The second floor of King's Paradise overlooked the warehouse floor below.
Jack stood at the railing, his hands gripping the cold metal, staring down at the emptiness.
The space was massive—concrete floors, exposed steel beams, industrial lighting hanging from chains. Normally, it would be packed. Bodies moving. Music thumping. Money changing hands. The fighting cage in the center would be surrounded by a roaring crowd, blood on the canvas, fighters circling each other like animals.
Now it was silent.
Empty.
The cage sat dark and still, its chain-link walls casting long shadows across the floor.
Code 0.
Jack had only activated it twice before. Once when the Feds had raided a rival operation three blocks away. Once when a snitch had been identified in his crew and needed to be dealt with quietly.
Now, with Detective Borne circling and a detention hearing in less than twenty-four hours, he'd pulled the trigger again.
Everything shut down. All operations suspended. The warehouse, the gambling rooms, the back offices—all of it dark.
It was the smart move.
But it felt like surrender.
Bones walked up beside him, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
"Been a while since I've seen it this quiet," Bones said finally.
Jack nodded. "Yeah."
Bones leaned against the railing, his eyes scanning the warehouse floor. "Feels wrong. Like a graveyard."
Jack's jaw tightened. "It's temporary."
"I know."
Another silence.
Jack turned to face Bones, his expression hard. "I need to talk to you about something."
Bones straightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's up?"
Jack took a breath. "If things don't go my way at the hearing tomorrow—"
"They will," Bones interrupted.
"If they don't," Jack continued, his voice firm, "I need you to hold things down for me."
Bones stared at him.
Jack's hands clenched into fists. "You've always been my number two. You know how this operation works better than anyone. You know the players, the suppliers, the enforcers. You know where the money flows and where the bodies are buried."
Bones didn't respond.
Jack stepped closer, his voice dropping. "You're the only man I trust with this. The only one who can keep it together if I'm not here."
Bones' jaw tightened. "You're not going anywhere, Jack."
"Maybe not," Jack said. "But if I do, I need to know you've got this. I need to know the empire doesn't fall apart the second I'm gone."
Bones was silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded slowly. "I've got it."
Jack exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Good."
Bones looked out over the empty warehouse again. "What about Steely? Chip and Dip? The others?"
"They follow you," Jack said. "They respect you. If I'm gone, you're the boss. No questions. No power struggles. You make the calls."
Bones nodded again, his expression unreadable.
Jack turned back to the railing, his mind already racing through contingencies.
If I go down, Bones keeps the operation running.
If Cage makes a move, Bones hits back.
If the cops come sniffing around again, Bones shuts it down and moves everything underground.
He can do this.
He has to.
Jack's hands tightened on the railing.
Bones cleared his throat. "You think Borne has enough to make it stick?"
Jack's jaw clenched. "He's got a confidential informant. Photos. Video. Witness testimony. He's building a RICO case."
"Fuck," Bones muttered.
"Yeah."
"Who's the informant?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't know. But when I find out, they're dead."
Bones nodded. "What about Calloway? He think you can beat it?"
"He says it's going to be a fight," Jack said. "But he's good. He'll find the holes. He'll tear their case apart."
"And if he doesn't?"
Jack didn't answer.
Bones looked at him, his expression grim. "How long would you be looking at?"
"Twenty years," Jack said quietly. "Maybe more."
Bones exhaled slowly. "Shit."
Jack turned to face him again. "That's why I need you ready. If this goes south, you step up. No hesitation. You take the throne and you hold it."
Bones met his eyes. "I will."
Jack nodded. "Good."
They stood there in silence, the weight of the conversation settling over them like a shroud.
Finally, Bones spoke again. "You ever think about getting out?"
Jack frowned. "What?"
"Getting out," Bones repeated. "Walking away. Taking the money and disappearing."
Jack's expression softened. "Yes. When Bella left me."
Bones looked surprised.
But Jack didn't elaborate.
He just turned and walked toward stairs his footsteps echoing in the empty warehouse.
***
Bella sat on her couch, a bowl of popcorn in her lap, the TV flickering in front of her.
Some mindless reality show. She wasn't really watching.
Her phone buzzed.
She picked it up, glancing at the screen.
Bones:Code 0 is active.
Bella's stomach dropped.
She stared at the message, her heart pounding.
Code 0.
