A_bad_guy

Neil Angelo, born from a legacy of blood and betrayal, stands as the heir to a long-lost dynasty in the American underworld. Growing up in the shadows of Asia’s most dangerous streets—from the smuggling routes of Mumbai to the high-tech cyber labs of Beijing—Neil makes his way back to America with a singular mission: to reclaim his father’s broken empire.

But the landscape has shifted. The mafia is no longer governed by old-world traditions; it’s now a battleground of technology, strategy, and fear. From the dazzling casinos of Las Vegas to the covert arms deals in Russia, Neil finds himself in a game of wits against seasoned crime lords, government operatives, and even the women who might want his heart—or his life.

As conflict simmers in the dark and foes disguise themselves as allies, Neil Angelo faces a critical choice: rise to power as a king... or fall like a mere pawn.

In this ruthless world of crime, loyalty is the ultimate currency, love is a perilous game, and power comes at a steep price—paid in blood.

''Legacy of Shadows: The Rise of Neil Angelo''

Neil and his crew took down the hybrid ABYSS at a long-forgotten Arctic blacksite. But in a shocking twist, ABYSS revealed she used to be Ana, a girl Neil had rescued years ago—now transformed by Horizon. After dealing with the emotional aftermath and a close call with global satellite control, the team regroups in Istanbul. The next hybrid, known as FLINT, is rumored to be stirring up civil unrest in East Africa. But first, Neil needs to secure resources and allies at a perilous auction run by international warlords.

📖 VOLUME 2, CHAPTER 6: Empire of Smoke

The moonlight danced on the Bosphorus Strait as Neil stepped out of the sleek black Rolls-Royce, dressed in a carbon-weave tuxedo tailored in Milan.

The once-decaying Ottoman palace had morphed into a high-security underworld auction—drones buzzed overhead, mercenaries stood guard along the walls, and tech billionaires mingled with warlords.

Tatiana, looking stunning in a shimmering black gown, adjusted her earpiece. "Are you really sure about this? Ravan Yurek's auctions aren't exactly about antiques."

Neil grinned. "Perfect. I'm not here for vases. I'm here to buy a war."

Crystal chandeliers and rich crimson carpets concealed the underlying tension. Items were unveiled one after another—EMP satellites, prototype exosuits, AI swarms.

Neil sat at the front, flanked by two hired bodyguards and connected to Raj's remote feed through a neural lens. Raj whispered in his ear, "Lot 17. That's the one. The Atlas Drive."

The Atlas Drive—a secure node that held FLINT's neural blueprint and control firmware.

As the bidding kicked off, an unexpected contender emerged: sleek black hair and striking crimson eyes peering through silver glasses.

Tatiana felt a jolt of tension. "That's Aya Chen. The Chinese neuralist."

Neil's breath hitched. "She's still alive?"

Aya turned, a smirk playing on her lips. "Neil. I always enjoyed seeing you in the lap of luxury."

He kept his cool. "And I've always appreciated you not trying to end the world."

She raised her paddle, and the bidding heated up.

Neil raised the stakes: "500 million in Deimos crypto."

Aya shot back with a smirk: "Plus a Saturn Core from the Shanghai breach."

The crowd buzzed. That was cutting-edge Horizon tech.

Neil blinked, caught off guard—Raj activated a silent hacking module. "Neil, we'll take control of the drive through the auction server. Just keep her busy."

Neil and Aya exchanged barbs over the items.

"Still hiding behind women with guns?" she teased.

Neil took a sip of champagne. "Still chasing after the shadows of your mentors?"

They were like fire and ice. Tatiana, observing from above, felt her jaw clench. She despised how effortlessly they engaged.

As the final bid wrapped up, Raj whispered, "We've cloned the firmware. Time to pull out."

Neil stood, pretending to concede. "All yours, Aya."

But just as he was about to leave, Aya grabbed his wrist. "You never said goodbye."

He met her gaze, serious. "You never stopped running."

Outside, Neil took a call in a bulletproof Bentley. Raj's voice crackled through.

"We've decrypted FLINT's location. South Kivu, Congo. He's stoking civil war, using AI-enhanced warlords."

Tatiana slid into the seat next to him. "I don't trust her."

Neil flashed a smile. "Same here."

Neil gazed out at the Istanbul skyline. "But I owe her the truth. Just like I owe the world some peace."

The car raced through a haze of smoke and affluence, beneath drones and fading stars.

🔫 *To Be Continued in Chapter 7: "Ashes of Kivu"*

Chapter 6: Empire of Smoke