Taken by the Mafia ✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 16

Perth, still feeling the lingering heat from his brief encounter with Santa in the kitchen, was startled by the sound of the front door opening. Bible and Pond stepped into the mansion, their voices filling the air with casual conversation. Perth turned toward them, a smirk playing on his lips as he approached the two.

"Bible, Pond, what are you guys doing here?" Perth asked, his voice laced with curiosity as he approached them. He glanced between the two, trying to push aside the lingering thoughts of Santa and refocus on his friends.

Bible, ever calm and direct, didn’t waste any time. "Where’s Jeff?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if expecting Jeff to appear any second.

Before Perth could respond, they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps descending the staircase. Barcode, who had just finished delivering coffee to Jeff’s room, appeared at the bottom of the stairs. His expression was calm and collected, though there was a subtle hint of nerves hidden beneath his polite exterior. He nodded to Bible, Pond, and Perth, offering a small smile as he passed them on his way back to the kitchen.

"Is that the youngest one, Barcode?" Bible asked, his eyes following Barcode’s figure as he disappeared into the kitchen.

Perth nodded. "Yeah, that’s him. By the way, Jeff in his room." He gave Bible a knowing look, signaling that his older brother would be expecting him soon.

Bible nodded in acknowledgment, but his attention shifted once more as Santa and Barcode reemerged from the kitchen. The two of them were heading upstairs, seemingly lost in their own quiet conversation. Perth couldn’t help but watch Santa, his gaze lingering a little longer than it should as memories of their earlier encounter flashed through his mind.

Before Santa and Barcode could disappear up the stairs, Perth called out, "Barcode, since you’re heading upstairs, can you get my brother? Tell him Bible’s here to see him."

Barcode nodded obediently, his eyes flicking briefly to Perth before he turned toward the stairs. Santa followed closely behind him, his expression unreadable. As they ascended, Perth turned back to Bible, who had been watching the exchange closely.

"Is that the oldest one?" Bible asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. His gaze lingered on Santa’s retreating figure.

Perth nodded again, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Yeah, that’s Santa."

The conversation paused for a moment as Bible absorbed the information, but Perth’s mind was elsewhere. His thoughts were still preoccupied with the way Santa had reacted to his touch, the way his body had tensed, yet he hadn’t pulled away. There was something about the quiet tension between them that Perth couldn’t shake.

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Santa, having accompanied Barcode partway upstairs, quietly excused himself to go to his room and rest. His energy had been drained from the day’s event, and he needed a moment to clear his head.

Barcode, meanwhile, made his way toward Jeff’s room. His steps felt heavier with each passing moment, an inexplicable nervousness tightening in his chest. When he finally reached Jeff’s door, he hesitated for a second before lifting his hand to knock. The soft sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and Barcode waited, his heart pounding slightly faster than usual.

It didn’t take long for Jeff to open the door, his sharp, intense gaze landing on Barcode immediately. The older man’s presence was almost overwhelming, and Barcode found himself stuttering, his voice betraying the nerves he tried so hard to hide.

"Your brother… s-said… Bible wants to see you," Barcode managed to get out, his words stumbling over each other as he fought to keep his composure.

Jeff’s lips curled into an amused smile, a low chuckle escaping him as he took a step closer to Barcode. "Why are you stuttering?" Jeff asked, his voice smooth but laced with a teasing edge. "Am I that scary to you?"