James
The engine purred to life. The city blurred around us as we made our way through the streets. My place was just ahead. Quiet. Almost too quiet for New York. But that was what I wanted. I didn't care that it was far from the glittering skyscrapers or the distractions of Manhattan. This place was mine, built on trust and blood. The few who lived in the shadows knew the rules: stay out of my business, and we'd get along fine. The car stopped, and Luca was out first, opening the door for me with a practiced hand. We all walked in silence to the front door, the weight of the girl still heavy in my arms, the click of the lock in the door echoing in the stillness. Inside, the penthouse felt even colder. The high ceilings stretched above us, casting long shadows across the walls, their elegance betrayed by the ever-present hum of tension that always hung in the air. It wasn't a home; it was a stronghold.
"Get her settled," I told Fleory. "Keep your eyes on her. I don't want any surprises."
She nodded and stepped forward, taking her from my arms with a professional ease, putting her weight on her shoulders.
The only warmth came from the fireplace, where a handful of my trusted men were gathered, speaking in low tones. They straightened as I walked in, and I gave them nothing more than a nod.
"Everything's secure?" I asked, not looking at anyone in particular.
"Yes, Boss," one of them said, a young guy who always had that nervous edge to his voice. "Everything's in place. All shipments are on track."
"Now tell me how the fuck did neither of you not see that invasion?"
"We thought we had enough—"
"Enough?" I cut him off, my voice sharp as a blade. "You thought you had enough? How many times have I told you that complacency kills? This isn't just some street hustle. This is the life I've built, and I won't have it crumbling because you got too comfortable with your cushy little routines."
The fire crackled behind me, a low, steady sound that only seemed to amplify the tension in the room. They were all waiting for me to let it go, to tell them it was just a mistake, but I wouldn't.
"Did you have eyes on the perimeter?" I asked, my voice lowering into a dangerous tone.
"Yeah, we had eyes, Boss, but the angle they came from... they masked their movements well. It was an ambush, plain and simple. No one was expecting it from that side."
"An ambush, huh?" I turned to face them fully, the weight of every word hanging like a countdown. "Tell me something, I don't run a fucking army of amateurs, and I sure as hell don't rely on men who can't even spot a goddamn ambush."
One of the men, a seasoned operator who had been with me since the early days, stepped forward. "Boss, there was no indication of a breach. Our intel was solid, and everything we had said about the area was clear."
He wasn't wrong, not entirely. But there had been a failure in the chain somewhere, and it wasn't just going to disappear because we had successful operations under our belt.
"We missed something," I said, slowly letting the words settle. "This wasn't a random raid. It was precise. Siege who orchestrated it knew exactly where to hit."
The man who spoke first, Marco, stood still but his expression was tight with the pressure of the question. "We'll track it down, Boss. We'll trace it back."
I nodded, but it wasn't enough. "I don't need to know who did it, that was clear already. You'll find me the how. I don't care how long it takes, but I expect results, not excuses."
There was no more need for words after that. The men knew what was at stake, and more importantly, they knew the standard I expected.
"Get to work," I said.
They dispersed without another word, their movements purposeful, already set in motion. I turned, my gaze locking onto Luca, who had been watching from the edge of the room, just out of earshot. His eyes narrowed when I moved toward him, sensing the shift in the air.
"And I need you to find out who, before they vanish." I said, my voice low, not needing to voice out that this was not Siege alone.
"You think it's one of ours?" he asked, his tone still calm, but there was the faintest edge beneath it. He was testing the waters, but I didn't have time for subtlety.
"It is one of ours. Someone got careless. And I don't give a damn if they're loyal or not, they'll turn if they feel the heat. I want them found. Now."
Luca's jaw tightened. He'd never been one to rush without information, but he also understood the way I operated—when I gave an order, it was final.
"Before they run," I added, my words deliberate, weighing heavy. "I don't care where they go, Luca. Find them."
He nodded, moving toward the door without a second thought. I pinched the bridge of my nose, falling back on the couch, feeling the exhaustion from the flight and the weight of everything catch up with me. The air in the room felt heavier now, thicker with the tension of what I had to handle, and for a brief moment, I let the fatigue wash over me. The kind of tiredness that settles deep into your bones, the kind that doesn't go away just because you've reached home. But there was no time to rest. I inhaled, forcing myself to focus. There would be no peace until everything was set in motion, and I couldn't afford to let anything slip. But just when I thought I could get only a moment of silence…
"James."
Fleory's voice cut through the thick silence. And then came the unmistakable sound of a crash; something heavy shattering on the floor. A vase, probably. Perfect timing.