"So that's how it is," Don Colvino said to Don Luciano. Luciano, the chairman of the mafia council with authority to issue orders to the candy shop, nodded."Then I'll leave the handling to you," Don Colvino said to Valentine. Valentine's eyes, which had been busy molesting Eugene under the table by pressing his foot or fondling his thigh, flashed subtly upon hearing those words. Eugene swallowed dryly after seeing that fleeting glint. Whenever he saw that look, he was reminded anew: this man is a ruthless contract killer."The method?" Valentine asked."It would be best to make an example of him to tighten up the lax discipline," Don Colvino replied.In other words, execute him as an example and leave the body for others to see."Then I'll send Brain," Valentine designated Doni, also known as Brain, as the executioner. The two bosses nodded, and the matter was settled.As soon as that conversation ended, the two bosses moved on to other topics. Mario also immediately joined in, havin
Hey.It was the greeting Valentine always gave to Eugene. In the morning when they met at work, or whenever they met again after being apart for even a short while, he would always whisper softly near Eugene's ear. Hey.It wasn't a particularly polite way to greet or address someone. But that short greeting Valentine gave to Eugene, how should one describe it... The gentle voice that seeped into his ears seemed to quietly stir his chest and spread throughout his body, creating a unique resonance. Especially in that short address, there was a strong sense of familiarity that confused Eugene."You're going to be my consigliere. No boss treats his consigliere carelessly. I thought I was always respecting you?"After saying that much, Valentine asked:"Tell me. Have I ever treated you without courtesy?"Eugene was momentarily at a loss for words. Or rather, he had so much to say that he couldn't speak.Was it respectful and courteous to threaten him with a gun and make him perform oral se
The next morning.Eugene arrived at the candy store in Leo's car and stood at the entrance for a moment, catching his breath. After what happened yesterday, facing Claudio was a big burden. But he couldn't avoid it.Eugene took a deep breath and pushed the door. A clear bell sound rang.Stepping into the store, Eugene hesitated momentarily. There was an unfamiliar man inside. He appeared to be an Italian man in his late twenties. He glanced at Eugene and Leo before turning toward the counter. Jo was standing at the counter, perhaps having come out after checking the security camera to confirm a customer had arrived.They couldn't open the hidden back room door while a customer was watching. Eugene stood next to the colorful candy display, pretending to be a customer while glancing at the counter. The item the man placed on the counter for payment was a single small candy.After confirming the customer had left, Eugene opened the back room door and went inside."Yo."Doni gave a short
"Claudio?"When Eugene spoke, Doni nodded exaggeratedly."Yes. But he was only 5 years old then. Plus, he witnessed his parents' deaths, so the shock must have been tremendous. When they asked if he had seen the killers, he didn't say a word. Everyone thought the poor kid had lost his memory due to trauma."Eugene imagined Valentine at 5 years old. At that age, he must have been so cute and lovable that one couldn't help but hug him."But you know what? That kid, who never once mentioned his parents' killers, exactly 11 years later, when he turned 16, did something incredible. It was truly amazing."Doni let out several exclamations with his gaze fixed on empty space, as if recalling that day. By this point, Eugene was itching to hear the rest of the story but quietly waited, pretending not to be interested. Instead, it was Jo who urged him to continue."Hey, stop dragging it out and get on with it."When Jo pressed him, Doni finally nodded and began to speak."I forgot to mention ear
A definition of proposals and threats quite different from ordinary people's common sense.He thought it was utterly absurd. But after hearing Doni's words earlier, it seemed that was the norm among Italian Mafia. Still completely incomprehensible and impossible to understand, but apparently that's how it is for them.Eugene recalled Valentine's tense face from last night and the cold, ominous face he saw today. According to Doni, Valentine was feeling down today. Was he shocked by Eugene's statement that he had never enjoyed or wanted a kiss with him?Having thought that far, Eugene inwardly shook his head. If he were the type to be shocked by such things, he wouldn't have pointed a gun and ordered Eugene to suck his thing in their first encounter. An unbelievably shameless killer wouldn't be shocked by that.Even if he was shocked, it wasn't Eugene's concern. Whatever strange sense of morality the Mafia had, what Valentine had done was far beyond anything acceptable."Hey."At Doni'
"You grabbed my belt with both hands so you couldn't escape, then spewed vomit all over my legs.""...""Judging by the amount, you must have had a lot to drink. Thanks to you, I had to throw away my pants and shoes.""...""You must have felt better after emptying your stomach completely. You looked very refreshed as you collapsed.""...Ah."Eugene couldn't find any words and only let out a short, ambiguous sound."I wiped the mouth that had gifted me with vomit and carefully took you home to bed."After hearing that, Eugene rubbed his face with his hand. He remembered waking up that day with a bad taste and unbearable dryness in his mouth. He had thought it was because he had sucked another man's dick, but that wasn't it. Of course his mouth would smell and feel dry after vomiting."The next day, I formally introduced you to my only family."Eugene felt like he was being interrogated for doing something wrong. If Valentine's words were true, Eugene should apologize to him. But Eugen
