Chapter 31: No Room for Weakness

The scent of burning wood and scorched metal lingered in the air long after the fire was put out. Smoke curled into the night sky like a message written in destruction, a declaration that this war was no longer just about business—it was personal. Ethan stood at the edge of the wreckage, his eyes dark with something unreadable. He had built his empire on ruthlessness, but Cavalli was pushing him toward something deeper, something colder.

Dominic checked his watch, shifting impatiently. "We need to move. The cops will be here soon."

Ethan didn't move. His gaze remained locked on the embers, watching as the last of his warehouse crumbled into ash. It wasn't the money or the goods that pissed him off. It was the audacity. Cavalli wasn't just retaliating—he was testing him, looking for a crack, a moment of hesitation.

He would find none.

Seraphina stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, watching him carefully. "We need to hit back," she said, voice calm but edged with something dangerous. "Hard."

Ethan turned, his expression unreadable. "We will."

They left before the flashing red and blue lights painted the streets, slipping into the darkness like ghosts. Back at the penthouse, the weight of the night settled over them like a suffocating blanket. Ethan poured himself a drink, the clink of ice against glass the only sound in the room.

Seraphina leaned against the counter. "What's the next move?"

Ethan took a slow sip, letting the burn settle before he answered. "We take what he values most."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "His money? His men?"

Ethan shook his head, setting the glass down with a quiet thud. "His security."

Cavalli's strength wasn't just in his wealth—it was in the people who thought he was untouchable. If Ethan could shatter that illusion, make them doubt, make them fear… Cavalli would lose everything before a single bullet even touched him.

The plan formed like a storm brewing on the horizon. Every step calculated, every move precise. Ethan didn't just want revenge—he wanted dominance.

And by the time the city woke up, Cavalli would realize he had underestimated the wrong man.