The air inside Zachary Gale's private study was thick with cigar smoke and tension. The old man sat behind his oak desk, swirling a glass of whiskey, his eyes fixed on his eldest son.
Domino stood before him, shoulders stiff, his jaw locked in frustration. He had spent the entire day putting out fires, bribing officials, and silencing whispers. Yet, the damage Carrick had inflicted was spreading like a disease.
Zachary set his glass down. "So tell me, Domino, how the hell did a dead man come back and bring us to our knees?"
Domino's fingers twitched. "I don't know. But Carrick isn't the same kid we buried. He's stronger, smarter, dangerous."
Zachary leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "Then kill him."
Domino exhaled sharply. "It's not that simple. He's surrounded by mercenaries, hackers, and some of the best shooters I've seen."
Zachary's lips curled. "Then hire better."
Domino hesitated. "I already called in the Butchers."
Zachary raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Domino swallowed. "They're gone. Someone wiped them out before they even reached Carrick's hideout."
The silence in the room turned suffocating. Zachary's fingers tightened around his glass until the crystal cracked.
"Gone?" he repeated, voice deathly calm.
Domino nodded grimly. "Slaughtered. Not a single survivor."
Zachary's gaze burned into his son. "And you're standing here telling me this instead of doing something?"
Domino's fists clenched. "I have a plan."
Zachary exhaled slowly. "I'm listening."
Domino's voice was cold. "Carrick wants to play war? Fine. I'll burn his entire world to the ground."
Carrick sat at the head of the table, his sharp eyes scanning his team.
Maximus Perch, leader of the KWE Mercenary Guild, sat across from him, arms crossed, watching the young leader with interest.
Jack flicked his cigarette. "So, what's next, boss?"
Carrick smirked. "Domino's going to come at us hard. We need to be three steps ahead."
Elias leaned forward. "You think he'll send another kill squad?"
Carrick shook his head. "Not this time. He knows we'll expect that."
Maximus chuckled. "So what does big brother do instead?"
Carrick's fingers drummed against the table. "He'll come after our assets. He knows I'm building an empire, so he'll target our businesses, allies, and safehouses."
Alex, still typing on his laptop, frowned. "Then we need to counterattack before he does."
Carrick nodded. "Exactly. Which is why I had you track all of Domino's underground operations."
Alex's eyes gleamed. "Good news. I found three major cash flow points for the Gale family. A warehouse, a money laundering front, and a hidden weapons stockpile."
Carrick's smirk widened. "Perfect."
Jack cracked his knuckles. "You want us to hit them?"
Carrick's voice was icy. "Not just hit them. Destroy them."
Lila finally spoke, her voice calm but lethal. "You want me on overwatch?"
Carrick nodded. "You'll cover Jack and Elias at the warehouse. Maximus and I will handle the weapons stockpile."
Maximus raised an eyebrow. "Going for the biggest target yourself?"
Carrick's eyes glowed with dark amusement. "I want Domino to feel it personally."
The warehouse was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of gasoline and sweat.
Jack and Elias moved silently through the shadows, their guns drawn. Lila lay perched on a rooftop across the street, her sniper rifle gleaming under the moonlight.
Elias whispered into his comms. "Six guards outside. Another dozen inside."
Jack smirked. "Easy work."
Carrick's voice came through the earpiece. "Do it fast. No survivors."
Jack grinned. "With pleasure."
Lila's silenced rifle cracked once, the first guard dropped instantly.
Before the others could react, Jack and Elias moved like ghosts. Knives flashed, throats were slit, and within minutes, the outside was clear.
Inside, the warehouse was filled with pallets of laundered cash.
Jack's eyes gleamed. "That's a lot of money."
Elias grinned. "Not for long." He tossed a Molotov cocktail onto a stack of bills.
Flames erupted.
Alarms blared.
Jack fired a shot into a fuel barrel.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the building, engulfing everything in flames.
Jack smirked. "Warehouse gone."
Carrick's voice crackled through the comms. "Move to extraction. Maximus and I just hit the stockpile."
Carrick and Maximus stood outside a heavily guarded compound.
Maximus grinned. "You sure you want to go in loud?"
Carrick smirked. "Why not? Let's send Domino a message."
Maximus nodded. "Alright. Let's make some noise."
They moved fast and brutal.
Carrick took out the first guard with a silenced pistol shot to the skull. Maximus slit another's throat in one swift motion.
Then..
The alarms screamed.
Carrick smirked. "Time to play."
The compound erupted in gunfire.
Carrick weaved through the chaos, his pistol spitting death.
Maximus fought like a beast, breaking bones and snapping necks.
Within minutes, it was over.
Carrick stood over the last guard, blood dripping from his knife.
He flicked open his lighter and tossed it onto a crate of C4 explosives.
Maximus grinned. "This is gonna be loud."
BOOM!
The entire stockpile detonated, the night sky ablaze.
Carrick's eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. "That should get Domino's attention."
Domino stood by the window, watching the distant fires.
His phone buzzed.
He answered. "Speak."
A terrified voice stammered. "The warehouse is gone. The weapons stockpile, destroyed. We're bleeding money, sir."
Domino's grip tightened. "Carrick."
Then, another call.
He picked up.
A familiar, mocking voice filled the line.
"Are you having a bad night, big brother?"
Domino's teeth clenched. "You think this means you've won?"
Carrick chuckled. "No. This is just foreplay."
Domino's breath came ragged with fury. "I will find you."
Carrick's voice was pure ice. "I'm counting on it."
Click.
Domino hurled his phone across the room, his body shaking with rage.
His father's voice came from behind.
Zachary smiled coldly. "He's coming for you, Domino."
Domino's eyes burned with pure hatred.
"Let him."
