"Five million."
The bid wasn't shouted.
The tone was casual, almost conversational, and yet it carried across the hall as if booming inside everyone's ears.
One by one, gazes tore themselves from Ricky, drawn instead to the man whose very name had come to embody wealth itself in this era.
Her chest tightened as the impossible thought clawed its way into her mind.
The light from the doorway kept his face in shadow, but the polish of his figure, the cut of his suit, and the gleam of familiar artifacts allowed her mind to fill in the rest.
Only one man wore them in precisely that way.
The thought of her father still breathing sent a wildness through her, and she quickly rubbed at her eyes, desperate to clear away the illusion.
When she looked again, the truth sharpened into the reality before her.
The name was the same but now a single word had fixed itself to its end, exposing the cruel trick of recognition.
Because this was J.P. Morgan-
"Junior." Anne whispered, her astonished gaze hardening into disgust as the man stepped forward, revealing who he truly was.
J. P. Morgan Jr., the successor to his father's colossal financial empire, stood as the living continuation of the Morgan dynasty.
"Look at this guy!" Ricky laughed, throwing a thumbs-up toward the old man but when he turned, expecting to see Raven's excitement, all he found was a scowl.
"Right?" Ricky said, his grin faltering as Raven's eyes remained locked in a hateful glare at the man who suddenly showed himself at her dinner.
"The auction is only for those attending this dinner." Raven said coldly, reaching for the mic only for Ricky to quickly pull it back.
"Are you serious?" Ricky asked, genuine confusion in his voice as Raven closed the distance between them.
"Ricky-"
"I'm willing to pay in all cash,." J. P. Morgan Jr. declared, his voice smooth and assured as he strolled forward.
Behind him, a procession of men filed into the hall with five of them lugging a briefcase.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, punctuated by scattered gasps, as J.P. Morgan Jr. strode toward the stage, his confident pace parting the way for the burly men trailing close behind.
"Raven, deary, it's alright," Anne said with a calm smile, watching Raven try to shake her head.
"He-"
"Raven." Anne repeated, her voice soft but steady, as she lowered her gaze ever so slightly.
"My feelings mean nothing in the face of what you can do with that money-"
"But he-"
"I'm alright." Anne's smile carried warmth, though beneath it lingered the quiet resignation of someone who knew her own feelings no longer mattered.
Although Ricky didn't fully grasp what was happening, the context was clear enough: Anne's face heavy with sorrow, Raven's twisted with hate, and J. P. Morgan Jr. walking past his sister without so much as a glance in her direction.
"Raven Luciano, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." J. P. Morgan Jr. smiled, standing at the foot of the stage as Ricky blinked before widening his eyes in surprise.
"Luciano?" Ricky asked, turning to Raven who swallowed the edge of her hatred and replaced it with a forced smile.
"It was supposed to be a surprise for later," Raven sighed lightly, her eyes tracking Ricky as he carefully moved around her, unsure how to respond.
"You changed your name?" Ricky asked, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief, as if he needed to hear it again to be sure.
Out of all the women he had ever entangled himself with, he never expected someone as fiercely independent as Raven to take his last name.
"I know how much the Luciano name means to you, and after I asked Lucky's permission, I had it changed before you left." Raven said softly, leaning into his touch as Ricky could hardly believe the happiness swelling inside him at her words.
"I don't know what to say, I-"
"Excuse me, pardon the interruption." J.P. Morgan Jr. interjected suddenly, raising a finger as the men behind him began opening their cases.
"But am I to assume that is a yes to my bid?" J.P. Morgan Jr. continued, gesturing toward the money as Raven squinted at him, her eyes narrowing while assessing the man before her.
"I can out bid him if you want-" Ricky happily said, as though a few briefcases of cash were nothing compared to the weight of his name now bound to Raven.
"No." Raven interrupted, pushing away from Ricky and striding towards J.P Morgan Jr.
"I'll accept the money." Raven scoffed, her voice cold as she made her way to the very edge of the stage.
"That is great news-"
"But only because I know you won't get what you want," Raven hissed, sneering at the richest man in America before turning to the side and walking off.
"Uh, then do we have any other bidders?" Ricky asked, scanning the room, only to find that everyone's paddles had dropped, as if the very thought of competing with this man had vanished.
"Then it's sold to this guy for five million dollars," Ricky said, gesturing toward J.P. Morgan Jr who raised his hand to the surrounding people.
The room erupted into a wave of resounding applause, eyes flicking between the money, the bidder, and the man whose entire night was worth an amount most could only dream of.
"I suppose you don't know me, since we haven't formally met, but I'm J.P. Morgan Jr." Morgan said, bowing slightly as he introduced himself to the man he had so desperately wanted to meet.
"I'm Ricky Luciano." Ricky replied, watching as Morgan let out a small laugh and gave a measured nod.
"Unlike me, only a fool wouldn't know who you are since you're all the rage these days." Morgan said, spreading his arms before clasping his hands together in front of Ricky.
"However, unlike you, I'm not too keen on seeing my name splashed across those papers. That's why I need your ear." Morgan's face suddenly darkened, a sour expression spreading across his features after he accidentally made eye contact with his sister at the side.
"Well you just bought it-"
"Tonight, if you wouldn't mind." Morgan interrupted, his eyes sharp with urgency as Ricky glanced to the side.
Raven, seated next to Anne, wrapped her arms around the woman, offering a silent reassurance as the women continued muttering that everything was fine.
"Sure-"
"Fantastic, here is where the meeting is to take place." Morgan said, gesturing to the side as one of his bodyguards approached, carrying a sealed invitation.
At its reveal, gasps rippled through the room, the high echelons of society reacting in shock as John immediately rose to his feet.
"Jack-"
"It has already been decided." Morgan said, raising a hand to cut off whatever words were about to spill from John's mouth.
A tinge of shame bent into his posture, as though watching the sealed letter slip into Ricky's hands had dragged him face-to-face with a reality he had never been prepared to accept.
And yet, the very outcome he had fought so hard to prevent had unfolded all the same.
"We will be waiting." Morgan added, nodding once before turning his back to Ricky, as the men methodically placed the five briefcases on the stage.
Pausing to acknowledge John, he gave him a firm nod before striding from the hall as swiftly as he had entered.
However, at the doorway, he turned back to Ricky, offering a pleased smile and one final nod, before his men slowly closed the doors behind him.
"What the f*ck was that?" Ricky joked, glancing around, though only the tables in the very back offered nervous chuckles.
At the front, the important tables remained frozen, their blank expressions fixed on the single letter now resting in Ricky's hands.
"Play him off." Raven muttered from the side, motioning to one of the workers, who immediately ran backstage.
Ricky, lingering as if waiting for something to happen, suddenly heard music hurriedly begin to blare as a band hurried onto the stage.
"What the-"
"Ricky, give the microphone to the singer and come here," Raven whispered, her eyes urging him forward as he turned, watching the supposed singer awkwardly shuffle to his side.
"Mr. Luciano, it's an honor to meet you." The singer said quickly, a bright smile lighting his slicked-back hair as he extended his hand.
"Hey it's good to meet you too-" Ricky said, smiling at first and shaking the man's hand, waiting for him to introduce himself.
"Oh, I'm Frank, Frank Sinatra-"
"You're f*cking kidding, you're Sinatra!?" Ricky exclaimed, his businesslike demeanor instantly melting into pure excitement.
"You're way skinnier than I pictured you," Ricky muttered under his breath, taking a second to really look the guy over.
Ricky didn't know much about the future, and large swaths of his past were foggy at best, slipping in and out of focus whenever some forgotten detail clawed its way back to him.
But there were some things he never forgot: old music.
His mother, Bella Freeman, had been obsessed with the classics, and for that reason, before he even learned to read, he could write out the entire Barry Manilow song 'Can't Smile Without You'.
Despite the resentment he felt towards her, he had to admit she had good taste.
Some of that fine dining in classic music led him to none other than the most famous Italian-American singer to ever grace the Earth: Frank Sinatra.
"Y-You know who I am?" Frank flinched, a little starstruck, clearly thrown by the fact that someone at the pinnacle of his culture actually recognized him.
"Yeah, man! I've heard you sing-wait, are you singing here?" Ricky blurted out, his usual composure stripped away as he stumbled headfirst into being a fanboy of someone who wouldn't even be famous for another decade.
"Yes, I'm filling in-"
"Oh man, holy sh*t." Ricky whispered, rubbing his smile before handing over the mic.
"Ricky!" Raven hissed, her tone sharp with urgency, trying to pull his attention away from the mere fill-in she had scrambled to find at the last minute.
"Do you know who this is?" Ricky pressed, giving Frank's shoulder a shake as his eyes darted around, catching the weight of the crowd now completely fixed on him.
"The backup singer, now, hurry up!" Raven nearly demanded, but Ricky's eyes stayed locked on the twenty-year-old, captivated by the presence before him.
