Carrick paced the dimly lit warehouse, his mind running through every possible angle. A ten-million-dollar bounty. His own father had just turned every mercenary, assassin, and low-life scumbag into an enemy.

Maximus leaned against a crate, arms crossed, watching him with an amused smirk. "So, what's the plan now, Zenith?"

Carrick stopped pacing. He exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the situation. The bounty changed things. It wasn't just about taking down Domino or the Gale Family anymore. It was about surviving the entire underworld.

He glanced at Victor, who was still reading through the article on his phone. The older man shook his head. "Your father isn't playing games, kid. Ten million will have everyone gunning for you. Even people who wouldn't normally cross you might be tempted."

Carrick rolled his shoulders, his expression unreadable. "Let them come."

Maximus raised an eyebrow. "Confident, aren't you?"

Carrick met his gaze. "I'm not confident. I'm prepared."

Victor sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Alright. Let's hear it. What's the next move?"

Carrick didn't hesitate. "We hit back. Hard."

Maximus chuckled. "Straight to revenge, huh? I like it."

Carrick shook his head. "This isn't just revenge. This is control. My father wants to turn the world against me? Fine. But I'll show them that hunting me is the biggest mistake they'll ever make."

Victor leaned forward. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Carrick smirked. "We set an example."

Silence settled over the warehouse.

Maximus's eyes gleamed with interest. "Go on."

Carrick turned to Victor. "We have their financial records. That means we have leverage."

Victor nodded slowly. "You want to start cutting off their power."

"Exactly." Carrick's expression darkened. "We go after their money, their weapons, their alliances. We make it so that even Domino's own people start questioning whether he's worth protecting."

Maximus's smirk widened. "Not just brute force, then. You're playing the long game."

Carrick nodded. "But first, we send a message."

Victor's eyes narrowed. "What kind of message?"

Carrick's voice was ice.

"We kill the first person who tries to collect that bounty. And we make sure everyone sees it."

The streets were already buzzing with rumors by the time Carrick stepped outside the warehouse. The bounty had spread like wildfire. Every gang, every mercenary crew, every wannabe killer in the city was talking about Aurum Zenith's head price.

Carrick didn't have to wait long for the first attempt.

They came fast.

Sloppy.

Two men in cheap leather jackets, their hands hovering near their pistols, thinking they were fast enough to take him by surprise.

Carrick didn't even let them blink.

Bang.

The first man's head snapped back as a bullet tore through his skull, splattering blood onto the cracked pavement.

The second man froze.

Carrick was already moving. Before the fool could even think about pulling his weapon, Carrick had closed the distance, slamming the barrel of his gun against his forehead.

"You're the first," Carrick said quietly. "Unlucky."

The man begged. "Wait, wait! Please-"

Bang.

His body crumpled to the ground.

Carrick exhaled, rolling his shoulders. He turned to Victor, who had been watching with cold indifference.

"Think they got the message?" Carrick asked.

Victor smirked. "Let's make sure."

Maximus was already pulling out his phone, snapping a picture of the bodies. He tapped the screen a few times before nodding. "It's done."

Carrick arched an eyebrow. "Where'd you send it?"

Maximus grinned. "Every major crime syndicate in the city. Every bounty hunter forum. Every mercenary network."

Carrick smirked. "Good."

They needed to set the tone. If anyone thought collecting that bounty was easy money, they'd realize soon enough that it was a death sentence.

Later that night, in an undisclosed location, Zachary Gale sat in his office, sipping expensive whiskey. A large TV screen in front of him showed the same image Maximus had just sent out-two dead bodies lying in a pool of their own blood.

His jaw clenched.

Domino stood beside him, arms crossed, staring at the screen with a dark expression.

"He's not hiding," Domino muttered.

Zachary exhaled through his nose. "No. He's not."

A moment of silence passed.

Then, Domino grinned. "Good. That makes it easier."

Zachary didn't return the smile. Instead, he turned to his personal bodyguard, a hulking man dressed in a tailored black suit.

"Send a message to Samael."

The bodyguard hesitated. Even Domino's grin faltered.

"...Samael?"

Zachary nodded slowly. "Tell him I have a job for him."

Domino whistled. "Damn. Calling in the big guns, huh?"

Zachary's eyes never left the screen.

