Elena Felini arrived at the mansion.
The doormen opened the gates as soon as they spotted the car. When the armored vehicle carrying Elena came to a stop, the Wolves and a few gardeners approached.
“Godmother.”
Among those gathered was George ‘Ant’ Skela.
“Ant, how’s the gardening work going?”
“I’m still in the learning phase. It’s my first time doing anything like this, aside from killing people.”
“Looks like you’re adapting pretty well.”
Elena replied to Skela and was about to head inside the mansion.
“What about Luke and Felicita?”
“They haven’t arrived yet. Another lady has come, though.”
“Another lady?”
“Miss Veronica just arrived a little while ago.”
One of the Wolves answered Elena’s puzzled expression.
“And some weird guy also came by.”
“Weird guy? What did he look like?”
“I’m not sure what he was up to. But he was looking for the Godfather and Godmother, asking where the Felini family’s house was.”
“And then?”
“We gave him a good scare and sent him on his way.”
The man was actually a reporter, but they weren’t aware of that detail.
Elena thanked Skela for handling it well and proceeded into the mansion.
“Hello, sister Elena.”
“…hi.”
As she entered the mansion, Veronica came down the stairs from the lobby.
“Did you catch the hearing today?”
“Yeah, I watched it all from the Union Office.”
Rita Carmen’s actions from that day had massive repercussions.
This city, that is to say, Hebili, had serious issues with homelessness and drugs even before the Godfather’s death caused chaos.
The Black President, elected with hope, dismantled the unions, and the wealth gap began to widen.
The news and radio channels were spitting out nothing but grim news. The climax was the Godfather’s assassination.
The fall of the Felini Family, the rise of the Five Families, an all-out war between criminal organizations and law enforcement, and criminals rushing in like moths to a flame looking for opportunities in the chaos.
The troubles that ensued after the Godfather’s death turned Hebili into hell.
This hearing was an event that went against that current.
The government, the high-ranking officials finally got off their heavy behinds and started doing something.
Starting with Martin Borges, a mere low-level enforcer, the bosses of the Five Families, Eddie Sanchez and Rita Carmen, appeared on the TV screen.
People were ecstatic.
Especially, the assassination of the Godfather and its process were enough to stir the public’s imagination.
Even though life was tough and grim for them, something was changing, and they were given a distraction to turn their heads toward.
In fact, Rita Carmen’s statements today sparked the public’s imagination, with the press helping it.
“Sis, have you seen the newspapers?”
“What newspapers?”
Veronica handed her the papers she had brought, different newspapers but all in the evening edition.
“….”
Elena quickly scanned the papers Veronica handed her, standing still before she even climbed the stairs completely.
They were all filled with news from today’s hearing.
Included was an interview from who knows when with Rita Carmen.
Before the Godfather was assassinated, she had asked Rita for help and probed into the intentions of the bosses of the other five families.
It even stated that only Eddie Sanchez and Mikhail Dragovich agreed to cooperate in the Godfather’s assassination.
Elena was already aware of this from Veronica.
“Looks like that woman is serious about this.”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
“Veronica, actually, I needed to talk to you about something.”
“Yes?”
Elena took Veronica to the living room on the second floor.
After revealing that she had met Congressman Paragoni, she shared what she had heard from him.
“….”
“You might find it hard to believe. I did, too.”
Elena said that while showing one of the items she received from Congressman Paragoni.
“They said if you contact this number, you could find out more about what’s happening right now.”
“Did the Congressman really say that?”
“Yeah, why? Do you know the number?”
“Yes, it’s one of the contacts for the underboss of the Carmen Family.”
“…Paula Carmen?”
Veronica quietly nodded. She then called the number Elena gave her.
“Yes?”
A brief voice came through the receiver. Veronica instantly recognized it as the voice of someone who had once been her rival.
“Sis, this is Veronica.”
“Yeah, I figured the Wolves would have you call.”
“Could you tell me what’s going on? What’s our mother thinking with this whole situation?”
“Nothing complicated.”
Paula answered simply, just as she had said.
Rita Carmen had become a key witness in this hearing, and was now a subject of the federal witness protection program.
The federal witness protection program.
A concept that was relatively new, but Veronica knew well what it involved. Paula also mentioned that she had been classified as a factual witness under the program.
Witness classification comes in two categories: factual and expert witnesses.
Regardless of their significance, if they provided verification of factual matters or personal experiences and knowledge about specific incidents, they were factual witnesses; if they provided technical or scientific testimony in certain fields, they were expert witnesses.
“It’s not common for a boss to become a witness. Mother is now in the federal government’s hands.”
“So, you’re the boss of the family now?”
Paula confirmed that was the case.
“Only temporarily.”
“Yeah?”
“I plan to stay by Mother’s side. If you’re interested in Mother’s and my positions, you’re always welcome to it.”
“….”
Veronica didn’t quite grasp what this meant. Was it a trap?
If it was a trap, it wouldn’t be aimed at her but at all of the Felini siblings, starting with Veronica.
At least, that’s what she thought.
*
“Can I ask one more thing, sis?”
“Of course.”
Veronica asked Paula about the motivation behind Rita Carmen’s actions, thinking this was something the new boss of the Carmen Family might know.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“You’re not joking, are you?”
“I’ve already told you everything Mother asked me to.”
Paula had no interest in understanding her mother’s intentions, nor did she know them.
“Maybe it’s becoming a hassle for her now.”
“Because of the Godfather’s death?”
“Probably.”
Veronica ended the call with that unclear response.
“….”
Elena didn’t directly confirm the details of the call with her. She decided to give herself a bit of time to think things through.
Not long after, Felicia and I arrived at the mansion.
