One Hundred Eight

New York,

once a city of dazzling grandeur, was now slowly sinking into darkness. A full week of chaos. Every corner of the city was filled with fear—residents no longer dared to step outside, businesses continued to shut down, and Nuovo Ordine expanded its grip without resistance. For those who chose to stay, survival had become a struggle. Throughout the streets, the Silver Rose emblem—the symbol of Nuovo Ordine—began appearing on storefronts, abandoned buildings, even wrecked cars. It wasn’t just a symbol. It was a mark of ownership. Cassandra stood by the window in her office at the police station, staring at the empty streets. In mere days, New York had turned into a ghost town. Where bustling traffic once dominated the main roads, now only weary patrol cars crawled through the dimly lit streets. Behind her, the door creaked open. Alexander entered, his expression harder than usual.

“It’s getting worse,”

he said bluntly. Cassandra sighed and turned around, crossing her arms.

“How many reports today?”

Alexander tossed a file onto the desk.

“In the last 24 hours? Twenty armed robberies, ten gang-related murders, five kidnappings. And that’s just what’s been reported.”

Cassandra clenched her fingers.

“They don’t just want to take over this city… they want to crush all hope.”

Alexander nodded.

“That’s Leonardo’s tactic. The more fear he instills, the easier it is for him to control the people.”

Cassandra met his gaze.

“And the police? What’s our situation?”

Alexander leaned against the desk, exhaustion etched into his face.

“We’re losing more officers every day. Many are requesting transfers out of the city. Some are even resigning. They say this war has gone too far and that we can’t win.”

Cassandra tightened her fists.

“We can’t let this continue. If we lose control… no one will be able to stop Leonardo.”

Alexander exhaled heavily.

“The problem is, Cass… we’ve already lost control.”

Cassandra and Alexander left the station to patrol the streets themselves. The woman swallowed hard.

“Yes… they came last week. They said if I didn’t pay, my shop would go up in flames. I’ve already lost most of my customers—how am I supposed to pay?”

Cassandra felt her chest tighten. Nuovo Ordine wasn’t just seizing Antonio’s territories—they were now extorting ordinary citizens. She let out a deep sigh.

“We’ll do what we can to help, ma’am.”

The woman gave a weak smile, but there was no hope in her eyes.

“You can’t help,”

she said quietly.

“Not even the police can stop them.”

Cassandra felt like she’d been punched in the gut. The woman had voiced what many people had already begun to believe. The police couldn’t defeat Nuovo Ordine. And if that was true… then who could stop Leonardo? They drove through districts that were once lively but now felt abandoned. Many stores were boarded up, some with

“PERMANENTLY CLOSED”

signs plastered on their windows. Those who remained had installed extra security cameras, locked their doors early, and avoided contact with anyone. At one street corner, a middle-aged woman was repainting the wall of her small shop. But Cassandra noticed something that made her stop. The Silver Rose emblem had been painted there before. The woman was desperately trying to cover it up. Cassandra stepped out of the patrol car and approached her.

“Ma’am, is everything alright?”

The woman flinched before turning around, fear evident in her eyes.

“I… I just need to get rid of this,”

she said, her voice trembling.

“If I leave it there, they’ll think I’ve agreed to bow to them.”

Cassandra exchanged glances with Alexander.

“Are they forcing you to pay protection money?”

Cassandra asked. The woman swallowed hard.

“Yes… they came last week. They said if I didn’t pay, my shop would go up in flames. I’ve already lost most of my customers—how am I supposed to pay?”

Cassandra felt her chest tighten. Nuovo Ordine wasn’t just seizing Antonio’s territories—they were now extorting ordinary citizens. She let out a deep sigh.

“We’ll do what we can to help, ma’am.”

The woman gave a weak smile, but there was no hope in her eyes.

“You can’t help,”

she said quietly.

“Not even the police can stop them.”

Cassandra felt like she’d been punched in the gut. The woman had voiced what many people had already begun to believe. The police couldn’t defeat Nuovo Ordine. And if that was true… then who could stop Leonardo? That night, Antonio’s mansion felt emptier than ever. There were no hurried footsteps of his men in the hallways, no fiery discussions in the meeting rooms. Only a small group of people remained—the last remnants of Antonio’s loyal forces. In the main conference room, Antonio sat in his chair, his wounded shoulder still wrapped in bandages. Though his body hadn’t fully recovered, his mind was already far beyond the pain. Across from him, Marcus stood tensely, eyes locked on the map of New York spread across the table.