"This has gone on long enough."

Carrick sat in the back of an SUV, staring out the window as the city passed by in streaks of neon light. Maximus drove, while Victor sat in the passenger seat, flipping through files.

Jack's voice crackled over the radio. "Boss, we got chatter on the mercenary networks. People are scared."

Carrick smirked. "Good."

Jack hesitated. "But we also got a problem."

Carrick's smirk faded. "Go on."

Jack's voice dropped lower. "Word is... Zachary hired Samael."

The car went dead silent.

Even Maximus cursed under his breath.

Victor turned around in his seat. "You're sure?"

Jack exhaled. "Confirmed it myself. The bastard's in town."

Carrick tapped his fingers against his knee. He had heard of Samael before. Everyone had.

An elite assassin. The kind of man you never wanted hunting you.

Maximus shook his head. "That's not just any hitman, kid. That's a ghost."

Victor rubbed his jaw. "If Samael is on your trail, you better start sleeping with one eye open."

Carrick's grip on his gun tightened. He wasn't afraid. But he wasn't stupid either. This was different.

Zachary wasn't just sending men after him anymore.

He was bringing monsters to the table.

Carrick exhaled.

Fine.

Let them come.

He wasn't the same helpless kid his father had betrayed years ago.

He was Aurum Zenith now.

And he was ready.

The air inside the SUV was thick with tension. Jack's voice had gone silent on the radio, but his last words echoed in Carrick's mind.

Samael was in town.

Carrick clenched his jaw. He had expected his father to escalate, but hiring the most feared assassin in the underworld? That was a different kind of problem.

Maximus was the first to break the silence. His voice was unusually serious. "If Samael is really here, you've got a ticking clock on your head."

Victor sighed, flipping through the files in his lap. "This is bad, kid. Really bad."

Carrick exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his knee. "Tell me everything you know about him."

Victor shut the file and leaned forward. "Samael isn't just an assassin, he's a specter. No one knows his real name. No one's seen his face. The only proof of his existence is the bodies he leaves behind."

Maximus nodded. "I worked a contract in Berlin a few years back. A cartel hired Samael to take out an entire government task force that was onto their operations. He did it in one night. No witnesses. No survivors."

Victor added, "Rumor has it, he doesn't take contracts for money alone. He takes them for sport. If he finds a target interesting, he'll hunt them like a damn animal."

Carrick's eyes darkened. "So he's a predator."

Maximus smirked. "The ultimate predator."

Carrick sat back, silent for a moment. Then he spoke, his voice calm. "If he's coming after me, that means I'm worth his time."

Victor shook his head. "This isn't about ego, kid. If you underestimate Samael, you're already dead."

Carrick met Victor's gaze. "I don't underestimate anyone. But I refuse to be hunted. If he wants me, then I'll be waiting."

Maximus chuckled. "I like that attitude. Stupid, but I like it."

Carrick turned to Jack, who was still on the radio. "Jack, I need every piece of information you can find on Samael. I don't care how deep you have to dig. I want patterns, weaknesses, past targets, everything."

Jack's voice crackled back. "On it, boss. But you should know something... The last guy who tried to dig into Samael's background?"

Carrick raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"

Jack hesitated. "They found his body three hours later. Cut into pieces. A warning."

Silence filled the SUV.

Carrick's lips curled into a smirk. "Then I guess we'll just have to be smarter."

The moment they arrived at their safehouse, Carrick put his people to work.

Jack's team scoured the dark web for any trace of Samael's movements. Alex worked on hacking into security networks to track unusual activity. Lila, their sniper, was already positioned on the rooftop, scanning the perimeter for any unwanted guests.

Carrick sat in front of the monitors, watching as multiple screens filled with data. Nothing.

It was like Samael didn't exist.

Maximus leaned over his shoulder. "He's watching you already."

Carrick glanced at him. "You sure?"

Maximus smirked. "If I were Samael, I wouldn't be looking for you. I'd already be here."

Carrick's eyes narrowed. He turned to Lila's comms. "Lila, any movement?"

A brief pause. Then her voice came through. "Negative. But... something feels off."

Carrick's gut twisted. Lila was one of the best snipers in the business. If she had a bad feeling, it meant something.

He switched to Alex's feed. "Alex, check the street cameras. Look for anything unusual."

