The city was on edge. Whispers of the growing conflict between Dylan and Richard spread like wildfire through the underworld, and every corner seemed to hold a dark promise of violence. Dylan stood at the head of his empire, waiting for Richard to make his move. He had already fortified his defenses, and his men were on high alert, but there was something gnawing at him.
Richard was no fool. He wouldn't strike until he had everything in place, but Dylan could feel it—the pressure was building. He couldn't afford to sit idly by.
"Jayden," Dylan's voice was cold and precise, pulling his most trusted ally from his thoughts.
"Yes, boss?" Jayden answered quickly, sensing the urgency in Dylan's tone.
"Find out where Richard is hiding. I want him contained before he has a chance to make a real move." Dylan's eyes were hard, his mind calculating.
Jayden nodded and quickly left the room, knowing that if anyone could track Richard down, it would be him. But even as Jayden departed, Dylan's mind continued to race.
The War
Richard had always been a thorn in Dylan's side, and the tension between them had never really gone away. But now, it wasn't just family rivalry—it was a battle for the throne of the underworld.
Dylan's phone buzzed on the desk, snapping him back to reality. He looked at the screen. It was a message from Vincent, one of Richard's men.
"The first strike will be tonight. Be prepared."
It was a warning. Richard was moving faster than Dylan had anticipated, and now, the clock was ticking. Dylan knew what he had to do.
---
Heaven's Concern
Heaven paced in the private quarters of the mansion, the air thick with the scent of fear. She had overheard Dylan's men talking, the words "first strike" hanging ominously in her mind.
A war was coming.
She hadn't signed up for this, and she definitely hadn't signed up to be caught in the middle of a war between two men who were more alike than they realized. But what could she do? Michael was still vulnerable, and Dylan's promises rang in her ears, reminding her that at least he was trying to protect him.
Trying.
She couldn't trust him fully—not after everything. But for Michael's sake, she had to try to remain calm.
Just then, the door to her room opened, and Dylan stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
"Heaven," he said, his voice almost too calm.
"What now?" She couldn't help the bitterness in her tone.
He closed the door behind him and took a step closer. "I know you've been hearing things. And I know you're worried. But I want to make one thing clear—if Richard makes a move against you or Michael, I will handle it."
Her heart skipped a beat. She knew this was his way of trying to reassure her, but her mind was still reeling.
"You think I don't know what's coming?" Heaven shot back, her voice rising. "You think I'm just going to sit here while you and your brother destroy each other?"
Dylan's gaze softened slightly, but his resolve remained. "I'll make sure Michael stays out of harm's way. That's the only promise I can give you right now."
Heaven shook her head, frustration bubbling over. "You're playing a dangerous game, Dylan. And when everything falls apart, don't expect me to pick up the pieces."
She turned away from him, but Dylan reached out, grabbing her arm gently.
"Heaven," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight she wasn't used to hearing. "I'm not doing this for me. I'm doing this for you, for Michael. I've lost too much already. I'm not losing either of you."
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. She looked up into his eyes, searching for any trace of deception.
But there was nothing there—just raw honesty.
For a moment, she wanted to believe him.
But she couldn't. Not yet.
"You may not lose me, Dylan, but I can't promise you I'll stay."
With that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Dylan standing alone in the silence.
---
Richard's First Move
The night had fallen heavy, and Richard had made his first move.
His men infiltrated one of Dylan's smaller warehouses on the outskirts of the city, taking out the guards with ruthless precision. The strike wasn't meant to destroy—no, it was meant to send a message.
A single phone call to Dylan confirmed that Richard wasn't backing down.
"Tell your men to stand down," Dylan's voice crackled through the phone. "This is your last warning."
Richard's laugh echoed through the line, cold and hollow. "Oh, Dylan. You should know better by now. I don't take warnings."
Before Dylan could respond, the line went dead.
His grip tightened around the phone.
Richard was playing with fire.
And Dylan was ready to burn everything down.
---
Heaven's Worst Fear
The next day, news of the attack on the warehouse hit the streets. The underworld was buzzing with rumors of an all-out war. Heaven could feel the weight of the tension in the air, suffocating and unbearable.
She knew Dylan was preparing for something. She knew he wasn't going to just let Richard have the upper hand. But as much as she wanted to stay away from the madness, she couldn't ignore the feeling gnawing at her.
The storm was coming.
And there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.