The scent of burning tobacco filled Dimitri’s private office, a large, dimly lit space decorated with heavy wooden furniture and bookshelves stacked with books no one had probably touched in years. Dimitri leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes locked on the three men standing before him.

“You’re telling me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “that someone broke into our system and walked away with the file?”

The men exchanged nervous glances, fear clear on their faces. One of them, a thin man with a scar down his cheek, spoke up. “It was planned, boss. They knew exactly where to look. It wasn’t random.”

Dimitri’s jaw tightened. His empire was built on secrets, on a carefully controlled network of power that stretched further than most could imagine. The stolen file wasn’t just any document it held information about his deals, alliances, and weaknesses. If the wrong person got their hands on it, everything he built could crumble.

“Find out who’s behind this,” Dimitri ordered, his voice slicing through the room. “And bring me the file. No excuses.”

The men hurried out, leaving Dimitri alone with his thoughts. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the dim light. As he took a sip, his mind raced.

The mafia world was brutal, where trust was rare and loyalty even rarer. Dimitri had fought his way to the top, destroying anyone who stood in his way. But this theft was a reminder that no one was truly untouchable.

A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Without waiting for permission, Ivan, his trusted second-in-command, stepped inside.

“We’ve got a lead,” Ivan said, his tone sharp and businesslike. “The file was traced to a broker in Prague. He sells information to the highest bidder.”

Dimitri put his glass down, interest sparking in his eyes. “Prague, huh? That’s a long way to go for a dead man.”

Ivan smirked. “Shall I book the flight?”

“No,” Dimitri said, standing up. “I’ll handle this myself.”

The flight to Prague was smooth, the private jet luxury a stark contrast to the chaos brewing in Dimitri’s mind. As the plane touched down, a thought crossed his mind Sera. He had left her back at the mansion, still adjusting to the new reality he had forced upon her.

For a brief moment, guilt stirred in him. But he quickly pushed it aside. Emotions had no place in his world.

Ivan met him at the airport, a sleek black car waiting for them. As they drove through Prague’s cobblestone streets, Dimitri took in the contrast between the city’s old-world charm and the violence that was about to unfold.

“The broker is meeting his client tonight,” Ivan explained. “We’ll get to him before the deal happens.”

Dimitri nodded, already calculating his next move.

The meeting spot was an abandoned warehouse, its crumbling walls hiding the shady deals going on inside. Dimitri and his men moved in silently, weapons ready.

Through the cracked windows, Dimitri spotted the broker a short, balding man with nervous eyes talking to a group of buyers. A laptop sat on the table between them, no doubt holding the stolen file.

Dimitri signaled to his men. Within seconds, things went crazy. Gunfire echoed through the warehouse as Dimitri’s team took down the buyers with sharp precision.

The broker tried to run, but Dimitri was faster. He grabbed the man by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

“Where’s the file?” Dimitri asked, his voice calm but deadly.

The broker’s face turned pale with fear. “It’s… it’s on the laptop! Please, don’t kill me!”

Dimitri glanced at Ivan, who picked up the laptop and handed it over. Satisfied, Dimitri let go of the broker only to throw a hard punch that sent him crumbling to the floor.

“Consider that a warning,” Dimitri said coldly. “If I ever see you again, you won’t be walking away.”

Back in the car, Dimitri opened the laptop, his sharp gaze scanning the screen. The file was still there, its contents as dangerous as he had feared.

“This could’ve destroyed everything,” Ivan muttered, glancing at the screen.

“It still could,” Dimitri replied, his expression dark. “Whoever planned this won’t stop here. We need to find them before they make another move.”

Ivan nodded. “I’ll have our contacts dig into it. We’ll find them.”

○●○

By the time Dimitri got back to the mansion, it was late. The house was dark and quiet, the only sound was the soft rustling of the wind outside.

He found Sera in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes with a tired look on her face. She glanced up as he walked in, her eyes narrowing.

“Back from whatever shady place you disappeared to?” she asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Dimitri smirked, amused by her attitude. “Missed me already?”

“Not even a little,” she shot back, focusing on the dishes again.

For a moment, Dimitri just watched her. No matter what happened, she still had that fire in her, refusing to break.

“You’ll get used to this life,” he said, his voice softer than usual.

Sera paused, glancing at him over her shoulder. “And what about you, Dimitri? Will you ever get used to having someone in your home who hates you?”

Her words hit deeper than he cared to admit, but he didn’t let it show. Instead, he turned and walked away, his mind already shifting back to the dangerous world waiting for him.

He had the file now, but the fight was far from over. In the mafia world, nothing was guaranteed betrayal lurked around every corner and power was always up for grabs.

And Dimitri had no plans of losing.