The drive back to the estate was quiet. Leo sat between Matteo and Rosco, his small fingers gripping the hem of his shirt. He was quiet, but his eyes moved constantly, studying everything. Unlike the other rescued women, who still looked shaken, Leo didn’t appear scared. He wasn’t even confused. If anything, he seemed… aware.Nathan, sitting in the front seat, glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “So, kid, you said you know about computers?”Leo didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”Adrian, who had been looking out the window, turned his attention to the boy. “How much do you know?”Leo met his gaze without fear. “A lot.”Nathan raised a brow, smirking. “That is not an answer.”Leo blinked, then shifted his gaze to Matteo. “Do you have a laptop?”Matteo frowned but reached into the back, pulling out a sleek black laptop. He hesitated for a moment before handing it to the boy. “Show us.”Leo flipped it open, his fingers moving quickly across the keyboard. The screen lit up, codes appearing fa
The control room was dimly lit, the glow from multiple monitors casting shadows across the walls. Matteo led Leo inside, his hands tucked into his pockets as he gestured toward the rows of high-end computers and surveillance feeds."This is where the magic happens," Matteo said. "Everything security-related, from tracking shipments to monitoring rival families, runs through here."Leo stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the setup. It was impressive multiple screens displaying real-time security footage, encrypted files, and communication logs. But Matteo noticed something strange. The kid didn't look impressed. If anything, he looked... indifferent.Nathan, who had followed them inside, chuckled. "Not impressed, huh?"Leo turned to him. "It is basic."Matteo let out a low whistle. "Damn. Kid’s got standards."Leo approached the nearest station, his fingers brushing over the keyboard. "Who handles your cybersecurity?"Nathan smirked. "We had a guy. He was good."Leo tilted his hea
The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow over the room. Selene stirred slightly, her body still pressed against Adrian’s. His grip on her was firm, as if even in sleep, he refused to let her go.She sighed, tracing a slow line across his bare chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. There was something strangely peaceful about this moment. But peace was nice. A sharp knock at the door shattered the tranquility. Adrian’s eyes snapped open instantly, his grip tightening around Selene before he exhaled, his body tensing.“Boss,” Matteo’s voice came from the other side, sound with urgency. “We have a situation.”Selene felt Adrian’s entire demeanor shift in an instant. The man who had held her so gently mere moments ago was gone, replaced by the ruthless leader she knew he had to be.Adrian ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Give me a minute.”Matteo didn’t reply, but his footsteps faded, leaving behind an unspoken urge
Selene stretched lazily on the bed, her body still warm from where Adrian had been lying beside her. She sighed, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in the pillow. It still smelled like him. But the moment of peace didn’t last. Something gnawed at her, a feeling she couldn’t shake. Adrian had been distracted this morning. And not in the usual way. She sat up, hugging her knees. Her fingers traced absentmindedly over the sheets as she replayed the scene in her mind—Adrian kissing her, his touch lingering, his eyes darker than usual. He was worried about something. And when Adrian was worried, it was never a good sign. A soft knock at the door made her snap out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, brushing her hair back. The door creaked open, and Mia peeked inside. “You’re up.” Selene rolled her eyes. “Barely.” Mia stepped in, carrying a tray of breakfast. “I figured you’d be starving after last night,” she teased, wiggling her brows. Selene scoffed, th
After selene left the control room, she went to her room feeling dejected. Who could have done that? Definitely it is not an outsider, the person must have took the advantages when Adrian, Nathan and Matteo were not around. But who is after her? Is it Adrian's enemy or she has enemy herself. She looked up from where she was sitting when she heard footsteps. Matteo stood at the doorway, his expression neutral, but Selene knew better. He had come to deliver a message, one that likely came from Adrian."You should limit the way you walk around alone," Matteo said, his voice calm but firm.Selene crossed her arms. "I’m in Adrian’s estate, Matteo. Am I not supposed to feel safe here?"Matteo didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him, lowering his voice. "Boss doesn’t want you involved in this." And also it is this same estate you are being watched. Selene let out a dry laugh. "Of course, he doesn’t. He never does."Matteo sighed, his stance un
Silence stretched between them.Selene stared at Adrian, her mind spinning from his words. She wanted to speak, to demand answers, but nothing came out.Adrian watched her carefully, his expression unreadable. Then, as if deciding she deserved the truth, he leaned back against the chair and exhaled.“There were spies inside the estate.” His voice was calm, but the weight of his words made her chest tighten.Selene’s brows furrowed. “I guessed so"“They were caught.” Adrian’s tone darkened, his jaw clenching slightly. “And when they were tortured, they confessed.”Selene’s fingers curled into fists. “Who sent them?”Adrian’s gaze didn’t waver. “Ghost.”A cold shiver ran down her spine.Who is ghost? She asked. Ghost is the perpetrator behind the issues we had with the warehouse. He was the one that fooled us and get away with it. “When I had issues with the warehouse, they saw it as an opportunity to infiltrate the estate. That is when they planted their people inside.” Adrian’s voic
