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CHAPTER 58: A DEAL GONE WRONG
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-28 05:30:34
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Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 59: STIRRING THE POT
The soft hum of the city filtered through the partially open windows of Enzo’s office. Luca, Nico, and Sienna stood around the large oak table scattered with maps and surveillance photos. Enzo leaned forward, his knuckles pressed against the edge, the tension in his frame palpable."We’re at a tipping point. Mateo and Diego are circling each other like wolves.” Enzo said calmly but firmly. “We’re going to give them a reason to tear each other apart."Luca crossed his arms. "You’re playing with fire, Enzo. Mateo might be predictable, but Diego? He’ll gut us all just to prove a point."Nico nodded. "Luca’s right. This isn’t a game. If this backfires—""It won’t backfire.” Enzo cut him off. “We’ve spent months dismantling their alliances. They’re paranoid, desperate. We use that against them." -he glanced at Sienna- "Sienna, tell them what you’ve found."Sienna stepped forward, her voice steady despite the weight of their gazes."Mateo’s men intercepted a shipment of Diego’s last week. I
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 60: FLUSHING THE TRENCHES
The room was dimly lit, with a single lamp casting flickering shadows over the scattered documents on the table. Sienna leaned over a dossier, her brow furrowed. Across from her, Luca sat with his arms crossed, his usual skepticism replaced by quiet focus.“Look at this.” Sienna pointed at a document. “Transfers, encrypted communications, all routed through dummy accounts tied to Diego’s shell companies. There’s no way this isn’t coordinated.”Luca leaned forward. “So you’re saying we have spies in the organization feeding intel directly to Torres?”Sienna nodded. “Not just spies. A network. This didn’t start overnight. Whoever’s running this has been building it for years.”Luca exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it. Enzo needs to know.”“Not yet.” Sienna countered firmly. “If we alert him now, we risk tipping off the network. We need to dismantle it quietly, piece by piece.”Luca narrowed his eyes. “You’re asking me to keep this from him? That’s a dangerous game
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-30Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 61: THE PEACE OFFER
Enzo stood at the head of the long table, his men seated around him. Luca, Nico, Federico, and Sienna all looked up as Mario, one of Enzo’s messengers, entered the room with a letter in hand. Mario's face was tight with tension as he handed it to Enzo. “It’s from Diego Torres. A courier delivered it this morning.”Enzo unfolded the letter, his dark eyes scanning the elegant script. His jaw clenched as he read, and he tossed it onto the table for the others to see.“Diego’s proposing a truce.” Enzo scoffed. “A truce?” Nico snorted. “After everything he’s done? He must think we’re fools.”“Or desperate.” Luca said grimly. “He knows we’ve been taking losses. He wants us to bite.”Sienna picked up the letter, reading it carefully. “It’s... polished.” She said thoughtfully. “Too polished. Diego’s not the type to extend an olive branch unless there’s a dagger hidden behind it.”“So what’s the angle?” Federico asked. “If it’s a trap, why even bother with the formalities?”Enzo leaned forwar
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 62: THE IMPLOSION
Enzo leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled under his chin as Sienna stood at the head of the table, flanked by Luca, Nico, and Federico. The tension in the room was palpable as they awaited her explanation. A map of the city was spread across the table, dotted with red and blue markers representing Mateo’s and Diego’s territories.Sienna pointed to the map. “This is where we take control. Mateo and Diego have been circling each other for weeks, trying to gain the upper hand. We can use their egos against them and force a confrontation.”Luca raised an eyebrow. “Force a confrontation? These two don’t need much encouragement to kill each other. What’s your plan, exactly?”“We leak false information to both sides. Mateo thinks Diego is planning an ambush on his safehouse here—” (she taps a red marker) “—and Diego thinks Mateo is targeting one of his key supply routes here.” (She moves to a blue marker.) “We bait them into striking simultaneously, and when they meet in the crossfir
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-02Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 63: THE CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE
