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 room was filled with tension. Specter’s smirk never wavered, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes calculation, anticipation. He wasn’t afraid, which meant he knew something Adrian didn’t.Adrian didn’t loosen his grip. His gun pressed firmly against Specter’s temple. “Where is Ghost?”Specter chuckled, his lips curling. “You think I will just tell you his whereabout?”Adrian didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled the trigger.Click.Empty chamber.Specter’s smirk faltered for just a second. Adrian had done it on purpose, to make a point.“The next one won’t be empty.” Adrian’s voice was calm, but his eyes were ice-cold.Specter let out a slow breath, regaining his composure. “You’re wasting your time, Adrian. Ghost is already ten steps ahead of you.”Adrian pressed the gun harder against his skull. “Then let’s see if he still stays ahead when his right-hand man is dead.”Specter swallowed, but he still held his smugness. “Kill me, and you lose the information you needed.”
Adrian stepped out of the specter's estate without looking back. Specter’s mocking words still lingered in his mind, but he pushed them aside. There were more important things to handle now. If what Specter said was true, this wasn’t just a personal war between him and Ghost. Since there were others lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike.He had to move carefully.As he walked through the hallway, Matteo and Rosco followed behind. The silence between them was heavy, each of them lost in thought.“We are not going to the safehouse yet,” Adrian finally spoke, his tone calm but decisive.Rosco nodded. “You want to prepare first.”Adrian glanced at him. “If this is as big as Specter claims, then I need to be ahead of everyone. I’m not walking into this blindly.”Matteo smirked. “Smart move. But you know Ghost won’t wait around, right?”Adrian’s expression remained unreadable. “Let him come. He won’t find what he is looking for.”He pushed open the door to his car, sli
Adrian sat in his study, surrounded by stacks of old documents, photos, and files he had retrieved from a hidden safe in his father’s old office. His expression was unreadable as he read through them, his mind piecing together fragments of a past that had long been buried.He had always known his parents were powerful, but what he was uncovering now proved they were far more influential than he had ever imagined. They had been feared by many, yet they had been careful, too careful. They left behind almost nothing that pointed directly to their secrets.But Adrian knew better.The secret they hid wasn’t lost, it was within him. Somewhere, buried deep in his past, was the key to unlocking it. Something that important, his parents would never have left in plain sight.Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes, forcing himself to remember. His childhood had been disciplined yet playful. His father had always portrayed himself as a businessman, always professional. His mother was gentl
The training grounds were already buzzing with activity when Adrian arrived. The sun had barely risen, but the air was filled with the sounds of fists hitting punching bags, feet shuffling in the dirt, and men grunting as they sparred.Adrian stood with his arms crossed, watching in silence. Matteo was beside him, doing the same.“You are here earlier than usual,” Matteo commented.Adrian didn’t respond. His sharp eyes followed the movements of the new recruits, studying them. Some looked promising. Others… not so much.Rosco walked up to them, smirking. “What do you think of our fresh blood Boss? Adrian’s gaze remained on the fighters. “How many of them are actually worth keeping?”Rosco shrugged. “Maybe half. The rest? Weak.”“Then get rid of the weak ones,” Adrian said simply.Damon grinned. “I was hoping you would say that.”He turned back to the men, already planning how to test them harder just then his eyes caught a woman among the recruiters. Wow! So, we finally have a fema
The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. Selene stirred, her body sinking deeper into the warmth beside her. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close, a steady heartbeat beneath her palm.Adrian.A small smile touched her lips as she shifted slightly, only for his grip to tighten. “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was thick with sleep, rough and possessive.She tilted her head up to meet his gaze, his stormy eyes still heavy with sleep but no less intense. “I wasn’t going anywhere.”“Good.” His hand slid down her back, keeping her pressed against him.Selene traced slow circles on his chest. “You’re always up before me. This is the first time I woke up before you.”Adrian smirked, fingers brushing over her bare shoulder. “Maybe you finally tired me out.”She chuckled, shaking her head. “Highly doubtful.”His grip on her waist tightened. “Want to test that theory?”Heat curled low in her stomach, but she rolled h
Chapter 106Nina moved swiftly, her pulse still racing from the phone call. She had stumbled upon valuable information, but she knew better than to get careless. The woman she reported to her employer was not someone to disappoint.Exiting the hallway, she saw other mobsters moving so she blended in with the other recruits heading to the training grounds. She needed to act normal, as if nothing had happened. The last thing she wanted was to attract suspicion, especially from Victoria. That woman had already sensed something off about her.As she reached the open courtyard where training took place, she spotted Matteo barking orders at the new recruits. His sharp eyes scanned the group, missing nothing. Nina kept her head down, joining the others as they lined up for drills."Move faster," Matteo ordered, his tone sharp. "If you can't keep up, you don't belong here."Nina adjusted her stance, blending in, but her mind was elsewhere. She had to find a way to keep tabs on Selene without
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