One Hundred Seven

New York was no longer the dazzling city of skyscrapers and shining lights at night. In the past few days, it had turned into a crime-ridden battleground. Robberies were happening everywhere. Kidnappings had skyrocketed. Street gangs operating under the name of Nuovo Ordine roamed the city corners, hunting for prey. Even worse, women walking alone at night were no longer just targets of theft—they became victims of the lawless gang’s rapes. Even the police presence didn’t guarantee safety. Those who dared to patrol the streets to stop the crimes ended up becoming targets of brutal attacks themselves.

A Night of Terror –

A Woman Becomes the Target On a dark street corner in Brooklyn, a young woman walked briskly. She had just finished her shift at work, and usually, walking alone at night wasn’t a big deal. But tonight felt different. Her eyes flickered behind her, sensing a lurking presence. In the distance, four men in black leather jackets strolled leisurely behind her. Her heart pounded faster.

No… this isn’t right. She quickened her pace, trying to remain calm, but the sound of low chuckles behind her made her skin crawl.

“Where you headed, sweetheart?”

one of the men called out, his voice deep and mocking. Her panic grew, but she couldn’t just break into a run—if she ran, they would chase her. The streets were emptying fast. There was no one to help her. Shit. Finally, she turned into an alley, hoping to find a back entrance to a shop or a place to hide. But as she ventured deeper, she realized— She had walked straight into a trap. A dead end.

“Don’t be scared, beautiful. We just wanna have some fun.”

The four men now stood at the alley’s entrance, blocking her way out. She backed away, her body trembling.

“Stay away from me!”

One of them laughed.

“You really think you can get away from us?”

Fuck. No way out. But before they could move any closer—

“HEY! STOP RIGHT THERE!”

A booming voice rang out—it came from two patrolling police officers who happened to be passing by. Relief surged through her chest, but fear still lingered. The gangsters slowly turned to face the officers, their eyes filled with pure hatred. One of the officers pulled out his gun.

“Let her go. Now.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, suddenly—

BANG!

One of the gangsters fired first. One officer fell, the bullet tearing through his shoulder.

“FUCK!”

The remaining cop tried to fire back, but he was outnumbered. Three of the gangsters rushed him, beating him down with iron rods. The woman screamed in terror, crouching in the corner of the alley as the gangsters mercilessly beat the two officers. Screams of agony filled the air.

City in Panic –

Citizens Afraid to Leave Their Homes Across New York, fear had begun to seep into the hearts of its people. On TV news, emergency broadcasts dominated the airwaves.

“In the last 48 hours, crime rates in various parts of New York have skyrocketed. Police report at least fifty armed robberies, twenty kidnappings, and multiple sexual assaults perpetrated by a criminal group calling themselves Nuovo Ordine.”

On social media, countless people started sharing their horrifying experiences.

➡ @JaneDoe: I was almost kidnapped last night in Times Square. In front of so many people! No one dared to help. New York isn’t the same anymore.

➡ @NYcitizen: My daughter hasn’t come home! The police can’t do anything! Please, if anyone sees a 16-year-old girl wearing a red jacket, contact me!

➡ @ConcernedNYer: I used to think the mafia only dealt with each other. But now? We’re the victims. We are not safe! The situation worsened as more citizens began fleeing the city. Many families, fearing for their safety, chose to relocate out of town. At their headquarters, the members of Nuovo Ordine watched the chaos unfold with triumphant laughter. One of the gang leaders, a man with a scarred face, grinned as he lit his cigar.

“Look at them… scurrying like little ants in fear.”

Another leader chuckled.

“And the police? They’re useless. All they can do is watch while we take over this city.”

At the highest seat in the room, Leonardo Franches sat calmly, sipping his red wine. His eyes gleamed with victory.

“Antonio tried to stop me… but look where he is now.”

One of his men asked,

“What’s our next move, Boss?”

Leonardo smirked.

“Let them drown in fear a little longer.”

“And when the time comes, we’ll show them who really owns this city.”

New York Police Department –

Emergency Meeting The NYPD headquarters was filled with tension. The main conference room was packed with high-ranking officers and detectives, all of them looking exhausted and frustrated. Cassandra and Alexander sat among them, listening as reports from various districts only grew worse.

On the projector screen at the front of the room, crime statistics from the past week were displayed—and the numbers were terrifying.

• 150 cases of armed robbery

• 50 cases of kidnapping

• 20 reported rapes by street gangs

• Thirty percent of small businesses forced to close due to mafia threats Police Chief David Callahan pressed his fingers to his temples, his face heavy with fatigue.