Smoke billowed into the sky as the sound of gunfire subsided. Sienna lowered her binoculars, her breath shaky. The factory floor was littered with bodies, but amidst the wreckage, a lone figure emerged, bloodied but alive.“Enzo… it’s Diego. He made it out.” Sienna whispered.Enzo’s jaw tightened as he grabbed the binoculars from her, focusing on Diego. His rival was limping toward a waiting car, clutching his side.“Damn it. Mateo’s down, but Diego… he’s not done yet.” Enzo muttered. Luca gritted his teeth. “We should’ve taken the shot when we had the chance.”“Mateo’s confirmed dead.” Federico's voice came over the radio. “I’m moving my team back to regroup. Orders?”Enzo pressed the radio to his mouth, his voice cold and commanding. “Let Diego go for now. We’ve done enough damage here. Pull back and meet us at the estate.”Federico agreed reluctantly. “Understood.”“Are you sure about this?” Sienna asked hesitantly. “He’s vulnerable right now.”Enzo turned to her. “He’s also despe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-03Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 64: FULL CIRCLE
The stillness of the morning shattered as Enzo’s phone buzzed relentlessly on the desk. Federico stormed into the office, his expression grim.“Boss, we’ve got a problem.” Federico said urgently. “Diego’s making his move.”Enzo snatched the phone. “What’s happened?”“Three of our warehouses have been hit in the last hour. They burned everything to the ground. We’ve got injured men, and worse—he’s not stopping there.” Federico reeled out.Enzo cursed under his breath. “He’s coming for blood.”Sienna appeared in the doorway, already dressed, her face a mix of determination and worry.“What’s going on?” Sienna queried.Enzo briefly met her gaze. “Diego’s targeting everything we’ve built. This isn’t just a power play—he’s coming for all of us.”Sienna stepped into the room. “Then we fight back.”Federico looked between them. “He’s already ahead of us. We’ve got reports of his men circling Nico’s safehouse and Luca’s crew.”“Get everyone to fall back to secure locations.” Enzo said, tighte
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 65: THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE
The tension in the war room was thick as Enzo stood at the head of the table, his sharp gaze moving over the men gathered. Luca, Nico, Federico, and a handful of trusted lieutenants were seated, their expressions grim. Sienna stood beside Enzo, arms crossed, her mind already working through the angles.Enzo leaned forward. “Diego thinks he has the upper hand after the stunt he pulled yesterday. He’s wrong. It’s time we remind him who he’s dealing with.”“We took losses, Enzo. If we hit back, we need to make sure it counts.” Luca said gruffly.Federico nodded. “Agreed. We go in blind, we lose more than men—we lose ground.”Sienna’s eyes flickered between them before she spoke.“We don’t have to go in blind. We use his own aggression against him.” Sienna explained calmly.All eyes turned to her. Luca’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt.Enzo tilted his head. “Go on.”Siena: “Diego’s been expanding, spreading himself too thin. He’s vulnerable. His men are scattered between his stron
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 66: THE BEGINNING OF THE END
A thick fog rolled in from the ocean, shrouding the rusted shipping containers and abandoned cranes in eerie silence. The only sound was the distant crashing of waves against the dock and the faint clicking of weapons being loaded.Enzo stood in the middle of the yard, surrounded by his men—Luca, Nico, Federico, and the rest of his crew. Their faces were hard, their fingers resting lightly on their triggers.Across from them, Diego Torres emerged from the shadows, his army of killers fanning out behind him.The two men locked eyes, years of rivalry boiling down to this moment.“So this is how it ends, Falcone? In the dirt, where you belong?”Diego said mockingly.“No, Torres. It ends with you bleeding out at my feet.” Enzo responded, calm and deadly. Diego grinned, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.“Big words. But I don’t see Marco here to back you up anymore.” Diego scoffed. A muscle in Enzo’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t rise to the bait.“And I don’t see Giancarlo stan
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09
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Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 81: THE WEIGHT OF THE PAST
