The meeting hall was filled with a deadly silence. The people in the room weren't just allies—they were the ghosts of the underworld, hidden figures who operated in the dark, their names feared across nations.
Ochieng's eyes swept across them, his voice calm yet commanding.
"The Zenith Syndicate thinks they can take one of ours and get away with it."
His words were simple, but the weight behind them was undeniable.
Jaylen leaned back, arms crossed. "So, what's the plan?"
Ochieng stepped forward. "We hit them first."
--
The Zenith Syndicate was vast, but every empire had weak links. And Ochieng had spent years gathering information on them—just in case.
"Their European operations are handled by a man named Nikolai Volkov. Ruthless, efficient, but careless with his personal security. If we take him out, we send a message."
Tielen smirked. "Then let's make sure that message is loud and clear."
-
As the team dispersed, Isabelle stayed behind.
"You're walking into hell, Ochieng."
He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "I've lived in hell before. I'm not afraid of walking through it again."
Her eyes softened for a brief second. "Then let me walk with you."
He didn't answer. But as he walked past her, she followed.
And the first strike was set in motion.
---