Clash Of Crowns I: Shadows Of Love And Sacrifices.

V || Lazzaro's Organization

Please note: This story may contain errors and grammatical mistakes. Your understanding and patience are appreciated as this is a work in progress.

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Third Person's POV

Maxine and her friends stepped out of the Lazzaro headquarters, the cool night air hitting them as they walked toward the black van.

As they drove away, leaving the Lazzaro headquarters behind, the reality of it all hit them hard.

They were about to dive headfirst into something they’d barely scratched the surface of before. Tonight, everything changed. They had to learn it all.

"This is really happening, huh?" Skye muttered from the back, breaking the silence. Usually, she’d throw in a sarcastic comment, but not tonight.

Maxine caught her eye in the mirror, her face went serious. "We don’t have a choice. If we’re gonna make it in this world and if we want to protect the people we care about we need to know what we’re up against."

Cole nodded, keeping her eyes on the road but clearly deep in thought. "No more sitting in the dark. We need to understand everything about the Lazzaros’ operation if we want to stay ahead."

They pulled up to their own HQ, a rundown old warehouse that looked abandoned on the outside but looked luxurious on the inside.

It was their spot where they operated away from the eyes of their families back when they were still in high school.

The entrance was hidden in plain sight, just like the mess they were getting themselves into.

Once inside, the vibe shifted. Gone were the jokes and laid-back attitude they used to have.

Now, everything felt serious, like they were on the edge of something huge. The walls were covered in maps, files, and screens.

Everything they’d been able to gather about the Lazzaro empire, though most of it still felt like puzzle pieces they hadn’t put together.

Maxine walked up to the main table in the center, running her hand over the stacks of documents and blueprints.

She turned to her friends, her expression firm. "This is where it starts. No more guessing. No more being left out. We’re gonna learn everything about my dad’s organization, how the council works, the Phantom Order, the Crimson Guard. Every move they make, every person they trust, every secret they’re hiding."

Gian leaned against the wall by a bulletin board full of notes. "We’ve got bits and pieces, but there’s still so much we don’t know. Where do we even start?"

Maxine looked over at her, her eyes sharp. "We start with the structure. The council might be in charge, but they’re only part of it. My dad’s network goes deeper than we’ve seen. We need to figure out how the Phantom Order and Crimson Guard fit in what they control, how they keep everything running."

Cole crossed her arms, thinking out loud. "This isn’t just about getting info. It’s about staying alive. The minute we start poking around too much, they’ll notice. And if your dad finds out, we’re screwed."

Maxine nodded, feeling the weight of what they were getting into. "I know. But we’re already in too deep. If we don’t learn how this whole thing works, we’ll always be a step behind."

"And if Dad wants me to take over this organization even if he found out that we're making our own investigation he will never get mad at us."

Skye, who usually liked to play the skeptic, spoke up. "Alright, so we break it down. If we’re digging for info on the Phantom Order and Crimson Guard, we need to figure out where they keep their secrets. No way they’re storing everything at the main estate. There’s gotta be other spots, safe houses, off-the-books places where they hide the stuff they don’t want out."

Gian nodded. "And we’ll need to figure out who the key players are in both groups. Who’s really loyal, who’s just there for the ride, and who we can turn if we need to."

Maxine smirked a little, her resolve hardening. "Exactly. Once we’ve got that down, we start making our moves."

The room went quiet again as the weight of it all settled over them. They weren’t just playing around anymore. They were stepping into something dangerous, and they all knew it.

Maxine looked at her friends, each of them ready, even if they didn’t fully understand what they were getting into. "Alright. Let’s get to work."

MAXINE'S POV

"So saan tayo mag sisimula?" tanong ni skye habang pumipili ng files na bubuksan.

"Set aside my father's file, I'll handle it, diretso tayo sa Elite Council" seryosong saad ko.

"Here it goes.....Head Council Leader Calyx Ventura, It oversees the entire organization, making high-level decisions about strategy,  and alliances. They’re the brains behind the operation, ensuring everything runs smoothly and in the Lazzaros' favor." basa ni cole, saming lahat siya dapat ang mag aral tungkol sa Elite Council dahil siya ang next inline, kasunod ni tito.

"Ok next Dad's group, Phantom Order Leader Nathan Anderson, This group specializes in intelligence gathering, covert operations, and espionage. They handle blackmail, weapons, informants, and the manipulation of enemies. They work behind the scenes, ensuring the Lazzaros are always ahead of their rivals." saad ni gian, habang seryosong binabasa ang iba pang information tungkol sa grupo na Ihahandle niya.

"Last but definitely not the least, Crimson Guard Leader Jhansen Russo,
The Crimson Guard is the muscle of the organization. They handle enforcement, security, and ensuring the Lazzaros' enemies are dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly. Known for their brutal efficiency, they protect the Lazzaros' interests in and outside the country" turan ni skye at binaba ung files na hawak niya.

"Ngayon na alam na natin ang mga roles ng bawat group na bumu buo sa organization, we now have the advantages, all we need to do now is to train ourselves physically and emotionally" seryosong saad ko sa kanila, and they all agreed.

As I leaned against the wall of our HQ, flipping through the pages of my father's file, Agad na sumagi sa isip ko si aiesha I tried to shake it off, but the image of Aiesha standing there, stunned by everything that had happened, kept creeping back.

'Why am I even thinking about her right now? '

F*ck me.....she was supposed to be the enemy or at least someone I needed to keep my distance from. But every time I looked at her, there was this pull, and I feel like it was my obligation to protect her.

'She’s too naive for all of this... And if she gets caught in the crossfire, it’ll be on me.'

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