Enzo sat at his desk, flipping through a newspaper, his jaw tightening as he read the headline.FORMER UNDERWORLD FIGURE TURNED BUSINESSMAN—CAN A LEOPARD REALLY CHANGE ITS SPOTS?The article went into detail about his past—his connections to the mafia, his leadership under the Falcone name, the violence, the power struggles. There were no outright accusations, but the implications were clear: Could someone like Enzo Falcone truly go legitimate?Federico stormed into the office, slamming the door behind him. “Have you seen this crap?” He threw the paper onto Enzo’s desk, eyes blazing.Enzo exhaled. “Yeah.”“This is deliberate,” Federico spat. “Someone fed them this. This isn’t just some journalist digging around—it’s a hit piece.”Enzo nodded. “I know.”Federico paced, running a hand through his hair. “I bet it’s Rossi.”Enzo’s gaze darkened. Carlo Rossi, their biggest competitor in the commercial real estate sector, had been circling them like a shark for weeks. He had old money, deep
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 80: SCALING UP
Enzo leaned back in his chair, scanning the paperwork in front of him. The numbers were solid. Their latest expansion deal was moving forward, and the projections looked even better than expected. Across the desk, Federico grinned, tapping his fingers against the polished wood.“We’re actually doing this,” Federico said, shaking his head in amusement. “Legitimate, profitable… almost feels like a dream.”Enzo smirked. “Told you we could.”Federico scoffed. “Yeah, yeah. But let’s not pretend you didn’t have doubts.”Enzo’s expression darkened slightly. “I still do. People like us don’t get clean slates. We build something good, and someone always wants to tear it down.”Federico’s grin faded. “You think Fabio's going to make a move?”Enzo sighed. “I don’t know. But I don’t trust him to sit back and do nothing.”Federico leaned forward. “So what’s the plan?”Enzo tapped the papers. “We keep expanding. The stronger we get, the harder we are to touch.”Federico nodded slowly. “I like it. B
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 79: BLOWBACK FROM THE PAST
Enzo sat at the back of the high-end restaurant, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. The air smelt of seared steak and expensive whiskey, but there was a tension beneath the polished atmosphere that he couldn’t ignore.Across from him sat Fabio Santori, a small-time player from the life Enzo had left behind. Fabio looked relaxed, sipping his wine, but Enzo wasn’t fooled. The man never did anything without an angle.Sienna sat beside Enzo, her presence a silent anchor. She had wanted to come, and Enzo hadn’t argued. If this meeting was going where he thought it was, she had every right to hear it for herself.Fabio set his glass down with a satisfied sigh. “You’ve done well for yourself, Enzo. Clean slate, legitimate business—quite the transformation.” He smirked. “But you know how it is. The past never really lets go.”Enzo’s jaw tightened. “If you came here to reminisce, I don’t have time for it.”Fabio chuckled, shaking his head. “Always direct. I respect that.” He leane
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 78: TOUGH TIMES,TOUGH MEASURES
The low hum of the espresso machine filled the quiet café as Enzo stirred his coffee absently, his gaze sharp and unrelenting as it rested on Federico. Across from him, Federico sat back in his chair, legs stretched out, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. But Enzo knew him too well—Federico was testing the waters, feeling out the boundaries of this new arrangement between them."So," Federico drawled, picking up his cup. "Are you going to keep watching me like I’m about to pull a knife on you, or can we have a normal conversation?"Enzo leaned forward, his voice steady, but the underlying steel was unmistakable. "I need you to hear me on this, Federico. If I ever suspect you're doing anything illegal—anything—I will cut you off without hesitation. No warnings, no second chances."Federico exhaled, shaking his head. "Christ, Enzo. You really think so little of me? I came to you because I want to do things the right way.""Do you?" Enzo challenged. "Or did you come because you figured wo
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 77: GAINING LEGITIMACY
Enzo sat at the long mahogany conference table, his fingers laced together, his expression unreadable as he listened to the final terms of the deal being read out loud. Across from him, Richard Lawson, a seasoned investor with a sharp eye for opportunity, slid the contract toward him."Everything looks good on our end," Richard said, tapping the folder. "This partnership could be lucrative for both of us."Enzo exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of this moment. This wasn’t like the deals he used to make—those had been sealed with handshakes and veiled threats. This was different. This was legitimate. He picked up the pen and signed his name at the bottom of the contract.Richard extended his hand. "Welcome to the world of legal business, Falcone."Enzo shook it firmly. "Appreciate it, Lawson."As the meeting wrapped up, Enzo stepped out of the office and into the waiting car, where Sienna sat in the passenger seat. She looked at him expectantly."Well?" she asked, her eyes scanning hi