“We can’t wait any longer, Boss,”

Marcus said seriously.

“If we stay idle, Leonardo will take everything.”

Antonio narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingers on the table.

“I know.”

He took a deep breath.

“But we can’t launch a frontal attack. Our forces are too weak.”

Marcus nodded.

“That’s why we need to wage a guerrilla war.”

Antonio studied him carefully.

“What’s your plan?”

Marcus pulled up a chair and sat beside Antonio, pointing to several key locations on the map.

“Nuovo Ordine may have the numbers, but they still rely on infrastructure. They need money to fund their operations, weapons, and recruits.”

Antonio nodded.

“So we cut off their resources.”

Marcus smirked.

“Exactly. We may not win in numbers, but we can bleed them dry.”

He pointed at several locations.

“These are the places we know they use for money laundering. Nightclubs, illegal casinos, even shell businesses where they stash their cash.”

Antonio’s sharp gaze locked onto the marked spots.

“If we take these down… we can cripple them.”

Marcus nodded.

“Not just that. We hit their locations one by one. Keep them off balance. Never let them see where the next strike is coming from.”

Antonio raised a brow.

“Guerrilla warfare.”

Marcus gave a small grin.

“Exactly what they did to you at the South Docks. This time, we flip the game.”

Antonio slowly stood from his chair, eyes calculating as he stared at the map.

“We start with their weakest link,”

he said. Marcus nodded.

“There’s one place we can hit first. A casino in Brooklyn—it’s their primary money-laundering hub. If we take it out, we cut off one of their biggest cash flows.”

Antonio smirked.

“What’s their security like?”

Marcus opened another file.

“Tight, but not impossible. They have about twenty armed men there every night. But if we go in with the right tactics, we can take that place down before they even realize what’s happening.”

Antonio leaned back in his chair. “How many men can we use?”

Marcus thought for a moment.

“Not many. Fifteen at most. But they’re the best we have left.”

Antonio stayed silent, analyzing the situation.

“If we can’t beat them in numbers, we’ll take out their foundation.”

Marcus’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“That’s what I wanted to hear, Boss.”

After finalizing their plan, Marcus stood up, locking eyes with Antonio with full conviction.

“This will work,”

he said.

“We’ll make them pay for what they did at the South Docks.”

Antonio’s gaze remained sharp, his expression controlled but filled with hatred.

“This is just the beginning.”

Marcus nodded, then left to start organizing their small strike team. Once Marcus was gone, Antonio leaned back, exhaling deeply. His eyes fixated on the open map in front of him.

“Leonardo, I hope you’re enjoying your time… because I’m going to take everything back.”

Outside, the rain began to fall, drenching a city already drowning in chaos. And the shadow war between brothers was about to begin. Cassandra sat at her desk, staring at her computer screen filled with classified financial transactions. After days of investigating Nuovo Ordine, she and Alexander had finally found a major lead. On the screen, massive wire transfers linked to high-ranking government officials and senior police officers. Cassandra bit her lip, her eyes widening as she read one of the names on the list.

“Senator Caldwell… Police Chief O’Connor… East District Commander?”

Alexander, sitting beside her, crossed his arms, his expression hardening further.

“They’re all taking money from Nuovo Ordine,”

he said gravely.

“Leonardo isn’t just controlling the underworld. He’s buying the entire city’s system.”

Cassandra nodded.

“This is worse than we thought.”

“It’s not just bad, Cass. It’s a disaster.”

Alexander pulled his chair closer.

“If top officials like this are already in Leonardo’s pocket, that means we can’t trust anyone.”

Cassandra took a deep breath, her mind racing. If the police force was already compromised by Nuovo Ordine, how could they ever stop Leonardo? Alexander rubbed his face with his hands, frustration evident in his expression.

“We need to be careful, Cass.”

Cassandra turned to him.

“What do you mean?”

Alexander held her gaze.

