One Hundred Nine

Antonio’s Headquarters –

The Decisive Meeting That night, the meeting room in Antonio’s mansion felt colder than usual. At the large table surrounded by black leather chairs, four of his most trusted men sat in silence—Marcus, Ben, Dominic, and Salvatore. They were the last remnants of Antonio’s inner circle, the ones who had stayed loyal after the devastating loss at the South Docks. But tonight, they weren’t here to plan an attack. They were here to uncover a traitor.

Antonio stood at the head of the table, his sharp gaze sweeping over the four men. In his hand, a small piece of paper—the note he had received that morning. A message that changed everything.

“Someone on your side is a traitor.”

Antonio crossed his arms, his voice low yet laced with menace.

“Someone sold us out to Leonardo.”

Marcus, sitting to Antonio’s right, tapped his fingers on the table.

“Whoever it is, we need to find them before they leak more information.”

Ben, the man responsible for The Silver Thorn’s logistics, exhaled deeply.

“But how do we find them, Boss? We can’t just start pointing fingers.”

Antonio’s stare turned ice-cold.

“We’re not going to point fingers. We’re going to expose them.”

He pressed a button on the side of the table, and the back door of the room swung open. Two of his men dragged a battered man inside, his body covered in bruises. His clothes were torn, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. The man was thrown onto the floor, hitting the ground with a painful thud. He looked up, fear flooding his eyes. Antonio stepped closer, gripping the man’s hair, forcing him to meet his gaze.

“Got something to tell me, Evan?”

Antonio’s voice was quiet, but it echoed through the room. The man—Evan—swallowed hard.

“B-Boss… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

his voice trembled. Dominic, the most ruthless enforcer in Antonio’s crew, let out a dark chuckle.

“Then why are you shaking, Evan? You know the rules. We don’t show mercy to traitors.”

Evan shook his head quickly, but his eyes darted around anxiously.

“I… I didn’t do anything!”

Antonio narrowed his eyes before pulling out his gun. He pressed the cold barrel against Evan’s temple, his voice lowering to a whisper.

“I’ll ask this only once.”

“Did you give Leonardo information?”

The room fell into complete silence. Evan struggled to steady his breath, but his body shook even harder. His eyes twitched—a telltale sign of a lie forming in his mind. Ben leaned forward.

“Evan, if you confess now, Antonio might still consider your fate.”

Evan bit his lip, his mind racing. But before he could speak, Antonio inhaled slowly, his lips curling into a smirk.

“You’re thinking too long.”

BANG!

Antonio shot Evan in the leg. The man screamed in agony, his body writhing on the floor, blood pooling around him. Marcus took a deep breath but remained silent. They all knew this wasn’t a game. Antonio didn’t have time for mercy. Evan sobbed in pain before finally breaking.

“FUCK! YES! IT WAS ME! I GAVE THE INFORMATION TO NUOVO ORDINE!”

The room instantly felt colder. Salvatore narrowed his eyes.

“How much did you tell them?”

Evan panted, biting his lip.

“E-Everything... They paid me to leak Antonio’s plans. I had no choice... They were going to kill me if I refused!”

Antonio scoffed, then crouched in front of Evan.

“And you think I’m going to let you live after this?”

Evan bit his lip so hard it bled.

“Boss, please... I can make it right! I can give you information on Leonardo... I can—”

BANG!

Evan fell silent forever. Blood pooled from his skull onto the expensive marble floor. Antonio slowly lowered his gun, his face devoid of emotion. His gaze lifted to Marcus and the others.

“Burn the body. Leave no traces.”

Marcus nodded, signaling his men to dispose of Evan’s corpse. Ben let out a heavy sigh.

“Is this enough to stop the leaks?”

Antonio smirked slightly.

“No. But it’s enough to send a message to anyone thinking of betraying me.”

His eyes shifted toward the large map on the wall.

“Now... we focus on our next attack.”

“This time, we strike first.”

Cassandra’s Dilemma Cassandra sat at her desk, staring blankly at her computer screen. Today had been too much. Too many things to process. Antonio had just executed a traitor in front of his men, and now, she had to return to a world of law and order that felt so weak compared to Antonio’s world. She was exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally. The door to her office opened, and Alexander walked in, carrying two cups of coffee.

