Beneath the empire

Rival Bloodline [part 2]

Vito chuckled, though it lacked warmth. “You think you’re ready to do that? They’re not some ragtag operation. They’re methodical. Salvatore’s no fool.”

Dominic didn’t flinch. “Neither am I. It’s time to level the playing field.”

Vito’s eyes locked with his son’s, a silent challenge passing between them. But Vito was a strategist, and he knew that Dominic’s determination was not to be easily swayed. For the first time, his son wasn’t just following orders. He was starting to think like a leader, and that made Vito both proud and wary.

“Do it,” Vito said, his voice low, nearly a growl. “But don’t make it personal. We don’t need the DeMarcos thinking we’re emotional. We need to win this war, Dominic. Keep it professional.”

Dominic didn’t respond immediately. His father had spoken, but there was more at stake than just a simple confrontation. He knew the implications of his next move would be felt for years, long after the bloodshed and politics faded away. What he wasn’t sure of was where his loyalty lay. Was it with the family, or was there something else driving him?

But one thing was certain: the DeMarcos were going to learn that the Russo family was not to be trifled with.

At the DeMarco safehouse, Lia sat at the head of a large, worn table, the map of Saint Gabriel laid out before her. The city’s various territories were highlighted in red, blue, and black markers. The colors represented power, influence, and bloodshed, each marking a battleground that could potentially shift the tides of war.

Lia’s hands hovered over the map, her fingers tracing the routes her family controlled. But now, that control was threatened. The Russos had crossed into DeMarco territory, and that could not stand. It was more than business; it was personal.

“We’ve had reports of their people in the area,” Giovanni, one of her father’s most trusted men, said as he entered the room. “They’ve taken the club. The Russos are making a serious push. We can’t just let this go unchecked.”

Lia met his gaze, her eyes cold but calculating. “I never intended to let it go unchecked. Get the men together. I’ll be there in twenty.”

Giovanni hesitated for only a moment before he nodded, signaling the others to gather. The moment had arrived—the moment where her leadership would be tested. She was her father’s daughter, but this time, the weight of her own decisions would be what defined her future.

The operation was simple. They would take the club back, send a clear message, and ensure that the Russos knew they weren’t welcome in DeMarco territory. But Lia knew that the real fight wasn’t about the club; it was about control. And the DeMarcos had no intention of losing it.

As Lia walked to her car, her mind raced. The strategy was in place, but she wasn’t sure if it was enough to stop the Russo family from escalating things. Dominic Russo had always been unpredictable. He was like a storm that couldn’t be contained, and that made him dangerous.

But she had learned to deal with dangerous men before. What made Dominic Russo different? That, Lia would find out for herself.

As the DeMarco crew moved out, the night seemed to hold its breath. On the other side of the city, the Russo crew was already in motion. The tension between the families would only grow from here.

The following day dawned with a sense of inevitability hanging in the air. The DeMarco family had regained control of their territory, but Lia knew this was only a temporary victory. The Russos would not take their loss lightly. Dominic Russo was no stranger to challenges, and his ambition had always been his most dangerous weapon. The game was just beginning, and she could already feel the tension crackling like static in the air.

Lia had spent the morning in meetings with her father’s most trusted men, Giovanni, Marco, and Salvo, planning the next steps. But as much as she respected their experience, she knew that her own instincts would have to guide the DeMarcos through the storm that was coming. She had been raised for this. Salvatore DeMarco had taught her everything she needed to know, not just about the family's operations, but about the cost of power and the price you paid to keep it.

In the penthouse of the Russo family, the atmosphere was anything but calm. The walls were lined with expensive art, but the luxury of the room couldn’t hide the tension that gripped the space. Dominic Russo sat behind a polished desk, his eyes focused on a map of Saint Gabriel, the city that had always been the Russo family’s territory. His thoughts were far from the luxury of his surroundings; his mind was locked on the DeMarcos and their recent move.

The phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. It was Vito, his father and the patriarch of the Russo family. Dominic’s jaw tightened. The last conversation they’d had had been laced with the kind of frustration that only came when things were not going according to plan. It was clear his father was not pleased with how things had unfolded.

“Dominic,” Vito’s voice was calm, but there was a subtle undercurrent of anger that Dominic had learned to recognize over the years. “We need to talk about this mess with the DeMarcos. You’ve stirred the pot, son.”

Dominic leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the armrest rhythmically. He had been expecting this. Vito was always quick to lay blame, but Dominic had his own plans, ones that didn’t always align with his father’s conservative approach.

“The DeMarcos made their move,” Dominic said, his voice steady, betraying none of the frustration he felt. “They were always going to come at us, especially after we took that club.”

