Chapter 24 Alliances And Betrayal

• The morning after the raid on the northern district, Serria stood before her office’s massive window, watching the city stretch out before her. The skyline, once a symbol of opportunity, now felt like a cage. Each building, each street, was a reminder of the delicate balance she had to maintain. She had won, but the consequences of that victory were far-reaching. There would be no rest—not now.
• The Velasquez family’s offer of alliance was still on her mind, the papers she’d reviewed earlier burning in her thoughts. They weren’t the only ones testing the waters. Word had spread of the chaos in the north, and now several factions were approaching her for a stake in the game. They all saw the same thing: a chance to either align with the victor or try their hand at toppling her before her reign became too strong to challenge.
• Her phone buzzed on the desk, snapping her back to reality. It was Mark.