The aftermath of Iron Vultures’ disastrous week spread across Misty High City faster than wildfire.

At first, it had merely been rumors and hushed conversations until it became wide spread that their storage facilities emptied and thet had lost millions upon millions of dollars worth of resources.

The entire thing sounded so absurd that many people initially refused to believe it.

Yet the evidence was impossible to ignore.

Soon enough, every gang in Misty High City was talking about it and they soon became a laughing stock.

A few were concerned about the details surrounding this incident.

Inside one gang headquarters, several awakened members sat around a television screen while watching a news report.

"...sources indicate Iron Vultures suffered unprecedented logistical losses over the last several days..."

One man nearly spat out his drink. "Hah! Bloodstain must be losing his mind."

His companions burst into laughter.

Elsewhere, another gang leader sat quietly in his office while reading a report.

Unlike the others, he wasn’t laughing. Instead, he was lost deep in thought because nobody knew who had done it and that made people nervous.

"Whoever did this..." the gang leader closed the report. "...is dangerous."

Across the city, similar conversations unfolded.

Theories appeared everywhere with some blaming rival top fifty gangs while others suspected foreign organizations.

A few conspiracy theorists even claimed Dragon Fang had secretly moved against Iron Vultures.

Ironically, almost nobody suspected Shadow Reapers because Shadow Reapers was still considered a relatively new gang.

They couldn’t be responsible for crippling Iron Vultures.

Most people wouldn’t even consider the possibility... only Bloodstain did.

---

The consequences started showing afterwards.

Everything ultimately came down to money since Awakened gangs weren’t charities.

Members expected payment, bonuses, benefits, equipment and support generally.

Unfortunately, Iron Vultures was suddenly finding itself stretched thinner than ever before.

Several operations had been delayed, certain payments had become late, resources were harder to distribute and gang members began complaining.

Rumors of dissatisfaction quietly spread through the ranks.

---

Meanwhile, life inside Shadow Reapers headquarters couldn’t have been more different.

Construction crews moved constantly throughout the base installing new reinforced walls and putting additional training facilities under development.

Storage capacity had doubled, aecurity systems were upgraded and living quarters expanded.

Even the outer perimeter was receiving improvements.

West had no intention of letting those stolen resources sit around gathering dust.

If he was going to take Iron Vultures’ wealth, he might as well put it to good use.

Standing on one of the upper walkways overlooking the training grounds, West watched several newer recruits sparring below.

Jax was yelling instructions while Hart looked like he regretted volunteering to supervise anything.

Several Verdant Pyre Behemoths wandered around like oversized guard dogs.

A small smile appeared on West’s face... Expansion was already occurring so quickly.

---

Later that afternoon, West sat inside his office.

Reports, contracts, and logistics documents covered much of the table’s surface as he sat in his chair reviewing figures.

For all the excitement of gang life, paperwork remained eternal.

A knock sounded. "Come in."

The door opened and Aria stepped inside carrying a tablet and several folders.

Her long pink hair was tied back today, giving her an even more professional appearance.

Though the small smile she wore immediately softened that image.

"I’ve got the latest reports."

West sighed dramatically. "Please tell me they’re good."

Aria laughed. "Mostly."

She crossed the room and placed the files on the desk.

West skimmed through them, seeing that recruitment numbers had climbed to forty and resource inventories as well sales projections had gone up by several scales.

Territory updates also showed they had acquired more than half of this neighborhood.

Everything looked surprisingly positive.

Much of that was thanks to Aria and West knew it.

Without her, things would have been a mess. Her skill was nothing to joke about.

After several minutes of reviewing everything, he finally set the documents aside. "Good job."

Aria displayed a genuinely warm smile. "That’s it?"

West raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean that’s it?"

She folded her arms. "I spent half the week fixing logistics."

"And?"

"And I was expecting something more impressive than two words."

West laughed. "Come here."

The moment Aria walked around the desk, West reached out and gently pulled her closer, making her sit on his lap.

She immediately relaxed with a look of contentment on her face.

