In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Pauli's mind. For a moment, he even suspected that John Gotti and Luca had secretly conspired against him.
Of course, something like that could never be admitted.
"Dove," Pauli sneered, "do you always frame your brothers before killing them? If you want to kill me, you don't need an excuse. Kill me, and you and Mariggio can take over smoothly, right? Anthony Casso is no match for the two of you."
Anthony—that lunatic.
Luca sneered inwardly. That man was a neurotic gangster, basically a brain-dead killing machine.
Too lazy to argue, Luca simply continued.
"Gotti is famously ruthless. A mass murderer. Before he even joined the Mafia, he had already built a reputation in Queens. I heard he once killed more than a dozen people just to take control of a flea market."
Later, after joining the Mafia, his reputation only grew.
"He can kill someone in thirty seconds. Who else in New York can do that?"
But the Gambino family loved him. He could make money, and he could kill—exactly the type of person the Mafia valued most.
"If you asked Gotti to kill someone," Luca continued calmly, "and he didn't mention your name, no one would ever suspect you."
Luca almost laughed, but this was a funeral, so he restrained himself.
"Gotti really is a perfect partner. Look around—even now, nobody suspects you. Everyone believes Gotti had the motive and the guts to kill the White Tiger. After all, they were both drug dealers."
"Drug dealers killing each other? Completely normal."
Every sentence struck Pauli like a hammer, because everything Luca said was correct.
Luca continued casually. "Besides, Pauli… you don't deal drugs. You hate drug dealers, so no one would ever connect the two of you."
Pauli's heart sank.
Luca spoke with absolute certainty. It sounded as if he had personally witnessed the entire conspiracy, and an invisible hand seemed to tighten around Pauli's throat until he could barely breathe.
Did this kid spy on everything?
"You seem to know Gotti very well," Pauli said calmly, forcing down the panic rising inside him. "But you don't know me well enough, Dove. No matter how beautiful your story sounds… it won't convince anyone."
Luca shrugged slightly.
"Perhaps I should go tell this story to Gotti. Maybe I can persuade him to cooperate. The Lucchese family needs the truth—the White Tiger cannot die without an explanation."
Pauli glanced sideways at him. "He won't cooperate."
Luca replied calmly, "I already have the family's execution order for Gotti. If he tells the truth and exposes the mastermind… perhaps the family will consider sparing his life."
Pauli froze.
Shit.
When was the execution order issued? Why didn't I hear about it?
Pauli's final psychological defense collapsed, and his body swayed slightly. If Gotti had a chance to survive by betraying him, he absolutely would.
The key problem was that Luca already believed Pauli and Gotti had been partners. That ridiculous "story" Luca invented… whether outsiders believed it didn't matter. Gotti certainly would.
Even if the story were fake, Luca and Gotti could easily make it real. At that point, truth or lies no longer mattered.
Pauli suddenly understood.
Luca wanted him dead.
Once he died, Mariggio would rise smoothly.
That damn brat. And I even treated him my grilled sausages.
Pauli suddenly realized something. His back was soaked with cold sweat, and his steps felt unsteady.
Was it because he sensed death approaching?
Luca would never spare him. With the White Tiger gone, Pauli had become the final obstacle.
"Pauli, it's getting cold." Luca suddenly grabbed his arm. "You should wear thicker clothes—older people catch colds easily."
Despair slowly swallowed Pauli whole.
He sighed. "Luca… when was the execution order announced? They didn't even tell me."
Even though the order targeted Gotti, Pauli suddenly imagined himself standing on the execution list.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Luca said softly. "But if possible… I'd still love to eat the sausages you make."
Pauli paused. "You?"
Luca finally smiled. "We can cooperate. I'll help you eliminate Gotti, and then no one will believe my little ghost story anymore."
After the funeral, the family's senior leadership held another internal meeting. Compared to the previous meeting, far fewer people attended—but the Boss himself, Victor, was present.
The meeting began with one major topic: John Gotti's execution.
---
After a week of internal discussions, the Commission had finally approved it. Gotti's scandal had shaken the entire city. He had already been notorious for years, and several families hated him.
For Gotti, death would be the most merciful outcome—and the strongest response from the Lucchese family.
Next, the discussion turned to the White Tiger's drug business.
Who would take it over?
Mariggio and Pauli refused to touch drugs. Anthony Casso wasn't a businessman; he only knew how to fight and kill.
For now, the operation would temporarily be managed by the family consigliere Bartolo, though his expression made it clear he didn't want anything to do with drugs either.
For the first time in a family meeting, everyone's attitude toward drugs became strangely cautious.
First Dominic—the family drug kingpin—was killed.
Then the White Tiger.
It was almost as if drugs were cursed. Anyone who touched them ended up dead.
The Boss even joked, "Maybe someday the family will quit drugs entirely. There are plenty of other businesses that make just as much money."
