"Step forward," Matteo ordered, his voice sharp.Nina hesitated for only a second before obeying. She couldnât afford to look weak.The other recruits stepped back, giving them space. Nina knew she had to be careful. If she held back, Matteo would notice. If she fought too well, she might attract the wrong kind of attention.Matteo moved first, his attack fast and precise. Nina barely dodged in time, stepping aside to avoid his fist. He didnât give her a moment to recover, coming at her again with a kick. She blocked it, but the impact sent her stumbling.Matteo narrowed his eyes. "Youâre too slow."Gritting her teeth, Nina steadied herself and struck back, aiming for his ribs. Matteo dodged effortlessly, countering with a swift jab that grazed her shoulder. She felt the sting but refused to show it.He was testing her limits. Seeing what she was capable of.She had no choice but to play along.After a few more exchanges, Matteo stepped back. "Thatâs enough." His tone was unreadable.
The compound was quiet as Nina stepped outside, the night air cool against her skin. A faint glow from the training grounds cast long shadows across the courtyard, and her stomach twisted with unease.Matteo stood in the center, his hands behind his back, his face unreadable. Rosco was nearby, arms crossed, observing everyone with his usual detached expression.The recruits gathered, murmuring amongst themselves, confused by the sudden nighttime summons. Nina kept her face neutral, though her pulse was racing.She saw selene and Victoria also. Something wasnât right.Matteoâs gaze swept over them before landing on her.âYou all think you are ready ,â he said, his voice calm but firm. âThat youâve trained enough to survive in this world.âHis lips curled slightly. âLetâs find out.âWithout warning, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device, pressing a button.A loud explosion rocked the compound.Ninaâs breath caught as a section of the courtyard erupted into flames, s
Ninaâs fingers curled around the handle of the knife, her grip tightening as she stared at the man slumped in the chair. His breathing was ragged, blood dripping from a cut on his temple. He was barely conscious, unaware of the danger he was in.Matteo and Rosco stood nearby, watching her every move.This was it.A test of loyalty.Her heart pounded against her ribs. If she refused, they would know she wasnât truly on Adrianâs side. If she hesitated too long, they would suspect her. And if she actually went through with itâĶHer stomach twisted.She could feel Matteoâs gaze boring into her. âWhat is taking so long?â he asked, amusement lacing his voice.Rosco, silent as always, took a step closer. âKill him.âThe knife felt heavy in her hand. The man in the chair groaned, his head lolling forward. He didnât even know she was the one holding his life in her hands.She swallowed hard.Think, Nina. Think.She needed to act fast.Her mind raced, searching for a way out, an excuse, anything
The moment Nina stepped out of Adrianâs office, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She didnât need to check to know who it was.Her hidden boss.Her fingers tightened around the device before she slipped into an empty hallway, away from prying ears. She took a breath and answered.âYouâre late,â the voice on the other end was cold, sharp. âWhy havenât you reported in?âNinaâs pulse remained steady. âThere was nothing to report until now.âSilence.Then, âStart talking.âShe kept her tone neutral as she relayed everything that had happened so far, Matteo and Roscoâs test, the man in the chair, the blood, the way Adrian had summoned her afterward. But she left out one crucial detail.She didnât tell her that she had been ordered to kill.She didnât know why she hid it. Maybe because she once saw the man with him. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was self-preservation. But something told her that part needed to stay buried, for now.Her hidden boss was quiet for a long moment. Then, a low
Nina barely slept that night.She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with possibilities. No matter how much she tried to push it away, one fact remained GT knew about her secret. She had two choices.Follow orders and bring GT in.Or find a way to make sure if he is caught he never spoke.Neither option was good. The first meant putting GT directly under Adrianâs scrutiny, where heâd have no way out. The second meant betraying Adrian before she fully understood his endgame. And Adrian saw everything.She sat up, rubbing a hand over her face. She needed a plan, but nothing concrete came to mind. Her hidden boss wouldnât be pleased to know she was tangled to something like this. Did they expect her to eliminate GT? Frame someone else? Or was she supposed to use this to her advantage?The thought made her stomach churn.She stood and moved toward the small bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Her reflection stared back at her, eyes hollow from exhaustion, lip
The estate was in chaos.Guards ran in every direction, speaker buzzing with urgent updates as they searched for GT. The sound of boots pounding against marble floors echoed through the hallways.Nina walked out of Adrianâs office with controlled steps, her mind racing despite her calm exterior.Adrian had bought her story.For now.But it wasnât over not even close.If GT was caught, it would only be a matter of time before Adrian uncovered the truth. And if that happened, she was as good as dead.Her fingers curled into a fist at her side.She had to think.Fast.As she turned the corner, Jason and Damien were already barking orders to the guards. Jasonâs sharp eyes flicked to her the moment she appeared."Youâre staying out of this, remember?" he said coldly.Nina forced a smirk. "Didnât realize you were the one giving orders now."Jason didnât smile. Neither did Damien."If we donât find GT soon," Damien muttered, "Boss Adrian is going to make an example out of someone."They did
