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Adrain "Ares" Montaya, the ruthless heir to the Montaya crime syndicate, has spent his life ruling the underworld with an iron fist. He built his empire on power, deception, and blood - but enemy has haunted him since childhood: Elias "Ghost" Moreau. Once his best friend, now his deadliest rival, Elias is the only one who has ever challenged him Adrian's supremacy. But when an unknown enemy targets both their organizations, the two are forced into an uneasy alliance. As they navigate a world of treachery, secrets, and shifting royalties, Adrian finds himself drawn to Sienna Calloway, an enigmatic woman with a with a past as dark as his own. Torn between love and duty, revenge and redemption, Adrian must decide who he can truly trust - before the past consumes them all.
Chapter 1 The King's Return
The air in Marseille was thick with the scent of salt and smoke, a reminder that power here was won through blood and silence. Adrian Montoya stepped off his private jet, the weight of his past settling on his shoulders like an old enemy. The last time he had set foot in this city, he was a reckless teenager, eager to prove himself in his father's empire. Now, he returned as it's ruler.
The Montoya crime syndicate had roots spread across Europe, but Marseille was where it all began. His father, Victor Montoya, had built an empire from the ground up, controlling ports, weapons trade, and underground markets with an iron grip. But Victor was dead, murdered in his own home. And Adrian knew exactly who his prime suspect was - Elias Moreau.
They had grown up together, sons of Kings, trained to inherit their fathers' legacies. Where Adrian had been fiery and relentless, Elias had been cold and calculating. They had been like brothers once --- until betrayal burned that bridge to the ground.
Now, Elias was the head of the Moreau Cartel, a rival force that had been clawing at Montoya territory for years. And with his father gone, Adrian knew Elias wouldn't waste time in making a move.
"Mr. Montoya, the car is ready."
Adrian turned to look at Luca, his most trusted lieutenant. He slid into the backseat of the blacked-out SUV, his mind already plotting the next steps.
"There's a meeting tonight at The Noir Rose," Luca continued. " The Moreaus are sending a representative
Adrian smirked, running a thumb over the scar on his knuckle. The Noir Rose was a high-end nightclub, a neutral ground where deals were made and wars were settled. If Elias thought he could send a messenger instead of showing up himself, he was surely mistaken.
"Then let's remind them who owns this city."
The SUV pulled away from the private aristrip, disappearing into the shadows of Marsellie's Underworld.
THE NOIR ROSE -- MIDNIGHT
The club pulsed with energy-deep bass, flashing lights, and a haze of expensive cigars. Adrian walked in like a king reclaiming his throne, his presence turning heads. The men whispered, the women watched, and the guards stiffened.
At the center of the VIP section, a woman sat alone at a table, a glass of whiskey in her hand. Her emerald eyes flicked up to meet Adrian's, and something in them sent a slow burn through his chest.
Sienna Calloway.
She was a mystery wrapped in silk and steel, a name whispered in underground circles with both fear and desire. No one knew exactly where she had from, but she had carved a place for herself in the criminal world. Some said she was a ghost from the past. Others claimed she was looking for revenge.
But tonight, she was the Moreaus' messenger.
"You're late," she murmured, swirling her drink.
Adrian slid into the seat across her, eyes locked on hers. "Elias is a coward if he thinks sending you will keep him safe."
Sienna tilted her head, a smirk playing at her lips. "Or maybe he knows you wouldn't shoot a woman in the middle of a crowded club."
Adrian leaned in slightly, his voice dangerously soft. "Don't test that theory."
A brief silence streched between them, tension crackling like static.
Then Sienna slid a folded note across the table. "You're not the only one hunting Elias, Adrian."
Adrian unfolded the paper, his jaw tightening as he read the words written in elegant script:
"The man who killed your father is coming for you next."
He looked up but Sienna was already standing, her gaze unreadable.
"See you soon, Montoya."
And with that, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving Adrian with a single, unshakable thought.
The real game has just begun.
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