Chapter 42

Emilia cradled the silenced pistol with a lazy grace, a cold smirk tugging at her lips.

After giving the barrel a gentle puff, she spoke in a slow, measured tone. "If I just let you walk away, who's going to pay for all the lives you've destroyed? You know how we operate. We may run with a gang, but we don't stoop to peddling drugs or selling people. Money earned from that filth always comes back around."

A thought flickered through her mind. Emilia raised the weapon again and fired another shot at Tyrone's crotch without a flicker of hesitation.

"Ahhh!" A guttural scream erupted from Tyrone,pain twisting his faceas he nearly bit through his tongue.

"Funny, I nearly missed that you used this to destroy all those innocent girls," Emilia sneered.Her eyes followed the fresh blood staining his pants, lips curled in disgust.

That one shot had finished him-he'd never harm anyone again. Tyrone's strength failed him; his sight blurred,and he slumped to the floor, completely out.

"Didn't even last a minute. Pathetic," Emilia remarked, tossing the pistol back to Luis with a flick of her wrist.

"Boss, want me to dump a bucket of ice water on him and wake him up?" Luis kept his tone polite.

For someone known for his brutality, Luis barely looked the part now-standing there as docile as a house pet when Emilia was near.

The men in black, especially those seeing Emilia for the first time, could barely hide their shock.

Here was a woman, young and striking, who commanded the kind of respect that turned the notorious Luis into a model of obedience.

They had all just watched her fire a gun as if it were nothing, barely glancing at her targets, yet never missing.

The way she handled that weapon-quick and unerring-was almost supernatural.

No barricade or hiding place could protect them if she ever decided they were a threat. Even in a crowd, she'd pick them off one by one.

Some found themselves wondering if she might just materialize behind them, silent as a shadow,and end them without warning.

The thought alone made their skin crawl.

"Don't bother waking him. Make sure they're no threat anymore-the whole lot of them.Every single one has terrorized the helpless and hurt too many innocents. Give them a taste of their own medicine. Once it's over, dump their bodies in the river and let the fish clean up." Emilia's mouth curled into a faint smirk as she flopped back onto the sofa. Sloane passed her a beer and she finished it in a single gulp.

"Guess I'm feeling generous today. It's only right to honor his last request," Emilia said.

That unsettling smile froze the room, making everyone quietly thankful they'd never ended up on her bad side. If they had, they might not even realize how they died.

A quick look from Luis was all it took for his men to leap into action, following her orders without hesitation.

"Boss, any chance you'll take the reins again and read us yourself?" Luis edged closer, eager to lease. He poured her another drink, his posture umble and eyes almost pleading, as if ready to neel down and beg.

Vith Emilia at the helm, it was common nowledge she'd take control of all Oticester in ess than half a year.

Not right now. I've got my own things to take are of. You keep running the show. The past ree years have gone better than I could have oped. Don't let up." Emilia offered a rare nod approval and gave his shoulder a reassuring at.

he look Emilia gave him-a mix of approval nd expectation-set Luis's heart racing. Earning raise straight from the boss was no small thing.

le thought back to when Emilia had handed him is mission. Her words were clear: carve out a ace in Oticester within five years. Luis had one it in three, lifting their crew to the upper nks of the city's gangs.

the two rival outfits hadn't joined forces,he ight've claimed the number one spot by now.hat would have made Emilia even prouder.

e stayed hungry for a chance to take out the competition once and for all.

Every day, he watched for an opening in Oticester, plotting his next move.

Only by climbing to the very top could he hope to truly impress her.