"Hey, I ain't got a lot of time, but here," Ricky quickly said, reaching into his suit and pulling out a card.
"Come find me after this since we should talk about your future in singing." Ricky chuckled, amazed at having just stumbled across Frank Sinatra, as he slipped the card into the young man's front pocket.
"I-I-I-" Frank stammered, caught between the honor of singing for Ricky and the exasperation of staring down at the card in his pocket.
"You guys are in for a real treat, this guy is the real deal!" Ricky exclaimed, clapping his hands, and the crowd immediately followed suit, erupting in applause.
Frank sat under the light as the crowd roared, their applause crashing down on him like a wave meant for men with names in newspapers, not some kid from Hoboken who'd been singing in backrooms and wedding halls.
His chest rose and fell faster, his palms damp against the microphone stand.
For a heartbeat, he thought they were clapping out of pity, the kind of polite cheer you gave a filler act before the real show.
But then he looked closer.
Men who had been half-bored now leaned forward, eyes sharpened with attention.
Women fanned themselves as if the very air had grown hotter the moment Ricky declared him special.
Even the waiters had slowed in their steps, stealing glances toward the stage.
At this point in time, Frank Sinatra was just chasing his dreams, no record, no band of his own, just a voice and the stubborn belief that maybe it could carry him out of Hoboken.
But now, all eyes were on him because of one man.
"From the bottom of my heart, I love you~" Frank began, eyes closed, letting his words carry effortlessly through the hall without even an introduction.
"What more can I say?" Frank hummed, a smile spreading across his face as he settled fully into the role of a singer, arms outstretched in a perfect gesture of showmanship.
"From the bottom of my heart I need you~"
Ricky sat back in his chair, staring with a mix of awe and something he couldn't quite name.
Back then, when the walls of his childhood home shook with his parents' fights, he would smother their screams beneath the crackle of his mother's Frank Sinatra records, listening for hours.
At his lowest points, when everything around him felt fractured, it was Sinatra's voice he clung to.
Ricky played those records until the grooves wore thin, holding onto that sound like a lifeline while the warmth of home was torn apart in front of him.
And now, at his highest, with the room alive and the future wide open, he was hearing that same voice again.
Not from a worn record spinning in a lonely room, but from the man himself, breathing life into every note.
The sound struck him differently and yet, it felt the same.
"I love you, I love you~" Frank's voice carried through the hall, the crowd swaying side to side as if caught in the rhythm itself.
"Ricky, we need to talk-"
"In a minute." Ricky said, holding up a hand, his eyes fixed on Frank with a wide smile.
"Do you know who that was?" Raven asked, gripping Anne's hand tightly, her urgency impossible to ignore.
This was literally the perfect opportunity to slip away, Raven's gaze sweeping the hall as she realized the entire dinner was now utterly captivated by Frank.
But Ricky only leaned back in his chair, savoring the moment.
"That man-"
"Baby, I just really need to hear this song." Ricky said suddenly, his voice softer than usual.
Raven was about to argue, but the earnestness in his expression almost disarmed her, melting her resolve before the words could form.
"O-okay," Raven murmured instinctively, her voice barely above a whisper.
Raven watched as Ricky turned back to Frank, nostalgia washing over him like a tide.
The current pulled his eyes shut, as though he needed to catch every note and hold it close, letting the sound carry him somewhere far from the present.
The entire song played, and even those at the table who hadn't realized they were holding their breath from the earlier shock felt it escape their lungs.
It was as if the room itself exhaled a collective release, easing the tension that had lingered in the air.
And afterward, every note threaded through the hall, binding social elites, mutants, and waiters alike in a rare, fleeting harmony.
But Frank sang, pouring every ounce of his heart into the hall, while Ricky marveled at the performance.
Anne and John sat with confused, almost bitter smiles, their eyes fixed on the final lingering note.
Even Raven, who had been poised for argument or control, found herself leaning back, letting the music settle her thoughts.
"I love you, from the bottom of my heart~"
Ricky stayed still for a moment longer, letting the music imprint itself onto the room, into the memory of everyone present.
He knew, almost instinctively, that after this, nothing he heard from Frank would feel quite the same.
It was strange, almost disorienting, to encounter a single relic of his past while subtly realizing it would soon become part of his everyday present.
Clap
Clap
Clap
And then, he started clapping.
A slow, deliberate beat at first, growing stronger as the room followed his lead.
Raven was slightly shocked since she had never seen Ricky actually applaud a performance, let alone wear that expression.
But this was Ricky, quietly realizing something he hadn't fully admitted to himself before.
As his hands came together in that deliberate clap, it wasn't just admiration for the performance, it was a recognition of a past he no longer felt crushed by.
Every note, every melody, seemed to echo the memories he had once carried like weights on his shoulders, now transformed into something almost celebratory.
He understood, in that subtle moment, that the past no longer had power over him.
It no longer defined him.
What mattered now was the present, the choices he was making, and the future he intended to seize.
And so he clapped not just for the music, but for himself.
"Alright, let's go." Ricky said, nodding to Frank, who returned the gesture as the mobster turned toward the door.
Ricky didn't even spare a glance to look back as three figures immediately rose to their feet, slowly following him across the event.
"For this next song, I would like to dedicate it to Mr. Luciano-" Frank's voice trailed off as Ricky strode from the room into the nearby hall, hands in his pockets.
He almost immediately turned back and saw Raven escorting Anne, only to notice another figure quietly falling in beside them.
Sigh
Ricky let out a long, measured sigh, rolling his eyes at John, who trailed a few steps behind the two women, his gaze scanning the length of the hallway for anyone else.
Snap
With a sharp snap of Ricky's fingers, a green barrier sprang to life around them, instantly cutting off the singing.
"You first, and then you later," Ricky said calmly, pointing at Anne before directing his attention to John, who simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"What's going on and why did your-" Ricky began, pausing mid-sentence as he confirmed it was actually her brother.
"My brother," Anne confirmed with a nod, and Ricky immediately pressed on.
"What the f*ck is your brother doing here, and why is it such a big deal?" Ricky asked, waving the unopened letter in his hand, while Raven slowly rubbed Anne's back in quiet reassurance.
"I-"
"And just summarize the drama." Ricky suddenly interjected before Anne could begin, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Ricky!" Raven exclaimed, shaking her head at him with furrowed brows.
"What? We all got baggage, even Junior over there," Ricky said, gesturing toward John, who let out a bitter chuckle.
"But I got sh*t to do, and I'm already busy enough to sit through some story that's barely going to relate back to me," Ricky added with a shrug, his impatience clear despite the casual tone.
"It's alright, Raven, I don't mind," Anne said softly, easing her friend with a gentle squeeze of her arm, trying to calm the tension between them.
"Me and my family had a falling out over my arranged marriage," Anne continued, her voice steady but carrying a quiet weight.
"I was already in love with someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with-"
"And your family freaked out because you didn't want to marry the guy?" Ricky interrupted, cutting straight to the point, leaning slightly forward as if urging her to skip the preamble.
"No. My family freaked out because I didn't want to marry a man." Anne replied simply, her eyes steady on Ricky as he scrunched his brows.
"Oh~" Ricky suddenly realized that Anne didn't simply like the guy, she didn't like men.
Anne Morgan had never married, not solely because of circumstance or choice, but because her heart had long belonged elsewhere.
She was in love with a woman, and that truth quietly shaped the life she had built, the people she trusted, and the way she moved through the world.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~" Ricky said, the pieces finally clicking into place as he glanced at Raven, whose slight nod confirmed what he was beginning to understand.
"My father disowned me and stripped me of everything, except my entitled wealth." Anne explained with a shrug, acknowledging that it was more than she had expected to be left with.
"I used it to become the woman you see before you but after my love died, I-"
"I realized how important family is to me." Anne said, finishing her thought and glancing to the side as Ricky nodded in acknowledgment.
"I respect that." Ricky said suddenly, holding his own view of Anne's way of loving, but respecting her words nonetheless.
For Ricky, he simply couldn't believe people were homosexual, especially when it came to women.
In his narcissistic view, any woman who didn't love a man simply hadn't encountered him yet.
"But you ain't got feelings for my Raven, right?" Ricky asked immediately, watching as Raven walked over and gave him a playful swat.
"Stop it!" Raven exclaimed, swinging at him, but he easily ducked out of the way.
"What? I gotta ask-" Ricky laughed, thinking it was just weird to leave his girl, a former lesbian, alone with a woman who was currently a lesbian.
"No, I do not have feelings for your Raven." Anne chuckled, amused by their playful exchange, while John subtly widened the distance between them, as if trying to avoid some invisible contagion.
"But I do cherish her as a friend," Anne added warmly, nodding toward Raven, who returned to her side, a supportive hand lightly brushing against hers.
"This makes things simple, since the reason I wanted to meet with you ties directly to why my idiotic brother has come to see you today," Anne said with a sigh, shaking her head at her older brother's antics and slightly annoyed that he had confused her with their father.