“The deeper we dig into this, the more dangerous it gets.”

Cassandra clenched her fists.

“I know the risks, Alex. But we can’t stop now.”

Alexander shook his head.

“They can kill us, Cassandra.”

Cassandra froze, staring at him with an unreadable expression. Alexander took a deep breath, then grasped her hand tightly. “Listen, I don’t want to lose you,”

he said in a low voice. Cassandra felt her heart race. She could hear the sincerity in Alexander’s voice. She wanted to respond, but suddenly, Alexander pulled her closer. And before she could react, he kissed her. Cassandra stiffened. Alexander’s kiss was soft but filled with emotions he had been holding back for so long. It wasn’t just a physical touch, but an outpouring of fear, longing, and feelings they had both suppressed. Her fingers unconsciously gripped Alexander’s shoulders, her chest pounding faster than ever. But… This is wrong. The thought hit her instantly, forcing her to pull away.

“Alex… I…”

Alexander didn’t look away, his eyes filled with emotions he could no longer hide.

“I love you, Cassandra.”

Cassandra’s heartbeat quickened, but not just because of his words. It was because… she didn’t know if she could answer them.

“Alex… I don’t know…”

Alexander’s gaze deepened.

“You still have feelings for him, don’t you?”

Cassandra fell silent. She didn’t need to ask who he meant. Antonio. She turned her gaze away, inhaling deeply before speaking.

“Alex… I don’t know what I feel right now.”

Alexander nodded slowly, but he couldn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes.

“I just want you to know that I’ll always be here for you, Cass.”

Cassandra looked at him, conflicted. She knew Alexander was a good man. But why did her heart still think about someone she shouldn’t care for? Her phone suddenly vibrated, breaking the silence. When she saw the name on the screen, her chest tightened even more. Antonio. Cassandra stood at Antonio’s bedroom door, her heart pounding uncontrollably. It had been days since she last saw him—since that tense phone call. Now, she was here again—not as a cop, not as an investigator—but as a woman losing control of her own heart. Slowly, she knocked on the door.

“Come in,”

Antonio’s voice came from inside, rough but still strong. Cassandra pushed the door open and stepped inside. The moment she saw Antonio, something slammed into her chest. He sat at the edge of his bed, wearing only sweatpants, his shoulder still wrapped in bandages. On the table beside him, a city map lay open, covered in handwritten strategies and attack points. Even though his wounds hadn’t fully healed, Antonio kept working, kept planning for war. As if pain meant nothing to him.

“Do you even know how to rest?”

Cassandra said, her tone laced with sarcasm as she walked closer. Antonio looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers, sharp and unreadable, as if trying to decipher her thoughts.

“I don’t have the luxury of rest, Cassandra,”

he replied.

“Every second I stay still, Leonardo takes more of this city.”

Cassandra moved closer to the table, scanning the strategy Antonio had laid out.

“Why do you keep fighting, Antonio? You’ve lost so much. Your men are dwindling, your influence is fading. Is all of this really worth it?”

Antonio narrowed his eyes.

“I can’t let my brother take everything from me.”

His voice was deep, dangerous—but there was also pain in it. Cassandra sighed.

“And you’re willing to die for all of this?”

Antonio smirked.

“If I die, at least I’ll die fighting a war I chose.”

Cassandra bit her lip, her emotions in turmoil. She wanted to be angry, to yell at him for holding onto something that could very well kill him. But at the same time… She couldn’t imagine Antonio losing. Or worse… dying. Antonio watched her, then slowly stood up.

“You’re worried about me?”

he asked, his voice softer, closer. Cassandra swallowed hard.

“I just don’t want to see you dead, Antonio.”

Antonio gave a small smile before raising his hand, brushing his fingers against Cassandra’s face.

“I’m not going to die. Not before I take everything back.”

Their eyes locked, and for a split second, the world around them disappeared. Before Cassandra could say another word, Antonio pulled her closer and kissed her, hard. Cassandra gasped, but her body instantly melted into his grasp. This kiss wasn’t just a kiss—it was filled with restrained passion, with fury, with possession. Antonio gripped her waist firmly, pressing her back against the table, forcing her body against his. Cassandra moaned softly between their heated kiss, feeling the warmth of Antonio’s body press against hers with overwhelming intensity. His fingers, controlled yet desperate, explored her body, making Cassandra lose all sense of restraint.

