“Jasmine, are you insane?” Jessica screamed at the video screen, her voice raw with desperation.

"Chicago Lords practically rule the whole damn country. You're dragging all of Vancouver into a bloodbath!" Jessica's words echoed through the tense silence.

Everyone knew the stakes. Defeat would mean surrendering their business, their rights—everything Vancouver stood for.

Jasmine leaned forward, eyes blazing with defiance. “No their not and Mr. Hernandez might have power, but that doesn't guarantee he'll crush us. We might win."

"Win? With what? Forget skills and firepower-we barely have enough people to stand against them!" Jessica hissed, frustration and fear thick in her voice.

A cold, ruthless smile curved Jasmine's lips.

"Funny, mother, that question should've crossed your mind before you helped those snakes try to rob me." Without waiting for a response, Jasmine slammed the call shut, leaving the screen blank and mocking.

Jessica stood frozen beside Charles, both faces pale and stricken.

Behind them, Zane lay sprawled on the floor, panting through cracked ribs and broken limbs.

Meanwhile, Alex strolled out of the room without a glance back, leaving them to drown in the mess they'd helped create.

Jessica knew damn well-sending Zane back to Chicago under these terms was no different than planting a flag of war.

Swallowing her pride, Jessica knelt beside Zane.

“Mr. Hernandez, please forgive us. If you agree, we can help you return safely.”

Within days, as everyone anticipated, the emergency conference summoned the thirteen state leaders to an urgent online meeting.

Tommy Jones, patriarch of Chicago Lords and the head of the Five Families, wasted no time.

"We sent Zane Hernandez to negotiate fairly with Vancouver over medical supplies. Instead, he was brutally assaulted and returned to us battered and broken," Tommy's voice thundered across the digital assembly.

"I demand answers from Vancouver. If we cannot reach an agreeable resolution, we're prepared for state war."

Jasmine's face appeared on the screen, composed yet fiercely defiant. She laughed sharply.

“Mr. Hernandez stormed into our city, waving five million dollars and demanding half of our new medicine stock-worth five billion."

"We shut him down, of course. What does he think we are? Fools? Pushovers?"

glared. "Negotiation is standard

"Negotiation?" Jasmine sneered.

challenge. You expect kindness towards someone

exploded. He turned to the council,

formally declare

Perhaps now everyone will realize

well. Let's hear from other states." Silence stretched heavily before Alfred Kingston spoke firmly.

stay neutral. They remained silent, claiming this private war was none of their

in disbelief. Until now, Chicago Lords only needed

year, resistance rose

Chicago's reign could

versus Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Vermont. No other states will intervene.

Kelly replied simultaneously, their

sweat dripping

wasn't going to be a

on Chicago

heavy silence. "Look, the new king

a war

economy. War solves nothing."

minister snorted, his lips twisting

king himself sanctioned this. He figures a week, maybe less. Stability

fists, words dying

hit harder than any blow. He knew then-it was decided. Chicago was already marked

his hand down,

against Vancouver's finest. Winner takes everything. No

through the room, cold and cutting. "No

simmered dangerously. An hour passed, tense exchanges growing heated, yet nowhere

the

can compromise," he declared

this like knights. A duel-mano a mano-to answer for

onto Tommy,

over half its share of the

hard, clinging to the lifeline. Anything was

voice tight with

the air, but her tone hit like

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