9 A dangerous move

Jamal Carter had always known that the higher you climb, the more dangerous the fall. But now, standing at the peak of his biggest power move yet, he realized something even more terrifying— the sharks never stop circling.

Vincent Morello wasn't just another competitor. He was a predator. And Jamal had just drawn blood.

The First Strike

Jamal didn't wait for Morello to come for him. Instead, he hit first. With Deion and his team digging into Morello's holdings, they uncovered his biggest financial weak spot—Skyline Towers.

The billion-dollar luxury project was Morello's pride and joy, set to be his crowning achievement in the city's skyline.

Jamal moved quickly. He reached out to Morello's investors, making quiet offers behind the scenes. He paid off contractors to delay construction. He bribed city inspectors to find violations.

Within two weeks, Morello's dream project was on shaky ground. And then Jamal made his power move. Using a network of silent partners, he acquired 35% of Skyline Towers, effectively making himself a major stakeholder.

Morello couldn't ignore him now. Jamal had just walked onto his battlefield.

The Retaliation

Morello didn't react with anger. He reacted with strategy. The first blow was financial. One morning, Jamal's assistant rushed into his office, panic written all over her face.

"Jamal, we have a problem!" she blurted, holding out a stack of documents.

He scanned the pages—fraud allegations, tax investigations, banking restrictions. His accounts were frozen. His businesses were under sudden scrutiny from government agencies.

And just like that, his liquidity vanished overnight. "Morello," Jamal muttered. "This is his move."

But the financial attack was just the beginning. That night, as Jamal left his office, a black SUV rolled up. He barely had time to react before gunfire erupted.

Bullets shattered car windows and sparked against the pavement. Jamal dove behind a parked car, adrenaline pumping as his security team returned fire.

The SUV screeched away into the night. Jamal wasn't hit. But the message was clear. Morello wasn't playing games.

The Counterattack

Jamal regrouped with Deion and his top advisors in a secure location. Deion exhaled a cloud of cigar smoke.

"We need to hit back. Hard."

Jamal slammed his fist on the table. "No. We need to break him."

Deion smirked. "Now we're talking."

They got to work. Morello had built his empire on alliances, money, and fear. Jamal had to tear those pillars down.

He started with his people. Morello's lawyers, accountants, and enforcers—everyone who made his empire function.

Jamal used blackmail, bribery, and pressure to flip them one by one. His bankers? Exposed for money laundering. His lawyers? Paid off to stall his legal defenses.

His security team? Offered double the money to switch sides.

It didn't take long before Morello's power base started cracking. And then Jamal went for the kill shot.

The Unthinkable Betrayal

Morello's right-hand man was a seasoned enforcer named Carlos Rivera. Carlos was loyal, but loyalty had a price.

Jamal arranged a secret meeting with Carlos in a high-end cigar lounge. Carlos eyed him suspiciously.

"You got a lot of nerve calling me here, Carter."

Jamal leaned forward, voice calm. "You know Morello's losing, right?"

Carlos chuckled. "That so?"

Jamal slid a black briefcase across the table. Carlos flipped it open—one million dollars in cash.

Jamal smirked. "That's just a signing bonus."

Carlos hesitated. Then he reached for a cigar, lit it, and exhaled a slow cloud of smoke.

"Tell me more."

And just like that, Morello lost his most trusted soldier.

The Collapse of an Empire

With Carlos flipping sides, Morello's entire security operation collapsed. Jamal moved in fast.

He cut Morello off from his money, his protection, and his allies.

Morello's empire wasn't just falling apart—it was burning to the ground.

Morello was desperate. And desperate men were dangerous.

The Final Showdown

Jamal set up a final meeting. A warehouse on the outskirts of the city. No witnesses. Just two men settling a war.

Morello arrived alone, but his rage filled the room.

He lit a cigarette with shaking hands, staring Jamal down. "You think this is over?" he growled.

Jamal didn't flinch. "It is. You lost."

Morello exhaled smoke, then chuckled. "You're a bold kid, I'll give you that." He flicked his cigarette to the ground. "But you just made yourself the next target."

Jamal smirked. "Let them come. I'll be ready."

Morello held his gaze for a long moment. Then, without another word, he walked away. The old king had fallen. And a new king had risen.