Chapter 26: The Ghost and the King

The air at the private airstrip was thick with tension. The city's underworld had seen power shifts before—but nothing like this. Two titans stood face to face.

One, a young ruler who had taken the throne by force.

The other, a legend who had never truly left.

And now, the city was watching. Waiting.

To see who would break first.

—

Ethan smirked, hands in his pockets as he met Lorenzo Cavalli's cold gaze. "I heard you were coming. Thought I'd give you a proper welcome."

Cavalli studied him, unreadable. "You're bold."

Ethan chuckled. "I've been called worse."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken threats. Cavalli's men stood ready, fingers twitching near their weapons. But Ethan's men? They didn't move.

Because they knew.

This wasn't a fight of bullets.

This was a battle of who would flinch first.

Cavalli finally spoke. "You took Pierce's empire."

Ethan shrugged. "Someone had to."

Cavalli chuckled, shaking his head. "Do you even know what you've stepped into?"

Ethan's smirk never wavered. "I know enough."

Cavalli exhaled, then turned to one of his men. "Bring the car."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

Cavalli's eyes darkened. "For now."

The older man stepped forward, lowering his voice so only Ethan could hear.

"But don't mistake silence for surrender."

Ethan met his gaze, unshaken. "And don't mistake youth for weakness."

A slow smirk tugged at Cavalli's lips. Then, without another word, he stepped into his black car, leaving behind an unspoken declaration.

This wasn't over.

It was just beginning.

—

Back at his penthouse, Ethan poured himself a drink. Dominic sat across from him, jaw tight.

"That was a mistake," Dominic muttered. "You should've handled him there."

Ethan swirled his glass. "No. If I'd moved first, it would've shown weakness."

Dominic shook his head. "Cavalli doesn't just let things go, Ethan. He's waiting."

Ethan smirked. "So am I."

Silence.

Then, a knock at the door.

Ethan glanced at Dominic before standing, opening it—

And freezing.

Seraphina stood there, wrapped in a crimson dress that should have been illegal.

Her lips curved. "Did you miss me?"

Ethan exhaled, stepping aside. "You have a habit of showing up uninvited."

She entered, her perfume wrapping around him like a slow poison. "And yet, you always let me in."

He poured another drink, watching her carefully. "What do you want, Seraphina?"

She sipped her whiskey, eyes dark with something unreadable.

"To see how long it takes before Cavalli destroys you."

Ethan chuckled. "That won't happen."

Seraphina tilted her head. "You sound sure."

Ethan leaned in, voice low. "I don't lose."

Seraphina smirked, pressing a finger to his chest. "We'll see."

Somewhere in the city, Lorenzo Cavalli sat in a darkened room, staring at a chessboard.

His right-hand man stood nearby. "Do we move now?"

Cavalli picked up a knight, rolling it between his fingers. "Not yet."

He placed it back down.

"Let him think he's winning first."