Vito’s voice dropped lower. “You can’t just go in there and start tearing things up. This is business, Dominic. If we’re going to win, we need to be smart. We don’t want to provoke them more than necessary.”

Dominic felt a pang of irritation rise in his chest. “Smart? I’m not in the business of being smart anymore, Dad. I’m in the business of winning.” His words were deliberate, carrying a weight that conveyed his intent. “If the DeMarcos think they can just roll over us, they’ve made a mistake.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Vito didn’t speak immediately, but Dominic could feel the tension building in his father’s silence.

“I raised you to know the importance of control,” Vito finally replied, his tone much sharper now. “And you’re still learning the ropes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a one-time move. This is a war, Dominic. You think it’ll be over with one small hit? They will retaliate, and they’ll do it when you least expect it.”

Dominic’s eyes darkened as he stared out the window at the sprawling city below. The words felt like a cold bucket of water. Control—it always came down to control, didn’t it? He had been raised to believe that in this world, control over others was everything. But his hunger for power, his need to prove something, was beginning to outweigh his desire to follow his father’s cautious path.

“I understand,” Dominic said, his voice measured. But in his mind, the wheels were already turning. His plan wasn’t just about a club or a turf war. It was bigger. If the DeMarcos wouldn’t respect their place, he would make sure they knew who the true rulers of Saint Gabriel were.

“Good. I’ll have the men ready,” Vito replied before hanging up.

Dominic sat back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the map again. The city, like a chessboard, was ripe with opportunity. The DeMarcos had made their move. Now, it was time for the Russo family to show them what it meant to lose.

Back at the DeMarco estate, Lia was already in motion. She’d never believed in sitting back, waiting for the enemy to come to her. There was no time for hesitation, no space for doubt. Enzo, her father’s right-hand man, had already gathered information from their network, confirming that the Russos were planning something more than just retaliation. This wasn’t about a club anymore. The Russos were gearing up for something big.

Lia paced the room, her thoughts racing. The clock was ticking. They needed to strike first. or at least give the illusion of doing so. The DeMarcos couldn’t allow their rivals to think they were weak. And Dominic Russo? She didn’t know whether to admire his audacity or be disgusted by it. Either way, she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn’t let him outplay her.

Her phone buzzed once again. It was Giovanni, one of the senior members of her crew. He had just returned from scouting a rumored Russo operation near Cedar Point, a spot the Russos often used for shady deals.

“Boss,” Giovanni’s voice was low and urgent. “We’ve spotted some of their men near the old pier. They’re moving something—guns, cash, maybe both. It’s not just a message anymore. They’re ramping things up. It’s happening sooner than we thought.”

Lia’s expression hardened. “Get our men ready,” she said coldly. “We don’t wait for them to make the first move. We hit them now.”

Giovanni hesitated for a moment. “Are you sure? We’ve got eyes everywhere, but we’re talking about their main operation. If we go in, we might be walking into a trap.”

Lia smiled, though it wasn’t a smile of reassurance. It was a smile that suggested she had already thought of everything and more. “Let them set the trap. We’ll make sure they regret it.”

Giovanni didn’t question her further. He understood that Lia had inherited more than just her father’s title. She had inherited his ruthlessness and his intellect. And just like Salvatore, she didn’t need to fight every battle; she just needed to win the ones that mattered.

As Giovanni left to gather the crew, Lia stood still, her thoughts running through countless possible outcomes. The Russos weren’t just a rival family anymore. They were an obsession. Dominic Russo had made it personal, and now, Lia would ensure that Saint Gabriel belonged to the DeMarcos and only the DeMarcos.

Hours later, the streets of Saint Gabriel were quieter than usual, the kind of silence that hung in the air like the calm before a storm. Both families had mobilized. The Russo men, clad in dark clothing, moved through the shadows, their faces obscured by masks. They were methodical, determined to strike hard and fast.

But the DeMarcos were ready. Lia’s orders had been clear: take the fight to them, hit where it hurts, and do it with precision. The DeMarco men worked like ghosts, slipping through the night, their faces hard and unreadable. They were waiting for the Russos to make their move. And when they did, they would be met with a force they hadn’t anticipated.

Lia stood in the background, watching it all unfold through the surveillance feeds, her eyes narrowed in concentration. This wasn’t just about business anymore. This was about proving who truly ruled Saint Gabriel and ensuring that the DeMarcos would never be dethroned.

The city of Saint Gabriel was a living, breathing thing; its streets pulsed with a rhythm dictated by power, violence, and the constant clash between the city’s ruling families. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the flickering lights of the skyline began to come alive, casting long shadows across the streets. For Lia, the shadows were more than just a part of the cityscape. They represented the DeMarco family’s domain, a place where no one dared tread without paying their dues.

