Zenith Safehouse.
The air in the safehouse was thick with tension. The stolen USB drive sat in the middle of the table, a small object that held the power to destroy Domino Gale.
Carrick leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the wooden surface. His mind raced, calculating his next move.
Jack exhaled a cloud of smoke. "So, what's the plan, boss? We've got Domino's balls in a vice. Time to squeeze?"
Carrick smirked. "Not yet."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "What? We've got blackmail on a senator,hell, probably dozens of them. We could burn Domino down tonight."
Carrick shook his head. "Burning him down isn't enough. I want to watch him suffer first."
Alex, typing furiously on his laptop, glanced up. "I did a deep dive into the files on the USB. Domino has dirt on half the city, politicians, police, even CEOs."
Carrick's eyes darkened. "Which means he'll fight tooth and nail to get it back."
Jack cracked his knuckles. "So we make him come to us."
Carrick smirked. "Exactly."
Domino Gale stood in his father's office, his fists clenched.
Zachary Gale sat behind a massive oak desk, sipping a glass of whiskey. His cold, calculating eyes regarded his son with mild amusement.
"You're telling me," Zachary said, swirling his drink, "that someone broke into Maxwell Industries, stole classified files, and walked away clean?"
Domino gritted his teeth. "Not just someone. Carrick."
Zachary's fingers tightened around his glass. "That bastard is still alive?"
Domino's voice was laced with frustration. "Not just alive. He's growing stronger. He's got mercenaries, hackers, and now... he has our blackmail files."
Zachary set his drink down with a sharp clink. "Then we take them back."
Domino hesitated. "It's not that simple. Carrick isn't playing like a rogue rat anymore. He's planning something bigger."
Zachary's lips curled into a sneer. "Then crush him before he becomes a problem."
Domino exhaled sharply. "I need more men. More firepower."
Zachary leaned forward, eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "Use the Butchers."
Domino's breath caught. The Butchers were Gale enforcers, a squad of professional killers who thrived on violence.
"If Carrick wants a war," Zachary said smoothly, "we'll give him one."
A black SUV roared down the quiet streets of Westvale, stopping outside an abandoned church.
Inside, Carrick sat at a dimly lit table, his fingers tapping against his pistol. Across from him sat Maximus Perch, leader of the KWE Mercenary Guild.
Maximus took a slow sip of coffee. "Word on the street is you just pissed off the Gale family."
Carrick smirked. "They should be scared."
Maximus chuckled. "You're playing a dangerous game, kid. The Gales don't just lose, they erase their enemies."
Carrick's eyes glinted. "Not this time."
Maximus leaned back, studying him. "I like your confidence. But confidence doesn't win wars, strategy does."
Carrick slid the USB across the table. "This... is my strategy."
Maximus picked it up, raising an eyebrow. "And what do you want me to do with it?"
Carrick smirked. "Leak it."
Maximus let out a low whistle. "You want me to burn their entire operation?"
Carrick nodded. "Not all at once. Just enough to make them desperate. I want Domino running in circles, trying to put out fires."
Maximus grinned. "You're more ruthless than I thought."
Carrick's voice was deadly cold. "I learned from the best."
Maximus slid the USB back. "I'll leak bits and pieces. Keep the city in chaos."
Carrick's smile widened. "Perfect."
*
Domino stormed into his private office, his phone ringing nonstop.
"We have a problem," his security chief growled through the line.
Domino's fingers twitched. "What now?"
Files are leaking. Some of our offshore accounts.. they're getting frozen. The police are sniffing around our businesses."
Domino slammed his fist against the desk. "Carrick."
His phone buzzed again, an unknown number.
He answered. "Who the hell is this?"
A smooth, dangerous voice filled the line.
"You're slipping, Domino."
Carrick.
Domino's grip tightened. "You little bastard. You think this is over?"
Carrick chuckled. "Oh, it's just beginning. I hope you're enjoying the financial hell I've put you in."
Domino's blood boiled. "You have no idea what you've started."
Carrick's voice remained calm, mocking. "Oh, I do. And I'll finish it. See you soon, big brother."
Click.
Domino hurled his phone across the room, breathing hard.
Then, his office door swung open.
His father stood there, arms crossed. "You look like you just lost a war."
Domino's jaw clenched. "Not yet."
Zachary smiled coldly. "Then I suggest you stop playing defense."
Domino's eyes darkened. "Agreed."
Carrick stood by the window, watching the city below. He could feel it, Domino was preparing a counterattack.
Jack lit another cigarette. "You think he'll send men after us?"
Carrick's smirk was sharp. "He'll do worse."
Elias checked his pistol. "Then let's be ready."
Lila adjusted her sniper scope. "If he sends a kill squad, they won't make it past the first block."
Carrick turned to Alex. "How much of their dirty money is frozen?"
Alex grinned. "Over twenty million."
Carrick's eyes gleamed. "Good. That's just the start."
Jack exhaled. "Damn, kid. You really want to gut them, huh?"
Carrick's smile was pure ice.
"I don't just want to gut them."
He turned to his team.
"I want to erase them."
Across the city, powerful men scrambled. Politicians panicked. Business leaders distanced themselves from the Gales.
And Domino?
He prepared for war.
Because this time..
Carrick wasn't running.
He was hunting.