“You look like someone who hasn’t slept in days,”

he said, setting one of the cups in front of her. Cassandra lifted her head, offering a small smile.

“That’s because I haven’t, Alex.”

Alexander pulled out the chair across from her, his gaze filled with concern.

“You can’t keep doing this, Cass.”

Cassandra shrugged.

“Like I have a choice.”

Alexander sighed, leaning back in his chair.

“If this world didn’t have the mafia and crime, maybe New York would finally be known as a peaceful city,”

he mused. Cassandra looked at him, letting out a small laugh.

“Alex, you’re dreaming. But I like the way you think.”

Alexander smirked.

“Just imagine it, Cass. No mafia wars, no blood on the streets, no corruption in the police force. People living in peace, working without fear.”

Cassandra let out a long sigh.

“If such a world existed, maybe I’d quit being a cop and open a little café by the roadside. A place where people could come, drink coffee, and never have to worry about being shot in broad daylight.”

Alexander smiled.

“And I’d be your most loyal customer.”

Cassandra chuckled softly, unexpectedly comforted by the conversation. For the first time in days, she felt at ease. Silence settled between them, but it wasn’t empty—it was a silence deeper than mere friendship. Alexander suddenly scooted his chair closer, his gaze locking onto hers with intensity.

“Cass…”

his voice was low, filled with emotion. Cassandra didn’t move away. Their eyes met, and before she could register it, Alexander cupped her face and kissed her gently. Cassandra froze for a moment, but she didn’t resist. Alexander’s kiss was different. Unlike Antonio’s dominating touch, this kiss was softer, deeper—as if Alexander truly wanted her to feel how much he desired her. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer. Cassandra exhaled against his lips but didn’t hold back. She let herself be carried away. Lost in this escape. Lost in the embrace of someone who truly loved her. Alexander took a deep breath, looking at her with raw passion.

“I love you, Cassandra.”

His fingers traced her cheek gently before his gaze dropped back to her lips.

“Can I taste your beautiful lips again and let myself drown in your love?”

Cassandra hesitated for just a second. Then, almost in a whisper, she replied:

“Alex… keep going, I feel like I’m in heaven… your touch is so romantic.”

Alexander didn’t wait any longer. He kissed her again, deeper, hotter. Cassandra’s fingers dug into his shoulders, feeling herself unravel in a way she had never allowed before. Alexander lifted her slowly, placing her onto her desk. She tilted her head back, panting.

“Alex…”

“I’m here,”

he whispered against her ear, pressing soft kisses down her neck, tracing heated trails against her skin. Cassandra shut her eyes, feeling Alexander’s hands explore her with a hunger she couldn’t deny. In this office, amidst case files and mafia reports that had weighed her down for so long… Cassandra chose to forget. Just for tonight. Just for this moment. Cassandra stood at Antonio’s bedroom door, her heart pounding erratically.

Tonight felt different. Not just because she had spent time with Alexander hours ago, but because she knew something was stirring inside Antonio’s mind. She could feel it. The tension in the mansion was thick, like a storm waiting to explode. When she knocked and opened the door, Antonio was standing by the window, staring outside, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The moonlight cast a silver glow over his strong frame. He wore only black trousers and an unbuttoned shirt, revealing skin still marked with healing scars. He looked so cold. So dangerous. Yet Cassandra couldn’t take her eyes off him. She closed the door behind her and stepped closer, each movement careful.

“You look troubled,”

she finally said, trying to read his expression. Antonio didn’t answer right away. He took a slow sip of his whiskey before turning to face her, his dark eyes sharp, calculating.

“There’s a traitor in my territory.”

Cassandra’s heart pounded. Does he know? Was he talking about her—about what she had done with Alexander? She swallowed hard, keeping her face neutral.

“What do you mean?”

Antonio stepped toward her, his movements slow but his presence overwhelming.

“Someone in my organization has been feeding information to my enemy,”

he said, voice deep and laced with control. Cassandra felt a mix of relief and tension. It wasn’t her he was referring to… but it was still a warning. Lifting her chin, she met his gaze, keeping herself composed.

“And what did you do to this traitor?”

Antonio smirked—a slow, wicked curve of his lips that made her breath hitch.

“I took care of them.”

