The Mansion of Men

All this power for nothing

Porsche said no.

Papa said yes.

Kinn stood in the middle. The same as always.

Papa had more experience. His counsel was worth more than gold. But Porsche was a new set of eyes. Always pointing out things they'd never factored into their dealings. Like the workers, the bodyguards, the debtors. Porsche had been on the other side, before. He knew what it was like to face a behemoth such as Kinn's family and resent them for their ruthlessness.

But Papa was right. If Kinn did things Porsche's way, they would lose money. They would lose respect. Worst of all, they'd lose the fear.

"Porsche," Kinn said, looking at Porsche as Porsche nodded, already aware that Kinn was going to side with Papa. "Look at things from our perspective, for once."

"I get it," Porsche said. "I really do."

It occurred to Kinn, that this was probably the reason. That maybe, on some level, Porsche's view of Kinn was distorted by the decisions that Kinn had had to make to protect his family. Why else would Porsche's reading list consist of Kinn-characters that were murdering, philandering villains? Because that was how Porsche saw him. As the boss of the mafia gang who couldn't see beyond the nozzle of his gun.

He wanted to talk about it but he just couldn't forget the look of utter despair and betrayal on Porsche's face when Kinn had stood between Porsche's gun and Papa. Kinn was getting in the way of something he knew Porsche desperately wanted.

In a way, every time he supported Papa, he was standing between them again, facing Porsche in Papa's stead, asking him to put the gun down. Asking Porsche to sacrifice his wishes for Kinn's benefit.

Over and over again.

So how could he bring it up? How could he talk about it? How could he feign ignorance, when he knew exactly what the problem was, but he was powerless to fix it?