Chapter 1248:

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The last of them barely gone, Orlando turned, worry etched in his features.

“Father, what’s our next move?”

“I wish I knew.” A heavy sigh escaped Mason.

Looking back, he regretted ever letting those gangs into their scheme. None of them had been real allies—now they all wanted a cut.

They had only themselves to blame for the mess they were in.

No one in their right mind wanted to part with the Axe Gang’s fortune for nothing.

But refusing to share had consequences of its own.

Both Mason and Orlando exchanged weary sighs, resigned to the inevitable.

“So tomorrow, we’re really going to carve up our territories?” Orlando asked, reluctant and downcast.

“That’s our only option,” Mason replied, his voice low. “Tonight, we’ll sort through our territories. We’ll offer up the ones that matter least, try to protect what we can.”

“Okay.” Orlando nodded in reluctant agreement.

𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Given the circumstances, this was the closest thing to a plan they had.

Just then, a sharp voice cut through the room.

“Mr. Rhodes, didn’t I make it clear the Axe Gang had no intention of letting outsiders take our territories? How could you make that promise on your own? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to our boss?”

While the other gangs had already filed out, the Axe Gang member remained rooted in place.

The news that Mason and Orlando were set on parceling out territory didn’t sit well with him at all.

Across the room, Mason and Orlando traded a knowing look, their expressions edged with a thin, chilling smile.

The Axe Gang’s man suddenly stiffened.

“What’s that look supposed to mean?” Doubt crept into his voice, suspicion prickling at the back of his mind.

“Did you really think you’d be walking out of here?”

With those words, Mason and Orlando sealed his fate.

“You—”

Shock barely registered on the Axe Gang man’s face before Orlando drew his pistol and silenced him with a single shot.

Now, only his lifeless form remained sprawled across the living room floor.

“Good. Tomorrow, I’ll finalize things with the Axe Gang. Once we secure their territories, we’ll split it quietly among the others. Not a word about this gets out.” Mason barely glanced at the body.

“But what if the Axe Gang figures out what happened? How will we explain their loss?” A shadow of worry lingered in Orlando’s voice.

Mason waved the concern away. “I’ll tell them plans have changed. Besides, the only one who knew what really happened is lying right there. From tomorrow on, we’re in charge of the Axe Gang’s territories. As long as the truth stays buried, they can’t challenge us.”

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