"I as well" John chimed in, raising a hand while well aware of Anne's banishment, a fact known to all the men in the group.
"Then why are you here, Anne?" Ricky asked first, gesturing for her to fill him in on the scenario suddenly unfolding before them.
"Because I've learned that in a few days, a man named Smedley Butler will testify before Congress that a group of wealthy businessmen tried to recruit him to lead a coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt." Anne explained dutifully, looking at the man before her who was technically responsible for this event occurring so late.
Thanks to Ricky's intervention, the event was delayed nearly two years from its original timeline.
Even so, the plan had failed in its original 1934 form.
J.P. Morgan Jr., along with a cadre of some of America's most prominent businessmen, had hatched an actual scheme to overthrow the government.
Their goal was to recruit Major General Smedley Butler, a highly respected and decorated military officer, to lead a coup that would replace President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a government favorable to their financial interests.
The plan, however, never came to fruition.
Butler, upon learning of the scheme, refused to participate and instead went public, preparing to testify before Congress.
"You've got to be sh*tting me," Ricky muttered, his eyes widening at the sheer absurdity of this nugget of history.
"The Morgan family is known for two things: making money and making kings," Anne shrugged slightly, her expression nearly blank since this was a fact well known among them.
"My idiotic brother, after repeated attempts to sway FDR, has foolishly tried to overthrow the U.S. government and put Mr. Butler on the throne." Anne continued, her tone steady but tinged with exasperation.
"But the king they chose immediately turned himself over to the president, and now-"
"And now he's got your brother by the balls." Ricky interjected, laughing and shaking his head at the absurdity that had caused such a disruption at tonight's dinner.
"What an idiot," Ricky muttered, unable to hold back his disbelief.
"Yes, well, my brother inherited everything from my father, everything except his wit." Anne said solemnly, her tone tinged with a mix of pity and resignation rather than anger.
"It was maddening since I swore, for a moment, that it was him-"
"Anne, don't think about it too much," Raven soothed, gently patting her back as Anne buried her face in her hands, still flustered by the foolish display her brother had put on.
"And I'm guessing your favor was to get him off the hook." Ricky added, raising an eyebrow as he studied her reaction.
"Yes," Anne sighed, lifting her gaze to meet Ricky's, who struggled to suppress a laugh.
"He's a terrible person, but he's a good father. Most of all, I don't want my nieces and nephews to see him behind bars," Anne revealed, the truth having come to her through one of her contacts in D.C.
"I know it's a lot, and I would never ask such a thing-"
"I got it," Ricky interrupted, raising a hand to stop her, his gaze shifting toward John.
"Where do you fit into all of this?" Ricky asked, deciding to hear John's missing piece of the puzzle before Anne could start pleading.
"Well, Anne is slightly wrong in her original assessment," John began, his tone measured as he started to walk around this enclosed space.
"The group of wealthy businessmen is called the Council of Nine, and they were responsible not only for this recent takeover but even the recent market crash." John said, tapping the green barrier, which rippled at his touch, almost in awe of the mutant power.
"Geez, what's with all these secret little clubs?" Ricky muttered to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose at yet another hidden group in this world.
"And lemme guess, this is the invitation you wanted?" Ricky added, holding up the letter which John's eyes locked onto it even now.
"Yes, and I came here to ask you to turn it down."
"So you could get in?"
"Yes."
"Uh-huh," Ricky muttered, rubbing his face as he replayed the quick back-and-forth with John in his mind.
"I'm guessing you pictured all of this turning out completely different, right?" Ricky joked, a small smile tugging at his lips as his eyes stayed locked on John.
"I honestly never expected it to turn out this way, and it's been very enlightening, to say the least," John admitted, his tone measured as he reflected on how the day had unfolded.
"Do you still wanna f*ck with me-"
"No, not at all," John interrupted, raising a hand and shaking his head, as if even the thought of going against Ricky now were ludicrous.
"My image of what you are is night and day from what you've shown me," John continued, reassessing his stance on Ricky as he turned to him, a new thought process slowly taking shape.
"And everything down to my bones is telling me to not even come close to you."
John D. Rockefeller Jr. was a lot of things, but he wasn't an oil executive like his father.
He was a businessman.
His father had made sure that his mentor wasn't himself but Frederick T. Gates, a man who had instilled in John not just strategy, but the rare ability to trust his instincts above all else.
Gates had taught him that money could buy influence, but intuition could safeguard it.
Now, staring at Ricky, John felt that hard-earned lesson come alive.
The second Ricky's eyes flared with the faintest tinge of his sovereign will from earlier in the night, every calculation and pretense John had meticulously built melted away.
He recognized it immediately, that this wasn't a man to overpower.
Even now, his gut screamed at him with a clarity he hadn't felt in decades: leave this country, walk away, and never look back.
But John Rockefeller Jr. wasn't a man who fled from instinct alone.
He leaned into it, measuring the risk, understanding that sometimes the sharpest weapon was restraint.
Sniff
For the first time since discovering his skill, Ricky caught the sweet scent of profit in the air, his eyes narrowing and a raised eyebrow fixating on John.
"Mr. Luciano, would you care to hear a proposal of mine?" John asked, adjusting his stance as Ricky slowly lifted his eyes, faint green light shimmering within them.
[(Epic Skill) Profit Sniff: The ability to to recognize the profit of a proposal by merely sniffing the air around them. A sweet smell will give the user the ability to sense whether it would give him a profit, neutral smell would mean break even, and rotten egg smell for loss.]
"I think the Council of Nine was right in their ways, but wrong with the person they chose," John said, his gaze fixed on Ricky as a small smile began to tug at his lips.
"Aren't you pissed that I just put you in your place seconds ago?" Ricky asked, knowing it was rare to see a man like John swallow his pride.
"If I were that resentful every time someone loaded themselves over me, I would've killed my father years ago." John replied, his tone calm, though his words carried the weight of someone who could endure a verbal beating.
"Hmmmm." Ricky hummed, placing his hands in his pockets and staring at John for a little while before nodding.
"Anne, I'll get him off the hook," Ricky said, eyes still on John, who calmly reached into his suit pocket and produced two cigars.
"So, could you give us a minute?" Ricky finally asked, turning to Anne, who smiled warmly in response.
"Yes, thank you-"
"Aren't we going to hear what John has to say?" Raven suddenly asked, gesturing toward him, clearly unwilling to leave like her friend.
"Yeah, WE, not you two." Ricky laughed, watching Raven's frown deepen at the result of being turned away from the conversation.
"Can I-"
"Baby," Ricky said simply, giving her a look that clearly meant 'No way' and leaving it at that.
"Fine." Raven sighed, pulling Anne along as the barrier slowly opened just enough to let them exit, before closing behind them.
"Alright, you've got my attention, John," Ricky chuckled, settling into a construct of a chair that slowly formed beneath him.
A glowing green table materialized before him, and he kicked his feet up casually, slowly spreading his hands as if to invite John into the conversation.
"Now, lemme hear that pitch."
Meanwhile In the Dinner,
"Raven." Anne whispered, stifling a laugh as Raven pressed her ear to the door, frowning slightly.
"Hold on, I think I can hear something." Raven murmured, straining to catch a sound, only to realize it was the faint vibrations of Frank's singing.
"I just wanted to say thank you." Anne said with a smile, amused by Raven's childish behavior yet finding it endearingly fun.
"I know it is hard to be my friend and-"
"Anne, dear," Raven suddenly interrupted, side-eyeing her friend's hesitant attempt at an apology.
"We became so close because of our similar stories," Raven said, patting her shoulder gently as they huddled near the door.
The only barrier between them and the juicy conversation unfolding on the other side.
"If anyone's going to have it harder, it'll be you." Raven smirked, her eyes flicking back to the door.
"You're a true friend," Anne laughed, delighted to have found such a kindred spirit in Raven.
"Yes, now be a good friend and press your ear to the door to help me listen," Raven whispered, closing her eyes to focus as Anne chuckled at the childish gesture.
However, she didn't stop; instead, she joined Raven in pressing her ear to the door, listening intently to nothing for the next thirty minutes.
Click
The door creaked open, and the two women immediately jumped back, turning to face each other.
"And then I said-" Anne began, trying to easily play it off as if they had been talking the entire time.
"Ricky?" Raven interrupted sharply, spotting him walking forward with John in tow.
"How did it go-" Raven started to ask, but when her eyes met John's unreadable expression, a chill ran through her, and she immediately assumed the worst.
"Great, we made a deal," Ricky laughed, hitting John on the back as the older man stumbled forward, hand pressed to his forehead.
"Right, buddy?" Ricky chuckled again, watching John's gaze drift from his trinkets to the side.
"I-.......I need to sit down," John muttered, and Ricky's laughter echoed behind him as he limped toward a chair, still looking a little dazed.