His tone was casual, but the weight of it sent chills down her spine. He had executed someone without hesitation. Antonio held her gaze, unwavering. His stare was too intense. Too strong. Too… dominating. Then, suddenly, he stepped even closer, closing the small space between them.

“You don’t understand, Cass.”

“This is war. And in war, I can’t afford weakness.”

Her breath caught in her throat. But she refused to back down.

“And you think sleeping with me isn’t weakness?”

she challenged, her voice steady. Antonio’s smirk widened, as if she had just said something amusing.

“Sleeping with you is a reminder that you belong to me.”

In a swift motion, Antonio pulled her against him and crashed his lips onto hers. Cassandra gasped, shocked by the intensity, but her body melted into his grip almost instantly. Antonio pushed her onto the bed effortlessly, making Cassandra fall onto the soft sheets. She stared up at him, breathless, but she didn’t try to escape. She wanted this. She wanted him. Antonio looked at her like she was entirely his before leaning down, pressing his lips to her neck slowly, making Cassandra arch beneath him.

“I want to make one thing clear,”

Antonio whispered against her ear.

“That no other man will ever touch you the way I do.”

Cassandra kissed him back harder, tugging at his hair, surrendering completely to the game between them. That night burned hotter than ever. Wilder. Deeper. Because for Antonio, this wasn’t just about passion. It was a declaration—Cassandra was his. Only his.

Nuovo Ordine’s Weapons Warehouse –

A Night That Turned Into Hell The night sky over Queens was pitch black, lit only by the flickering glow of streetlights. In the distance, a massive warehouse loomed—one of Nuovo Ordine’s primary armament hubs. Inside, dozens of illegal weapons were stocked, waiting to be used in Leonardo’s impending war. But tonight, Antonio wouldn’t let that happen. From a dark alley across the warehouse, Marcus peered through the scope of his rifle, studying the enemy’s guard patterns. Beside him, Antonio stood tall, clad in his black jacket, despite his wounds not having fully healed. Marcus turned to his boss.

“You shouldn’t be here, Boss. You’re still not fully recovered.”

Antonio’s sharp eyes remained locked on the warehouse, his rage burning through the darkness.

“I can’t let you do this alone.”

Marcus exhaled heavily. There was no point arguing. If there was one thing Antonio wouldn’t do, it was sit back while war unfolded. Antonio glanced at his team—fifteen of the best remaining men from The Silver Thorn. All heavily armed. All prepared for bloodshed. Ben, their explosives expert, whispered as he tapped a small device in his hands.

“C4 is set on the back entrance. We just need your signal, Boss.”

Antonio clenched his jaw, then spoke into his earpiece.

“All positions ready?”

Confirmations crackled through the radio. Marcus lifted his rifle.

“Waiting on your command, Boss.”

Antonio took a deep breath, locking his gaze onto the massive warehouse ahead. Then, in a voice cold and commanding, he gave the order:

“Blow it.”

BOOM!

The explosion tore through the back entrance of the warehouse, sending Nuovo Ordine’s guards into a frenzy of chaos and panic. Gunfire erupted in the air instantly. Antonio strode forward, pistol in hand, firing with lethal precision. One shot to the head, another to the chest—two enemies dropped before him. Marcus and the rest of the team moved swiftly, taking cover behind containers while returning fire at the enemies attempting to retaliate. Ben hurled a smoke grenade, shrouding the battlefield in thick gray fog, sending their opponents into disarray. Through the radio, Dominic, one of Antonio’s men, shouted,

“Boss! They’re bringing in reinforcements from inside!”

Antonio frowned but remained composed.

“Don’t give them time to regroup. Destroy everything.”

In the chaos of bullets and flames, Antonio moved with terrifying speed and precision. One of Nuovo Ordine’s men lunged at him with a knife, but Antonio effortlessly sidestepped, driving the butt of his pistol into the man’s face.

BANG!

A single shot to the head, and the man collapsed lifelessly. Marcus glanced at him, then chuckled between gunshots.

“Boss, I forgot how terrifying you are in battle.”

Antonio smirked coldly.

“Leonardo wants a war, so I’ll give him one.”

Nuovo Ordine’s Headquarters –

The War Escalates As Antonio and his team obliterated the warehouse, miles away in Nuovo Ordine’s headquarters, Leonardo received the report. One of his men rushed breathlessly into the lavish office.

“Boss! They’re attacking the warehouse in Queens! They’re destroying all of our weapons!”

