The cold glow of the screens bathed The Raven's face in flickering blue light. His fingers drummed against the polished surface of his desk, his eyes sharp, emotionless.
Twelve operatives. Dead. Wiped out like roaches.
Luciano De Luca wasn't just surviving—he was thriving.
And that was unacceptable.
The Raven tapped a secure line. "Activate Omega Protocol."
A chilling silence followed.
Then a robotic voice replied, "Omega Protocol confirmed. Initiating full destabilization."
Across the world, a digital chain reaction began.
---
Palermo – De Luca Penthouse
Luciano stood on the balcony, the scent of blood and gunpowder still lingering in the air. His hands gripped the rail as he stared out at the city.
Ariana walked out behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her cheek pressed against his back. "Tell me it's over."
He didn't answer immediately.
His phone vibrated.
Valentina's voice came through, clipped and panicked. "Boss... something's wrong. Something big."
Luciano turned sharply. "Talk."
"Banks... shut down. Communications failing. Our offshore accounts—locked. Electricity grids flickering."
His eyes narrowed. "A cyber-attack?"
"Not just that." Her voice shook. "It's... everything. Someone's trying to collapse the entire city."
A siren wailed in the distance—followed by another. Then more.
Lights across the skyline flickered—then died.
Darkness swallowed Palermo.
---
Underground – De Luca War Room
Emergency power kicked on, dim red lights bathing the room in an eerie glow.
Valentina's hands flew over her keyboards. "They're frying the infrastructure. Power grids, banks, police networks. The city's about to fall into total chaos."
Sergio stormed in. "Explosions at the west docks. Riots breaking out. Every rival gang's moving. Someone pulled the leash off every dog in this city."
Luciano's jaw tightened. "It's Omega Protocol."
Marco cursed. "What the hell is that?"
"A scorched-earth tactic," Luciano growled. "The Raven's endgame. If he can't control Palermo... he'll burn it to the ground."
---
City Streets – Chaos Unleashed
Fires erupted. Storefronts shattered. Looters swarmed like ants. Gunshots echoed. Police radios fizzled with static—useless.
Gangs spilled into the streets—old rivals, small-time thugs, foreign mercenaries. Some came for power. Some came for money. Others came simply to watch the city burn.
A lawless free-for-all.
---
Back at the Penthouse
Ariana stood at the window, watching as plumes of smoke rose across the city. Her stomach twisted. "This... this is insane."
Luciano pulled on his bulletproof vest. "It's war."
She turned to him, voice trembling. "Tell me what to do."
His eyes softened for a split second. "You stay close to me. No matter what. You do not leave my side."
He strapped a second pistol onto his thigh. "Sergio, Marco—get the armored convoy ready. We're moving to the safe bunker."
Marco's brows furrowed. "The one in the hills?"
"No," Luciano said. "That's too exposed. We go underground. Beneath the old cathedral. The vault."
Sergio nodded. "On it."
---
Minutes Later – Armored Convoy
The convoy pushed through chaos. Fires blazed on both sides of the streets. Gunmen exchanged bullets in alleyways. Civilians screamed and scattered.
An SUV slammed into a barricade. Luciano's lead car swerved, narrowly dodging a Molotov cocktail.
Ariana gripped Luciano's hand. "This is... this is a nightmare."
His voice was steel. "No. This is the world I was born into."
A sniper shot cracked—PING. The bullet ricocheted off the bulletproof glass.
Marco cursed. "Ambush ahead!"
Luciano's eyes narrowed. "Drive through. No mercy."
---
Gunfight – Downtown Palermo
Dozens of armed men blocked the road, firing wildly.
Luciano's convoy didn't stop.
Sergio leaned out the window—RATATATAT. His rifle shredded the front line of attackers.
Luciano kicked open his door, firing two precise shots—pop, pop. Two heads dropped.
Marco gunned the engine, smashing through the barricade. Wood splintered. Bodies flew.
As they cleared the blockade, Ariana gasped. "Oh my God."
Luciano didn't flinch. "Keep driving."
---
Beneath the Old Cathedral – Hidden Vault
Steel doors hissed open. Reinforced concrete. Emergency generators. Stockpiles of weapons, food, cash, and encrypted communication systems.
Sergio wiped sweat from his brow. "Safe... for now."
Luciano strode to the central console, punching in codes. "Valentina, report."
Her voice crackled through. "The city's in total collapse. The Raven's people are fueling the chaos. But... there's more."
"Spit it out."
"He's here."
Luciano's blood ran cold. "What?"
"Switzerland's too far for this kind of coordination. The Raven... is in Palermo."
Silence.
Ariana's eyes widened. "He's... here?"
Luciano's fists clenched. "Then it ends here."
---
Meanwhile – Luxury Yacht, Palermo Harbor
The Raven stood on the deck, watching the flames consume the city.
A phone call connected.
Luciano's voice came through, low, lethal.
"You made a mistake coming here."
The Raven chuckled. "No, De Luca. You did. This isn't your city anymore. It's mine."
A pause.
Then Luciano's voice turned ice cold.
"No. It's your grave."
Click.