It was as if Ricky had unveiled the truth of the universe to John and it shook him to his mortal core.
By the time he settled into the chair, he seemed almost like a completely different man.
Temporarily disarmed, humbled, and oddly aware of just how much he had underestimated the man before him.
"John, what is the matter-"
"We were wrong, all of us." John lifelessly replied, his gaze drifting toward Waldorf, who flinched at the admission.
"Those stories we heard, they were never overestimations." John muttered, burying his face in his hands as his fingers trailed up through his hair, anchoring him as if bracing for the weight of his next words.
"They were always underestimations." John laughed, incredulous, unable to fully grasp what had just occurred, sitting frozen in stunned disbelief.
"Darling?" Abby asked, concern etching her features as she rubbed his shoulder, offering comfort while John slowly grasped at her hand.
"What happened-"
"I might have either doomed our family or ushered us into a golden age." John murmured, his words heavy with the weight of uncertainty which all but made Abby flinch.
"What did you do?" Raven whispered, her eyes fixed on John, who was laughing like a lunatic at the side.
"I showed him what money can't buy." Ricky replied, winking at Raven before taking her hand gently.
"Lemme borrow her for a second, will ya?" Ricky playfully asked Anne, moving toward the center of the hall with confident strides with Raven in his arms.
"Frank, make it slow." Ricky gestured, tossing his entire wad of cash toward Frank, who instinctively began juggling it before realizing exactly what he'd caught.
"Holy sh*t." Frank whispered into the microphone, holding the bills in his hands as the crowd, still entranced by his song, erupted into laughter.
"You got it, Mr. Luciano!" Frank laughed, winking at Ricky before closing his eyes and falling back into the rhythm of the music.
The slow song poured from Frank's lips, weaving through the dinner hall and compelling the guests onto the floor as Ricky held Raven's hand, guiding her into a gentle sway.
He twirled her slowly, deliberately, and as if following an unspoken cue, everyone else paired off, drifting into the rhythm of a shared, delicate dance.
With one man's voice captivating them all.
"Hold me close and don't let go~"
"What was that?" Raven whispered, her eyes searching for answers, even as Ricky's steady hands swayed her effortlessly with the music.
"It's just a random wad of money-"
"Ricky, you know what I mean." Raven squinted, brushing off his casual excuse and leaning in, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever deal he was hiding.
"It's me making moves." Ricky said with a shrug, as if that alone should answer all her questions.
"And?"
"And taking care of our family-"
"Exactly, our family, so-"
"Raven, baby." Ricky said, twirling her effortlessly before dipping her low toward the floor.
"I know what you're doing." Ricky added, squinting slightly as he watched her freeze for a split second, like she had been caught.
"I don't know what you're talking-"
"Enough." Ricky smiled, pulling her back and giving her that look that made Raven feel caught, though she didn't dare say anything that might incriminate herself further.
"I know you're gathering the girls around you." Ricky whispered, leaning close so his words brushed against her ear.
"And don't think I don't know why you're doing it-"
"Is it so wrong to want the world for my babies?" Raven asked softly, her eyes lifting to his, full of unspoken emotion for the people in this world she truly cared about.
"Never." Ricky smiled warmly, loving that about Raven as she ducked her head toward the floor.
"I f*cking love how much you want to be a Luciano and be a part of this family." Ricky said almost encouragingly, resting his forehead against hers for a moment.
Raven felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, a mixture of pride and relief, as Ricky's words wrapped around her like a shield.
"But that's the thing baby, it ain't just Thrawn and Danielle."
Raven froze, as if suddenly remembering that the Luciano family didn't simply end with those two, it only began.
"Now, I don't meddle in your lives, cause I know how independent you are, and I really respect that." Ricky began, struggling to find the right words as he led Raven across the mask-shifted dance floor.
"And you're f*cking amazing, I'm serious." Ricky quickly added, turning his gaze back to Raven before slowly leaning down.
"But I don't want you sabotaging my babies." Ricky whispered dryly into her ear, watching Raven tense up.
"I don't know what you're doing exactly, but I know you're about to mess with Agatha," Ricky said, perfectly summing it up as if he somehow knew she was starting something that would only end poorly.
"You two never got along and I never asked you too."
Although in a perfect world, one where a group of women in love with the same man could act like sisters, and coexist in a harmonious harem, this scenario might have worked.
But this wasn't that world.
None of Ricky's women wanted to share even a second of his time, let alone the future benefits or responsibilities of their children.
Even at this very moment, Raven was plotting ways to cripple Agatha's power so thoroughly that she would never recover.
"But you're not gonna do anything to her," Ricky said, watching an incredulous expression form on Raven's face as she immediately became defensive.
"But she-"
"I don't care, I'm sorry." Ricky said firmly, the finality in his tone leaving no room for argument.
"She's on her last legs, and I'm not about to put that strain on her, because Zatanna and Johnny depend on their mother." Ricky added, his voice softening slightly, though the intensity in his gaze never wavered.
"You guys wanna one-up each other, do it, I don't care," Ricky said with a shrug, laughing at how absurd it sounded aloud.
"But we don't draw blood against our own," Ricky said, his tone firm and commanding, the way a head of the family should sound whenever infighting threatened to turn serious.
"It's the same for them. I won't let them ruin your hard work, because this is amazing." Ricky added, laughing as he looked up and around the hall, marveling at the scene.
"Listen, I'm so f*cking proud of you for doing everything you said you were gonna do," Ricky said again, turning his gaze back to Raven, captivated by her mesmerizing smile as she stared at him.
"And I wanna help you do all the things you're planning in that sexy mind of yours, one hundred percent," Ricky chuckled, holding her close as they slowly maneuvered across the dance floor.
"But you gotta help me out, as Raven Luciano, and help the family."
The two fell into a sudden, heavy silence, the kind that comes not from awkwardness but from heavy understanding.
It was because she realized that Ricky wasn't speaking as her lover tonight, he was speaking as the head of the family she had so desperately longed to be a part of.
This was her dream, though it wasn't unfolding exactly as she had imagined.
Raven had always wanted to build her own family, to fill it with a love so profound that others could only dream of having what she would create.
But her desperation to elevate herself was unrelenting, pushing her dangerously close to stepping over Ricky's own blood to claim what she wanted, and she felt the tension of that choice tighten around her chest.
"You know I won't stop until our baby becomes the next head, right?" Raven said, subtly giving in to his request, smiling softly as she watched Ricky chuckle at her bold claim, completely unoffended.
"Baby, I might be an idiot, but I ain't a fool." Ricky smiled warmly, leaning down to press a light kiss to her lips.
However, when she pulled back, it was clear she wasn't about to let the topic slide away with one of his one-liners.
"Then you know that all the others feel the exact same-"
"Yeah, I know." Ricky sighed, the weight of the truth settling over him.
In Ricky's opinion, this was probably the only real downside to having children with multiple influential women.
Since he had only now realized that none of them were content with simply existing alongside him; each pushed, each strived, and each challenged the world in their own unique ways.
But Ricky had to admit, he loved that about them.
However, that same intensity came with responsibility.
They were all under the Luciano family banner, and any loss of blood, any misstep, rippled across the entire web.
"Then you also know the second I lift my foot off her neck, she is going to-"
"I love that you want power, it's literally turning me on just thinking about it," Ricky said, pressing his forehead gently against hers, a soft chuckle escaping his lips that seemed to ease her worries.
"But we gotta have boundaries, and if you do this for me, I won't ever forget," Ricky said, opening his green eyes to meet the struggling expression on Raven's face.
"And listen, I'm not telling you to throw away everything you've been doing," Ricky quickly added, knowing that she wouldn't take his words lightly.
"I'm just asking you not to fight to the death."
If this kept escalating the way it was, Ricky knew that the second Agatha regained her influence, she would most certainly come after Raven.
He also understood how desperately Agatha wanted Zatanna and Johnny to thrive, and how far she would manipulate anyone to ensure their safety or success.
But there had to be limits.
Stephanie had been right in her assumptions about him; even without full knowledge, he was stepping in on Agatha's behalf.
When crises like this arose, it was his role, his responsibility, to intervene and draw the line before things spiraled out of control.
He glanced at Raven, her expression hovering somewhere between defiance and trust, and felt the weight of that responsibility settle over him.
"Then I can continue my tea pirates?" Raven asked, raising an eyebrow at Ricky, who let out a heavy sigh.
It was a little troubling to see just how much influence Raven was beginning to wield within Ricky's harem, but no matter how much he tried to prevent it, it was almost impossible to stop.
The more he thought about it, especially with his impending dealings with Selene and the fact that he was going to start seeing women more frequently, the clearer a hard truth became.
No matter what he did, factions like these would form regardless of his wishes.
People naturally clustered around shared interests, abilities, or grievances, and the more like-minded women were around each other, the more they gravitated toward one another.