West leaned back. "I admit that you deserve more praise than I give you."

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. This wasn’t something he said often.

West continued. "Honestly, you’re the reason half of our operations even work."

Aria looked away with a faint blush on her face.

"If it wasn’t for you," West added, "I’d be doing most of this blind."

She laughed softly. "That’s probably true."

"Definitely true."

"You’re exaggerating."

"I’m really not."

For a few moments neither spoke while the atmosphere turned super comfortable as West cradled her in his arms.

Eventually Aria glanced up at him. "So."

West immediately recognized that look. "So?"

She smiled mischievously. "If you’re admitting how important I am..."

West chuckled before gently brushing a strand of hair behind her. "I am..."

The top floor of the seven-storey build with floor-to-ceiling glass panes, displayed the city below with glittering grid of lights and shadows under the twilight sky, adding more serenity to the atmosphere.

West hand remained wrapped around Aria’s waist as she perched on his lap with her tight pencil skirt riding up her thighs.

The cream-colored blouse stretched and expanded heavily at her chest area while her pink hair cascaded over her shoulders in silky strands brushing against his knuckles.

Her fingers tapped lightly against his chest, tracing the outline of his button-down shirt. "So, boss," she purred with a low and teasing voice, "how exactly are you planning to reward me?" She tilted her head, meeting his gaze with her emerald eyes with a smirk.

"There it is," West chuckled even more.

"You just admited how important I am..." She reminded him.

West’s hand slid up from her waist, cupping the back of her neck while stroking her jawline with his thumb. "You have been a very good girl, haven’t you?" His voice was gravelly, warm, sending a shiver down her spine. "I do believe you deserve something... special."

He leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep, possessive kiss.

Her mouth opened instantly and her tongue met his, tasting mint and something darker.

His hand moved from her neck down her back, tracing the curve of her spine, settling on her ass. He squeezed, feeling the firm muscle beneath the thin fabric of her skirt.

She moaned into his mouth, grinding her hips against his growing bulge.

He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. "But first, I want to see what you’re wearing under that professional exterior."

Aria’s eyes sparkled as she stood up slowly, turning to face him, and began unbuttoning her blouse slow and sultry. The fabric parted, revealing a black lace bra that barely contained her generous breasts.

She let the blouse fall to the floor, then hooked her thumbs into her skirt, pushing it down over her hips. It pooled at her feet, leaving her in only the bra, a matching black thong, and sheer stockings held up by a garter belt.

West’s eyes roamed over her body as his cock throbbed in his trousers. "Fuck, Aria. You’re as gorgeous as ever."

She stepped closer, grabbing his belt. "I aim to please, boss."

She unbuckled him and pulled his cock free which was already hard and thick.

She licked her lips, then lowered herself to her knees, taking him into her mouth without hesitation.

His head fell back as a low groan escaped his throat.

Her mouth was hot, wet and skilled. She took him deep, letting her lips slid down his shaft while her tongue swirled around the head.

She pulled back and plunged again, stroking the base of his dick while her other hand cupped his balls.

She set a fast and dirty rhythm with her pink hair bobbing as she worked him.

West’s hands gripped the armrests of his chair, while letting out soft grunts. "That’s it, baby. Suck it just like that."

Her eyes watered as she looked up at him but she didn’t stop. Her throat convulsed around his tip as she deep-throated him and held it for a long, agonizing moment before pulling off with a wet gasp.

She licked the length of his cock and then stood up before wiping her mouth. "Your turn."

He rose from the chair with his cock springing up and grabbed her by the waist.

He spun her around and bent her over the edge of his massive desk with her hands splayed across the mahogany surface, scattering papers and a pen holder.

He kicked her feet apart, causing her heels to click against the hardwood floor.

"Hold onto the desk," he commanded.

She gripped the edge with her back arched, presenting her ass to him.

The black thong was a thin strip of fabric which he shifted with a soft yank. He positioned himself at her entrance and rubbed the head of his cock against her wet slit, teasing her.

"Please, West," she whimpered. "Fuck me."