A few moments passed before Alex's voice returned. "Uh... Boss? You're gonna wanna see this."

The main screen flickered to life.

A figure stood across the street from their safehouse.

No movement. No aggression. Just standing. Watching.

Carrick's blood ran cold.

The figure was clad in black tactical gear, a mask obscuring their face. But what caught Carrick's attention was the symbol stitched onto their sleeve-an emblem shaped like a black wing.

Maximus cursed under his breath. "That's him."

Victor stiffened. "Samael doesn't make mistakes. If he's letting us see him, it's because he wants us to."

Carrick exhaled slowly. Then he stood up.

Maximus's eyes widened. "What the hell are you doing?"

Carrick grabbed his gun, checked the magazine, and tucked it into his holster. "I'm going to say hello."

Victor grabbed his arm. "Are you insane? He's baiting you."

Carrick smirked. "Then I'll bite."

Stepping outside, Carrick felt the night air wrap around him like a cold embrace. The street was empty, the city silent.

And yet, the man in black still stood there.

Waiting.

Carrick walked forward, stopping a few feet away. "You must be Samael."

The figure tilted his head slightly. "Aurum Zenith." His voice was smooth, almost calm.

Carrick raised an eyebrow. "You're not much for small talk, huh?"

Samael remained silent.

Carrick smirked. "You've been watching me. So tell me, what do you see?"

Samael studied him for a moment. Then, he spoke.

"I see a boy trying to be a king."

Carrick's smirk didn't falter. "And I see a man who thinks he's a god."

A pause. Then, to Carrick's surprise, Samael chuckled.

"Interesting."

Carrick's eyes darkened. "You planning to kill me right now?"

Samael's head tilted again. "No. Not yet."

Carrick exhaled. "Then why are you here?"

Samael took a slow step forward. "To study you."

Carrick didn't move. "And?"

Another pause. Then Samael spoke.

"You might actually be worth hunting."

Carrick's grip tightened around his gun. But he didn't draw it. Not yet.

Samael took a step back. "Surprise me, Zenith. Make it fun."

And then, just like that, he disappeared.

Carrick blinked. One second, he was there. The next, gone.

His radio crackled. Jack's panicked voice came through. "Boss! He just vanished! We lost him on every camera-he's just gone!"

Carrick stood in the empty street, exhaling slowly.

He had just met the deadliest killer in the underworld.

And somehow...

He had earned his interest.

Back inside the safehouse, Victor was pacing. "This is bad. Really bad."

Maximus, on the other hand, was grinning. "Kid... you just made yourself the most interesting target in the world."

Carrick sat down, his mind racing. He wasn't afraid. No, fear wasn't the emotion he felt.

It was anticipation.

Samael wasn't just an enemy.

He was a challenge.

And Carrick had every intention of winning.

The room was silent except for the rhythmic tapping of Carrick's fingers against the desk. His encounter with Samael played on a loop in his mind. The assassin hadn't attacked, hadn't threatened, he had simply watched. And that unsettled Carrick more than an outright attempt on his life.

Victor sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't like this, kid. He's toying with you."

Maximus chuckled from where he leaned against the wall. "No, he's testing him."

Carrick's gaze flickered toward him. "Explain."

Maximus crossed his arms. "Samael isn't like other assassins. If Zachary Gale hired him, your father probably gave him complete freedom on how to handle you. And Samael? He's not the type to just eliminate a target outright."

Victor nodded grimly. "He's going to make this a game."

Carrick leaned back, exhaling. "Then I'll play."

Victor shot him an incredulous look. "Are you serious?"

Carrick's lips curled into a smirk. "Deadly."

Maximus let out a sharp laugh. "I like this kid."

Jack's voice crackled over the comms. "Boss, I managed to dig up a few things about Samael. Not much, but enough to be useful."

Carrick sat up. "Talk to me."

Jack cleared his throat. "First off, the name 'Samael' is an alias, obviously. No records, no official identity. But I did find a pattern. Every time he takes a contract, there's a waiting period before he moves in for the kill."

Victor's eyes narrowed. "What kind of waiting period?"

Jack hesitated. "Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It depends on how interested he is in his target."