Selene sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers lightly grabbing the fabric of her dress. The room was quiet, but her thoughts weren’t.Her father was in Ghost’s hands.Yet, she felt no panic, no overwhelming urge to act. She had learned long ago that he was never really a father to her only a man who happened to share her blood.And if there was one thing she understood, it was that Adrian would handle this.A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and the door creaked open. Adrian stepped inside, his presence filling the space effortlessly.“You should get some rest,” he said, his voice calm.Selene met his gaze. “I will.”She didn’t ask about plans or demand to be involved. She wasn’t reckless or foolish enough to think she could change anything.Adrian studied her for a moment before giving a small nod. He didn’t try to reassure her with empty words he didn’t need to.Have you been training all this while alone? he askedYes, but it was somehow hard and interesting. Training start n
The factory was silent. The only sound was the slow drip of blood hitting the cold floor. Adrian stood over the body, his gun still in his hand.It was done.Ghost was dead.He exhaled slowly, staring at the lifeless man at his feet. It had been too easy. No struggle, no tricks. Just one bullet, and it was over.Something didn’t feel right.Matteo’s voice came through his earpiece. “Boss, we need to move.”Adrian didn’t reply. He took one last look at the body, then turned to leave.His phone rang. Unknown number.He answered. “What?”A low chuckle came from the other end. “Tsk tsk, Adrian. That’s no way to greet me.”Adrian’s steps slowed. His grip on the phone tightened. The voice… it wasn’t familiar. But there was something about the way the man spoke calm, amused, like he was enjoying a private joke.“Who is this?” Adrian asked, his tone cold.The man laughed softly. “Oh, come on. I think you know.”And then, he said the name.“I’m Ghost.”Adrian froze. His eyes snapped back to th
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.“He saved me,” Selena whispered, her voice barely audible. “He could have let me die... after everything...”Adrian turned his head slowly, eyes shadowed with guilt and pain. “He wasn’t always a traitor.”“He’s still your cousin.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “And he was still working with the woman who tried to destroy us.”Selena didn’t argue. Because he wasn’t wrong but neither was she.“I want to see her,” she said suddenly, her tone sharp.“Who?” Adrian asked.“Isabella.”---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.“It’s done,” Your father said. “He was one of them. Adrian’s sister, she was caught in our crossfire that year.”Isabella gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “Are you serious?”“She trusted one of us. And it got her killed.”Isabella’s shock quickly twisted into excitement. “Adrian doesn’t know, does he?”“He doesn’t. But you can change that. Leave a trail. Let him find it himself. If he connects the dots, he’ll never look at Selene the same again.”A slow, dangerous smile spread across Isabella’s face. “Consider it done.”She ended the call and practically flew out the door, her mind racing. She reached Nathan’s place breathless and laughing.“I’ve got it,” she said, barging in.Nathan raised an eyebrow. “What?”“The information that will destroy them more. Since they have reconcile too quickly, I have found something to break them back. Adrian’s sister’s
Adrian stood by the window of his study, hands clasped behind his back. He hadn’t slept.Not out of fear or restlessness, but because his mind was already three steps ahead—plotting, 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. “Come in.”Matteo entered, freshly changed, though his knuckles were still stained red. “The chamber is secured. Both men are restrained. Specter’s injuries are worse, but they’ll live.”Adrian nodded once. “No one gets near them unless I authorize it.”“Understood.”Matteo hesitated. “And the court tomorrow—are you sure it’s wise to go yourself?”“I won’t trust this to anyone else,” Adrian said, his voice like steel. “Too much has been sacrificed for it. I need to see it through.”Ma
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 didn’t 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.“No…” he whispered.Rosco smirked, eyes gleaming with venomous satisfaction. “Hello, Matteo. Still wagging your tail behind him, I see.”Matteo took a step forward instinctively, but Adrian raised a hand, his arm sweeping across Matteo’s chest to stop him. The motion was subtle but firm.Matteo’s chest heaved with betrayal, his eyes fixed on Rosco. “You were with us… you trained with us.”Rosco chuckled, slow and condescending, before turning to Adrian, the amusement on his face deepening.“But him?” Rosco nodded toward Adrian. “He trusted me. Gave me everything. Took me into his inner circle. Showed me where the real power lies.”Adrian arched a brow, his expression unreadable.“Power?” he echoed, voice cool and distant. “What power?”Rosco sneered, reaching behind him.With a flourish, he reveal
Nathan stood by the window, his arms crossed as he watched another group of Adrian’s men load ammunition into vehicles. He didn’t like the feeling in his gut.“What the hell is he planning?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.Isabella sat on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone in frustration. “Victoria still isn’t answering. I’ve called her five times.”Nathan’s brows furrowed. “She’s not the type to ignore calls but since it is yours she can definitely ignore you. Isabella tossed the phone beside her and stood. “Something is going on, Nathan. This silence… this secrecy, it’s not just about protecting the pack. Adrian is hiding something.”Nathan’s gaze flickered to her, unreadable. “Then maybe it’s better we stay out of it.”Isabella looked at him, stunned. “You’re just going to sit back and do nothing?”He shrugged slightly. “It’s not my fight. Adrian made that clear a long time ago. And honestly? I’m 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 Ghosted’s operations.“The celebration will end soon,” Alvarez muttered, his fingers tracing a key location. “Their leader thinks he’s untouchable, but his arrogance will be his downfall.”The masked leader tilted his head slightly. “You want him dead, or do you have something else in mind?”Alvarez smirked. “Dead, but not yet. I want him to watch as everything he built crumbles first.”The leader nodded in understanding. “Then we’ll strike fast and without mercy. We have our entry points secured. The Ghosted will never see it coming.”Meanwhile, deep within Adrian’s pack territory, the Ghosted were moving ahead with their own plans, Their informants had pinpointed a potential weakness in the pack’s security—an 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 was—one 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