Eugene pushed away Claudio's head with his free hand. Despite only having his neck restrained, his arm and hand movements were limited. His limbs couldn't exert as much strength as he intended.Valentine removed his mouth from Eugene's chest. His blue eyes observed the chest he had just thoroughly teased. The nipple standing on the white skin had turned bright red from the torment and was soaked in saliva.Valentine raised his upper body and straddled Eugene's waist. Valentine's lower body came into direct view. Valentine maintained eye contact with Eugene as he unbuckled his belt."...Stop it."Eugene demanded with a strained voice. Valentine paid no attention. He unbuckled his belt and undid the button. Then he pulled down the zipper. The sound of the metal zipper going down scraped along Eugene's spine. Valentine's white hand went inside his pants and came back out. Eugene clenched his teeth. Another man's hard dick was right in front of his eyes."I clearly told you to stop."Euge
Whether Jo did that or not, Doni was busy turning magazine pages, licking his fingers. When he came across a photo of a naked woman he liked, he would admire it for a long time. It was a day no different from usual."Leo's always busy."Eugene said, looking at Leo's empty desk. Leo's desk was usually empty. He would busily run around outside, and when he returned to the candy store, he would immediately lie down on the sofa to catch some sleep. It seemed like he was doing all the work by himself."Jews are naturally more diligent than necessary."Doni said in a casual voice. And turning the magazine, he added,"And that guy has big ambitions.""Ambitions?"When Eugene asked, Doni lifted his eyes from the magazine and glanced at the stairs leading to the basement."He plans to become the underboss when Valentine inherits the Luciano family."Underboss was the position directly below the boss, effectively leading the family."Does the underboss change when the boss changes?""All the ex
"I'm curious about Eugene's thoughts too."Don Luciano suddenly said. Eyes completely different from his usual ones—heavy and dull—were staring directly at Eugene. With the boss speaking that way, Eugene could no longer refuse."My thoughts are..."Eugene paused, looking briefly at Valentine. He was looking at Eugene with eyes so deeply sunken that his thoughts were impossible to guess. Valentine, who wanted war and wanted Giovanni Belmonte dead, knew that Eugene opposed war. Eugene avoided Valentine's eyes and turned his gaze to Don Luciano.War should be avoided.That was Eugene's thought. But given these people's nature as mafiosi, that was a ridiculous notion. Then minimizing it would be the next best alternative."We should make them pay, but we shouldn't touch Giovanni Belmonte, the boss."Mateo exhaled a faint sigh filled with regret."First, the other three families wouldn't agree, and second, even if we got their agreement or tacit consent, if we hit Giovanni and bring down B
The entrance door opened. All eyes turned."Good morning," Don Luciano greeted as he entered. Unlike the brief glimpse Eugene had yesterday, he now appeared normal, without even an oxygen tube. With Don Luciano leading, followed by consigliere Mateo and underboss Alberto taking their seats, the table was complete, and the meal began in earnest.Eugene ate a still-warm croissant and sipped strong coffee while observing Valentine beside him. Seeing how he drained several glasses of milk in succession and how quickly the bread and salami disappeared from his plate, it was clear his condition had improved.Eugene felt a gaze from across the table. Turning his head, he saw Mateo sitting opposite him, smiling with wrinkles around his eyes. Dressed neatly in a brown suit first thing in the morning, he appeared to be a gentle, gentlemanly old man.The underboss Alberto, seated beside Mateo, leaned toward him and said something. Mateo took his eyes off Eugene and engaged in conversation with A
Though he had left such a message for Derek, the problem was how to approach Belmonte. Before relations between Luciano and Belmonte had deteriorated to this point, there might have been opportunities to make contact somehow, but in this situation, it was impossible.No, even if this situation hadn't developed, the arms trafficking deal with the Russian mafia was such important business that only the leadership and a few key figures among the Belmonte would know the relevant information. There was no way someone from the Luciano side—moreover, someone with the ambiguous status of not yet being an official member but merely someone Valentine intended to make his consigliere in the future—could gain access to such information.If there was someone who could serve as a bridge for Eugene to approach Belmonte..."...Luca Datero."Eugene thought of the young boss of the Confezzoni. The boss of a family that was neither on Luciano's side nor Belmonte's. Perhaps he could help Eugene approach
Given that his grandson had been attacked, Don Luciano's anger must be great. It seemed unlikely that he would try to resolve this situation by convening the Commission without seeking revenge. But to prevent any possibility of Valentine being injured again, given his deteriorating health, there was also a possibility he might set aside his grudge and try to resolve the situation amicably.The problem was that the other underbosses and members, already heated up, might not want this to end here. And... above all, Valentine wanted war.Jerry, who had been rubbing the back of his neck, suddenly shifted his gaze behind Eugene. Almost simultaneously, someone placed a hand on Eugene's waist. A distinctly hot hand, felt even through clothing. It was Valentine."To mediate conflicts between families, either both sides' leadership needs to request a Commission meeting, or at least one side must request it. Don Luciano won't want a Commission meeting. And Giovanni Belmonte will feel the same."