Leonardo, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, merely smirked.

“Antonio, Antonio… You really want to play with fire?”

Leaning back in his sleek black leather chair, Leonardo’s cold eyes scanned the sprawling map of New York laid out before him. He knew Antonio was growing reckless. The attack on the Queens armory had cost him resources. But Leonardo wasn’t fazed. Instead, he smiled—like this was just the opening move of a grand chess game. One of his men stepped forward.

“Boss, what’s our next move?”

Leonardo raised his glass, watching the deep crimson liquid swirl within.

“If you want to break a man, you don’t attack him head-on. You strike at his weakness.”

He set the glass down slowly.

“Take Cassandra.”

The Abduction Begins That night, Cassandra drove down a deserted street, exhaustion weighing on her after the day’s chaos. All she wanted was to go home, take a shower, and silence the turmoil in her mind. But unease crept up her spine. Glancing at the rearview mirror, she spotted two cars tailing her from a distance. Her jaw tightened. She pressed the gas, increasing speed. Before she could reach the main road, a black van swerved in from the right—slamming into the front of her car.

CRASH!

The steering wheel jolted violently in her grip, the car skidding off the road. Cassandra’s instincts kicked in. She reached for her gun. Before she could escape the car, the door was yanked open, and a group of masked men dragged her out. Cassandra didn’t go down without a fight. In seconds, she used her elbows and knees to strike two of the men holding her.

BANG! BANG!

With quick reflexes, she managed to shoot three before one of them struck her head with the butt of a gun. Blood trickled down her temple, but she still struggled. But there were too many of them. Finally, her hands were wrenched behind her back, locked in cuffs, and a rough cloth was tied around her mouth, silencing her.

“Sleep tight, darling,”

a voice whispered before something hard crashed against her head again. Darkness swallowed her whole.

The Silver Thorn’s Headquarters –

A Dangerous Revelation Inside The Silver Thorn’s headquarters, Antonio was in a heated discussion with Marcus and his men about their next attack. But the conversation came to a sudden halt when a soldier burst in, breathless.

“Boss… Cassandra… she’s been taken!”

Silence fell over the room. Antonio rose slowly from his chair. Marcus stiffened instantly, his face going pale.

“Who took her?”

Antonio’s voice was low, but something in his tone sent a chill through the entire room.

“Nuovo Ordine. They took her to their secret compound.”

Marcus tried to keep his composure.

“Boss, we have to be smart about this. We need a plan.”

Antonio turned to him, his black eyes burning with a fury no one had ever seen before. “Smart?” His voice dropped lower, more dangerous.

“Cassandra is in their hands, and you want me to be smart?” Marcus exhaled sharply.

“If we rush in without preparation, we’ll be walking straight into their trap.”

Antonio’s gaze was razor-sharp.

“We don’t have time for preparation.”

He grabbed his gun off the table and cocked it aggressively.

“I’m taking her back, even if I have to burn this city to the ground.”

An Unexpected Alliance As Antonio prepared for war, the doors to the meeting room swung open. Three men entered. They were the heads of the most powerful mafia families in Los Angeles, Brazil, and Mexico—men who had once worked with Antonio’s father and still owed loyalty to the Franches bloodline. Rafael Montenegro, the powerful crime boss of Los Angeles, controlling the West Coast’s narcotics and arms trade. Carlos Ribeiro, the ruthless head of Brazil’s largest cartel, overseeing human trafficking and black-market weapons smuggling. Héctor Valverde, the feared Mexican mafia leader who controlled most of the drug routes and illegal gambling rings along the border. Rafael Montenegro stepped forward first, his eyes filled with respect.

“We heard Leonardo is getting more reckless. We can’t let him take this city.”

Carlos Ribeiro exhaled a plume of smoke from his cigar, his thick Brazilian accent rolling off his tongue.

“Your father once protected our business. Now, we return the favor.”

Héctor Valverde, known for speaking little but striking fear into everyone who crossed him, stared at Antonio.

“If we join forces, we can destroy Leonardo.”

Antonio looked at them one by one, letting the tension hang heavy in the room before giving a firm nod.

“We’re not just going to destroy Leonardo.”

His gaze flickered to Marcus and his men, his black eyes gleaming with pure vengeance.

“We’re going to erase him.”