He let out a deep sigh before finally speaking.

“We have no choice.”

Everyone in the room looked at him intently.

“Starting today, we’re placing the entire city of New York on Level 1 Emergency Alert. No civilians are allowed outside after 8 PM unless it’s an emergency.”

A heavy silence filled the room. Then, an older officer with graying hair named Daniels spoke up.

“Sir, with all due respect… this won’t make things better. It will only make people more afraid.”

Callahan stared at him sharply.

“They’re already afraid. But we can’t let them keep being easy targets on the streets.”

Cassandra exchanged a glance with Alexander. Alexander leaned forward, his voice calm but firm.

“The people are terrified. If we don’t act fast, they’ll look for protection elsewhere… including from a stronger mafia.”

Cassandra nodded, adding in a serious tone,

“That’s exactly what Nuovo Ordine wants. They want fear to consume the city so people will submit to them.”

A police officer sighed heavily.

“We’re outnumbered. They have more people, more guns, and more resources.”

Callahan tapped his fingers on the table.

“Then we hit them harder.”

The police department’s decision to enforce Level 1 Emergency Status wasn’t well received by the public. On TV news, reporters covered the outrage of citizens who felt abandoned by the law. In a live broadcast outside police headquarters, a reporter interviewed an enraged man.

“We’ve suffered enough!”

the man yelled at the camera.

“Now they’re telling us to stay inside like that’s gonna fix anything?”

On social media, various hashtags started trending:

• #SaveNewYork

• #WhereIsTheLaw

• #StopTheTerror

In a nearly empty café in Manhattan, an old man who used to sell coffee sat with a weary expression. He stared at the desolate streets, at the shops closing early, at the buildings now covered in Nuovo Ordine graffiti. He spoke to his lone customer in a heavy voice.

“New York isn’t what it used to be.”

The customer nodded.

“If this keeps up, the city will be theirs.”

As the chaos escalated, the city’s economy began to collapse.

• Many stores either closed early or shut down entirely.

• Investors pulled their funds out of New York businesses, fearing instability.

• Wealthy families started fleeing to the suburbs, leaving behind vacant buildings. A financial reporter delivered a grim update on the evening news.

“In less than a week, New York has suffered a drastic economic downturn. With rising crime and legal uncertainty, major corporations are beginning to relocate their headquarters to other states.”

In once-thriving districts,

‘PERMANENTLY CLOSED’

signs began appearing on shop windows. A grocery store owner, an elderly man named Mr. Hawkins, was interviewed outside his now-empty shop.

“I’ve run this business for 30 years, but now? I can’t hold out any longer. I have to leave this city before it gets even worse.”

Cassandra watched the news from inside the police station, her chest tightening. The New York she once knew had turned into a living hell. Alexander, watching from his seat, exhaled.

“If we don’t act soon, this city will be a graveyard.”

Cassandra nodded slowly.

“And if we lose New York… we lose everything.”

It had been a week since the NYPD declared Level 1 Emergency Status, but the city showed no signs of improvement. In fact, things were getting worse—crime was more rampant, and hope among the people was fading. Once lively streets now lay abandoned. Many small businesses had shut their doors permanently, while those still open were forced to pay ‘protection fees’ to Nuovo Ordine. Cassandra drove a patrol car with Alexander, navigating streets that once thrived with life. Now, all that remained were the fading echoes of a city slowly dying. Streetlights flickered, many already broken and left in disrepair. Graffiti covered the walls of buildings, most of them displaying Nuovo Ordine’s symbol—a silver rose with sharp thorns. Cassandra took it all in, her jaw clenched.

“They’re not just destroying this city,”

she muttered.

“They’re rebuilding it under their own rules.”

Alexander, sitting in the driver’s seat, only nodded. His gaze was sharp, filled with the same unease Cassandra felt. Businesses Under Nuovo Ordine’s Control They pulled the car over in a district that had once belonged to The Silver Thorn. In front of a small grocery store, Cassandra noticed an old man speaking with a group of large men. They wore black leather jackets with Nuovo Ordine’s emblem emblazoned on the back. Cassandra and Alexander stepped out of the car, moving closer to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“We warned you, old man,”

one of the big men said, his tone dripping with menace.

“If you don’t pay this week, you know what happens.”

The old man, looking exhausted and terrified, swallowed hard and tried to respond, his voice shaking.

“I… I really don’t have enough money this week,”

he said.

“Sales have dropped because people are leaving the city. I just need more time.”

One of the Nuovo Ordine gangsters chuckled at his plea before suddenly grabbing the old man by the collar and shoving him against the wall.

