Zane leaned back on the large, comfortable bed, his strong but aging body shining slightly under the soft room lights. At forty, his sharp features and dark hair gave him a mature and confident look.

His partner, Maya, a woman who looked 25 but was actually 35, sat straddling him. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, moving up and down in rhythm with her body. Her bright green eyes met his, and her red lips moved as she whispered, "Ahhh... Zane," her voice filled with pleasure. She was slim, with natural curves and full, perky breasts.

They changed positions and began to explore one another with increasing excitement. Zane was now standing on the ground, Maya who was now on all fours with her back raised.

"Maya, you're perfect," Zane said in a deep voice as his hands moved over her soft breast, drawing moans from her mouth.

She turned her head to meet his black eyes, and he leaned in, giving her a deep kiss before pulling away. As their excitement reached its climax.

Zane's breath became heavy as they eventually came to an end. "I'm close, Maya," he moaned, holding on to her hips.

Maya's voice shook with excitement as she moaned. "Do it, Zane... I'm ready."

Just as he was about to finish, a loud knock echoed through the room, followed by a voice. "Boss! Boss!" The urgent tone cut through their intimate atmosphere.

Zane froze, frustration flashing across his face. Living an alert life, his thing quickly calmed down. He cursed under his breath as his excitement faded away. With a sigh, he pulled his thing out of Maya, causing her to turn around and glare toward the door.

He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Sorry. I'll be back in a minute," he said, his voice filled with irritation.

Maya pouted, cursing silently at the guy who is responsible for this.

Zane walked over to a nearby chair, grabbing a white robe and putting it over his muscular body. "If it's not important, I swear I'm going to beat him to death," he muttered, running a hand through his hair before making his way to the door.

He walked towards the door and pushed it open. Zane glared at Victor, who stood there looking nervous. Victor was a man with a strong yet slim build, appearing to be in his mid-thirties.Under Zane's glare, his eyes moved uncomfortably.

"What the hell is it, Victor?" Zane yelled.

Victor took a deep breath. Seeing his boss in a white gown, he realized he had interrupted an important moment. But what he had to say was even more urgent.

"Boss, the Viper Gang... they've attacked one of our casinos. They're trying to take over our territory!"

Zane's face grew even more dark. "Those bastards think they can mess with the Iron Gang?" he continued in a threatening voice. "Do they believe I've passed away?" Victor jumped as zean banged a fist against the doorframe. "Call every man we've got. I want them ready in 10 minutes outside the house We're going to remind those snakes who run this city!"

Victor nodded.Yes, Boss!" he replied as he retreated to carry out the command.

Maya, who had covered herself in the sheets, stood up and walked over to Zane, her red painted nails gliding over his back. "What's going on, zean?" she asked, in worried tone.

Zane turned to her and informed her, "Don't worry, it's just Darius is making trouble again." His thumb brushed her cheek as he held her face. "I'll be back in no time. Now, help me getting ready."

She nodded while cursing Darius, the leader of the Viper Gang, in her mind. That bastard! Can't he pick a better time to start trouble? Always causing problems when we're busy! Does he even sleep?

She sighed in frustration and went to get Zane's clothes, As Zane put on his dark pants, Maya helped Zane in putting into a black shirt and smoothing it over his wide chest. "With a gentle touch, she fixed his short, dark hair with her thin fingers." With her thin fingers, she gently fixed his short, dark hair.

Zane glanced at the mirror, adjusting his collar. Maya hugged him from behind, pressing her warm body against his back. He gently removed her hands from his chest and turned around. He put his hands on her face and gave her a gentle forehead kiss. "Wait for me. "I'll be back soon," he assured.

She nodded and gave him a smile as he left as soon as the door closed. Maya sighed, her frustration returning back. "Damn those Viper bastards," she muttered, went back into the king-sized bed with its white sheets. "Well, if they won't let me finish, I'll do it myself," she said with a sly smile as she opened the drawer next to her and took out a toy.

She leaned back on the bed, her green eyes half-closed, her gentle moans filling the empty room. "Ahh! Ahh!..."

__________

Before long, Zane is faced by more than a hundred loyal Iron Gang members outside his home. Each man had a gun and was prepared as they stood in rows. Tension filled the air, and the ground was covered in long shadows from the dim light of the house. "The Viper Gang thinks they can walk into our casino, take our territory, and just walk away?"

With his keen eyes scanning his soldiers, Zane spoke. He paused and continued. "I think they forgot who is in charge of this city. We've earned our spot in Ravenford by fighting, bleeding, and surviving.

Nobody invades our area, particularly our casinos, which are our primary source of revenue. "Tonight, we remind those snakes what happens when they cross lines," he added, pointing his gun in the sky and firing it.