But the Russos weren’t just any family. And Dominic Russo wasn’t the kind of man who stayed hidden in the shadows.

The Russo family had been quiet for the past few days, almost too quiet. But Lia knew better than to assume it was over. When the Russo men disappeared into the night, you could bet they were plotting something bigger. Dominic’s silence was a storm waiting to break, and it made her uneasy. She wasn’t used to sitting back and waiting for her enemies to make the next move.

Still, she couldn’t ignore the satisfaction that had come from reclaiming Club Mirage. The operation had gone smoother than expected. The DeMarco crew had hit fast, leaving the Russo men confused and disorganized. It was a statement, one that had reverberated through the underworld. The message was clear: the DeMarcos weren’t just surviving; they were thriving.

But that wasn’t enough for Lia. She had bigger ambitions than maintaining the family’s empire. The DeMarcos had built their power from the ground up, but she wanted to see it expand, to stretch its influence beyond what her father had ever dreamed of. And she couldn’t afford distractions.

Lia had learned early on that her family’s legacy wasn’t something you could sit back and admire. It was something you had to fight for every day. That’s why she was already strategizing her next move, her mind sharp, her vision set.

She paced the room, her fingers tracing the map of the city on the wall. Saint Gabriel had always been divided: DeMarco turf in the south, Russo turf in the north, and the rest of the city a battleground. But recently, the lines had begun to blur. The DeMarcos had expanded their influence into the East End, a sector previously controlled by the Moretti family, who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances months ago. Lia’s crew had taken full advantage of the power vacuum. And now, with the Russos breathing down her neck, the stakes were higher than ever.

Enzo, her father’s old consigliere, stepped into the room, interrupting her thoughts. His presence was calm, almost soothing in its stillness. But Lia knew him well enough to understand that when he came to her with information, it was usually something big.

“Boss,” Enzo began, his voice steady but laced with a certain tension. “We’ve intercepted word from the street. Dominic Russo is moving to East End tonight. He’s making a push to take back what he sees as his. But there’s something else. He’s been meeting with some... outside players.”

Lia’s brow furrowed at the mention of outside players. Her mind raced. The Russo family had always been a tight-knit group, relying on their own resources. Bringing in outsiders, especially in this volatile moment, was dangerous. It meant Dominic was serious. He wasn’t just playing games anymore.

“Who?” Lia asked, her voice low and dangerous.

Enzo hesitated, then leaned in closer. “It’s Marko Vass, the head of the Luna cartel. Word is, they’re making a deal. They’ve been meeting in secret, and tonight, Russo’s men are supposed to meet them in the East End. The cartel’s got connections with some of the other crime families in the city. If Russo makes this deal, it’ll strengthen his position tenfold. It’ll give him access to resources, guns, money, and muscle that could change the balance of power.”

Lia absorbed the information, her thoughts moving rapidly. Vass and his cartel were known for their ruthlessness. They controlled the eastern seaport, smuggling in weapons, drugs, and all manner of illegal goods. The Luna cartel had been a neutral player in the conflict between the DeMarcos and Russos, but if they were now aligning with Dominic, it would tip the scales in his favor.

“Enzo,” Lia said, her voice hardening with resolve, “we can’t let them make this deal. The East End is ours. The Luna cartel is not welcome here.”

Enzo nodded, his expression grim. “I’ll get our men in position. We’ll disrupt the meeting and make sure the deal doesn’t go through. We’ll send a message.”

Lia shook her head, a slight smile curling on her lips. “No. This time, we don’t just disrupt. We shut it down. We take Russo’s allies out of the equation completely. If we strike now, we cut off the Russo family’s access to the cartel. No resources. No muscle. It’ll cripple him.”

Enzo’s eyes widened slightly at her words. “You’re talking about a full-on assault.”

“Exactly,” Lia replied, her voice low and confident. “We hit them where it hurts. But this time, we do it clean. No traces. We leave no survivors.”

Meanwhile, Dominic Russo was pacing in his penthouse, his mind heavy with thoughts of the upcoming meeting. He had made a calculated decision to bring in Marko Vass and his cartel. The DeMarcos had the money and the influence, but Dominic had always known that power in this city was never just about the money. It was about the right connections, the right people. And Marko Vass was the key to expanding his influence beyond the confines of Saint Gabriel.

The deal was simple: a mutually beneficial agreement. Russo would gain access to the Luna cartel’s vast smuggling network, while Vass would get a piece of the action in the city’s underground economy. Weapons, drugs, and more things that the DeMarcos had no access to. It was the leverage Dominic needed to turn the tide.

His phone buzzed, breaking his concentration. It was a message from his lieutenant, Giovanni.