However, the key wasn't to prevent it, that was impossible, but to guide it, to ensure these small groupings didn't disrupt the larger order or threaten the family as a whole.
"Yeah, fine," Ricky sighed, realizing that stopping those parties would crush some of his girls, especially Alina, who seemed so thrilled to even be part of Raven's outings.
"But don't crush others just to prop yourselves up," Ricky said suddenly, his voice firm as he watched Raven's frown deepen and her gaze drop to their feet.
"We don't fight our own, not like that." Ricky continued, narrowing his eyes as he observed her testing the limits, trying to gauge how far she could push without overstepping.
"What about opportunities, what if I get something before hers-"
"Anything is free game, as long as you don't hurt the family." Ricky declared, laying down the single rule that would define his harem forever.
Competition was healthy, factions were inevitable, but civil war was something that could never be allowed.
"Luciano's do not fight with Luciano's."
That single statement would unknowingly define the golden age of the Luciano family.
It would plant the seed of a unity that, over years of maneuvering, ambition, and even some infighting, would hold the family together stronger than anyone outside could imagine.
And it all started on the dance floor.
"Then shouldn't I also get a reward for being the first one you had to put in her place?" Raven asked immediately, raising an eyebrow as Ricky rolled his eyes.
"Oh my god-"
"I'm serious, Ricky. This is an achievement no one else has had to claim, and you just surround yourself with a problematic woman," Raven said, flattering herself as she found pride in something that wasn't entirely hers.
"Fine, what do you want?"
"I want a way to get even closer to the family," Raven said, squinting as she watched Ricky consider the thought, tasting it on his tongue.
"You want a seat at the table?" Ricky asked, frowning, trying to grasp the depth of her desire as she simply shrugged.
"I am a Luciano too-"
"That's not how you get a seat," Ricky interrupted, his eyes locking with Raven's, who wasn't convinced at all since after all, he had inherited Lucky's seat mostly by being his son.
SIGH
"Look, I'll make you a deal."
"Work your magic, contribute to the family, and when we get a bunch of mutants, I'll let you in," Ricky said, essentially giving Raven a door she simply had to find a way through.
"But getting to that seat was only easy for me cause of my contributions, not just Lucky handing it to me." Ricky added, raising his chin as if to show off in front of the beautiful woman who rolled her eyes at him.
"Guys like Mouth, Shades, and Bug Eyes spent decades as grunts before they were finally given a path like I'm giving you," Ricky explained, knowing that Mouth had remained a grunt the longest before being made capo at forty.
"Sh*t works differently in the family. Contributions are just as important as ties, and you have literally zero," Ricky said, holding up a zero with his hands to make the point perfectly clear, since the foundation hadn't sent any actual mutants to the Luciano family.
"Bumpy-"
"Bumpy knows Harlem like the back of his hand. The guy is literally our Harlem expert, that's why I made him my left." Ricky said, stopping Raven with a shake of his head as Bumpy was a living encyclopedia of the entire borough.
"And with the mutants and the sudden influx of all these f*cking Caribbeans, I need that place on lock and key," Ricky sighed heavily, a headache forming at the mere thought of Harlem's densely packed streets, which would almost certainly become a problem.
"But even still, he ain't nothing more than a soldier, 'cause he hasn't done sh*t for the family," Raven shrugged, conveniently leaving out the part about him making Eldric a capo.
"Listen, I see you. I f*cking do," Ricky started, unable to help himself from emphasizing the point as Raven stared up into his green eyes.
"I see what you're trying to build and what you're trying to do for the family," Ricky said, acknowledging Raven's efforts and offering as much support as he could.
"It's just not enough."
Ricky genuinely wanted Raven to be closer to the family, and he truly meant his words since Eldric was the only exception he had ever allowed.
But Raven simply hadn't done enough for her to be in his inner circle.
Family politics hadn't really been on full display, since the oldest Lucianos were simply Lucky and Ricky.
But even with everything Lucky had done for him, Ricky's own contributions alone would have guaranteed him the position of next head, regardless of his status as an adopted son.
He was the reason the Jewish and Irish mobs had fallen, a victory that had been monumental for the family at the time.
On top of that, he had navigated the delicate task of gaining approval from the Vatican to fully reintegrate into the family, all while systematically eliminating rival families and consolidating control over all of New York under the High Table.
Ricky had built his position not just through inheritance, but through achievements.
"But I value you," Ricky said, trying to lift her ducked head, sensing that Raven wasn't satisfied with his answer.
"I f*cking value everything you're doing for the Luciano family, and for our family," Ricky whispered gently, watching Raven's smile force its way over her frown as she looked up at his sincere expression.
"That's why I'm gonna give you another club." Ricky revealed, watching as her face lit up with an immediate smile.
"But take care of them, they really mean a lot to me," Ricky said, caressing her cheek, his thumb moving in gentle circles and making Raven chuckle softly.
"And Louis?" Raven asked deliberately, her eyes glinting with greed for the mutant who could tank an entire spell from a warlock.
"The kid who can take a bullet on the chin?"
"No way, he's too shiny to part with," Ricky laughed, twirling Raven around. Her smile faded into a deadpan stare as the music slowly came to an end.
"And besides, I'm gonna use all those rugrats who stood out that night." Ricky shrugged, already plotting how he would reward them when the time came.
"Then at least tell me what you said to John," Raven pressed, but instead of answering, Ricky slowly backed away, slipping from her grasp.
"Ricky-"
"See you later tonight~" Ricky winked, chuckling as he backed toward the exit while Raven remained in place.
"Just a hint!"
"Love you too!" Ricky laughed, turning toward the door and giving everyone a parting wave as they all clapped while he walked out.
"Love you," Raven whispered longingly at Ricky's departing back, knowing she still had plenty of networking to do at the dinner and couldn't leave with him, so she simply watched him walk away.
"Give it up for Mr. Luciano, everybody!" Frank cheered, slapping the microphone with a toothy grin as he felt like everything was finally coming together in his life.
It was then that her attention shifted to the backup singer she had frantically scrambled to locate at the very last minute.
But Raven could never have expected Ricky to actually know him, let alone watch him with such fascination, utterly captivated by his voice as if he had lived through every lyric before.
"Honey, what's your name?" Raven suddenly asked, turning her head toward Frank, who was still clapping for Ricky's departure.
"Oh, uh, it's Frank-"
"Frank, huh?" Raven mused, her eyes curling into crescent moons as she studied someone who clearly could use representation.
"Then play something fun, Frank."
The music blared in the next second, filling the hall with pulsing energy as Ricky watched before the door could completely close behind him.
The room, already alive with the swell of jazz, seemed to dance as if it were the roaring twenties again.
Raven and all her friends laughed freely, their joy spilling into the space around them, all while Ricky watched for a moment longer before finally closing the door.
"Mr. Luciano?" A man called out, surprised as Ricky turned to see someone he hadn't expected at all.
"You're that mutant, uh-"
Snap
Snap
"Rhino?" Ricky seemingly asked, snapping his fingers as if to jog his memory, then pointing toward the very tall man in a suit, flanked by two women and a small child.
"Yes, it's nice to finally meet you again," Rhino said with a warm smile, the child by his side clutching his arm while peeking out to catch a glimpse of the man his father had always spoken about.
"I apologize about being so late, but we had some troubles finding a place that would sell us formal clothes-"
"Nah, you didn't really miss anything," Ricky said, halting his excuse and waving his hands as if it had never been a problem, then stepped closer with an expectant gaze.
"So, you're here too-" Ricky began, but stopped when he saw Rhino hand over his card.
"Good, good," Ricky muttered, grinning from ear to ear at the thought of another powerful mutant coming under his family's umbrella.
"I'm ready, and after seeing Raven's work, I would like to join you." Rhino said simply, skipping the formalities and expressing his desire clearly to Ricky.
"So, you wanna work for the Foundation rather than the family?" Ricky asked lightly, pocketing his own card and eyeing Rhino carefully.
"I believe in what they're trying to do," Rhino said, wanting to put his powers to the betterment of his people rather than for money.
"Well, there is the matter of your initiation," Ricky said, a sudden idea forming in his mind, smiling widely as Rhino slowly raised an eyebrow.
"Initiation?"
5 minutes later,
"Found you," Danielle smiled, tapping Carmine gently on the head as he hid beneath one of the play mats.
"No," Carmine muttered, burying himself deeper, while Danielle patiently waited for him to emerge.
Initially, Danielle smiled, assuming little Carmine was just playing around.
But the longer she waited, the more it became clear that he was completely serious, his tiny frame buried beneath the mat without any shame.
"But I-"
"Ugh, you cheated!" Carmine huffed, throwing the mat aside to reveal his frowning face.
He crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks in frustration, his small stance radiating pure annoyance as Danielle smiled.
"Now you have to help me find Sarah-"
"No!" Carmine interrupted, pushing Danielle's hand away as she tried to help him to his feet.
