Chapter Thirteen

As they left the garage, the gaze of Matteo's eyes on his back was heavy, but Lucas didn't let it faze him. His mission was far from over. Now, he was closer than ever to uncover the truth, and nothing not even Matteo was going to stand in his way.

Mr. Matteo sat in the back of his sleek black car, silently watching the city pass by. His thoughts churned, replaying the scene at the garage in his mind. Shadow's skill, his precision, his complete dominance over those men, had been terrifying and exhilarating. Matteo knew he had stumbled onto something far more valuable than just another soldier. This boy wasn't just muscle. 

He was a weapon.

Mr. Matteo lit a cigar, blowing out a cloud of smoke as he turned to Brook, who sat in the front passenger seat, his face still bruised from the brawl.

"We have been playing defense too long, Brook. Sitting back, waiting for the next move. But now, we've got something no one else does." Matteo grinning, his voice filled with ambition.

Brook winced, still nursing his injuries, but couldn't hide the bitterness in his voice, grumbling."You mean him? You're really going to put everything in the hands of that boy?"

"That boy just took down half a gang on his own. Imagine what we could do with him leading the charge."Matteo smirked, boasting.

Brook fell silent, grinding his teeth, knowing that Matteo had already made up his mind. There was no point in arguing. Matteo is obsessed now. Shadow had proven himself

 in a way none of them ever could.

A few days later, in Matteo's luxurious office looking out, the city. the next phase of his plan began to take shape. Lucas stood by the window, his posture calm and steady, while Matteo sat behind his massive oak desk, pouring out maps and dossiers. He was plotting.

Matteo gesturing to a map spread across his desk, his voice filled with excitement

"We've been circling each other for years. Dominic, Vincenzo, and that bastard Santoro. Each one has their own slice of the city, their own little empires. But they have grown weak, fat on their wealth and comfort. It's time to take them out." Mr. Matteo looking at the map spread across his desk, his voice filled with excitement.

Lucas(Shadow) didn't move, his eyes still fixed on the skyline. His mind was always calculating, always watching. This was exactly what he had hoped for. Matteo trusts him more and more, giving him access to the inner workings of his world. But Lucas also knew this was a dangerous game. Matteo was unpredictable, ambitious to an extent, and while Lucas played along, he never lost sight of his own mission.

Lucas swaying his gaze towards him calmly said "What's the plan?

Matteo's grin grew wider. He leaned back 

in his chair, hands clasped behind his head.

Overwhelmed with the thought of power control.

Mr. Matteo smirked "We are going to take them down, one by one. Dominic's crew runs the docks. he's the weakest link. We will hit him first, hard, before he even knows what's coming."

Lucas is already thinking about, the strategy in his mind. The docks were crucial, a hub for smuggling and weapons shipments. Taking Dominic out would disrupt the entire supply chain for the other families.

Lucas uttered with an unbothered voice "When do we start?"

"Tonight. I want you to lead the charge, Shadow. You and my best men. Show me what you can do on a bigger stage." Matteo laughing, standing up from his desk.

That night, Lucas stood as the head of a group of Matteo's top enforcers, all clad in black, ready for war. They gathered in the shadows of the dockyards, where Dominic's men patrolled, unaware of the storm about to descend on them. The air was thick with tension, the salty sea breeze doing nothing to calm the nerves of the men surrounding Lucas. 

Mr. Matteo was watching from a distance, seated in a hidden car with Brook by his 

side, eager to see his weapon in action again. Lucas gave a slight nod to his team, and without a word, they moved as one, slipping through the darkness like phantoms.

The first wave of Dominic's men never saw them coming. Lucas moved with lethal precision, his fists striking with brutal efficiency, disabling guards before they could even reach for their weapons. His men followed suit, cutting through the opposition with cold, ruthless efficiency. 

Inside one of the warehouses, Dominic's second in command, Carlo. was barking orders, unaware that his men were already falling outside. 

Carlo yelling to his men, frustrated "Get these shipments moving! We are already behind schedule!"

Suddenly, the doors to the warehouse burst open, and chaos erupted. Lucas strode in, calm and collected, while behind him, Matteo's enforcers swarmed the place. Dominic's men scrambled for cover, but it was already too late. Shadow's presence was overwhelming, a force of nature that crushed resistance before it could fully form.

Carlo's eyes widened in fear as he spotted Lucas cutting through his men like they were nothing. He reached for his gun, but Lucas was faster, grabbing a nearby crowbar and hurling it across the room. It struck Carlo's arm with a sickening crack, sending him to the floor, bending and groaning in pain.

Carlo groaning, clutching his broken arm

"Who the hell are you?" 

"Doesn't matter. You're done." Lucas stepping closer, said in a deadly cold voice.

With one swift motion, Lucas knocked Carlo unconscious, leaving him crumpled on the ground. Around him, the rest of Dominic's crew was either dead or fleeing into the night. It was over.

From his vantage point, Matteo watched in awe, his fingers drumming excitedly on the armrest of his seat.

"That's it. That's exactly what I wanted to see." Matteo laughing to himself, with his eyes gleaming with ambition.