One Hundred Ten

Antonio’s Headquarters –

The Meeting of Four Mafia Leaders Inside the main meeting room of Antonio’s mansion, tension crackled in the air, thick with unspoken threats and unyielding authority. At the long table, facing a massive map of New York, four mafia leaders sat across from each other. Antonio Franches stood at the head of the table, his piercing gaze sweeping over his new allies. To his right, Rafael Montenegro, the formidable mafia boss of Los Angeles, a man of influence who controlled the West Coast’s drug and arms trade.

Next to him, Carlos Ribeiro, the ruthless leader of Brazil’s largest cartel, overseeing human trafficking and illegal weapons smuggling. And finally, Héctor Valverde, the feared head of the Mexican mafia, reigning over narcotics smuggling routes and underground gambling operations at the border. All three men watched Antonio with sharp, calculating expressions.

“You called us here to discuss this war, Antonio,”

Rafael Montenegro spoke first.

“But before we set this city on fire, I want to know one thing—what guarantees do we have that this will benefit us?”

Carlos Ribeiro took a slow drag from his cigar before speaking, his voice calm but laced with danger.

“We all know that Leonardo isn’t just your problem—he’s ours. If he wins, he won’t stop at New York. He’ll expand.”

Héctor Valverde leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto Antonio.

“We need assurances, Antonio. What do we get if we help you destroy Leonardo?”

Antonio exhaled slowly, placing both hands on the table, his unwavering gaze burning into them.

“I’m not asking for your help out of desperation. I’m offering you victory.”

Silence filled the room. Antonio retrieved a small knife from his pocket and drove it into the center of the table, right over the map of New York.

“We all know Leonardo is expanding. If he wins, your businesses—your control over Los Angeles, Brazil, and the border—will be next.”

His gaze snapped to Carlos.

“You think he won’t come for your trade routes in South America?”

Carlos stiffened, his expression darkening. Antonio’s eyes shifted to Rafael.

“If Leonardo grows powerful enough, he won’t need your smuggling network anymore. He’ll build his own on the West Coast, and you’ll lose everything.”

Rafael clenched his jaw. Finally, Antonio turned to Héctor, his smirk turning lethal.

“And you… You know better than anyone—whoever controls the border, controls the drug trade. Leonardo wants your routes. And you know he won’t negotiate—he’ll kill you.”

Héctor narrowed his eyes before finally exhaling a heavy breath.

“Damn you, Antonio. You’re right.”

Marcus, standing beside Antonio, spread several documents across the table.

“We’ve mapped out Leonardo’s weaknesses. If we strike with full force, we can cripple his foundation before he has the chance to retaliate.”

Rafael nodded.

“Alright. Tell us your plan.”

Antonio pointed to three locations on the map:

Leonardo’s Main Casino in Brooklyn

– his primary money laundering operation. A Secret Weapons Warehouse in Staten Island – the heart of his arsenal. Leonardo’s Headquarters – the core of his entire operation. Carlos smirked.

“You want to hit him from all sides?”

Antonio nodded.

“If we take out his money, his weapons, and his command center all at once, he won’t have time to recover.”

Héctor chuckled.

“A reckless plan… but I like it.”

Rafael drummed his fingers on the table, then met Antonio’s gaze with newfound resolve.

“Then tell me—when do we start?”

Antonio’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Tonight.”

That morning, Alexander sat at his desk, staring at the mounting pile of crime reports before him. He was used to daily reports of violence, but today felt heavier. Not just because the war between The Silver Thorn and Nuovo Ordine was escalating—but because Cassandra was missing.

Where is she?

Why hasn’t she come in today? Alexander ran a tense hand through his hair, his eyes darting toward Cassandra’s empty desk. Today, her chair sat vacant. And that was a bad sign. His colleague, Daniels, approached and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Rough morning, Alex?”

Alexander sighed deeply, rubbing his face with frustration.

“More than that. Have you seen Cassandra? She didn’t show up today.”

Daniels frowned.

“Strange. She hasn’t contacted anyone. Her phone’s been off since last night.”