"I get to hide again." Carmine said stubbornly, turning his head to the side with a pout, fully expecting Danielle to give in to his antics.
"But I found you-"
"NO!" Carmine yelled, stomping his foot so hard that several mothers nearby turned to see what the commotion was about.
"I wanna hide again, I WANNA HIDE AGAIN!" Carmine huffed, throwing a full-blown tantrum, his eyes starting to water.
Danielle looked around, confused and unsure of what she had done wrong but forcing a smile to appear above her unease.
"O-okay," Danielle nodded, stepping back to let Carmine hide again as he sniffled and rubbed his eyes, a small triumphant smile forming now that he'd gotten his way.
"You can hide again-"
"HERE I AM!" Sarah exclaimed, rolling out from the mats behind Carmine, making both kids flinch as if she had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
"Sarah?" Danielle clarified, watching as Sarah rolled all the way over to her big sister's leg and then wrapped herself around it, clinging tightly.
"I WIN!" Sarah giggled, pressing her little furball of ginger hair against Danielle's leg as she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"NO, YOU CHEATED!" Carmine screamed, convinced that Sarah had used his hiding spot to claim a victory that should've been his.
"Carmine, honey, what's wrong?" Maria asked, standing up and hurrying over to her emotional son, her face full of concern.
"They were playing hide-and-seek, but Carmine lost." Henry explained at the side, handing a block to Bob, who expertly added it to their tall tower.
"I DID NOT, I WAS WINNING AND SHE CHEATED~" Carmine screamed, his face flushing red as tears started to stream down his cheeks.
"I-I didn't-" Danielle began, trying to explain herself to Maria, but Carmine shoved her aside, not giving her a chance.
"SHE CHEATED, SHE CHEATED, SHE CHEATED!" Carmine screamed, stomping his tiny foot against the floor, his face scrunched in pure frustration at his loss.
At the edge of the room, Ricky peeked in with his signature smile, ready to check on his little bundles of joy.
Ricky's smile slowly faded, however, as he watched his son screaming in the center of the play area.
"Carmine, honey, please calm down-"
"NO!" Carmine screeched, swatting away Maria's hand, which she quickly retracted after only trying to comfort him.
That single gesture made Ricky's smile vanish completely as he watched his son turn his furious glare toward his mother.
"I HATE IT HERE, I HATE IT, I HATE IT-"
"ENOUGH!" Ricky's voice cut through the room like a whip, and instantly every child froze, eyes wide as they turned to his furious glare.
"Outside." Ricky commanded, opening the door and pointing toward it through Carmine only sniffled, crossing his arms and rooting himself in place.
"NO-"
"Now." Ricky interrupted, his voice chilling, causing the women at the side to widen their eyes at the sight of him behaving differently from the fun-loving father they were used to seeing.
Carmine ducked his head under Ricky's piercing gaze, shivering slightly as he bit his lip, torn between defying his father or surrendering to his wishes.
"I-It's okay." Danielle whispered, her voice trembling as she rubbed at her eyes, tears forming while she came to Carmine's side.
"H-He didn't mean it-"
"Outside."
The moment Ricky repeated himself, it signaled to everyone, including Carmine, that this wasn't a debate, but an order.
Slowly, Carmine trudged forward, head bowed, as Maria followed behind him, forcing a polite smile toward the onlookers.
"But-" Danielle started, but Ricky simply shook his head, silently telling her to stop as he leaned slightly forward, eyes scanning the room.
"Where's Moxie?" Ricky asked suddenly, watching as the little boy crawled over from the side, clutching his tiny sword.
"Twenty bucks to take Carmine's place," Ricky said, digging through his pockets until he found a crumpled twenty-dollar bill, which made Moxie's eyes light up.
"DEAL!" Moxie shouted, laughing as he tossed the sword aside and ran over to his father, clutching the money proudly.
"What about the sword?" Alexander hurried after his grand disciple, feeling a pang of betrayal as he glanced to the side to see the lonely wooden weapon sliding across the floor, abandoned.
"B-But money?" Moxie stammered, torn between honoring his godfather's lesson and giving in to the thrill of reward.
"What the-" Ricky muttered to himself, spotting Alexander at last after what felt like an eternity.
"Alexander, there you are!" Ricky exclaimed, a mix of relief and amusement in his voice, glad to finally see him.
"C'mon."
Ricky gestured for Carmine's godfather to follow, and Alexander, sighing, chased after them, glancing at Moxie's eager retreat but accepting the moment nonetheless.
Closing the door behind the sniffling Carmine and Maria, Ricky waited as Alexander climbed onto his shoulder.
"Where have you been?" Ricky asked, his brows scrunching as he thought back to the inner circle meeting just a day ago, knowing he should've been there.
"Guiding my grand disciples, where else would I be?" Alexander replied, glancing to the side as if avoiding Ricky's scrutinizing gaze.
"You-"
SIGH
"Fine, whatever, but we've got sh*t to do," Ricky said, holding up his hands as if he were too troubled to delve into the reasoning.
Stepping outside to help Carmine cool off, Ricky's eyes softened as he took in the sight of his son clutching Maria's hand.
"Oh Ricky, he didn't mean-"
"He didn't mean to swat the hand of the person who gave him life?" Ricky asked, his brow furrowed as he voiced his frustration, watching Carmine shrink under his gaze.
"Or he didn't mean to call his big sister a cheat," Ricky added, shrugging slightly, his sharp green eyes tracking every hesitant movement of his son.
"Cause to me, it looked like he just did both."
Sniff
Carmine wiped at his eyes, trying to lift his head, but each attempt felt like a weight pushing him back down, and he absentmindedly kicked a nearby pebble.
"S-S-She cheated-"
"You're lying," Ricky interrupted sharply, his glare making the words catch in the boy's throat as he snapped his mouth shut.
"You're lying. You know it's a lie, and I'm f*cking pissed that you even thought Danielle would ever do that to you." Ricky huffed, disbelief etched across his face as he looked at Carmine, struggling to comprehend that his son could say such a thing.
"First of all, apologize to your mother," Ricky added, gesturing toward Maria, who smiled gently as she looked down at Carmine with an expectant gaze
"No-"
"What?" Ricky thought he heard wrong, pressing a finger to his ear and gesturing toward Carmine, silently signaling for him to repeat himself.
"Young Carmine, she gave you life-" Alexander tried to intervene, stepping forward with a gentle smile and patting Ricky's cheek as if to signal he would handle it from here.
"NO, I HATE YOU AND YOUR RAT-" Carmine screamed at the top of his lungs, shattering Alexander's gentle smile into an unrecognizable fury.
"HIS WHAT!" Alexander roared, lunging at Carmine before Ricky caught him before he could land on his child's face.
"AYE, DON'T TALK TO YOUR GODFATHER LIKE THAT!" Ricky yelled, jabbing a finger in reprimand at Carmine, who instinctively shrank behind Maria.
"Honey," Maria said gently, bending down to his level and caressing his tear-streaked cheek.
"It's okay to apologize-"
SLAP
Then Ricky's eyes glowed green at the sight of his son striking his own mother's outstretched hand, an act meant only to offer love and comfort.
"NO!" Carmine screeched, shoving Maria away as he stumbled backward, her hands reaching out to catch him.
"Honey—"
"Maria, go back inside." Ricky said sharply, wiping his mouth as he turned away, unable to unsee what had just happened.
"R-Ricky, he didn't-"
"He just hit you?" Ricky laughed, shaking his head as he stepped closer to Maria, who instinctively rubbed her hand.
"No son of mine lays a hand on your beautiful skin, let alone a whole f*cking palm!" Ricky yelled, his voice fierce yet threaded with genuine care, leaving Maria both startled and strangely touched.
"H-He's a boy-"
"No amount of words is gonna stop this ass whooping," Ricky said calmly but firmly, striding over to Carmine and grabbing his wrist.
"N-NOOOO!" Carmine screamed, thrashing and hitting Ricky's arm, but the grip was ironclad, unyielding even that of a regular man's strength let alone a mere child.
"Go inside, Maria." Ricky instructed, his tone softening only slightly, knowing that no mother should witness what was about to happen.
"He didn't-"
"Maria." Ricky's voice carried no question this time; it was a warning, a way of telling her he didn't want her to witness what was about to happen.
"I might not be here all the time, but I'm still his father," Ricky added, raising his gaze to hers as Maria instinctively ducked her head, sensing the gravity in his tone.
"And he's gonna fear even laying a hand on you after this," Ricky stated, Carmine trembling under the grip of his father as his hateful face tried in vain to pry himself free.
"A-Alexander-"
"The young child needs to learn discipline," Alexander stated, crossing his arms and shooting a sharp glare at Carmine, who had clearly tested the limits of acceptable behavior.
"Go inside." Alexander added on Ricky's behalf, pointing toward the door as Maria wiped her tear-streaked face.
"B-Be gentle." Maria simply asked, only turning away at his light nod as she looked toward Carmine and heisted.