“Antonio…”

she breathed between ragged breaths. Antonio pulled back slightly, his gaze burning into hers.

“I’m not letting you leave tonight, Cassandra.”

And Cassandra knew… She didn’t want to leave either. The room filled with heavy breaths, heated kisses, and touches that grew deeper and more desperate. Cassandra lay beneath Antonio, her body still trembling from his touch. Antonio gazed down at her, his hands tracing her skin with a tenderness that was still filled with dominance.

“I’ve wanted this for too damn long,”

he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending shivers through Cassandra’s entire body.

“Then take me,”

she whispered against Antonio’s ear,

“like I belong to you.”

Antonio smirked before capturing her lips again, harder, more demanding. The passion between them ignited—like every ounce of tension, every unspoken emotion, had finally exploded in one reckless night. Their bodies intertwined in a heated frenzy that neither of them could stop. Every moan, every kiss, every touch only pulled Cassandra deeper into the haze of lust and surrender.

Tonight, she was no longer a cop. Tonight, she was just a woman giving in to the man she was supposed to hate. But why did it feel so right? The soft morning light crept through Antonio’s bedroom window, casting a golden hue over their tangled bodies. Cassandra woke first, feeling the warmth of the man beside her. She turned her head, her gaze falling on Antonio’s sleeping face—his expression calmer than she’d ever seen before. This was a side of him she rarely saw. But this moment could never last. With her thoughts in turmoil, Cassandra slowly slipped out of bed, gathering her clothes. She couldn’t stay here any longer—she had to get back to work. As she reached for the door, a firm hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Running away?”

Antonio’s deep voice rumbled, even though his eyes remained closed. Cassandra smiled faintly.

“I have to get back to work.”

Antonio opened his eyes, pinning her with an intense gaze.

“I don’t like waking up and finding you gone.”

She hesitated before replying.

“I’m not yours, Antonio.”

Antonio’s smirk returned.

“You gave yourself to me last night. You think I’m just going to let you go?”

Cassandra swallowed hard, but before she could answer, Antonio’s phone rang. He exhaled in annoyance, releasing her wrist.

“I have to go to the headquarters.”

Cassandra grabbed her bag and walked out without looking back. But deep inside, she knew—this wasn’t the end of them. This was just the beginning.

War Plans and Betrayal Antonio arrived at the headquarters with an expression colder than usual. Marcus and a few of his most loyal men were already waiting in the meeting room.

“What’s the situation on the ground?”

Antonio asked, taking his seat, his presence still dominant despite his injuries. Marcus sighed heavily.

“Bad. Leonardo is starting to wipe out everyone still loyal to you.”

Antonio’s eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?”

Ben, one of his informants, handed him a file.

“Several businessmen who were under your protection have already been forced to bow to Nuovo Ordine. Some officials are beginning to distance themselves from you due to Leonardo’s threats.”

Antonio tapped his fingers against the table, his mind working rapidly. Leonardo was playing this game perfectly. But he wasn’t done yet.

“We attack,”

Antonio declared firmly.

“We have to cripple their system before they take full control of the city.”

Marcus nodded.

“I’ll start drafting a plan.”

Before they could continue, one of Antonio’s men burst into the room, his face pale with urgency.

“Boss! We found something!”

Antonio arched a brow.

“What is it?”

The man handed him a small envelope with a red seal. Antonio ripped it open and read the message inside. His expression instantly darkened, his jaw clenching. The message contained only one chilling sentence:

“Someone on your side is a traitor.”

The room fell silent. Marcus stared at Antonio warily.

“What does it say?”

Antonio crushed the note in his hand, his eyes burning with an unfamiliar rage.

“Someone has sold us out to Leonardo.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened.

“Who?”

Antonio’s gaze swept across the room, assessing every single face.

“We’ll find out soon enough.”

On her way back to the police station, Cassandra suddenly felt a tightness in her chest for no apparent reason. As if she knew something terrible was happening. And maybe…

Someone close to them was about to stab them in the back.