Chapter 19 – Fire Across the World
The war had officially begun.
Luciano stood in the center of the command room, surrounded by walls of live feeds, maps, coded messages, and armed guards. Every screen displayed a different part of the world where his empire was either being attacked… or where his retaliation was about to strike.
"Status?" Luciano asked, his voice calm—eerily calm.
Valentina adjusted her headset, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Drones are in the air over Dubai. EMP charges are primed for Singapore. Berlin's cash depot—entry team is in position."
Sergio smirked, loading another magazine into his rifle. "The party's about to start."
Luciano nodded. "Execute."
---
Dubai – 02:00 AM (Local Time)
A convoy of black armored SUVs cruised toward a private vault hidden beneath a luxury hotel. Inside the vault—arms, documents, and a mountain of laundered cash belonging to The Raven's syndicate.
High above, a drone hummed silently.
A signal was sent.
Seconds later—BOOM.
The vault exploded in a ball of fire, shattering windows for blocks. Flames roared sky-high. Sirens echoed, but no one dared approach.
A voice transmitted back to Palermo. "Target one... destroyed."
---
Singapore – 05:00 AM (Local Time)
A heavily secured data center sat inside a skyscraper downtown. It was the nerve center for the syndicate's digital operations—accounts, crypto wallets, money laundering, black-market trades.
A black van pulled up three blocks away. Inside, Valentina's hacker team powered up the EMP device.
"Three… two… one..." Click.
Every server within a five-block radius went dark. Sparks flew. Screens fried. Millions—no, billions—vanished in seconds.
A voice buzzed through the comms. "Target two... fried."
---
Berlin – 11:00 PM (Local Time)
A gray, nondescript warehouse. On the surface, it was a logistics hub. In reality, it was The Raven's European cash depot—pallets stacked with untraceable bills.
Marco led the assault.
Silencers popped. Guards fell before alarms could even sound.
Marco lit the final fuse, backed out, and—BOOM. The fireball lit the night sky.
"Target three... vaporized."
---
Back in Palermo – De Luca Penthouse
Ariana watched from the lounge as the war unfolded on screens. She hugged her knees to her chest, fear and awe battling inside her. This man… the one she loved… was wielding destruction like a king commands his army.
Luciano's fingers drummed on the table, face impassive, voice like steel. "Send the message."
Valentina tapped a key.
Across the dark web, encrypted forums, and mafia communication channels, a single video began broadcasting:
Luciano, sitting in his chair, dressed in black, backlit by the city lights.
His words were simple.
"You thought you were predators. You forgot what it feels like to be hunted. This is my world now. Submit… or disappear."
---
Meanwhile – Switzerland
The Raven stood before a wall of shattered monitors. His hands clenched behind his back, a sharp tremor in his fingers.
A man rushed in. "Sir... the Dubai vault is gone. Singapore's network collapsed. Berlin..."
"I know," The Raven growled.
A shadowed figure stepped beside him—a woman dressed in black leather, eyes sharp as razors. "Do we proceed with contingency?"
The Raven's lips curled into a snarl. "Yes. Send the Black Legion."
The woman's smile was wicked. "Consider it done."
---
Midnight – Palermo
Ariana sat on the edge of the bed as Luciano changed out of his bloodstained suit. His back was to her, the scar running down his spine catching the soft light.
"Luciano..." she whispered.
He turned. "I know what you're going to say."
She stood, crossing to him. "You can't keep doing this alone."
His arms closed around her. "I'm not alone. You're here."
"But you won't let me in fully."
His thumb brushed her lips. "Because the more you know, the more dangerous it becomes for you."
Her hands slid to his chest, feeling the hammering beat of his heart. "I don't care. I chose you. I choose you every day."
For a moment, the walls fell. Luciano crushed his mouth to hers, tasting her, claiming her. Not as a man desperate—but as a man whose only weakness… was her.
When they finally pulled apart, his eyes burned with more than desire.
"I swear to you," he murmured, "I will end this war. And when it's done... you and I, we disappear. A private island. No wars. No blood."
Her breath hitched. "Promise?"
He brushed her hair back. "On my life."
---
Somewhere in Europe – Unknown Location
Six black SUVs moved under the cover of night.
Inside, men dressed in tactical gear, faces covered, eyes soulless. No mercy. No hesitation.
These weren't hitmen.
These weren't assassins.
These were The Black Legion—The Raven's personal death squad.
And their target... was Luciano De Luca.