The men let out a loud roar. Zane smiled, allowing the enthusiasm to grow. He asked, "Are you ready?" They all yelled, "YES, BOSS!" in harmony their voices full of loyalty and ready to fight.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Let's go," Zane said as he headed toward his car. Everyone followed suit, making their way to the long line of cars waiting under the dim glow of the streetlights.

At the front was Zane's vehicle, a shiny black SUV with dark-coloured windows. Its size and well-maintained look were the ideal combination of intimidation and authority. Cars, pickup trucks, and a few old vans followed.

Zane settled into the passenger seat of his SUV when Victor climbed into the driver's seat. "Let's move," Zane issued the order.

The convoy began to move out as the engines roared to life. The few people walking on the street stopped and stared at the magnificent sight of more than twenty cars travelling in harmony.

The convoy's reputation arose as it passed through the heart of Ravenford, which was not a metropolis but rather a thriving urban hub dominated by several big and small gangs, including the Iron Gang at its peak, which had over a hundred members and a monthly profit exceeding tens of millions of dollars, making them the undeniable rulers of the city's underworld.

The gang's leadership consisted of three key figures: Zane, the boss; Victor, the vice leader; and Malcolm, the financial mastermind responsible for managing government bribes and the gang's assets.

As the queue of cars wound its way through Ravenford's narrow streets, some spectators quickly moved out of the way.

Victor glanced at Zane as they neared their destination. "They'll know we're coming, Boss."

"Good," Zane replied, his voice calm but filled with menace. "Let them see us coming. Tonight, the Viper Gang learns why no one messes with the Iron Gang."

The battle for Ravenford's underworld was about to begin.

The Iron Gang soon appeared in front of the biggest casino in the city. The towering building stood as a symbol of luxury and strength.

The name of the casino was displayed above in enormous shining letters and the building was visible from miles away. Engines rumbling as they came to a stop, the gang's cars arrived in a well-organised line. Zane's black SUV stopped just in front of the main gate, which was made of golden double doors.

The door of the SUV opened as Zane stepped out, then slammed shut behind him with a powerful bang. With their weapons in hand, the rest of the gang followed behind.

As Zane and his men stepped inside, the casino employees stood close by, their shoulders slumped and heads bowed, fear clear on their faces as they avoided making eye contact. The once lively atmosphere was now filled with an uneasy silence.

A man of a similar age as Zane sat across from them, relaxing on a cheap plastic chair as if he owned the place. This was Darius, the Viper Gang's boss and Zane's halfbrother.

He has short black hair and dark eyes flashed with confidence and arrogance. He was dressed in black trousers, polished shoes and a dark green jacket over a plain white shirt. Although Darius was smaller than Zane, he had the pride of a guy who thought he was better than Zane in everything.

Behind him stood over fifty gang members, armed with different types of guns, bats, and pipes.

Darius rose from his chair with a smile as Zane and over a hundred Iron Gang members exited their vehicles. The Iron Gang's sheer numbers made the Viper Gang's presence a wave. Armed with weapons and years of loyalty, they lined up behind Zane, waiting silently for his word.

Darius spread his arms mockingly. "Brother Zane, you came pretty fast. I was just getting comfortable."

When Zane's piercing eyes met Darius's, his face became darker. For a moment, he was reminded of their early years, playing in their father's garden, laughing, and making plans for the future.

However, those times had long since passed. Darius broke up the Iron Gang after their father passed away, stealing some of its members to start the Viper Gang. Out of some sense of brotherly affection, Zane had let him mature for 10 years and had refrained from intensifying their disputes.

However, this? It was an outrageous provocation to take Ravenford's biggest casino, which brought in between $10-30 million a month. Calling it a transaction and taking over the *iron gang* casino?

"Darius," Zane spoke in a low, threatening voice, "you've got some nerve. Do you think your Viper Gang can afford a trade like this? This is the city's largest casino."

The tension was thick, every eye watching the two brothers.

Darius chuckled, unfazed by Zane's hostility. "You'll definitely consider trading after you see this," he said smoothly, snapping his fingers. "Bring them here."

Two muscular men stepped from behind. They had great body shapes, towering and powerful. Each carried someone on their shoulder.

One man had a boy, around 13 years old, dressed in a simple white shirt and shorts, his head covered with a black cloth mask.

The other held a woman with a similarly masked face, dressed simply in a green garment. Their cries were muffled into weak, painful "uuuuhhhh" noises as both had their mouths tied with a ball. They struggled against the ropes binding their wrists and ankles.

The muscular men then quietly threw their captives on the ground. The boy and woman hit the ground.

The woman tried to scream, but the ball distorted her voice into a loud, pained groan as she hit the ground.

The tightrope left faint signs on her bare flesh, and her hands and legs were tied tightly. The teenager strained against his restraints, his tiny body shivering as he shook in fear.

Darius's smile grew as he pointed at the two captives. "Brother, let's now discuss our trade.

