"Grant, have you ever met this Tony Stark in person?"
"No, Boss," Bald Strongson replied. "But he's all over TV and the news. Tech genius, billionaire playboy, CEO of Stark Industries… the guy's got so many titles, I'd run out of breath trying to name them all."
"Daddy, I don't care about any of that. I was bullied. Even using your name didn't help. You have to get justice for your daughter. Tony Stark didn't just slap me, he slapped you too. He clearly has no respect for you."
"Big Brother, don't!"
A square-faced man who had been sitting silently until now suddenly stood up. His name was Charles—Tony's second brother.
"What's the problem?" Charles asked. "The three of us crossed the border from Mexico together. We've suffered, fought, and clawed our way through every gang in New York. That Tony Stark? He's no different from anyone else. One head, two arms, two legs. If others can be killed, why not him?"
The speaker was Tiger, known throughout the gang as Brother Tiger.
"Tiger's right. Stark's had it too easy for too long. He's never tasted blood—no wonder he acts so high and mighty."
Tony let out a cruel grin, flashing his teeth.
"Have I been out of sight so long that New York's elites have forgotten what we did back in the day?"
"Exactly! Why were we able to build our empire in New York? Because one arrogant billionaire pissed you off, and we wiped out his whole family," Tiger laughed, as if reliving his favorite memory.
"That old man had dozens of bodyguards and top-of-the-line security, but Grant and I tore through them. What good are numbers? What good are guns? Nothing beats the super serum Hydra gave us!"
"Hold up, Third Brother," Charles interjected. "Tony Stark isn't some run-of-the-mill rich brat. That Iron Man armor he made is insanely advanced. Even the U.S. government is itching to get its hands on it. If we're going to take him on, we need a solid plan."
Charles looked rugged on the outside, but he was sharp—undeniably the brains of the trio. In the underworld, his name carried weight: the Thousand-Faced Fox.
"Charles is right. The criminal world isn't just about fists and blood. It's about networks, leverage, and knowing when to strike."
Tony's fury cooled, and his cunning instincts took over.
All three brothers, including Grant, had been injected with Hydra's super serum—the same variant once used by the Red Skull. It magnified their inherent traits.
The eldest brother became completely irrational when angry. The second brother turned cold and calculating. And Tiger? He was a savage—a pure-blooded berserker who lived for violence.
Off to the side, Watson clutched his untouched martini, trembling with fear.
"Daddy, I'm not even asking for much," Tina said, walking over as she saw her father calming down. "Just cut off the hand he used to hit me. That's all."
She remembered all too well how terrifying his outbursts could be. Even she hadn't always escaped unscathed.
Tina had suffered before. Though her father could take her to the heights of pleasure, the taboo nature of their bond made it all the more unbearable.
Tony held her soft hand, his eyes narrowing.
"My daughter is truly the kindest. Don't worry, I'm not just taking his hand. I want his money too. Isn't he supposed to be some filthy rich heir? Great timing—we've just opened a new drug route through Mexico. Expansion means expenses. Second Brother, any ideas? Lay it out for everyone."
Charles looked calmly at Watson, then back at Tony.
"Oh, Uncle Charles," Tina cut in quickly, catching the look. "Watson's my boyfriend. He's basically family now, don't be so cold."
"That's right," Tony agreed, still lightheaded from Tina's closeness. "Besides us three, it's just Grant and Watson here—no outsiders. Speak freely."
"You've heard of Tony Stark, Victor, and Norman Osborn, right?"
Charles pulled out a cigar. Watson rushed over to light it.
Charles slowly rotated the cigar over the flame, letting it warm and catch, before taking a long, thoughtful drag.
This kid Watson might be a living clothes hanger, but at least he knew how to flatter the right people.
"You mean Victor—Tony Stark's former partner and the ex-CEO of Osborn Industries?"
As the head of New York's biggest criminal syndicate, Tony had a pretty good idea who ran what in the city.
"But didn't they break ties with Stark and go underground?"
"Yeah, Second Brother, didn't they even get into a huge fight?"
Tiger perked up immediately at the word "fight."
Charles shot his younger brother a look. Sometimes, he truly wondered if Tiger's brain had been replaced entirely by muscle. All the man ever thought about was brawling—never the bigger picture.
"Well… Tiger's not wrong. They did fight, but that was because Victor and his crew kidnapped Stark's secretary—Virginia Potts."
"Oh yeah! Pepper, right? Isn't she Stark's official girlfriend and basically the one running Stark Industries?"
Watson quickly added his voice to the discussion.
Charles took another deep drag of his cigar.
"Our new route through Mexico has a big deal lined up in Veracruz, in the capital—Riverfield. Our contact there is a local kingpin known as Uncle Sam."
As the rich, sweet vanilla of the cigar lingered in his mouth, Charles paused, enjoying the moment. Everyone's eyes were locked on him, hanging on his words. He couldn't help but feel a rush of pride.
"From what I've heard, Uncle Sam recently unified the entire underground drug market in Veracruz—and the people who helped him pull it off were none other than Victor and his group."
"What?!"
Tony's expression shifted, and he sat up straighter. Even Tina's hand slipped from his grasp as the revelation took root.
As someone born and raised in Mexico, he knew all too well how chaotic his homeland was—riddled with infighting and deadly rivalries.
(End of Chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09