His hands should have been trembling, but instead his mind felt calmly settled. Eugene stared at the public phone for a moment, then turned and headed for the back door of the veterinary clinic.As he pushed open the rusty door and entered the storage room, the smell of disinfectant stimulated his nostrils. The treatment seemed to be finished, as Chan was handing a medicine bottle to Valentine and saying something. Upon noticing Eugene's return, Chan handed the bottle he was holding to Eugene."Put Angel on a diet, Eugene. Otherwise, he'll get sick."Chan said with a hint of a smile on his face, then left the storage room. Now only Valentine and Eugene remained in the storage room. Eugene examined the medicine bottle once and carefully tucked it into his pocket.Valentine flicked his hand. It meant come closer. As Eugene approached, Valentine grabbed his waist and pulled him close. With Valentine sitting in a chair, his face was around the level of Eugene's chest. He held Eugene's wai
Eugene carefully pushed Valentine away and stood up from the chair. Then he pushed Valentine into the chair. Perhaps because Eugene was frowning, Valentine sat down obediently. His face was pale under the dim light.The door through which Jerry had left opened. Jerry entered first, followed by another man. Eugene's expression turned astonished at the sight of the young man in a white coat."Chan?""...Huh? Eugene?"The veterinarian Chan in his white coat stood there momentarily unable to hide his surprise, then scratched his head."You two know each other?"Jerry asked, looking back and forth between them."I came through the back door, so I didn't realize this was the place."Eugene said, recovering from his surprise."Yeah... I didn't know Eugene would be here either."Chan laughed awkwardly. Then he promptly approached Valentine."Let's treat this first."Chan took scissors and cut Valentine's clothes. When he cut away the blood-soaked shirt, a bright red gaping wound on his forear
Valentine held his gun with the barrel pointing upward. His finger moved almost imperceptibly on the trigger, as if oiling the finger muscle connected to it. His eyes were completely focused, marking his target, preparing to pull the trigger.Valentine shifted, moving away from the bumper as if about to exit the car. Eugene grabbed Valentine's arm firmly. Valentine looked at Eugene, who shook his head decisively. Exposing his entire body to gunfire was a crazy act he had witnessed enough of earlier. Besides, before they'd faced pistols, but now they were up against submachine guns. Absolutely not.Valentine smiled, showing his teeth slightly. His eyes seemed to say "How cute." They overflowed with confidence, as if asking, "You think something like this could hurt me?" Eugene tightened his grip on Valentine's forearm. The blue eyes looked down at Eugene's hand gripping his arm. Seeing how tightly Eugene was holding on—tendons and joints prominently showing—Valentine relaxed the finger
Having reached this conclusion, Eugene furrowed his brow.If the recent attack was truly due to an internal information leak—Those who knew Valentine was moving to the Long Island villa might not stop at the attack in front of the apartment. The route from Manhattan to the Luciano villa was predictable. There was a good possibility that other attackers were lying in wait somewhere along that route."Bullets?"Valentine broke the heavy silence. Jerry picked up the handgun on the passenger seat to check it, then shook his head. So all they had left was the .45 caliber Valentine had captured and the few bullets remaining in it."I guess we should have gone to the candy store."Jerry cast an anxious glance through the rearview mirror. Then he asked:"Should we turn the car around now?""These guys shot guns in the middle of New York. They're not the type to hold back from attacking in front of the candy store.""At the candy store, we could handle even several of these amateur gangs at o
"谁呀?" (Who is it?)Chinese words were heard from a corner of the small shop. Startled, Eugene turned to see an old man with white hair and a deeply wrinkled face. The old man showed no particular surprise at the intruders who had entered through the back door or the pistols they held, but simply stared at them with black eyes."Car keys."Valentine held out his palm toward the old man, who was barely tall enough to reach Valentine's waist. The Chinese old man glanced at Valentine's outstretched hand, then stared blankly again."Looks like he doesn't understand?"Jerry said. This time, instead of his palm, Valentine pressed the gun barrel against the old man's forehead. And spoke again."Car keys."The old man kept his mouth shut and stared up at Valentine. His face showed no concern whatsoever for the gun barrel pressed against his forehead. Meanwhile, chaotic siren sounds continued to flow in from outside the shop.Eugene thought Valentine would push the old man's forehead with the g