"And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you." — Friedrich Nietzsche

  Theo watched from the shadows as Mira disappeared into the night. The moment she was gone, he turned to Lucas, his voice edged with calculation. "How's our war with the Syndicator going?"

  Lucas smirked. "We’re the only ones in this war, boss. We’ve destroyed half of their secret clubs and businesses outside Shadowport, and they don’t have the guts to fight back."

  Theo’s fingers drummed against his jacket. "They will. I’ll make them."

  Lucas finally caught the attention of a girl in the club and took his leave, flashing a grin. "Finally, someone has eyes for a charmer like me." He winked at Theo before disappearing into the crowd.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Theo barely acknowledged him. Instead, he left the club, making his way back to his place—an apartment positioned directly in front of Mira’s. He had ensured it offered a clear view of her apartment, her bedroom. He had made sure of it by buying the entire building under a fake identity. It wasn’t difficult; he was a mafia lord, after all.

  This wasn’t his actual base in Shadowport. That lay deep in the jungle, a palace hidden among towering trees, far away from the urban sprawl. A fortress, untouched. He rarely went there—only when business demanded his attention. Most of his time was spent here, watching her, tracking her every move.

  It was a dangerous fixation, an obsession creeping in like rot beneath his skin. He told himself it was strategy, that he needed to know every detail about Mira because of who she worked for. But the lie tasted bitter on his tongue.

  One way or another, this obsession would demand a price.

  And Theo always paid in blood.