That means everything's shut down.
Why would Jack activate Code 0?
Her mind raced through possibilities.
Police raid? Rival gang attack? Internal threat?
She typed a response.
Bella:What happened? Is Jack okay?
She waited.
No response.
A knock at the door made her jump.
She set the popcorn bowl down and walked to the door, her heart still racing.
She looked through the peephole.
Daniel.
Bella exhaled slowly, forcing herself to calm down.
It's just Daniel.
She opened the door.
Daniel stood there, smiling, his hands in his pockets. He was dressed casually—jeans, a button-down shirt, a light jacket. He looked relaxed. Happy.
"Hey," he said.
Bella forced a smile. "Hey. What are you doing here?"
"Just had a great day at work," Daniel said, stepping inside. "Closed a big deal. Felt like celebrating. Thought I'd come see you."
Bella closed the door behind him. "That's great. Congratulations."
"Thanks." Daniel looked around the apartment, his eyes landing on the TV. "What are you watching?"
"Nothing, really," Bella said. "Just some reality show."
Daniel walked over to the couch and sat down, making himself comfortable. "Mind if I join you?"
Bella hesitated, then nodded. "Sure. Want a drink?"
Daniel shook his head. "Nah, I'm good."
Bella sat down beside him, her phone still clutched in her hand.
Still no response from Bones.
Daniel glanced at the TV. "What's this one about?"
"Uh..." Bella looked at the screen. "I think it's about people trying to flip houses or something."
Daniel laughed. "Sounds riveting."
Bella smiled weakly. "Yeah."
They sat in silence for a moment, the TV droning in the background.
Daniel shifted closer, his arm draping casually over the back of the couch.
"You seem distracted," he said.
Bella's chest tightened. "I'm fine. Just tired."
"Long day?"
"Something like that."
Daniel's hand moved, his fingers brushing against her shoulder.
Bella felt it but didn't pull away.
It's fine. He's just being affectionate.
Daniel's hand slid down, his fingers trailing along her arm.
Bella's heart started to race again, but for a different reason now.
What is he doing?
His hand moved to her thigh.
Bella froze.
Daniel's fingers traced slow circles on her leg, moving higher.
Bella's breath caught in her throat.
Stop. Tell him to stop.
But she didn't.
She just sat there, her body tense, her mind screaming at her to do something.
Daniel's hand moved higher, his fingers brushing against the inside of her thigh.
Bella's anxiety spiked.
Too close. He's too close.
His hand moved higher still.
Bella grabbed his wrist. "Stop."
Daniel looked at her, his expression confused. "What's wrong?"
"I'm…not ready yet," Bella said, her voice shaking.
Daniel pulled his hand back, his brow furrowing. "Why not? Do you not like me?"
"I do," Bella said quickly. "I do like you. It's just—"
"Just what?"
Bella hesitated, her mind racing.
What do I say?
Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is this about your ex?"
Bella froze.
How does he know?
Daniel leaned back, his expression softening. "It is, isn't it?"
Bella looked away, her hands trembling. "Yes."
"Are you still not over him?"
Bella's throat tightened. "We were together for a long time. We went through... a lot together."
Daniel nodded slowly. "So why did you break up?"
Bella's jaw clenched. "He turned into someone I couldn't love. Someone I feared for my future with."
Daniel was silent for a moment.
Then he sighed, pulling his hand away completely. "I understand. I'll give you time."
Bella nodded, relief flooding through her. "Thank you."
But the air between them had shifted.
It was awkward now. Tense.
Bella stood abruptly. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back."
She didn't wait for a response.
She walked quickly to the bathroom and closed the door behind her, her heart pounding.
What the hell am I doing?
She leaned against the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
I can't keep doing this.
I can't keep pretending everything's fine.
Bella closed her eyes, her hands gripping the edge of the sink.
***
Daniel sat on the couch, staring at the TV.
But he wasn't watching it.
His eyes flicked to Bella's phone, sitting on the couch cushion beside him.
The screen was dark.
Daniel glanced toward the bathroom.
The door was still closed.
He could hear the faint sound of running water.
Slowly, Daniel reached for the phone.
He picked it up, his thumb hovering over the screen.
He pressed the home button.
The screen lit up.
No passcode.
Daniel's eyes scanned the notifications.
Bones:Code 0 is active
...