Alexander’s pulse quickened. Her phone was off? That wasn’t like Cassandra. She was always connected to the police system, especially in times as chaotic as these. Alexander pulled out his phone, dialing Cassandra’s number again. Still, no answer. A bad feeling crawled up his spine. Suddenly, the door to his office swung open. New York Police Chief David Callahan entered, his face tense. All eyes immediately turned to him.

“We have direct orders from higher up,”

he announced gravely. Alexander exchanged glances with the other officers before turning back to Callahan.

“What orders?”

Alexander asked, his gut twisting. Callahan inhaled deeply before speaking.

“Effective immediately, the police are prohibited from interfering with Antonio’s mafia operations in Brooklyn.”

Alexander’s brows furrowed deeply.

“What do you mean? They’re attacking Brooklyn, and we’re just supposed to stand by and do nothing?”

Callahan nodded.

“That’s right. If we intervene, Antonio’s mafia has warned that they will not hesitate to open fire on law enforcement.”

The room fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the sheer madness of the situation. SLAM! Alexander’s fist crashed onto the table.

“So we’re just going to let them wage war in the city with no legal consequences?”

Callahan met his glare.

“We don’t have a choice, Alex. If we step in, more people will die. More lives will be lost.”

Alexander clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding. He knew this had to be Antonio’s doing. Only Antonio was bold enough to threaten the police like this. But more than that… Cassandra was still unreachable. After the meeting ended, Alexander couldn’t just sit still. He grabbed his jacket, checked his gun, and prepared to leave. As he was heading out of the precinct, Daniels intercepted him.

“Alex, where are you going?”

Alexander stared at him, unwavering.

“I’m infiltrating the battlefield in Brooklyn.”

Daniels looked at him like he had lost his mind.

“You heard Callahan’s orders. We’re not allowed to get involved.”

Alexander’s jaw tensed.

“I don’t care about those orders.”

Daniels reached out, trying to stop him.

“You could lose your badge, Alex. If they find out you disobeyed a direct command—”

Alexander’s sharp gaze bore into him.

“I don’t give a damn about my job if someone I care about is in danger.”

Daniels fell silent. He knew exactly what Alexander meant. This wasn’t just about a mafia war. This was about Cassandra. Daniels finally exhaled and stepped back.

“Alright. Just… don’t die out there.”

Alexander didn’t respond. With his gun securely holstered, he walked out of the precinct and headed straight for Brooklyn—into a war he had no business entering. The night in Brooklyn went on as usual, but not inside The Imperial Night Casino—Leonardo’s most prized establishment. A haven for billionaires who gambled away their fortunes, mingled with underground businessmen, and made dirty deals in the shadows. At every VIP table, men in expensive suits sipped champagne while glamorous women clung to their arms, oblivious to the death that lurked just outside. On the casino’s upper floor, in one of the high-stakes VIP lounges, Alexander sat in silence, clad in a sleek black suit. Tonight, he wasn’t a cop. He was an investor. A wealthy man looking to expand his business into the underworld. Or at least, that’s what everyone here believed. His eyes never left the security team patrolling the casino. He wasn’t here to gamble. He was here to gather intel… and find Cassandra.

Across the street, inside an abandoned building, Antonio and his elite team were in position. In the dimly lit room, Antonio sat at a table, his gaze locked on the casino’s blueprint. Around him, five of his deadliest men stood ready, weapons loaded. Marcus, Antonio’s right-hand man, leading the operation. Ben, the strategist and explosives expert. Dominic, The Silver Thorn’s best sharpshooter. Silvio, the hacking and sabotage specialist. Luca, the brutal enforcer with a reputation for leaving no survivors. Antonio turned to Marcus, who was adjusting his earpiece.

“Are we in position?”

Marcus nodded.

“Our snipers are in the opposite building. The second we start, they’ll take out Leonardo’s main guards.”

Dominic smirked as he checked his rifle.

“I can drop the first three before anyone notices.”

Antonio let out a faint smirk.