“Time? You think we can wait?!”

Cassandra felt fury rising in her chest. Without thinking, she acted.

“LET HIM GO!”

Her voice rang out, making the thug turn in surprise. The gangsters exchanged glances before laughing mockingly.

“What’s this? The cops still have the guts to roam around here?”

Alexander stepped forward, his hand hovering near his waist, ready to draw his gun if necessary.

“We’re not looking for trouble. But we won’t stand by and let you harass civilians like this,”

Alexander said calmly, though his tone was firm. One of the Nuovo Ordine thugs eyed Alexander before patting his friend on the chest, signaling him to back off. Slowly, he released the old man.

“Relax, detective. We were just having a business discussion.”

Cassandra turned to the old man.

“Sir, are they forcing you to pay them?”

The old man shook his head quickly, but Cassandra knew it was out of fear. Yet, before she could push further, the man whispered so faintly it was almost inaudible.

“I don’t have a choice. If I don’t pay, they’ll burn this place down.”

Cassandra felt a crushing weight in her chest. This was what happened when someone like Leonardo took power. Nuovo Ordine wasn’t just controlling the underground—they were reshaping the city itself. She whispered to Alexander,

“They don’t just want to rule the criminal world. They want to remake New York under their own law.”

Alexander met her gaze, his eyes filled with bitter realization.

“And we’re running out of time.”

After making sure the old man was safe, Cassandra and Alexander returned to their patrol car. But before they could leave, one of the Nuovo Ordine gangsters smirked at them.

“You might still think you have power,”

he sneered.

“But listen to me carefully—this city doesn’t belong to the police anymore. It belongs to us now.”

Cassandra wanted to respond, but Alexander gripped her arm, signaling for them to leave. As soon as they got into the car and drove out of the district, Cassandra could only stare at the increasingly empty streets. New York was no longer the same city.

A Desperate Gamble Amid the chaos consuming New York, Antonio realized he couldn’t fight Nuovo Ordine alone. His forces were dwindling, his influence was fading, and the territories he once controlled were falling one by one into Leonardo’s hands. But hope wasn’t lost. There were still a few old mafia factions who once respected his late father—men who owed the Franches family their loyalty. That night, Antonio left the city, traveling to a secret location in Jersey to meet them. Inside a large room with aged wooden walls, Antonio sat at the central chair, surrounded by several old mafia leaders who had once been allies of The Silver Thorn. Seated across from him was Enzo Morelli, head of the Morelli family—a man in his sixties with silver hair and eyes that carried decades of experience.

Once, he had been one of Antonio’s father’s strongest allies. Beside him sat Rafael DeLuca, the ruthless gang leader from Philadelphia, known for his brutal tactics in mafia wars. And then there were others—leaders with wary expressions, filled with doubt.

“I used to respect your father, Antonio,”

Morelli finally broke the silence, his voice deep and commanding.

“But right now, you’re losing. Why should I bet on a man who’s already falling?”

Antonio showed no emotion. He remained upright, staring coldly at Morelli.

“Because if you don’t bet on me now,”

his voice was low but unwavering,

“you’ll end up under Leonardo’s control. And we both know he doesn’t give options—he only demands obedience or death.”

Silence filled the room. Morelli narrowed his eyes.

“You think I don’t know how dangerous Leonardo is? He’s smarter than you realize, Antonio. He doesn’t just want New York—he wants to rule everything.”

“And you’re willing to let him?”

Antonio’s voice turned icy. Morelli exhaled, shaking his head.

“Back when your father was alive, I would’ve stood with you in a heartbeat. But now? You’re not the same man.”

“Don’t make a mistake, Morelli,”

Antonio’s tone sharpened.

“You’re right—I’m not the same man. But I’m not a defeated one either.”

Morelli let out a quiet chuckle, not mocking, but testing Antonio’s resolve.

“You should know,”

Rafael DeLuca finally spoke,

“Leonardo has already sent an envoy to me. He wants me to join him.”

Marcus, standing beside Antonio, narrowed his eyes.

“And you’re considering it?”

Rafael met his gaze, his expression unreadable.

“I’m not an idiot, Marcus. But I’m not blind either. If I side with you and you lose again, my men and I will be next on Leonardo’s hit list.”

Antonio smirked slightly.

“Then make sure we don’t lose.”

Morelli folded his arms.

“What’s your guarantee, Antonio? What can you offer that makes siding with you a better choice than Leonardo?”

Antonio leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across every leader in the room.

“I’m offering something greater than just victory in this war.”

