Chapter 13

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Title: The Shadow Protector

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Night in the City

The city was unusually quiet. Leo sat on his balcony, sipping whiskey as he watched the distant lights flicker in the streets below. His thoughts were clouded by the ambush, the betrayal, and the recent attacks on his empire.

Marco had informed him of more threats, whispers of plans to take him down. It was clear that his enemies were uniting against him.

But tonight, he couldn't shake a strange feeling. Something was different.

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The Deadly Night

Somewhere in the outskirts of the city, chaos erupted. The Blackfang gang—Leo's most persistent adversaries—were celebrating their recent successes, confident that they were untouchable.

Suddenly, the celebration turned into a massacre. One by one, gang members were taken out with surgical precision.

A shadow moved through the warehouse, swift and silent. The gang members didn't even have time to react. The air was thick with fear, the silence broken only by the sound of gunfire and the occasional cry for mercy.

When the dust settled, the entire gang lay lifeless, the floor stained with blood.

A single calling card was left behind—a simple black feather.

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The Morning After

The next day, the news spread like wildfire. The Blackfang gang—one of the most feared in the city—had been completely wiped out.

Leo read the headlines with disbelief. "Entire Blackfang Gang Found Dead in Warehouse Massacre."

Marco stormed into Leo's office, his face pale. "Boss, someone took them out. The whole gang. No survivors."

Leo leaned back in his chair, a frown on his face. "Who did this?"

"That's the thing," Marco replied. "Nobody knows. The police have no leads, and there's no sign of who's responsible. But they were precise, like they knew every move the gang would make."

Leo's mind raced. He had no idea who could have orchestrated such an attack, but whoever it was, they had done him a favor.

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A Strange Feeling

Over the next few days, Leo began to notice a pattern. The threats against him seemed to diminish. Those who had openly opposed him started to back down, their confidence suddenly gone.

It was as if someone was working behind the scenes, protecting him.

One night, as Leo walked through his mansion, he heard Nero squawk loudly. The parrot seemed agitated, hopping on its perch.

"What is it, Nero?" Leo muttered, looking around.

He saw nothing out of place, but the feeling of being watched was stronger than ever.

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The Mystery Deepens

Leo confided in Marco about his suspicions.

"Do you think someone's protecting me?" he asked.

Marco hesitated. "It's possible. Whoever took out the Blackfang gang clearly had a reason. And now it seems like they're watching over you."

"But why?" Leo demanded. "Who would go to such lengths for me?"

Marco shrugged. "Could be an ally you don't know about. Or someone with their own motives."

Leo didn't like the uncertainty. He was used to being in control, knowing every detail of his operations. The idea of someone pulling strings behind his back unsettled him.

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A Glimpse of the Shadow

That night, as Leo prepared to sleep, he noticed something unusual on his nightstand—a small black feather.

His heart raced as he picked it up, studying it carefully. It was identical to the one left at the Blackfang massacre.

"Who are you?" he whispered into the empty room.

The shadows seemed to shift, and for a brief moment, he thought he saw a figure outside his window. But when he rushed to look, there was nothing there.

Leo clenched the feather tightly in his hand, a mix of curiosity

and unease washing over him.

Someone was watching over him, protecting him.

But who?

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