“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?"

"Negotiation is standard procedure.

"Negotiation?" Jasmine sneered.

if we refused. So, fine, we accept his challenge. You expect kindness towards someone who waves Chicago's power

ruthless child!” Tommy exploded. He

Lords formally declare

gladly accepts. Perhaps now everyone will realize

sighed deeply, mediating the tension. "Very well. Let's hear from other states." Silence stretched heavily before Alfred Kingston spoke firmly. "Los Angeles stands

to stay neutral. They remained silent, claiming

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

this year,

erupted, Chicago's reign could

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

simultaneously, their

his brow, sweat dripping

and exposed. This wasn't going to be a fair fight—it would be a

converging on Chicago would

the heavy silence. "Look,

start a war

economy. War solves nothing."

snorted, his lips twisting

this. He figures a week,

his fists, words dying bitterly

hit harder than any blow. He knew then-it was

hand down, desperation flickering in his

Vancouver's finest. Winner

room, cold and cutting. "No deal. A

tense exchanges growing heated, yet nowhere near

from the

of you can compromise," he declared

A duel-mano a mano-to answer for

eyes locked onto Tommy, sharp as

half its share

hard, clinging to the lifeline. Anything was better than

said, voice

air, but her

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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