"Put the gun down! Don't aim it at our friend!"
David stepped out from behind a line of armed officers and motioned for them to lower their weapons. He looked back at Luca with a complicated expression. Their last encounter hadn't been pleasant. They had stood on opposite sides, bound by different identities and responsibilities. Still, they both understood why the other had acted the way he did.
Luca knew what kind of man David was. And David hadn't forgotten how many times Luca had quietly helped the police—this incident included.
"Dove," David said slowly, "my instincts tell me you didn't just happen to be here."
"You don't really think your surveillance teams can hide from me when you park outside every day, do you?" Luca replied with a half-smile. "I was curious what you were up to. I was hoping you wouldn't disturb the peace around here. Looks like things got louder than expected. I'm probably going to hear plenty of complaints from residents tomorrow."
David: "…"
Since when do neighborhood complaints go to a Mafia figure?
"Is it over?" Luca asked knowingly. "Need any help?"
"Thanks, but no." David glanced at Sonny Black, who had already been helped to his feet, and shook his head. "You've done enough."
Not far away, another commotion broke out. Officers were forcing Sonny Black and Lefty to the ground, scolding them while cuffing them in a very American style of "law enforcement choreography."
Richie had already identified Sonny Black and Lefty. Over the past months, he had gathered extensive intelligence on New York's underworld; these faces weren't unfamiliar. Donnie, however, drew a second glance. A new recruit?
Soon enough, they were all shoved into a patrol car.
Lefty looked anxiously out the window and muttered to Donnie, "Don't say a word. Just sit tight for twenty-four hours and we're out. Remember—don't talk. I've got you."
Donnie felt a sharp pang in his chest. His identity was fabricated. Even the name "Donnie" was false. What exactly was Lefty investing his trust in?
He nodded. "I won't say anything."
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar silhouette approaching the vehicle.
The Dove of Peace.
Ten minutes later, as officers removed his handcuffs, Donnie could hardly believe it. No station. No holding cell. Just release.
Nearby, Richie spoke quietly with Luca.
"You helped me recover my money last time. I'll return the favor tonight," Richie said. "But there won't be a next time."
Arresting Lefty and his crew would achieve little. Robbery and illegal firearm possession charges wouldn't hold. Bail would sort it out within hours.
"This is the last time," Richie added. "If I catch them again—"
Luca cut in smoothly. "They were helping you stop a drug dealer. They got shot for it. If anything, the police should be giving them medals, not cuffs."
"If I write that in my report, no one's going to believe it," Richie replied coldly.
If Luca's version stood, these men weren't criminals—they were civic-minded heroes. Defense attorneys would tear the case apart.
Luca smiled faintly. Why rush to settle accounts?
All that intelligence you've been using—I wrote it. You owe more than you realize.
"Richie," Luca continued, shifting tone, "do you know how many people went bankrupt after Frank flooded the streets with Blue Magic? It didn't just sell—it destabilized. Entire markets collapsed. Longstanding families were pushed to the brink. That kind of disruption breeds enemies."
"Order?" Richie scoffed. "The kind your families enforce with guns and bribes? Spare me. To me, your family isn't different from Frank."
"I'm not in the drug business," Luca said calmly. "I'm just telling you that many people want Frank gone. Including elements within the Mafia."
Richie paused. "Your family works with him."
"Not every family." Luca gestured toward Lefty and the others. "You see them? They despise Frank. In their eyes, he represents a kind of change that erases them. When he disappears, the old balance returns."
"That's not what I've heard," Richie said carefully.
"Let's keep this focused on Sonny Black and Lefty. They're tied to the Bonanno family. And the Bonannos have every reason to hate Frank. That's all I'm officially saying."
He waved casually toward the group.
"Taking Frank down won't be easy," Luca went on. "He's got Harlem backing him. Entertainers. Athletes. Community leaders. Politicians chasing votes will think twice before crossing him."
He let that hang for a moment.
"But the Bonannos? They've had a century to build labor ties and neighborhood loyalty. Frank can't replicate that overnight."
Understanding dawned in Richie's eyes.
Luca added, "David once approached me about working together. I declined. Lefty and his people won't."
Richie straightened slightly. This wasn't about flipping a witness. It was about alignment—with the Bonanno family.
"So," Richie said carefully, "you're suggesting—"
"No." Luca smiled. "I'm just helping you figure out how to write tonight's report. Lefty and the others are my friends. I'm here to help them, not you. Officially, this has nothing to do with me."
Richie studied him.
"Will they really cooperate?"
"If anyone wants Frank buried, it's Lefty," Luca replied. "They'll talk."
Richie exhaled. "Dove… if Frank falls, what happens to your family?"
"Doves eat grain," Luca said lightly. "Have you ever seen one deal drugs?"
Richie fell silent.
"I'm bailing out friends," Luca said. "What conclusions you draw beyond that aren't my concern. And I won't confirm we ever had this conversation."
Richie gave a quiet, resigned laugh. Who are you really?
"I know how to write tonight's report," he said finally.
"Lefty and his associates acted bravely in assisting law enforcement."
"You too," Richie added, shaking his hand. "Let's keep the peace."
__________________________________________________________________________
[Bond: Friends]
[New Skill Unlocked: Defection]
[Spend 50 Skill Fragments to acquire?]
Yes.
[Redeem successful. Skill added.]
[Turning Criminals:
-- Increased persuasion success rate; trust +10%.
-- If acting in official capacity, additional +20% trust bonus.]
[Remaining Skill Fragments: 53]
_________________________________________________________________________
"Damn it," Sonny Black grumbled after finishing his statement. "First time in my life I've been praised by cops. Feels wrong. I committed robbery, not community service."
Lefty looked equally bewildered. "Dove, what did you tell them? Even I feel ridiculous reading that cop's report."
Donnie was just as confused. Robbery. Illegal firearms. Known Mafia ties. The police could easily have taken them in. Instead—commendation language.
He'd nearly choked writing "acted in the interest of public safety."
Luca shrugged. "Didn't your statements say I just had a friendly chat with the officers? I found a convenient explanation. Everything worked out."
Something felt off—but no one pressed.
Luca glanced at the new skill notification.
Defection? More like strategic misdirection.
Lefty clapped him on the shoulder. "You've got serious pull. Even a 'heroic citizens' excuse flies for you."
"I'm a peace ambassador," Luca replied dryly. "In the Bronx, that still counts for something. Didn't you help stop a dangerous drug dealer tonight?"
Silence.
Lefty pulled him into a hug. "Still, thanks. I didn't feel like spending the night in a cell."
"You're like family," Luca said warmly, arm around his shoulder. "Anything you need in New York—call me."
Lefty laughed. "You know, I regret not baptizing you. Come by the house sometime. I'll cook. Your father always wanted one of my meals."
"That legendary?" Luca grinned. "Then maybe you should be the chef at my club."
"You're greedier than your old man."
[Bond: Close Friend]
Luca checked the others—Sonny Black remained at Friends. Donnie lingered at Familiar.
Lefty, as always, was the straightforward one.
Another skill unlocked: [Emotional Corruption].
Tonight was productive. Another step toward something bigger.
Sonny suddenly interrupted, wincing. "Can someone take me to a hospital? There's still a damn bullet in my thigh."
"You could've mentioned that earlier," Luca said dryly. "Tough guy."
They hustled him into the car and headed toward the hospital.
As they crossed the bridge, Luca glanced at the skyline—lights glittering, skyscrapers piercing the night. In his mind, he pictured a vibrant dove perched boldly atop a bald eagle's head.
Some people push forward. Others resist change. This city has never lacked dreamers determined to write their own legends.
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