Carrick tapped his chin. "So if he's watching me now, that means,"

Jack finished his sentence. "..he's studying you. Figuring out how you think, how you react. The more he learns, the more dangerous he becomes."

Maximus grinned. "This just got a hell of a lot more fun."

Victor shot him a glare. "Fun? This isn't a damn game."

Maximus shrugged. "It is to Samael."

Carrick stood up, his mind racing. "Alright. If he's watching, then let's give him something to watch."

Victor frowned. "What are you planning?"

Carrick's smirk widened. "We turn the hunt around."

An hour later, Carrick was standing outside a high-end club on the west side of the city. The neon lights reflected off the wet pavement, casting eerie shadows.

Lila's voice came through his earpiece. "You sure about this, boss?"

Carrick adjusted the cuff of his jacket. "Positive. If Samael wants to study me, then let's feed him the wrong information."

Victor sighed over the radio. "Just don't get yourself killed."

Carrick stepped inside, greeted by pounding bass and the thick scent of liquor and perfume. He scanned the room, spotting his target at the VIP section, Carlo Marzetti, an arms dealer with loose lips and a bad gambling habit.

Carrick strode forward, slipping past the bouncers with ease. When he reached the table, Carlo looked up, surprised. "Aurum Zenith. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Carrick took a seat across from him. "I need information."

Carlo smirked, sipping his whiskey. "Information comes with a price."

Carrick leaned forward. "How about your life?"

The smirk vanished.

Carrick continued, his voice calm. "I know you've been selling weapons to the Gale family. I also know that if you cross them, they'll gut you like a fish."

Carlo swallowed hard. "And what do you want from me?"

Carrick smirked. "A favor."

Carlo hesitated. "What kind of favor?"

Carrick sat back, feigning nonchalance. "I need word to get out that I'm making a move against Victor Alistair."

Victor's voice nearly exploded in his earpiece. "WHAT?!"

Carrick ignored him.

Carlo's eyes widened. "You want me to spread false intel?"

Carrick grinned. "You're a smart man."

Carlo shook his head. "That's risky."

Carrick's expression darkened. "Not as risky as saying no to me."

Carlo paled. After a moment, he exhaled and nodded. "Fine. I'll do it."

Carrick clapped him on the shoulder. "Good man."

As he stood to leave, he felt it.

A presence.

His eyes flickered toward the balcony above. A shadow moved, just for a second.

Samael was here.

Carrick smirked.

Good. Watch all you want.

Back at the safehouse, Victor was pacing furiously. "You want to explain to me why the hell you just told that idiot to spread a rumor that you're going after me?"

Carrick leaned against the table, arms crossed. "Because I want Samael to think I'm unpredictable."

Maximus grinned. "I see where you're going with this."

Victor glared at him. "Oh, do you? Because it looks insane to me."

Carrick explained. "Samael thinks he's in control. He watches, he learns, he strikes. But what happens if he can't predict me? What happens if I make him question everything he thinks he knows?"

Victor's expression darkened. "You're playing a dangerous game."

Carrick smirked. "And I plan to win."

Just then, Jack's voice cut in over the comms. "Boss... we've got a problem."

Carrick's smirk faded. "Talk."

Jack's voice was urgent. "Someone just put a bounty on your head."

Carrick's eyes narrowed. "How much?"

Jack exhaled. "Five million."

Silence.

Maximus let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's a lot of zeroes."

Victor cursed. "That's not just a bounty. That's a declaration."

Carrick's mind raced. "Who posted it?"

Jack hesitated. "That's the thing... it wasn't Zachary Gale."

Carrick stiffened. "Then who?"

Jack's voice dropped. "A private contractor. Someone big."

Carrick's stomach tightened. This changed everything.

Maximus grinned. "Well, kid. Looks like you're popular."

Victor ran a hand down his face. "We need to find out who's behind this, fast."

Carrick's jaw clenched. He had planned for Samael. He had prepared for Zachary.

But this?

This was a wild card.

His radio crackled again. Lila's voice came through. "Uh, boss? You might wanna look outside."

Carrick rushed to the window.

His blood ran cold.

Outside, standing under a flickering streetlamp, was a new figure.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Clad in a dark trench coat.

A different assassin.

And in his hand?

A silver pocket watch.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Carrick exhaled.

"Looks like the game just got a whole lot bigger."