Chapter 35 : Dangerous Alliances

The sun was just beginning to set, casting long shadows over the city as Nikki made her way to an upscale bar on the outskirts of town. It was the kind of place where deals were made in hushed tones and fortunes changed hands under the table. She walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, her mind racing with the plan she had spent days concocting.

Sitting in a dimly lit booth at the back of the bar was a man she knew well—Bellini, the head of a rival family who had long harbored a grudge against the Mateos. He looked up as she approached, his eyes narrowing in curiosity and suspicion. Beside him sat Nikki's so-called "baby daddy,"

"Bellini," she greeted, sliding into the booth across from him. "Thank you for meeting me."

Bellini's eyes flicked to her companion, then back to her. "This must be important if you're willing to reach out to me, Nikki. What do you want?"

Nikki leaned in, her voice low and filled with determination. "I want to take down the Mateos. And