Chapter 33: Shadows Closing In

The city never truly slept, but tonight, it held its breath. Somewhere in the chaos of clubs, casinos, and hidden dealings, Cavalli sat in his high-rise office, staring at the void left behind by Ethan's strikes. His wealth, his men, his security—they were slipping through his fingers like sand, and the worst part was that he couldn't even see the enemy coming.

Paolo had returned to him, shaken but alive. That alone was the loudest warning. Ethan didn't kill him, not because he couldn't—because he wanted him to deliver a message. Cavalli wasn't afraid to fight, but this wasn't a war of bullets. It was a war of the mind. And Ethan was winning.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, Ethan sat in his private lounge, the air thick with the scent of whiskey and cigar smoke. He wasn't celebrating—there was still more to be done. Around him, Dominic, Seraphina, and a few of his most trusted men waited for his next move.

Dominic exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "He's panicking. His men don't know what to expect anymore."

Ethan swirled his drink, watching the golden liquid catch the light. "That's exactly what I want."

Seraphina arched an eyebrow. "You've already taken his business, his trust in his own people. What's left?"

Ethan's lips curled into a smirk. "His legacy."

Cavalli had built his empire on reputation, on fear, on the belief that he was untouchable. That illusion had already cracked. Now, Ethan would shatter it completely.

The plan was already in motion. Ethan's men had infiltrated Cavalli's operations from the inside—brokers, suppliers, accountants, even bodyguards. The moment they flipped, Cavalli would be left standing in an empire of dust.

And then, the final blow.

At exactly 10:45 p.m., one of Cavalli's oldest allies—Lorenzo Moretti—walked into Ethan's lounge. A man who had once sworn loyalty to Cavalli, now looking for a better deal.

Ethan barely looked up as Moretti took a seat. "You know what this means," Ethan said smoothly, pouring himself another drink.

Moretti's fingers drummed against the table. "I know that Cavalli's losing. I know that his men are tired of waiting for a man with no plan." He exhaled sharply. "I want in."

Ethan didn't smile, but something in his gaze shifted. "Good choice."

At that moment, Cavalli's fate was sealed. His empire wasn't just falling apart. It was being taken from within. By the time he realized it, it would already be too late.