The DeMarcos know. They’re moving fast. They’ll hit the East End tonight.

Dominic’s blood ran cold. Lia DeMarco was no fool. She had clearly intercepted his plans. And now, she was about to strike. The DeMarcos had always played the long game, but Dominic had thought that by securing the cartel, he would have an upper hand. Clearly, he’d underestimated Lia’s ruthlessness.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the text for a moment. His mind was racing, his thoughts shifting from frustration to determination.

“It’s time,” he muttered to himself.

He picked up the phone again, dialing Marko Vass’s number. The Luna cartel needed to be ready for the DeMarco onslaught.

“Marko,” Dominic said when the line picked up, his voice calm but urgent. “We’ve got a problem. The DeMarcos are coming. They know about our deal.”

Vass’s voice was steady. “I’ll mobilize my men. We’ll be ready for them.”

“You better be,” Dominic warned, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t just about turf anymore. This is a fight for control of the city. If you want your slice, you’ll need to keep the DeMarcos off our back. We’ll meet you at the rendezvous point in an hour. Make sure your men are armed and ready.”

As the night wore on, both families prepared for the inevitable clash. The DeMarcos were moving in, their crews assembled and their strategy clear. The Russos were no less determined, with the added firepower of the Luna cartel behind them.

The East End was about to become a war zone.

Lia stood in the back of the DeMarco vehicle, her gaze focused on the shadows ahead. The city was no longer just a backdrop. It was the battlefield, and every decision she made now would shape the future of the DeMarco legacy. She could almost feel the weight of it pressing on her shoulders. This wasn’t just about power. This was about survival.

The night had settled thick over Saint Gabriel, cloaking the city in a heavy blanket of darkness. But beneath the surface, the city was alive with the kind of violence and tension that only the underworld could generate. As the DeMarco and Russo families prepared to collide in the East End, the pulse of the city quickened, its fate hanging in the balance.

Lia DeMarco stood at the head of her crew, her mind sharp as a knife. Every move tonight had to be precise. No room for error, no hesitation. If they were to defeat the Russo family and take control of Saint Gabriel, they would need to show no mercy. The stakes were higher than ever, and Lia was determined to come out on top.

“We hit hard, fast, and clean,” she instructed her men, her voice steady and unwavering. Her father had taught her the importance of decisiveness, especially when it came to moments like this. There could be no second-guessing. The DeMarcos needed to make a statement.

Giovanni, her father’s trusted lieutenant, stepped forward. “The East End is crawling with their men, boss. But we’ve got the advantage. They won’t expect us to come in this strong.”

Lia nodded. “That’s the point. We don’t just hit the places they expect. We make sure they feel it everywhere.” She turned to face the men who had gathered in the dimly lit room, their faces grim but determined. “Tonight, we don’t just protect our turf. We take theirs.”

Enzo, her father’s consigliere, appeared beside her, his expression unreadable as always. He didn’t need to say a word; his presence alone was enough to remind the crew that he had seen it all before. There was no room for softness in their world. Enzo had been the one to teach her about loyalty and honor within the family, but he also knew that the streets didn’t respect any of that. What mattered here was power, and the DeMarcos had to take what was theirs.

“We’ve got eyes on their rendezvous point,” Enzo added. “Russo’s men, along with the cartel, are set up near Cedar Dock. We’ll hit them as soon as they make contact. The Luna cartel will be focused on Russo, but we can take out their weak link. Disrupt them at the core.”

Lia’s eyes glinted in the dim light, the fire in her gaze unwavering. “Make sure we have the upper hand before we engage. We won’t give them a chance to regroup. We hit fast, and we hit hard.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Dominic Russo was preparing for the most crucial meeting of his life. His mind buzzed with urgency, but his outward calm was unshakable. The alliance with Marko Vass was everything he needed to secure the future of the Russo family. If he could gain the cartel’s resources, he could not only take control of Saint Gabriel’s streets; he could expand the family’s reach to new territories.

His crew was already moving into position, but as Dominic adjusted his jacket and prepared to leave, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. He had heard the whispers, seen the subtle signs of DeMarco movement, but he hadn’t anticipated this kind of speed. Lia wasn’t just a rival; she was a force to be reckoned with.

Giovanni, his right-hand man, entered the room, his face tense. “Boss, we’ve got a problem. DeMarco’s moving in faster than we thought. They’ve targeted the East End.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “I knew they wouldn’t wait. But they’ve underestimated us. Tonight, we finish this.”

Giovanni hesitated. “They’re coming in hard. We’ve got eyes on them. They’re already making their way to Cedar Dock.”

Dominic’s gaze hardened. “Then we move faster. No one touches the cartel. Not tonight.”