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Chapter 38 - Blanca

The afternoon sun cast a heavy, golden glow over the villa in Michoacán. The atmosphere was tense as the three armored SUVs, their blacked-out windows hiding their occupants, slowly rolled through the gated entrance. Armed guards lined the property, watching every movement carefully. Inside the convoy sat Isabella Rodrigo, the daughter of the late Rodrigo, former head of the Los Blanca Cartel. Her face was a mask of cold composure, but beneath it, there was a storm brewing.

The funeral earlier had been a somber but powerful event, attended by cartel members, business associates, and family. Many whispered, watching her as she mourned her father. They wondered how she would lead, how the daughter of the formidable Rodrigo would handle the weight of the empire now resting on her shoulders. Isabella's arrival from Paris had been swift, and now, just hours after burying her father, she was about to face the true test: earning the respect of her father's empire.

As the SUVs came to a stop, Isabella stepped out, her sharp black heels clicking against the cobblestone driveway. Flanked by her security, she was escorted into the villa. Inside, the atmosphere was just as intense as it was outside. Men in tailored suits, cartel lieutenants, business partners, and others in the inner circle of the Los Blanca Cartel lined the hallway leading to the office. Their expressions were a mix of respect, curiosity, and a quiet sense of fear. They had all come to pledge their loyalty—or at least to assess their new leader.

She was led to the grand office, where a throne-like chair awaited her, draped in rich crimson velvet, the symbol of power and authority in the cartel. The office had been her father's command center, but now it was hers. Isabella lowered herself into the chair, her back straight, her eyes scanning the room as she adjusted to her new seat of power. The walls were adorned with maps, weapons, and framed photographs of her father alongside notorious figures of the cartel world. It was as if the ghosts of his past were watching her, judging her every move.

Outside, a line had formed, the associates and lieutenants waiting to be summoned. The first man, **Carlos Valdez**, a trusted associate of Rodrigo, entered the room. He approached her cautiously, his head slightly bowed in respect.

"Señorita Rodrigo," he said, his voice steady but cautious. "Your father was a great man. His loss is a tragedy... but I am here to pledge my loyalty to you, just as I did to him."

Isabella studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Thank you, Carlos," she finally said, her voice cool and commanding. "But loyalty isn't given freely. It is earned. And I expect the same loyalty you gave my father—no, I expect more."

Carlos nodded, clearly aware of the subtle threat behind her words. He offered his hand, but she didn't take it. Instead, she dismissed him with a glance. Carlos quickly stepped back and exited the office, leaving the heavy door to close with a dull thud behind him.

One by one, they entered: lieutenants, drug suppliers, arms dealers, and enforcers, each one offering their condolences and pledging their allegiance. Each one measured her, testing her resolve, though none dared challenge her directly. Her replies were sharp, decisive. She wasn't just Rodrigo's daughter anymore; she was now the head of the Los Blanca Cartel, and she intended to rule with the same iron fist as her father—or harder.

As the final associate entered, **Miguel Guerra**, one of the most feared enforcers in the cartel, Isabella leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. Miguel was a ruthless man, and he had been fiercely loyal to her father. But now, his loyalty was an unknown.

"Isabella," he greeted, his voice a rumble. "It's good to see you taking your place here. Rodrigo trained you well. I just hope you're ready for what's coming. The other cartels… they see weakness in transition."

Isabella remained silent for a moment, her eyes locked on his. "They will see strength," she said finally, her voice like steel. "And if anyone tries to test that, they'll find themselves buried next to my father."

Miguel chuckled darkly, impressed by her resolve. "I look forward to seeing that strength, Isabella. I'll be watching closely."

With that, he left, leaving Isabella alone in the office, the weight of her new position pressing down on her shoulders. She exhaled slowly, the quiet after the storm of meetings giving her a moment to reflect. The empire was hers now, but she knew the challenges ahead would be relentless. There would be enemies—both inside and outside the cartel—who would seek to destroy her. But as she sat in the throne-like chair that once belonged to her father, she knew one thing for certain: she would not be his shadow.

Isabella Rodrigo was ready to carve her own legacy, and anyone who stood in her way would soon learn the cost.

Tyrone leaned back in his leather chair, the dim glow of the neon lights from his nightclub filtering into the office. Behind him, stacks of cash were piled high on the polished shelves—evidence of his legitimate businesses that provided a steady flow of money. Yet, despite the flashy displays of wealth and success, a gnawing frustration clouded his thoughts.

The loss of his main warehouse had hit him hard. With millions in product and cash going up in smoke, and the betrayal by Ricco and the Los Ballas still fresh in his mind, Tyrone felt the walls closing in. He had roughly **24 million** in dirty money that needed cleaning, and while the small underground warehouses masked as cafés were still operational, they weren't enough to make up for what he'd lost.

Leaning forward, Tyrone drummed his fingers on the desk, eyeing the figure that mattered most at this moment—**Miguel**. Tyrone still owed him, and Miguel wasn't the type to wait forever. Missing that payment would put him in a worse situation than the one he was already in, and Tyrone wasn't one to allow himself to fall that far.

He rubbed his chin, thinking of his next move. That's when the idea clicked. He had one card left to play: the money funneled from the former Police Captain's account. The 12 million he had extracted after interrogating and disposing of the man could cover most of what he owed, but he needed to come up with more.

Tyrone dialed his **Fixer**, a man known for getting things done quietly and efficiently. He didn't waste time with formalities.

"Get that 12 million from the Captain's account transferred to the nightclub. Make it look clean. I'm sending over an extra 3 million from my own stash."

The Fixer confirmed the order without question. Tyrone ended the call and exhaled sharply. He knew the 15 million would be enough to placate Miguel for now, keep things running smoothly. But the reality was sinking in—the empire he had worked so hard to build was on shaky ground, and he couldn't afford another misstep.

He stood up and glanced at the stacks of cash behind him. They weren't enough. Not yet. But he was determined to rebuild, to rise above the losses and come back stronger. And as always, anyone who got in his way would pay the price.

Tyrone's phone buzzed. It was a notification that the funds had been successfully transferred to his nightclub's account. He dialed Miguel's number, ready to clear the debt from the cocaine he had lost and prepare for the next move.

"Consider it handled," he muttered into the phone before hanging up, a small grin crossing his face. He wasn't out of the game yet, not by a long shot.

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