QUEEN OF VERONA

Chapter 4: The Syndicate's Threat

Alessandra Cruz sat in her office at Cruz & Associates, scanning a brief in preparation for yet another high-profile case. Her expression was calm, controlled, but beneath the surface, her mind was racing. Balancing her career as a top-tier corporate lawyer while running a criminal empire was never easy, but in the past few weeks, it had become nearly impossible.

The reason for her stress? Viktor Kazan.

Kazan had been a growing thorn in her side for months, but lately, he’d escalated his moves to an all-out assault on her empire. He was bold, reckless, and ambitious. And now, he wanted to take everything she’d built. Every shipment she moved, every deal she closed—Kazan was there, waiting to sabotage it.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was Dante, her right-hand man. She hesitated for a moment before answering. If Dante was calling during work hours, it wasn’t good.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice low but firm.

“We’ve got a problem,” Dante’s voice was steady but laced with tension. “Kazan’s people hit the docks last night. They took half the shipment and left the rest in flames.”

Alessandra closed her eyes for a second, taking in the weight of the news. Another hit. Another loss. Viktor wasn’t playing games anymore; he was trying to choke her operations at the source.

“Casualties?” she asked.

“Two of our men are in the hospital. They’ll make it, but they’re out of commission for a while. Kazan’s sending a message.”

Alessandra’s grip on the phone tightened. Kazan’s attacks were becoming more frequent and more dangerous. She couldn’t afford to keep losing ground like this, not when her entire empire was at stake.

“And the authorities?” she asked, already anticipating the answer.

“They’re investigating the explosion, but we managed to clean up enough to keep them off our trail.”

Alessandra nodded, though she knew this was only a temporary solution. Kazan was pushing her to the brink, and if things continued down this path, he’d force her hand. She wasn’t ready for an all-out war—not yet.

“I’ll deal with him,” she said quietly. “Make sure our remaining shipments are secured. No more mistakes, Dante. We can’t afford them.”

“Understood, boss.”

She hung up, her mind now firmly fixed on the growing threat. Viktor Kazan was more than just a rival—he was the kind of man who would burn everything down just to see if he could rule over the ashes. And if she didn’t stop him soon, he’d do exactly that to her empire.

But there was another complication, one she couldn’t ignore. The more aggressive Viktor became, the more attention it would draw. And if the police—or worse, Marcus Hale—started poking around, they’d eventually find a trail that led straight back to her.

Alessandra stood up and paced her office, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor. Her thoughts raced as she weighed her options. Kazan wasn’t just trying to hurt her business. He was trying to make a statement—one that would ripple through every level of her operation. If she didn’t fight back soon, she would lose control.

But she had to be careful. One wrong move, and her carefully curated image as a successful, legitimate lawyer would crumble. Verona Heights knew her as Alessandra Cruz, the brilliant lawyer. They couldn’t know she was the woman running one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the city.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text. It was from Viktor himself.

You’re slipping, Cruz. Watch your back—or I’ll take everything that’s yours. Including the city.

Alessandra’s jaw tightened. She stared at the message for a long moment before deleting it. Viktor was goading her, trying to make her act recklessly. He wanted her to retaliate, to get sloppy. But Alessandra Cruz didn’t get sloppy. She played the long game.

Still, she needed to make a move. Something that would remind Viktor—and everyone else—that she was not to be underestimated.

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Later that night, Alessandra slipped into the back seat of a sleek black SUV, her leather jacket blending seamlessly into the dark interior. The city streets blurred by as they made their way to the Syndicate’s headquarters, a hidden compound on the outskirts of Verona Heights. Her driver, Jack, said nothing, but Alessandra could feel the tension in the air.

When they arrived, Dante was waiting at the gate, his expression grim. “You sure about this?” he asked, holding the door open for her.

“I don’t have a choice,” she replied, stepping out of the car. “Kazan wants a war. We’ll give him a warning first.”

Inside, the mood was electric. Her lieutenants, each of them hardened by years of working in the shadows, looked up as she entered the room. They were ready for blood, but Alessandra wasn’t ready to go that far—yet.

“We’re moving the next shipment up,” she announced, her voice calm but commanding. “It’ll be a high-risk play, but we’re going to draw Kazan out. He wants to play games? We’ll make him think he’s winning.”

Dante frowned. “You’re sure that’s wise? He’s got eyes everywhere.”

“That’s the point. We’ll let him think he’s cornered us, and when he takes the bait, we’ll be ready. I want him to know that I’m still in control of this city. That I’m not afraid.”

“And if he doesn’t take the bait?”

Alessandra’s eyes hardened. “Then we’ll make sure he has no choice.”

She turned to leave, her mind already running through the next steps. Viktor Kazan wanted a war. He was about to find out what happened when you threatened the queen of Verona Heights.