“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?"

is

"Negotiation?" Jasmine sneered.

challenge. You expect kindness towards someone who waves Chicago's power around like

arrogant, ruthless child!” Tommy exploded. He turned to the council,

Lords formally declare war on

gladly accepts. Perhaps now

hear from other states." Silence stretched heavily before Alfred Kingston spoke firmly. "Los Angeles stands

cast their votes and chose to stay neutral. They remained silent, claiming this private war was none of their

now, Chicago Lords only needed to utter a demand, and Vancouver

year, resistance

war erupted, Chicago's reign could

declared decisively, "Then it's Chicago versus Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Vermont. No other states will intervene. Is

Kelly replied simultaneously, their voices united

wiped his brow, sweat dripping steadily onto

raw and exposed. This wasn't going to

Chicago would leave nothing but

broke the heavy silence. "Look, the

a war now?

economy. War solves nothing."

lips twisting into a

sanctioned this. He figures a week, maybe less. Stability isn't at

fists, words dying bitterly on his

He knew

slammed his hand down, desperation flickering

finest. Winner takes everything. No armies, no

the room, cold and cutting. "No deal.

dangerously. An hour passed, tense

weary from the stalemate, finally took

neither of you can compromise,"

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

locked onto Tommy,

half its share of

lifeline. Anything was

voice

sigh cut the air, but her tone

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