He let his words hang in the air for a moment before continuing.

“I’m offering control over New York once the war is over. I won’t take everything for myself. If we win, we divide the territory. I only want revenge and to reclaim what’s mine. The rest? You run this city together.”

A heavy silence followed. Marcus stepped forward.

“If we unite, we can take back this city. But if we stay divided, Leonardo will hunt us down one by one.”

Rafael tapped his fingers on the table, processing the offer. Morelli took a deep breath before finally saying,

“I can’t promise my full support… but I can provide you with additional troops for the first phase. If you prove that you can still stand on your own, then I’ll place my bet on you, Antonio.”

Antonio smirked.

“Then get ready to watch me rise again.”

Once the meeting ended, Antonio walked out of the room, Marcus following closely behind.

“This isn’t a full victory,”

Marcus said, still looking concerned. Antonio lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag before replying,

“But it’s a good start.”

Marcus nodded, but his expression remained serious.

“Leonardo won’t sit still if he finds out we’re forming alliances.”

Antonio exhaled smoke into the night air, his eyes narrowing.

“Let him know. I want him to know that I’m not dead yet.”

A Silent Storm Light rain drizzled outside Cassandra’s apartment window. The glow of streetlights reflected faintly against the glass, casting slow-moving shadows across the room. On the small table in front of her, stacks of documents lay scattered, filled with every bit of information about Nuovo Ordine. And on the very top page, Leonardo Franches’ name was printed in bold. Cassandra let out a deep sigh, leaning her head against the chair. She had known it all along. He was the mastermind behind all this chaos. But knowing didn’t make it any easier to accept.

On one hand, Leonardo was the clear enemy—a ruthless man who didn’t hesitate to slaughter people just to assert his power. But on the other hand, he was Antonio’s half-brother. And the deeper Cassandra dug into this mess, the more she realized something else. She was starting to care about Antonio. The feeling wasn’t supposed to be there, yet why did her chest feel so tight every time she thought about him?

A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. Cassandra got up and opened it. Alexander stood there, holding two cups of hot coffee. He stepped inside and handed one to her. His gaze was watchful, but there was something else in it—suspicion. He sat on the couch while Cassandra returned to her chair, eyes drifting back to the scattered documents. A few moments passed in silence before Alexander finally spoke.

“I know you’re hiding something, Cass.”

Cassandra looked up, her eyes locking onto Alexander’s sharp stare.

“I can see it on your face,”

he continued. Cassandra bit her lip.

“I just… don’t know what to do.”

Alexander leaned forward slightly.

“You know who’s behind all of this, don’t you?”

Cassandra averted her gaze.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Cassandra hesitated for a moment before finally whispering,

“Leonardo Franches.”

Alexander clenched his fists.

“Son of a bitch.”

He stood up, pacing the room.

“So this is a civil war? Antonio against his own brother?”

Cassandra nodded slowly.

“That’s what makes this even more complicated.”

Alexander turned back to her, his expression serious.

“We need to end this together, Cass. I don’t want to lose you.”

Cassandra offered a small smile, but there was sadness in it.

“I know, Alex. But this isn’t just about the investigation. It’s more than that.”

Alexander frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Cassandra opened her mouth, but before she could answer, her phone vibrated. Antonio. She stared at the screen for a few seconds before finally answering.

“Cassandra.”

Antonio’s voice was heavy on the other end.

“I hear you’ve started looking into Nuovo Ordine.”

Cassandra clenched her fingers in her lap.

“I’m a cop, Antonio. It’s my job.”

“And I’m a mafia. I know how people like Leonardo think,”

Antonio replied flatly.

“Don’t get too deep, Cassandra. I have my own plan to take down my brother.”

Cassandra closed her eyes for a moment.

“I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“Then I can’t guarantee your safety.”

Silence. Cassandra felt her chest tighten. Why did those words sound more like concern than a threat?

“I don’t care about my safety, Antonio. I care about this city.”

Antonio let out a quiet chuckle, though there was exhaustion in it.

“I know.”

Then, softer,

“Just… don’t die before I see you again.”

Cassandra swallowed hard. There was something in those words that made her heart race. Before she could respond, the call ended. Cassandra set her phone down on the table, exhaling deeply. Alexander was still standing beside her, his eyes filled with suspicion.

“You’re getting closer to him, aren’t you?”

Cassandra lifted her gaze.

“Alex… this isn’t the time.”

Alexander clenched his fists.

“I just want to know… do I still have a place in your life?”

Cassandra fell silent. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t. Because even in her own mind, she didn’t have the answer.