Chapter 10

Ricardo never wasted time.

By the time the sun broke over the city, painting the docks in pale light, Mateo and Lorenzo were already back in the heart of Ricardo’s empire. The mansion loomed like a fortress, its iron gates yawning open to swallow them whole. Guards lined the walls, rifles gleaming in the morning haze.

The car stopped, and the doors yanked open. Rough hands dragged Mateo out. His ribs screamed in pain from the night before, but he clenched his jaw, refusing to stumble. Beside him, Lorenzo cursed as a guard shoved him forward, his lip still bleeding.

“Look at them,” Ricardo said lazily, flicking ash into a crystal tray. “One traitor, one enemy and yet, here they kneel.”

Laughter rippled around the table, low and cruel.

Lorenzo spat blood onto the marble. “You think this is power?” he sneered. “Making men crawl? My brother…..”

Ricardo’s hand lifted, and a guard slammed a fist into Lorenzo’s gut before he could finish. The boy doubled over, gasping for breath.

“Your broth