"MOMMY, MOMMY~" Carmine whined, trying to pull himself free from Ricky and reach for her.
At first, Maria was about to reach out with the very hand that was reddening from her son's strike, but at the sight of the red mark, she recoiled, pulling back painfully and turning away from him.
"MOMMY-"
"Don't call her that, not after what you just did." Ricky's voice cut sharply, and he pulled Carmine aside, holding him firmly as Maria staggered toward the door.
Maria pushed it open with trembling hands, tears streaking down her cheeks, each step heavier than the last.
When the door clicked shut behind her, she didn't move another inch, leaning against it as if it were the only thing keeping her from rushing back to shield her son from Ricky's wrath.
"Apologize, right f*cking-
SPIT
"DID YOU JUST SPIT AT ME!" Ricky roared, realizing with a grimace that Carmine had splattered his custom three-piece suit from Rotlo. From the other side of the door, Maria could hear the furious shouts, each one sharp enough to make her flinch.
Ricky grabbed a nearby tree branch and, without hesitation, pulled Carmine over his knee.
The young boy flailed desperately, wriggling and twisting, but Ricky's grip was unyielding as he planted his hand on his back to keep him in place.
"You mother is a f*cking saint, someone who loves you with all her heart." Ricky seethed, his green eyes locked on Carmine, though he kept himself restrained, letting his fury stay measured.
"And not only do you disrespect her, but then you spit on me-"
"I HATE YOU!" Carmine screamed, thrashing against Ricky's grip, each word ripping at Ricky's chest as if his heart were being torn in two.
But even with that pain coursing through him, it didn't stop Ricky from slowly lifting the tree branch, his resolve hardening with every second.
Twack
Then, with a careful motion, Ricky finally marked the beginning of his path into parenthood, lightly smacking Carmine's bottom with the small branch he held.
It wasn't harsh, nor was it entirely soft but it carried just enough sting to impress upon the child the consequences of making these types of choices.
In this era, whether or not physical punishment solved problems was largely irrelevant.
Lucky had beaten the crap out of Ricky countless times, instilling lessons through measured force.
But always out of love, never hatred.
That had always been Lucky's guiding principle: punish out of care, never out of anger.
Ricky carried that same belief into his own parenting, letting it shape every decision, every firm hand, and every lesson taught to his children.
He loved Carmine more fiercely than he could put into words.
Every decision he made, every moment of guidance, was aimed at building a foundation that would one day make him proud to pass down the Luciano name.
Yet, unbeknownst to Ricky, Carmine had been thoroughly spoiled by Maria's indulgent mothering.
She gave him everything, coddling him whenever he screamed or fussed, ensuring he never truly felt discomfort.
That same indulgence, however, had fostered a self-centered streak in Carmine, a tendency to punish or lash out at anyone who didn't cater to his desires.
Ricky, watching it unfold, knew exactly what had to be done, and as if finally adjusting to the era he lived in, he was about to smack that behavior out of him.
Twack
Twack
Twack
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Carmine screamed, tears streaming down his face as Ricky delivered one strike after another to his bottom with the tree branch.
Spanking, or physical discipline, was different in Ricky's eyes than it had been for Lucky or anyone of this period.
To him, a child was only to be hit when they had truly crossed a line.
When a lesson needed to be learned so they would understand the consequences of their actions.
He paused, letting Carmine catch his breath, his stern gaze softening as he knelt to meet the boy's tear-streaked face.
"You ready to apologize for hurting your mother's feelings?" Ricky asked, his gaze locked on Carmine, who only stared at his father's outstretched hand as if weighing the danger.
Then, like a small but vicious animal, Carmine bared his teeth and chomped at the air, catching only the space Ricky had wisely pulled back from at the last second.
"Are you f*cking kidding me?" Ricky muttered, exasperation creeping into his voice as Carmine, undeterred, swung a punch at his knee.
TWACK
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Carmine screamed, thrashing over Ricky's knee as he delivered a harder strike.
"YOU'RE NEVER THERE, I WANT TO SEE YOU BUT-"
"SO YOU KICK AND SCREAM, THEN HIT YOUR MOTHER?!" Ricky roared, his green eyes blazing as Carmine shriveled beneath his gaze once again.
"Ungrateful, hit him again." Alexander narrowed his eyes, glaring at the boy who had the audacity to call him anything less than the mighty gerbil.
Sigh
A heavy sigh escaped Ricky's lips as he watched Carmine sniffle, his small shoulders trembling.
He lowered his gaze, staring at the reason behind all this chaos: his own absence.
Carmine adored Ricky, he wanted to emulate him, to be like him, but the boy was trying in all the wrong ways.
Every outburst, every defiant shout, was a misguided attempt to reach the father he idolized, a plea for attention that came out as anger instead of words.
Ricky's chest tightened, a mixture of frustration and tenderness twisting inside him, knowing the lesson he was imparting was as much about guidance as it was about love.
"Carmine, I miss you too." Ricky sighed, easing his son onto his knee as Carmine winced slightly, bracing for another strike, but all he saw was his father toss the stick aside.
"But if you're mad at me, then be mad at me." Ricky continued, pointing to himself, his green eyes softening as his thumb whipped away the tear falling down his puffy cheek.
"I can take it, in fact, we can go a couple rounds if you want." Ricky laughed, leaning back slightly as he watched Carmine start to chuckle.
But the boy quickly remembered he was supposed to be pouting and snapped back into his sulky expression, which only made Ricky laugh harder.
"Carmine, look at me," Ricky said gently, patting his cheek and slowly, Carmine lifted his downcast eyes to meet his father's warm smile.
"But you can't just take out your anger on your mother or your siblings," Ricky lectured, hoping Carmine would understand that hurting the ones he loved wouldn't earn attention or ease his frustration.
Sniff
"I-I wanted to win, to make you proud-"
"I will never be proud of someone who hits their mother and talks down to their family," Ricky said, watching the boy shrink under the weight of his words.
"But I will always be proud of you" Ricky smiled, gently caressing Carmine's tear-streaked cheek as he looked up at him.
"Even when you're making it really difficult-"
"Stop~" Carmine whined, swatting at Ricky's hand as if to prove he wasn't amused.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding~" Ricky laughed, grinning as he watched Carmine fuss.
"Listen, I know it's tough, and I know you're struggling, but you just can't do that," Ricky said, carefully explaining why it was wrong in the first place as Carmine slowly settled onto his knee.
"Your mother loves you so much, and when she hears you say that, it breaks her f*cking heart," Ricky said, his fingers lightly pressing against Carmine's chest as he tugged at his shirt, emphasizing the point.
"Promise me you'll never, ever, say something like that again," Ricky said, locking his gaze on Carmine's reddened eyes so the boy couldn't look away or squirm free.
"I promise," Carmine whispered, lifting a small hand to wipe at his nose as Ricky gently brushed away the tears, letting the touch linger just long enough to reassure him.
Slap
"Ow~" Carmine whined, wincing as Ricky gave him a playful smack on the back of the head, then ruffled his hair with a grin.
"That's for trying to bite me, you little weirdo," Ricky laughed, rising to his feet and gently setting Carmine back on his own two feet.
"I-I didn't mean it-"
"I know, but it ain't about meaning it, it's always about saying it." Ricky said, shaking his head and pointing at Carmine for emphasis.
"It's like if I said I hate you." Ricky continued, using an analogy, watching Carmine's small frame tremble as if he actually believed it for a moment.
"I don't, but it hurts to hear me say it, right?" Ricky asked, his eyes tracking Carmine as the boy's gaze widened and he ducked his head in shame.
"Yeah." Carmine whispered, fiddling with his tiny fingers and sniffing slightly, still processing the lesson.
"Now go and make up with your mother, then go make up with your sister," Ricky said firmly, giving him a gentle nudge forward as Carmine stumbled but slowly regained his footing, ready to do as he was told.
"C-Can you visit more?" Carmine asked, his voice small and guilty, eyes flicking up at Ricky as if afraid of overstepping.
"Of course." Ricky smiled warmly, the tension from earlier melting slightly as he watched his son's expression shift into a bright, relieved smile.
Carmine didn't hesitate this time.
He turned toward his mother, who was bending down with tears of joy streaming down her face, arms wide open.
Without a second thought, he ran toward her, leaping into her embrace.
Maria spun him around, laughter mixing with her sniffles, and pressed a gentle kiss into his thick black hair, holding him tight as if she never wanted to let go.
"I'm sorry~" Carmine whined, burying his face in Maria's hair as she gently patted his back, the warmth of her embrace calming him.
"Oh, my baby, I know, I know~" Maria chuckled softly, glancing over at Ricky, who rubbed the back of his neck, the guilt from earlier still lingering despite the necessity of his actions.
"Go say you're sorry to Danielle, okay, honey?" Maria asked, carefully setting him down, wiping his tear-streaked face, and giving his back a reassuring pat, guiding him toward making amends.
