Taken by the Mafia ✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 12

In the heart of a luxurious mansion, nestled in the outskirts of the city, the dimly lit living room carried an air of quiet tension. The four men gathered there—Jeff, Perth, Bible, and Pond—sat in a circle of plush, leather chairs, each of them reflecting on the weight of the decisions they had made. The room was decorated with sleek modern furniture, the walls adorned with tasteful art pieces that hinted at the wealth and power of the mansion's owners. The calm atmosphere was deceptive; underneath the surface, there was a storm brewing.

Bible, leaning back casually in his chair, was the first to break the silence. His voice was deep and confident as he addressed the group. "So, Zee’s dead after we finish him a few days ago," he stated, almost casually, his eyes fixed on Jeff. There was no surprise in his tone—only a dark sense of satisfaction.

Jeff nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah," he confirmed, his voice steady but laced with a hint of unease. "But that doesn’t mean his allies won’t come for us. Zee was close—too close—with Est, Fort, and Boss. I’m certain they’ll retaliate. They won’t let this slide."

The mention of Zee’s allies sent a ripple of tension through the room. Est, Fort, and Boss were not men to be taken lightly, and everyone in the room knew it. Each of them had a reputation, and their ties to Zee only made the threat more significant. Jeff’s eyes flicked to Perth, then to Pond, gauging their reactions.

Pond, ever the strategist, leaned forward in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "I think what’s most important right now is that we tread carefully," he said, his tone serious. "We can’t afford to make any reckless moves. Est, fort and boss are smart, and they’ll be watching for any weakness."

As the group digested Pond’s words, Bible, who had been unusually quiet until now, let out a low chuckle. A sly grin crept onto his face as he leaned toward Pond. "I have to say, it’s the first time I’ve seen the two of you here and not having sex," Bible teased, his voice playful as he aimed the comment at Pond and Perth.

Pond rolled his eyes and shot Bible a look, though there was a trace of amusement in his expression. "Business comes first, brother," he replied coolly, but there was a smirk playing on his lips. Despite the tension in the room, Bible’s comment had lightened the mood, if only for a moment.

Perth, sitting beside Pond, sighed softly. His mind was elsewhere, clearly burdened by something deeper than the current conversation. He hadn’t said much since arriving at the mansion, and it was obvious to everyone that something was gnawing at him. His face was a mask of frustration.

Seeing the look on Perth’s face, Bible raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "So… you guys actually took the old man’s sons?" Bible asked, a playful edge in his voice as he referred to Santa and Barcode’s father.

Jeff, who had been deep in thought, glanced over at Bible and nodded. "Yeah," he confirmed.

Pond, always one to get to the point, tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Perth. "How are they?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious.

Perth scoffed, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice. He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, clearly agitated. "The youngest one, is great," Perth said, his tone clipped. "But the oldest, The oldest is a pure brat."

Pond and Bible exchanged amused glances, both of them chuckling at Perth’s clear frustration. Jeff, watching the interaction unfold, couldn’t help but smirk as well. "Perth’s been losing patience with the older one," Jeff said with a small smile, glancing over at Perth. "It’s been… interesting to watch."

Perth rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t completely hide the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Interesting isn’t the word I’d use," he muttered, shaking his head.