Mafia's Heartbeat: A Dangerous Love

Chapter - 23

High above the sprawling city, the Lee family occupied the top floors of a massive skyscraper. From their penthouse, the entire skyline stretched out in all directions, the lights of the city below flickering like stars. The glass walls of the lounge gave an unobstructed view of everything, making it feel as though the family was untouchable, reigning over their empire.

Felix stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main lounge, his reflection faintly visible in the glass as he stared out over the city. His mind was consumed with the events of the past few days. Meetings with the TXT mafia had gone relatively smoothly, but something still felt off. The sudden ease with which they had agreed to terms was suspicious, and it gnawed at Felix's gut like a warning he couldn't ignore.

Behind him, Seungmin sat on one of the sleek leather couches, reviewing information on his tablet, his face tight with concentration. Chan, Jake, and Changbin were nearby, quietly discussing the logistics of their upcoming movements, while Heeseung and Minho stood to the side, their posture tense, always ready for action.

"I don't trust this peace," Felix finally said, his voice cutting through the quiet hum of the room. He kept his gaze fixed on the cityscape, unwilling to turn away from the view just yet. "TXT is hiding something. They agreed too easily."

Seungmin, always the most observant of the group, looked up from his tablet and nodded. "I've been hearing things, Felix. Rumors about ATEEZ making moves in the background. They're not content to sit back and watch while we negotiate with TXT. They're planning something, and I'd bet they're waiting for the right moment to strike."

Chan, who had been quietly listening, leaned forward. "You think ATEEZ is going to use this truce as a distraction?"

Seungmin nodded. "Exactly. TXT is playing nice to keep us focused on them. Meanwhile, ATEEZ is working behind the scenes. If we don't act soon, we're going to find ourselves outmaneuvered."

Felix finally turned from the window, his expression cold and calculated. The tension in the air was thick, every member of the family feeling the weight of Seungmin's words.

"Then we move first," Felix said, his voice steady but with a dangerous edge. "We're not going to sit around waiting for ATEEZ to make their move. If they want to come after us, we'll hit them before they get the chance."

Minho crossed his arms, his serious expression matching Felix's determination. "If ATEEZ is trying to mess with us, we'll make sure they regret it. But we need to be smart about this. Hitting their operations will only work if we know exactly where to strike."

Jake, ever the strategist, stepped forward. "We'll need to gather intel, and quickly. They're not going to give us any openings."

Changbin nodded in agreement, his face grim. "We can't afford any mistakes. We've already got our best men on the ground watching them, but we need to stay a step ahead."

As the conversation continued, the elevator doors slid open, revealing Hyunjin. He stepped into the penthouse with quiet grace, making his way toward Felix. Despite the tension that hung over the room, Hyunjin's presence brought Felix a small measure of calm.

"They're making their move, aren't they?" Hyunjin asked softly as he came to stand beside Felix.

Felix glanced at him, nodding slightly. "Seungmin's intel says ATEEZ is planning something. They're trying to outmaneuver us."

Hyunjin's eyes narrowed. "We'll be ready."

Meanwhile at the ATTEZ Penthouse...

far across the city in a hidden, heavily fortified building, the ATEEZ mafia sat in their own high-tech conference room, discussing their plans. The glow of neon lights from the city below illuminated the room, casting shadows across the faces of the group.

Hongjoong, their fearless leader, sat at the head of the table, his fingers tapping lightly against the surface as he laid out their next steps. Seonghwa, his husband, sat beside him, his calm demeanor concealing the sharp mind that made him one of Hongjoong's most trusted advisors.

"We're going to hit their supply routes first," Hongjoong said, his voice low but full of authority. "Cut off their resources, and they'll have no choice but to come to us. By the time they realize what's happening, it'll be too late."

San leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he watched the discussion with a sly smile. "They won't know what hit them."

Mingi, the muscle of the group, cracked his knuckles. "It's time we remind them who runs this city."

Seonghwa's eyes flicked over to Hongjoong, silently conveying his concern. "We have to be careful. Felix and his family won't take this lying down. If we misstep, they'll retaliate hard."

Hongjoong nodded, his expression unflinching. "That's why we'll strike fast and hard. We won't give them the chance to react."