The morning sun rose, its warm rays piercing through the window of the hospital ward, landing directly on Oswald Blackwood's face, stirring him awake. He blinked away the sleep and rubbed his eyes before shifting his gaze to the bed where his sister, Julia, had been resting. She wasn’t lying down anymore.“You’re finally awake. Good morning, brother.” Julia's voice came from the corner of the room. She was sitting in a chair, puffing on a cigar, her face partially obscured by a cloud of smoke.Oswald sat upright, his body tensing as he stood and hurried toward her. “Give me names, Julia,” he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.Julia exhaled slowly, her eyes narrowing as she took another drag. “Names? What are you talking about?”“Don’t play dumb with me!” Oswald’s frustration was palpable. “I need the name of whoever did this to you. And don’t lie to me again.”Julia’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “There’s no name to give, Oswald. I told you,
"Didn't notice anything different about Mr. Edwin, mother. He looked the same, acted the same," Betty remarked as she stepped into the kitchen, her eyes fixed intently on her mother, Angela, who was meticulously preparing breakfast with a focused expression.Angela, her mother, paused momentarily, her hands still as she turned to face Betty. Her gaze was sharp, full of thought."Are you sure?" Angela asked, her voice tinged with doubt, her brows slightly furrowing as if she was trying to find something beneath the surface of her daughter’s words."Yes, I’m sure. I didn’t see any difference from the Edwin I knew before I left. I really think you’re just overthinking this, mother," Betty replied, her tone calm but slightly firm, trying to dispel the tension brewing in the air."No, Betty, I don’t think I’m overthinking at all. I’ve been watching him for some time now. The way he talks, the way he moves—it’s not the same as before. And just yesterday, he asked me for coffee with extra cr
“What is it you want to discuss, Oswald? You know full well that Father banned you from family meetings, yet here we are, gathered because of you. Are you trying to provoke him, or what?” Marcellus spat, his voice dripping with disdain.“Father only banned me from meetings where business and other matters are discussed. I called this gathering to address something more personal—it concerns Julia,” Oswald replied, his tone steady.“What happened to Julia?” Roderick inquired, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.“I got a call yesterday from a hotel. They said a girl was found unconscious in her room. She was injured by the man she arrived with. That girl... is Julia,” Oswald responded, his voice heavy.The air in the room thickened, and the family members exchanged wide-eyed glances of shock and disbelief.“Julia?” Herbert Blackwood blurted out, his voice laced with concern.“Yes, Father,” Oswald confirmed with a solemn nod.“What happened to her? Is she all right?” Herbert demanded
Noah took a slow sip of his whiskey, cleared his throat, and began. "As you all know, the leader of the Gambino gang is a man named Santino Wayne, the only son of Mr. Maguire, who died a few years ago during a dispute.""Yes, Noah, we’re well aware," Marcellus interrupted, his impatience cutting through the room like a knife. "You mentioned that in the last meeting… or was it the one before? Just get to the point. Tell us what you’ve heard from them recently.""Don’t rush the poor guy, Marcellus," Roderick interjected, his eyes focused elsewhere, not bothering to acknowledge Marcellus’s frustration."Don’t rush him?" Marcellus snapped, the tension palpable. "Time is not on our side!" His words lingered, but Roderick remained unphased. Marcellus’s temper flared. "And you better watch how you speak to me!""Enough! Both of you, stop!" Herbert Blackwood’s voice boomed through the room, silencing the confrontation in an instant. Marcellus bit his tongue and fell silent. Herbert’s sharp ga
Before Herbert could respond, Marcellus rose and placed a firm hand on Noah’s shoulder. "Why the fear, Noah? You’ve got the Blackwood family backing you. We’re offering protection not just for you, but for your businesses too. There’s no reason to worry." His tone was cold, almost confrontational. Noah, feeling the weight of Marcellus’ words, simply nodded before making a quiet exit.Once Noah had left, Herbert cleared his throat, shifting his attention toward Edwin and Roderick. His gaze was steely, his voice carrying an unmistakable gravity. "I have an assignment for both of you," Herbert announced, his tone signaling that there was no room for negotiation.Roderick and Edwin exchanged puzzled glances, their father's words unsettling them."What kind of assignment, Father?" Roderick asked, curiosity and unease creeping into his voice."I need you both to go to the Gate Complex and have a word with the owner. Make sure he understands that we’re his number one dealer, and any busines
The shiny black Bugatti sped through the bustling streets of Newcastle. The city buzzed with life, its energy obvious, and after what felt like an eternity, they finally pulled up in front of the opulent Gate Complex. Roderick and Edwin stepped out of the car, the sound of their shoes clicking against the pavement as they glanced up at the extravagant building towering before them.The place was grand, almost overwhelming. Multiple areas branched off within the complex: a vibrant bar where colorful drinks were served with flair, a gaming area filled with flashing lights and cheers from gamblers, a crowded dance floor alive with rhythmic music, and a more secluded section where couples could steal away for some private time. Despite the early afternoon sun hanging high in the sky, the complex was already bustling with people, everyone absorbed in drinking, laughing, and indulging."Let’s get this over with," Roderick muttered, his voice thick with impatience. The duo stepped inside, th
"Psst!" Edwin hissed from behind, tossing the dagger he had been gripping earlier. Roderick caught it effortlessly, spinning the blade in his hand as his lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes never leaving the three figures in front of him."Alright, boys," he said, crouching slightly as if he were about to pounce. "Let's see what you've got."The three Gambino boys stood frozen for a moment, sizing him up, their blades clenched tightly in their hands. They exchanged uneasy glances, as if waiting for someone to make the first move."Come on, guys! He might be a Blackwood, but he's just one man! We’ve got the numbers, so we've got the advantage!" one of the Gambinos barked, attempting to rally his comrades. His voice was shaky, but it was enough to stir a bit of courage in the others. It worked. The momentary fear faded, and with newfound determination, they charged as one. Their feet pounded the floor as they rushed toward Roderick, blades raised. When they were close enough, t
Roderick’s lips twisted into a cruel smile as he yanked Maguire’s head back by the hair. "I see. Then I guess killing you and burning this place to the ground will send Santino a nice message—don’t ever mess with the Blackwoods."He turned toward Edwin, who stood silently by the door, eyes fixed on the scene before him."Here, Edwin," Roderick said, extending the blood-soaked dagger toward his brother. "Take this. Finish the job."His voice was cold, devoid of emotion, as if he were asking Edwin to perform a menial chore rather than take a life.Edwin swallowed hard, his throat dry as his brother’s words echoed in his mind. Cold sweat trickled down his face, and he remained frozen, his heart pounding in his chest."What’s the matter, Edwin? Don’t tell me you can’t do it?" Roderick’s tone was laced with contempt as he stared at Edwin, who stood several meters away. "This man just tried to kill us. He’s our enemy, and he deserves to die. So stop being such a coward and take care of him!