The alarms had finally gone silent.The estate was still tense, but the frantic search for GT had died down. Guards returned to their posts, whispers filling the halls about how the bastard had somehow slipped through their fingers.At least, thatâs what everyone believed.Nina sat stiffly in Adrianâs office, her hands resting on her lap, fingers curled inwards to keep from trembling. Across from her, Jason and Damien sat just as rigid, though their expressions were unreadable.Adrian had called them in without explanation. That alone was unsettling.The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.Adrian leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lazily against the desk. His sharp gaze flickered over them, lingering on Nina for a beat longer than necessary before he finally spoke.âI gave you one job.âHis voice was quiet. Too quiet.Jason tensed. Damien exhaled slowly. Nina forced herself to hold Adrianâs gaze, though her stomach twisted violently.âAnd yet,â Adrian continued, his
The silence that followed was unbearable.The room felt colder now.The room felt like it was closing in on her. Ninaâs pulse roared in her ears, drowning out everything else.Nina couldnât move. She couldnât breathe.Nina forced herself to breathe, though each inhale felt like swallowing glass.Her body was locked in place, her knees weak, her stomach twisted in violent knots. The chair in front of her, the chair GT was tied to was no longer just a chair. It was an altar of agony, and he was the sacrifice.Jason and Damien stood frozen behind her, but she didnât dare turn to look at them.This wasnât about them.This was about her.He had known for a while.He had been waiting for her to slip.To reveal herself.To prove her betrayal.And she just had.Nina clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she fought to keep her expression neutral.Adrian hadnât said a word since she pulled off the cloth but studied her in silence, as if savoring the moment.Then. âMatteo.âT
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and fear.Selena sat in the hallway, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, Adrian beside her, silent. The last hour had felt like a lifetime. Paramedics had managed to stabilize Nathan, but the bullet had done damage, too close to his lungs. Now, he was in surgery, fighting for his life.âHe saved me,â Selena whispered, her voice barely audible. âHe could have let me die... after everything...âAdrian turned his head slowly, eyes shadowed with guilt and pain. âHe wasnât always a traitor.ââHeâs still your cousin.âAdrianâs jaw clenched. âAnd he was still working with the woman who tried to destroy us.âSelena didnât argue. Because he wasnât wrong but neither was she.âI want to see her,â she said suddenly, her tone sharp.âWho?â Adrian asked.âIsabella.â---The police had taken Isabella into custody, but Adrian still had strings to pull. Within the hour, Selena stood behind a pane of glass, watching the woman who had nearly taken everything from
Isabella's phone buzzed sharply that evening. She answered without checking. The voice on the other end made her sit up straighter.âItâs done,â Your father said. âHe was one of them. Adrianâs sister, she was caught in our crossfire that year.âIsabella gasped, hand flying to her mouth. âAre you serious?ââShe trusted one of us. And it got her killed.âIsabellaâs shock quickly twisted into excitement. âAdrian doesnât know, does he?ââHe doesnât. But you can change that. Leave a trail. Let him find it himself. If he connects the dots, heâll never look at Selene the same again.âA slow, dangerous smile spread across Isabellaâs face. âConsider it done.âShe ended the call and practically flew out the door, her mind racing. She reached Nathanâs place breathless and laughing.âIâve got it,â she said, barging in.Nathan raised an eyebrow. âWhat?ââThe information that will destroy them more. Since they have reconcile too quickly, I have found something to break them back. Adrianâs sisterâs
Adrian stood by the window of his study, hands clasped behind his back. He hadnât slept.Not out of fear or restlessness, but because his mind was already three steps aheadâplotting, calculating, ensuring no detail escaped him. The blueprint sat in a locked briefcase on his desk, untouched since he'd retrieved it from the safe.Every line on that paper held power. Power people had killed for. Power that could dismantle empires or birth new ones.A soft knock disrupted his thoughts.He turned, voice low. âCome in.âMatteo entered, freshly changed, though his knuckles were still stained red. âThe chamber is secured. Both men are restrained. Specterâs injuries are worse, but theyâll live.âAdrian nodded once. âNo one gets near them unless I authorize it.ââUnderstood.âMatteo hesitated. âAnd the court tomorrowâare you sure itâs wise to go yourself?ââI wonât trust this to anyone else,â Adrian said, his voice like steel. âToo much has been sacrificed for it. I need to see it through.âMa