Staring at Darius, Zane said, "Who are these two?" Although a hint of doubt appeared on his face, he still said, "If you think I'll trade my casino for this cheap stunt, you're out of your mind Darius."

Darius smirked. "I knew you'd say that," he said, then gestured to his men. They stepped forward and pulled off the masks, revealing a woman and a teenage boy.

The boy, about 13 or 14, had messy dark hair and wide, frightened black eyes. He was trembling in fear.

The woman's brown hair fell over her shoulders. Despite the signs of age on her face, her soft features and curvy figure still held traces of her past beauty.

Zane's expression shifted. His breath hitched, and his eyes locked onto the woman. "Diana..." he muttered in a shaky voice.

Darius laughed, obviously pleased by the response. You do remember her, then. Your former partner. What about this boy? He knelt next to the teenager, grabbed his chin, and made him turn to face Zane.. "Look at him, Zane. See the resemblance? He is your son."

Zane's gaze moved between Diana and the boy.

Darius continued, "She left you because she was pregnant. And now, here they are."

Zane felt different types of emotions: grief, sadness and anger. But his voice is still the same, showing no sign of emotion. "Diana left me 14 years ago. Since then, I've built a new life. "Maya is the one who stood by me during my darkest times, while Diana left & that boy isn't mine."

"You really have no heart, do you?" Darius taunted, slightly pushing the boy's head back. "You can stand there like stone, even if it's your own flesh and blood? Impressive.

With a bitter tone, Zane's voice wavered. "Take them and go. I refuse to fall for your tricks.

Darius laughed sharply and mockingly, his smile growing as though he had been waiting for this. "All right, then," With a slight tilt of his head, he raised two fingers and flicked them forward. "Take her gag off." One of his men immediately obeyed, stepping forward to remove the gag from Diana's mouth.

As soon as the gag was removed, Diana cried out,"Zane! "Please, save your son at least." Her voice trembled and tears were forming in her eye's, but Zane remained icy.

Darius gave a gloomy laugh. "You see? It seems reasonable to trade your child for the casino, doesn't it? He approached Diana slowly, running his fingers over her hair in a soft motion. "But fine, if you don't want them… I'll sell her to the underground market, and as for the boy… he'll make a fine worker in my factory. Such a shame, though. A mother and son… torn apart."

Zane said coldly, "Take them and get out of my casino."

Diana's tear-filled eyes widened in disbelief. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Zane... you're really going to just walk away?"

Zane appeared on the verge of leaving. Not even his troops anticipated that he would abandon his own child. Even though they had always admired him, this incident caused them to reconsider everything.

As Zane turned around ready to leave but as he turned around his hand made a signal his men recognized instantly.

Soon, Gunfire exploded through the casino as Zane swiftly turned around and drew his weapon. His calm expression was gone, replaced by a cold, deadly fury.. Without hesitation, he aimed at Darius and pulled the trigger. "Sorry, brother," he muttered, his voice heavy with anger and regret.

Zane's men fired in unison, their shots cutting through the air. Darius's men fell one after another, blood staining the pavement. Many didn't even have a chance to react before they were gunned down. Some of Darius's men collapsed instantly, while others staggered before falling. Within minutes, the ground was covered in bodies.

Seeing no way out, a few of them dropped to the floor, pretending to be dead to avoid the bullets. Blood spread across the ground, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

Still tied up, Diana and the boy were trapped in the chaos. Bullets tore through Darius's men nearby, spraying blood onto their faces. Diana struggled against the ropes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her muffled screams were filled with fear as she watched Darius's men fall one by one. Beside her, the boy whimpered, his wide, terrified eyes searching for help, but the gag kept him silent.

Darius staggered back as Zane's bullets struck him, his clothes quickly soaking with blood. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, staring at Zane in disbelief. He spoke out, struggling for oxygen, "You... killed me... for them?" He never imagined it would end this way; in all the previous fights they had had, he always expected a beating rather than a gunshot, but this time it was different.

Zane glanced down at him, his face silent and icy.. After a moment, he spoke, his voice low. "I didn't kill you for them. I killed you because you left me no choice. You forgot our brotherhood and your friendship with Diana."

As Darius's body fell, Zane put away his gun, his chest rising and falling heavily. Blood pooled around the fallen men, and the sharp scent of gunpowder hung in the air.

Zane walked over to Diana, who sat trembling, silent tears running down her pale face. The boy clung to her, his wide eyes filled with fear. Zane crouched down and pulled out a small knife. "Hold still," he said quietly.

Zane cut the rope that bound Diana & the boy's legs and wrists. The child scared slightly but stayed motionless underneath Zane's calm stare as he turned to face him. When Zane released him and took off the gag, the teenager gave him a tight hug and sobbed, "Daddy, I missed you so much."