The Underworld Crown: Mumbai's Criminal Empire

Chapter 10: The Gang War

The crisp mountain air of Lonavala was a stark contrast to the humid, pollution-choked atmosphere of Mumbai. Vicky stood on the balcony of the safe house, his eyes scanning the lush green landscape that stretched out before him. It had been three weeks since their daring escape from the city, and the quiet of the hill station was beginning to feel less like a refuge and more like a prison.

Behind him, he could hear Zara's soft footsteps approaching. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder. "You're brooding again," she murmured.

Vicky let out a humorless chuckle. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to someone who knows you as well as I do," Zara replied, a hint of concern in her voice. "Talk to me, Vicky. What's going on in that head of yours?"

He turned to face her, taking in the worry lines that had appeared on her forehead over the past weeks. Despite everything, she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. "I'm thinking about Mumbai," he admitted. "About what's happening there in our absence."

Zara's expression tightened. She knew as well as he did that their escape had left a power vacuum in the city's underworld. "Have you heard from Anish?"

Vicky nodded grimly. "He sent a coded message this morning. It's worse than we thought."

Before he could elaborate, the burner phone in his pocket buzzed. Only three people had this number, and two of them were in this room. Vicky's heart raced as he answered the call.

"Bhai," Anish's voice came through, tense and hurried. "We have a situation. The Shetty brothers have made their move."

Vicky's jaw clenched. "Tell me everything."

As Anish spoke, detailing the chaos that had engulfed Mumbai in their absence, Vicky felt a familiar rush of adrenaline. The Shetty brothers, emboldened by his disappearance, had launched an all-out assault on what remained of his empire. Street battles were erupting across the city, and the police seemed powerless - or unwilling - to stop it.

"That's not all," Anish continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "There are rumors that Mudaliar is pulling strings from prison. Some are saying he orchestrated this whole thing, that the CBI raid was just a ploy to get you out of the picture."

Vicky's mind raced. If Mudaliar was truly behind this, it changed everything. The old gangster had resources and connections that went far beyond Mumbai. This wasn't just a local power struggle anymore; it was a calculated move to reshape the entire underworld hierarchy.

"What do you need me to do, bhai?" Anish asked, the loyalty in his voice unwavering despite the dire circumstances.

For a moment, Vicky was tempted to tell Anish to abandon ship, to save himself and get out while he still could. But he knew his lieutenant would never agree to that. And deep down, Vicky knew he couldn't walk away either. Not like this.

"Hold the line," Vicky said, his voice taking on the authoritative tone that had made him one of Mumbai's most feared and respected gangsters. "Protect our people, secure what assets you can. I'm coming back."

He could almost hear Anish's relief through the phone. "Understood, bhai. When can we expect you?"

"Soon," Vicky replied. "Very soon."

As he ended the call, he turned to find Zara watching him intently. She didn't need to ask; she had heard enough to understand the gravity of the situation.

"You're going back," she said. It wasn't a question.

Vicky nodded, bracing himself for an argument. But to his surprise, Zara's expression was one of resolve, not opposition.