“Make it clean. Once they’re down, we go in and kill them all.”

Ben glanced at his watch.

“We have five minutes before they realize something’s wrong.”

Antonio pulled on his black gloves, his cold gaze locked onto the brightly lit casino in the distance.

“Then let’s turn that place into a graveyard.”

Inside the casino, Alexander’s instincts flared. He had been watching Leonardo’s men move—tight formations, efficient patrols. But something was off. Suddenly, one of the VIP floor guards collapsed. A clean bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.

BANG!

Screams erupted across the casino floor. Before anyone could react, two more guards dropped—their skulls punctured by precise sniper shots.

BANG! BANG!

“FUCK!”

A massive man, Leonardo’s head of security, immediately grabbed his radio.

“We’re under attack! Hurry—”

BANG!

His head exploded from a precise shot by Dominic. The once-glamorous atmosphere erupted into pure chaos. Guests screamed, tables flipped over, and lights flickered wildly as alarms blared throughout the casino. Alexander jumped to his feet, realizing this was his moment to act. From the casino’s shadows, Antonio’s men emerged and opened fire on Leonardo’s security.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Bullets tore through the air as casino patrons scrambled to escape. Alexander reached for the small pistol hidden beneath his suit. He knew this wasn’t just some random attack. This was Antonio. Outside the casino, Antonio and his elite team moved into position. Marcus signaled.

“Team One, enter from the back. Team Two, hit them from the roof.”

Antonio drew his pistol, his gaze locking onto Marcus.

“I’m going in through the front.”

Marcus’ eyes widened.

“Boss, that’s too risky—”

Antonio smirked.

“I want them to know I’m coming for them.”

Luca chuckled darkly.

“Same old crazy bastard.”

Without hesitation, Antonio strode straight toward the casino’s main entrance, while his men infiltrated from all sides. As he stepped inside, a guard attempted to raise his weapon—

BANG!

Antonio shot him in the head without breaking stride. Another guard charged at him with a knife. Antonio dodged swiftly, grabbed the man’s arm, and drove his own blade deep into his stomach.

BANG!

He finished him off with a shot to the head. Total carnage erupted. Amidst the chaos, Antonio finally locked eyes with Alexander. Both men were in the heat of battle. Tension crackled between them. Alexander glared, fury burning in his gaze. Antonio simply smirked, amused.

“You shouldn’t be here, Detective.”

Alexander raised his pistol.

“I’ll be wherever Cassandra is.”

Antonio’s smirk widened.

“Unfortunately for you… that means you’re standing in the middle of my war.”

And this war had only just begun.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Bullets whizzed through the air. Blood splattered across the casino floor, blackjack tables lay in ruins, shattered glass covered the ground. Leonardo’s men fell one by one to Antonio’s soldiers, but they fought back viciously. Antonio stood in the center of the room, his face streaked with blood, his eyes ablaze with fury. Beside him, Alexander fought as well. Though he hadn’t planned to be part of this mission, now he had no choice but to survive. Marcus sprinted toward Antonio, his face slick with sweat and gunpowder.

“Boss, we’ve almost cleared them out!”

Antonio nodded, but before he could respond, something unwanted happened. From outside the casino, the sound of police sirens and fast-approaching black vehicles filled the air. Leonardo’s reinforcements had arrived. Within moments, heavily armed men poured out of the armored vehicles, immediately unleashing gunfire onto the casino.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“FUCK!”

Marcus shouted, taking cover behind a pillar.

“Leonardo sent backup!”

Antonio clenched his jaw, quickly assessing the situation. They were now trapped inside the casino. Leonardo’s men had them surrounded, spraying bullets mercilessly. Alexander stepped closer to Antonio, his expression fierce.

“Save your ego for later, Antonio. If we want to make it out alive, we need to work together!” Antonio smirked despite the worsening odds.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re right, Detective.”

They stood side by side, firing at Leonardo’s men as they stormed inside. Outside the casino, Brooklyn became a battlefield. Shattered glass rained onto the streets as civilians fled in terror. A loud explosion shook the parking lot—a grenade had taken out one of Leonardo’s vehicles. Marcus spoke urgently into the radio.