He glanced meaningfully at Luca and Mariggio.
Everyone else ignored the joke.
Without drugs, what else could they sell? Weapons? Impossible—the Italians couldn't compete with the Russians.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian gangs practically had their own armories.
That evening, Pauli returned home. He lay in bed thinking for a long time before finally picking up his phone and calling Gotti.
As expected, Gotti exploded immediately, a barrage of angry questions pouring out.
Had Pauli handled the Lucchese revenge yet? Had he protected him?
Pauli listened silently for a long time before sighing.
"The bounty at the Continental Hotel is public, but Mafia executions are never announced. They happen quietly. You know the Commission—only their own safety and interests matter. Their 'peace rules' exist only to protect themselves."
Gotti snapped back, "I don't need a lecture! I need your answer!"
Pauli said coldly, "Your biggest mistake was getting caught. Are you an idiot? Now the entire city knows. How do you expect me to protect you?"
"Even if I become underboss, I couldn't do it. If I refuse to avenge my family's brothers, no one will support my leadership."
Gotti fell silent. He knew Pauli was telling the truth—but that didn't mean he accepted dying.
Pauli continued, "Don't forget the Butcher. He and Mariggio were allies of the White Tiger. You killed the White Tiger and destroyed their biggest ally. Once the execution order is issued… he will definitely come for you."
Fear flashed across Gotti's eyes.
If the Butcher personally carried out the execution… could he survive?
Anyone in New York would want him dead.
Pauli lowered his voice.
"The only one who can save you now is our Boss. But you need to offer something valuable. Only he can change the family's decision and negotiate with the Commission."
"You understand what I mean. I can act as the intermediary."
Gotti fell silent.
He understood perfectly.
Money.
Or power.
"What do you want?" he asked finally.
Pauli answered with one word.
"The port."
The next night, Gotti arrived at an unfinished building in Queens with twenty to thirty armed men—all assassins, all heavily armed. Only then did he feel safe enough to negotiate.
The object of the trade was a brown bag filled with documents: evidence of corruption involving union leaders, dock officials, and government inspectors—enough dirt to send them all to prison.
Through this blackmail, Gotti had secretly controlled the docks.
If he handed it over, he would lose everything.
Maybe he could still survive in New York, but once the Lucchese family took over, survival itself would become a miracle.
His assassins spread throughout the building, watching, guarding, and waiting.
Finally, Pauli arrived, and they met inside a massive concrete hall.
"Pauli!" Gotti exploded the moment he saw him. "You ruined me! I should never have worked with you to kill the White Tiger! I could've been relaxing in a club with women—instead I'm standing in this damn construction site!"
Pauli scoffed. "If your men hadn't been arrested, would you be in this situation? Your own people betrayed you."
Gotti cursed. "Those three traitorous bastards! I'll kill them someday!"
Then he looked around suspiciously.
"You came alone? Where's your Boss? I won't hand over the documents until I see him—and I want the referee present. This deal must be witnessed by the referee!"
The "referee" he mentioned was an internal judge of the Mafia Commission. Not a High Table Adjudicator, but there was a connection—some Commission judges had eventually risen to become High Table Adjudicators.
The difference in status, however, was enormous.
Commission judges handled disputes among Mafia families, while High Table Adjudicators ruled over criminal organizations worldwide.
Gotti trusted only one thing: rules.
If a referee witnessed the deal, no one could betray him afterward.
Pauli crossed his arms.
"Where are your documents? With that many assassins around, do you really think my Boss would show up?"
Gotti hesitated, then picked up the brown bag.
"Everything's inside. Take a look."
Pauli opened it.
Documents. Photos. Recordings. Financial records—enough dirt to destroy multiple dock unions.
With this material, the docks could be controlled completely.
Suddenly—
Gotti snatched the bag back and raised his gun.
"You've seen it. Now where's your Boss? And the referee?"
Pauli shook his head slowly.
"There's no referee tonight. But there is a Peace Ambassador."
"Would you like to meet him?"
Gotti blinked. "What?"
Before he could react, a man in black stepped out from the shadows.
Luca.
"The Dove of Peace?" Gotti stared in shock. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Luca smiled faintly.
"Of course I'm here to mediate disputes… and uphold peace."
Gotti almost had a stroke.
"Don't give me that crap! Your men arrested my people, my subordinates betrayed me, and now the police, the FBI, and the media are all after me! And you dare say you had nothing to do with it?!"
Luca looked at him calmly.
"I did it all."
Then he spoke softly.
"And tonight… your death will also be my doing."
Gotti panicked and raised his gun.
Bang!
But Luca fired first.
The bullet struck Gotti's wrist.
At the same moment, figures emerged from the darkness.
John Wick.
Leon.
Elle Driver.
O-Ren Ishii.
Two men and two women surrounded the hall from four directions.
Tonight, the hunt had begun.
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