Silence.Not the peaceful kind that comes after a storm, but the haunting type, the one that settles over a place that has seen too much blood, too much loss. The kind of silence that screams.Adrian stood in the middle of the aftermath.His estate, his home was now a battlefield littered with corpses. Blood pooled around bodies, soaking into the soil, painting a gruesome picture of what had transpired only moments ago. He didnât flinch. His eyes were steady, scanning the carnage with a sharpness that betrayed no emotion. He had seen worse. But he had never tolerated betrayal.His boots crunched over gravel and glass as he moved, his gaze settling on one of the only bodies that still drew breath. The figure was barely conscious, chest rising and falling in shallow, labored intervals. A black veil obscured the face.Adrian narrowed his eyes.There was something about this one.He crouched slowly, his movements controlled, almost calculated. He reached forward, fingers tightening aroun
Matteo blinked hard, blood draining from his face the moment Rosco stepped out from behind Alvarez. His breath hitched, and for the first time in a long while, the hardened warrior faltered.âNoâĶâ he whispered.Rosco smirked, eyes gleaming with venomous satisfaction. âHello, Matteo. Still wagging your tail behind him, I see.âMatteo took a step forward instinctively, but Adrian raised a hand, his arm sweeping across Matteoâs chest to stop him. The motion was subtle but firm.Matteoâs chest heaved with betrayal, his eyes fixed on Rosco. âYou were with usâĶ you trained with us.âRosco chuckled, slow and condescending, before turning to Adrian, the amusement on his face deepening.âBut him?â Rosco nodded toward Adrian. âHe trusted me. Gave me everything. Took me into his inner circle. Showed me where the real power lies.âAdrian arched a brow, his expression unreadable.âPower?â he echoed, voice cool and distant. âWhat power?âRosco sneered, reaching behind him.With a flourish, he reveal
Nathan stood by the window, his arms crossed as he watched another group of Adrianâs men load ammunition into vehicles. He didnât like the feeling in his gut.âWhat the hell is he planning?â he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.Isabella sat on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone in frustration. âVictoria still isnât answering. Iâve called her five times.âNathanâs brows furrowed. âSheâs not the type to ignore calls but since it is yours she can definitely ignore you. Isabella tossed the phone beside her and stood. âSomething is going on, Nathan. This silenceâĶ this secrecy, itâs not just about protecting the pack. Adrian is hiding something.âNathanâs gaze flickered to her, unreadable. âThen maybe itâs better we stay out of it.âIsabella looked at him, stunned. âYouâre just going to sit back and do nothing?âHe shrugged slightly. âItâs not my fight. Adrian made that clear a long time ago. And honestly? Iâm not about to throw myself into a war that has nothin
A large map was spread out before them, covered in markings and notes detailing every inch of the Ghostedâs operations.âThe celebration will end soon,â Alvarez muttered, his fingers tracing a key location. âTheir leader thinks heâs untouchable, but his arrogance will be his downfall.âThe masked leader tilted his head slightly. âYou want him dead, or do you have something else in mind?âAlvarez smirked. âDead, but not yet. I want him to watch as everything he built crumbles first.âThe leader nodded in understanding. âThen weâll strike fast and without mercy. We have our entry points secured. The Ghosted will never see it coming.âMeanwhile, deep within Adrianâs pack territory, the Ghosted were moving ahead with their own plans, Their informants had pinpointed a potential weakness in the packâs securityâan underground passage leading to a hidden vault where the blueprint was rumored to be stored.Three elite members of the Ghosted, clad in dark tactical gear, crouched near the pass
The Cartel had been shattered, And yet, amid the wreckage, Alvarez still drew breath.His body ached, every nerve screaming in agony as he forced himself to move. He pressed a hand to his bleeding side, the warm, sticky sensation of his own blood soaking through his fingers. The pain was nothing compared to the fury burning in his chest. He had been played. The Ghosted, his supposed allies, had turned against him at the last moment, throwing the battlefield into complete chaos. But why? Who had ordered this betrayal?His fingers curled into fists as he staggered forward, his boots crunching against shattered glass and spent shell casings. He needed to find answers. He needed to find the one who had orchestrated this disaster.A low groan echoed from the rubble. Alvarez turned sharply, gun raised, but his aim wavered when he saw who it wasâone of the masked assassins, barely alive, clutching a deep wound in his stomach. Blood seeped through his gloves as he struggled to breathe, his ma
The air vibrated with gunfire, screams, and the rhythmic thunder of boots pounding against the cracked asphalt. The war had begun.Mikhail, the ruthless leader of the Monadikos, stood atop the ruins of an old industrial complex, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos unfolding below. His fingers clenched into a fist as he watched his men swarm the abandoned shipyard where the Cartel had foolishly stationed their latest shipment of illicit arms. The plan was simple, wipe them out, seize the weapons, and cripple their operations."Push forward! No mercy!" he bellowed, his voice slicing through the night.His men responded with a battle cry, surging ahead like a tidal wave of vengeance. Gunfire erupted from every angle. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted off rusted shipping containers, and the metallic scent of gunpowder thickened in the air. The Cartel, caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack, scrambled to mount a defense.****Alvarez, the cold and calculating leader of the Car