. They sat like a pack of wolves in designer suits, watching Mason's approach with the kind of tension that usually preceded bloodshed.Santos's wheelchair groaned under his weight. "Madre de Dios," he muttered rapid-fire prayers in Spanish. "The devil comes to collect." His weathered face had gone the color of old concrete. "Shoulda known yesterday's mercy was just the setup."The muscle around the table twitched, hands twitching toward weapons that wouldn't do them any good here. One look from Mason - just a flicker of those winter-cold eyes - and they remembered yesterday's lesson about challenging the new king of Chicago."Stand down," Tommy Chen barked at his men who tried guarding
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 63: Old Dogs, New Tricks
"Because." He studied the gathered Lords like a coroner studying bodies. "Unlike our cream-suited friend, I got old-fashioned ideas about fair play." The laugh that followed belonged in a meat locker. "Far as fair goes in our world, anyway.""Interesting definition of fair," Tommy Chen drawled, lighting a fresh cigarette. "Yesterday you stick guns in our faces. Today you play Robin Hood? What changed?"Mason's reply came soft as a confession, deadly as nightshade. "Nothing changed. Yesterday was business - showing strength. Today?" His smile showed too many teeth. "Today's about choosing sides. Today we pick teams for the big game."The Lords sized each other up like prizefighters before a match. Around them, decades of power plays and blood feuds shifted like tectonic plates.Petrov's cane tapped thoughtfully. "In chess, pawn that reaches other side becomes queen. Question is - what piece are you playing at, not-Leo?"The table went dead silent. Even Eve's perpetual smirk faltered fo
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Chapter 64: Dreams and Schemes
"Tell us more." Petrov repeated. "Of this... transition you envision."Mason tapped the edge of his whiskey glass. Eyes drifted to him, curious, expectant. After all, when the boss calls a meeting, there’s usually something brewing.But he intensionally took his time, letting the silence stretch like he was savoring the tension in the air. Finally, he leaned back, his gaze shifting to Patrov, who gave a subtle nod—a signal, a green light, a challenge to bring the big idea forward. Mason’s fingers drummed once on the table before he spoke, his voice a rough growl with the slightest edge of anticipation."Ever hear of NeuroLink Lingua?" Mason's voice carried quiet authority. He’d dreamed up this contraption as a kid, sketching it on scrap paper in the back of St. Catherine's Home for Children while sermons went on, fueled by a desire to bridge the gap he’d seen between people his whole life. Now, with the cash and the influence? This pipe dream was lookin' like it might just have legs.
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- 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
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin
Chapter 113: The Leo Paradox
Mason deliberately sidestepped Jake's calls, his footsteps echoing against the worn concrete as he made his way to the SUV parked down the block.Night draped Chicago like a heavy coat, the air thick with potential. Mason's fingers traced the cool metal of the SUV, feeling the vehicle vibrate with a restless energy that matched his own. It was a sharp contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of the church basement he’d just left.His phone buzzed. Again. Jake's name flashed persistent, a digital drumbeat demanding attention.Mason finally relented, thumb swiping across the screen. "Jake? You there?"Jake's voice crackled through, raw and unfiltered. "Damn, took you long enough. Thought I'd have to send out a search party."A dry chuckle escaped Mason's lips. "Been busy.""Same here! Crazy night yesterday; I crashed out at the site. That foundation ain’t gonna pour itself, you know?"Mason chuckled, shaking his head. "Found you another multilevel bender job?""Dude, I was working my ass