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 76: THE REBOUND
The vibration of Enzo’s phone against the wooden kitchen counter broke the comfortable silence of the evening. He glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening when he saw Luca’s name flashing. Sienna, curled up on the couch with a book, noticed his hesitation.“You going to answer?” she asked, watching him carefully.Enzo exhaled, rubbing his face before swiping the call. “Luca.”“Enzo.” Luca’s voice was edged with tension. “I need your advice.”Enzo closed his eyes briefly. He’d known this call would come eventually. “Luca, I told you—”“I know what you told me,” Luca cut him off, his frustration bleeding through. “But this isn’t something I can just figure out on my own. There’s a situation brewing between the Rojas and the Castillos. It’s bad.”Enzo pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s not my problem.”“The hell it isn’t,” Luca snapped. “Nico’s trying to keep things steady, but if this war blows up, it’ll reach him too. He doesn’t need a damn war, Enzo. And neither do I.”Sienna sa
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 75: WIN SOME, LOSE SOME
Enzo sat at the sleek conference table, his hands folded together, his expression impassive as he listened to the man across from him hesitate."Mr. Falcone," the man—Mark Sinclair, owner of a high-end supply chain company—began, shifting in his seat. "Your reputation precedes you. And while I admire your desire to move into legitimate business, my board has concerns."Enzo’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained smooth. "Concerns."Sinclair cleared his throat. "Your name carries a... history. People talk. Investors listen. I’ve had calls warning me about potential risks." He exhaled. "I’m in the business of stability, Mr. Falcone. I can’t afford unnecessary complications."Enzo remained silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. Sienna, sitting beside him, placed a hand over his, a subtle reminder to keep his cool."I understand," Enzo finally said, his voice even. "I won’t pretend my past doesn’t exist. But I didn’t build an empire by being reckless. I know
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 74: A GHOST FROM THE PAST
The city lights flickered against the glass of the restaurant window, casting a faint glow over Enzo’s contemplative expression. The warmth of the quiet dinner he was sharing with Sienna was overshadowed by the unease curling at the edges of his mind.Across the street, seated on a bench as if he had all the time in the world, was someone Enzo never expected to see again—Vittorio Moretti.His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, fixed directly on Enzo.Sienna, sensing the shift in Enzo’s mood, set down her wine glass. “What is it?”Enzo’s jaw tightened. “Nothing. Just thought I saw someone I used to know.”Sienna’s eyes flickered with concern as she followed his gaze. “From before?”He exhaled slowly, nodding. “Moretti. Worked for the Marchesis. Ruthless bastard. The last time I saw him, he was standing over a man he had just gutted like a fish.”Sienna’s stomach twisted. “You think he’s here for you?”Enzo didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lifted his glass to take a sip
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 73: PROMISES AND DRAWBACKS
Enzo sat across from Charles Whitmore, the local businessman who had seemed so eager to finalize their deal just days ago. But now, the man’s posture was stiff, his gaze wary. Enzo recognized that look—it was the same one he’d seen countless times before, in both allies and enemies.“I appreciate you coming in, Mr. Falcone,” Whitmore started, his voice too formal, too detached. “But after some further consideration, I’ve decided to withdraw from our agreement.”Enzo exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against the polished wood of Whitmore’s desk. “Consideration,” he echoed. “Or did someone dig into my past?”Whitmore’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t deny it. “I won’t lie to you. Your name carries… a certain reputation. My investors don’t feel comfortable moving forward.”Enzo leaned back in his chair, a humorless smirk tugging at his lips. “And what exactly do they think I’m going to do? Shake them down? Launder money through your company?” He scoffed. “I left that life behi