The doormen opened the gates, and my armored car stopped right next to Elena’s.
“Godfather.”
“You sure look like a gardener. Adapting quickly, huh?”
“Is that so?”
I approached Skela, who came over. As it turned out, he also had news for me.
Just like he did with Elena earlier, a mysterious man had come looking for me and Elena but retreated after being properly dealt with by Skela and the Wolves.
“…was it a reporter?”
“Not sure, but he didn’t look like one.”
“Hey, you don’t currently look like an assassin either.”
“Ha, that’s true.”
Skela shrugged at my response. After that, I entered the mansion with Felicia.
As soon as Felicia and I took off our coats, the servants received them.
All of them were relatives or associates of the Felini Family members.
“Where are Elena and Veronica?”
“They’re on the second floor in the living room.”
One of the Wolves answered my question.
This mansion was filled with many kinds of people to match its size. Among them, the Wolves had the strongest voice.
“Brother, the underboss and consigliere have also arrived.”
“…Carso and Salmo?”
“Yes, they just arrived a little while ago as the lady called for them.”
“Did something happen?”
“They must have visited Paragoni, so something went down for sure.”
No way.
Did Elena drown the Congressman? I wondered if she had killed a congressman overnight.
Otherwise, I couldn’t think of a reason for calling Carso and Salmo.
“….”
Did Felicia catch my unease, tilting her head as if to question?
“Let’s go check it out.”
We rushed over and reached the living room on the second floor.
“Luke, come on in.”
“….”
Elena welcomed us as we entered, and though Veronica didn’t say anything else, her face showed she was pleased.
“Elena, how did it go with Paragoni?”
“Huh? Don’t worry. I spoke to him appropriately.”
“…really?”
So Paragoni wasn’t dead? Now I had another problem. It means there was something else that made Carso and Salmo come.
“Take a seat, both of you.”
At Elena’s words, Felicia and I sat down on the luxurious sofa.
Instead of asking if it was okay for her to be there, Felicia sat right next to me.
“….”
Elena watched this momentarily without saying a word.
“Elena?”
Elena then showed me a piece of paper with something written on it.
“What’s this?”
“Contact info for the new boss of the Carmen Family that I got from Paragoni.”
The new boss of the Carmen Family, huh.
While Felicia and I were at the Rat Hole’s funeral, it looked like a lot had happened.
Elena started with what Paragoni had said: Rita Carmen’s news of retirement following this hearing.
“Veronica, the next part is for you.”
“Yes. The number written here is one of Paula Carmen’s contacts.”
“Paula Carmen is the new boss, then?”
With Rita Carmen’s eldest daughter, Viola Carmen having sided with the Wolves, it referred to her if she could be called “the little spider.”
Unlike Veronica, who had just come to know of her existence, everyone knew about Paula Carmen in the context of the Carmen Family.
Veronica maintained that she was merely the temporary boss.
She then mentioned that Rita Carmen had become a factual witness of the federal witness protection program in exchange for sharing what she knew through this hearing.
“Looks like the boss has become a rat.”
“Yeah, sis.”
“Still, that’s not bad for us.”
Elena said this while showing us the evening edition newspapers covering today’s hearing and Rita Carmen’s interview.
“….”
Among the interview contents, there were details Veronica had shared with me.
My father had sought help from her, and as a result of probing the intentions of the bosses, Sanchez and Dragovich had shown their true colors.
“I’ve already asked Salmo for a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I asked him to check with my father if something happened.”
Bier Salmo, father of Tony Salmo and my father’s consigliere. If it was something that significant, it was unlikely he wouldn’t know.
“The Godfather said he hasn’t heard anything like that.”
“….”
“But he mentioned there’s a definite possibility it could have happened.”
Bier Salmo’s perspective was relayed by Salmo.
He noted that my father had often visited Rita Carmen. Every time, though, he never shared what went on.
“Could it have been the same this time?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Veronica might not doubt the truth of that story, but we weren’t in the same boat.
My father had conducted his business without telling anyone—neither the consigliere nor the heir.
Of course, it could have been old man’s empty worries and he might have just sought Rita Carmen for a favor, but that too was an area of possibility.
“And one more thing. You said Paula Carmen was the temporary boss.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“She seems to be planning to follow Rita Carmen.”
It would imply that both the boss and underboss of the Carmen Family were vanishing side by side. Naturally, all eyes turned to Veronica.
She had once been the heir to Carmen, giving her plenty of justification and legitimacy.
“Then we could say the fifth family has been decided.”
“Right.”
Elena replied to Carso’s statement.
If Veronica became the boss of the Carmen Family… then the last position of the new Five Families would naturally be filled by them.
Meanwhile, Felicia remarked that it sounded too good to be true for us.
“So?”
“It could be a trap.”
Veronica agreed with that sentiment. But if it is a trap, then being aware of it means it’s no longer a trap, right?
“…that’s a good point. We should definitely let Veronica take over the Carmen Family.”
“I’ll get in touch with the Solomon Family.”
“Carso, one family isn’t enough. Get the Gollymen involved too.”
“Yes.”
To intervene in the Carmen Family, we had to pass through the Sanchez Family’s territory.
Alternatively, we could go north and circle around through the Russo Family’s territory, but speed is essential in this matter.
“Elena, just in case, Veronica and I will take charge directly.”
“…you too?”
Elena didn’t look very pleased, but after a few more appeals from me, she reluctantly agreed.
After that, we made several preparations, instructing Veronica to call Paula Carmen again to deliver the message that she would be stepping up as the boss of the Carmen Family.
Additionally, Felicia and I needed to confirm something with Elena.
We needed to be more accurate about how her conversation with Paragoni concluded.