“We’re surrounded! We need backup NOW!”

Antonio heard the request and immediately pulled out his phone, dialing a number. The line rang before a voice on the other end answered.

“Is it time?”

Antonio smirked.

“Wave two.”

The voice chuckled darkly.

“We’re almost in position.”

Antonio ended the call, holstered his gun, and turned to Alexander.

“Get ready for the real show.”

Minutes after Antonio’s command, the roar of engines echoed through Brooklyn’s streets. From the distance, a convoy of armored vehicles rolled into the casino district. Rafael Montenegro, Carlos Ribeiro, and Héctor Valverde had arrived with their armies.

“BURN THEM TO THE GROUND!”

Rafael roared as his men leaped from the vehicles, raining bullets onto Leonardo’s forces. Carlos raised his rifle, gunning down Leonardo’s arriving troops. Héctor led his men through the back alleys, ambushing Leonardo’s forces from an unexpected angle. Leonardo’s army was crumbling. Caught off guard by the overwhelming assault, they lost men by the second. Antonio watched the chaos unfold with satisfaction. Brooklyn had become a warzone. Leonardo’s Rage At the Nuovo Ordine headquarters, Leonardo listened to the frantic radio calls from his remaining men. A voice crackled through the static.

“Boss! They’ve got reinforcements! We’re trapped!”

Leonardo clenched his jaw, pressing his fingers against his temple to suppress his growing rage.

“Antonio… you’re driving me insane.”

He slammed his wine glass onto the table, shattering it, before turning to one of his most trusted men.

“Send in the execution team. Kill them all.”

Pain throbbed in Cassandra’s skull as she slowly drifted back into consciousness. Her eyelids felt heavy, but as her awareness returned, she realized something horrifying. Her hands were tied. The air around her was damp and stale. The rough, cracked texture of concrete walls surrounded her. Dark. Silent. Only the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore broke the eerie stillness, making her chest tighten in anxiety. It took her a few seconds to piece everything together. She had been kidnapped. Again. Fucking great. I’m a cop—how the hell do I keep getting kidnapped like a goddamn amateur?

Cassandra took a deep breath, trying to calm her panic. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness as she felt around her surroundings. The ropes on her wrists weren’t tied too tightly—maybe they thought she was too weak to fight back. Idiots. With a swift motion, she pulled her hands free and began loosening the bindings around her wrists. As she finally freed herself, her fingers brushed against the rough wall beside her.

The cold concrete chilled her fingertips—until something shifted. Click. A door beside her cracked open slightly. Huh?

Cassandra tensed. Why wasn’t it locked?

She froze for a moment, thinking. A trap?

Or were they really this careless?

It didn’t matter. This was her chance to escape. Cassandra carefully pushed the door open and peeked outside. No one was there. What the hell?

She stepped out cautiously, finding herself in a narrow hallway leading to a larger room. As she crept forward, she heard faint snoring from one of the corners. She stopped dead in her tracks. Near the exit, a man was asleep in a wooden chair. One of Leonardo’s men. Shit. Why do I always have to deal with assholes like this?

Cassandra’s eyes darted around, searching for something—anything—to use as a weapon. In the corner of the room, she spotted a heavy wooden plank. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and moved closer. Keep breathing steady. Don’t wake him up. She raised the wood high above her head…

THUD!

The plank smashed against the man’s head. He staggered before collapsing, unconscious. Cassandra exhaled sharply, her pulse still hammering.

“Sorry, but I don’t have time to negotiate.”

After making sure he was out cold, she rushed toward the exit. She pushed the door open quickly, hoping for a way out. But as soon as she stepped outside…

Her situation only got worse. A sharp gust of cold wind hit her face. The sound of crashing waves grew louder. Cassandra looked ahead, her heart stopping for a second. No buildings. No roads. Only a single, decaying structure on an isolated island, surrounded by the vast ocean.

Fuck.

She was completely trapped.