"Okay!"
"Aye, Carmine, if you're good later on, I'll take you out, just the two of us," Ricky said suddenly, watching the boy's eyes widen with excitement.
"Really? Just us?" Carmine asked, his eyes sparkling like stars, the rare promise of time alone with his father making him beam with joy.
"Yeah, but you can't be the little sh*t you were before. You're a Luciano, and we look after our own," Ricky lectured, wagging his finger at him as Carmine slowly nodded, the weight of the lesson sinking in alongside the thrill of the reward.
"Okay-"
"And you're the brother. You should be the one coming to your sister's defense, not the other way around,"
"Ok-"
"And you better not let any snot-nosed brats talk to your sisters. I f*cking mean it, I don't want their hands on my princesses,"
"Okay!" Carmine cheered, hurriedly running back towards the play area with a wide smile.
Sigh
Ricky sighed, rubbing the back of his head, the motion tinged with both fatigue and unfamiliarity. In his past life, he'd have drowned his frustration in drink whenever his kids misbehaved, avoiding confrontation entirely.
Now, standing there, he realized this, truly facing them, was something he had never done before.
"Sorry about that I-"
"No, it was beautiful," Maria sniffled, wiping her eyes as she stepped closer to Ricky, letting his hands slowly wrap around her waist then trail down to her ass.
"I think he deserved one more." Alexander whispered, his voice sharp yet tinged with a strange fondness, crossing his arms as he watched Carmine sprint back into the building.
"No, don't say that~" Maria chuckled, rubbing her nose as she looked up at Alexander, who let his stern gaze soften into a smile at the sight of her.
"How have you been, my dear?" Alexander asked warmly, his voice carrying a rare softness as he recalled the little girl Maria had once been, now grown into a graceful young woman.
"So good, Alexander! It's really nice to see you!" Maria replied wholeheartedly, her smile bright and genuine as she regarded the gerbil.
"You'll be seeing me more often from now on," Alexander muttered, his tone slightly hollow as he raised his gaze at where Carmine had departed too.
"It seems Carmine really needs his training-"
"What was that-"
"I said I'd be happy to watch the child whenever you plan your outings," Alexander added immediately, his tone shifting as he straightened.
Ricky raised an eyebrow but said nothing; after what he'd just witnessed, Carmine clearly needed a taste of his godfather's grueling training.
"That is wonderful because I came here with really good news." Maria said, turning to Ricky who turned his gaze back to her loving smile.
"What is it?" Ricky asked, watching Maria fidget with her dress before she pulled out an envelope.
"A save-the-date!" Maria said excitedly, gesturing for Ricky to open it as he took the letter slowly and unfolded it.
"We would like to formally invite you to Betty Eagen and Joseph Hassebrook-"
"It's Betty's wedding! You know, the girl from high school!" Maria exclaimed, snatching the letter back before Ricky could even finish the first line.
"Oh, not that clown-" Ricky scoffed, turning his head away at the thought of the guy with the most punchable face from their high school.
"Ricky, stop~" Maria laughed, playfully hitting his chest.
"Betty invited us and I want to go with you." Maria said, her smile showing her bright and shiny teeth that radiated along with her love for him.
"Just the two of us?" Ricky asked, a small smile tugging at his lips as he gently caressed her cheek. Maria leaned into his touch, her own smile softening in response.
"Just the two of us~" Maria whispered, nuzzling her face into his chest as she tilted her eyes up to meet his.
"Please, it would mean so much to me," Maria murmured, pressing her chin against his chest and wrapping her arms around him.
Her eyes softened into that irresistible, pleading gaze which was the kind Ricky could never, ever say no to.
Sigh
"Oh, thank you~" Maria giggled, squeezing Ricky tightly as he rested his head gently atop hers.
"I could literally give you a city-"
"I want to spend time with you," Maria interrupted softly, shaking her head as a city meant nothing to her without him in it.
"Alright, I'll make time to escort you to that jackasses funeral-"
"His wedding." Maria squinted, correcting Ricky who simply shrugged at her words.
"Fine, but-"
"And no punching people, we're going there to support Betty." Maria said quickly, eyes narrowing as she watched Ricky facepalm, clearly struggling to restrain himself from putting some snobs in their place.
SIGH
"I love you," Maria smiled, laughing softly in his embrace as Ricky leaned in, his face hovering just inches from hers, while Alexander awkwardly sat to the side, avoiding eye contact so as not to interrupt the moment.
"I love you too."
Meanwhile in The Play Area,
"I'm sorry," Carmine muttered, ducking his head as Danielle smiled warmly at him.
"I forgive you," Danielle said, hugging him gently as Carmine flinched at first but gradually rested his head on her shoulder.
"I FORGIVE YOU TOO!" Sarah screamed, barreling into them and tackling not one, but both to the ground.
"You're loud-"
"YOU'RE MEAN!" Sarah laughed, squeezing him tightly while rubbing his red hair on his chest.
Carmine wanted to be mad, but his father's words echoed in his mind, keeping his temper in check.
"But you're my brother," Sarah said, sitting up as Carmine looked down at the little red furball, who gave him a confident thumbs up.
"And grandpa says 'Luciano tackle their own-"
"Look after their own," Henry corrected from the side, disbelief etched across his youthful face at the very reason Sarah continued to tackle him.
"Nuh-uh, he says tackle," Sarah insisted, frowning as everyone else collectively facepalmed.
Bob stepped forward toward Carmine, watching the small boy extend his hand towards him with a deadpan expression which made the young boy hesitant.
Carmine had never really engaged with his family much since he'd always been closed off, much like his mother.
But as his tiny fingers wrapped around Bob's, the older boy gently pulled him up, steadying him.
Moxie patted Carmine on the back, a quiet encouragement, while Henry smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothing, frowning slightly but doing it with care.
They were a messy, tangled web of a family, full of politics, opinions, and constant bickering.
But underneath it all, at their core, they were Lucianos.
A family bound not just by blood, but by loyalty, resilience, and the kind of chaotic love that only their name could carry.
"I'm sorry," Carmine said again, this time with genuine sincerity, the words feeling strange yet comforting as he realized he was surrounded by kids who actually cared about him.
"It's okay," Henry replied softly, patting Carmine's shoulder as the simple gesture made his lips curl into a small smile.
"Moxie, stop~" Danielle whined, frowning as Moxie playfully tried to pickpocket his younger brother, completely undermining the heartfelt moment.
"He didn't pay me yet-"
"Hey, my nickel!" Carmine suddenly shouted, his little legs pumping as he tore off after Moxie, who darted away with a grin plastered across his face.
"Give it back!" Carmine demanded, his voice cracking between anger and excitement as Moxie glanced over his shoulder, smirking like he had already won.
"Ha~" Moxie teased, the single sound enough to flip Carmine's frustration into reluctant amusement.
Soon Carmine was laughing just as hard, the chase turning from anger to pure fun.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Carmine howled, finally tackling his brother to the ground.
With stubborn determination, Carmine pried his nickel free, holding it up triumphantly while both boys lay breathless on the floor, laughter echoing through the room.
Until Sarah swooped in.
"STEALING!" Sarah declared in a mock-dramatic tone as she snatched the nickel from Carmine's hand and bolted across the room, her laughter trailing behind her.
"MY NICKEL!" Carmine and Moxie shouted in perfect unison, their eyes meeting for a brief, surprised second before both erupted into helpless giggles and tore off after her.
Danielle couldn't help but smile, warmth softening her features as she watched Carmine, so often serious or weighed down, laugh freely, his grin wide as he sprinted alongside Moxie.
Sarah, quick on her feet, bounced around the room like a pinball, daring them to catch her.
"Ba~" Thrawn babbled, tugging insistently at Danielle's yellow skirt.
She bent down, scooping him up with a tender ease as the little boy happily gnawed on his stuffed animal within his big sister's embrace.
"Henry, can we play?" Danielle asked softly as she carried Thrawn over, her voice touched with a hopeful lilt while the smallest Luciano nestled into her shoulder.
"Yes but could you get more blocks?"
Slowly, what had once been discord within the family began to shift into something softer, something almost whole.
Laughter tangled with shouts, tiny footsteps darted across the floor, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they acted like siblings should
Ricky stood in the doorway, his hand resting against the frame as he watched, soaking in the rare harmony.
"Are you coming?" Maria asked gently, slipping her hand around his arm and tugging him forward.
Inside, the women waved at him, calling him in with warm encouragement, as if all it would take was a single step to be part of the moment.
"I-" Ricky started, his smile wavering while shifting his weight forward, as if he might do it, as if he might give in to the simple pull of the moment.
F*ck~" Ricky muttered under his breath, his voice carrying both frustration and resignation as he knew where he needed to be.
The meeting with J.P. Morgan Jr.
"It's okay." Maria smiled softly, rubbing his hand once before slowly letting it go, her touch lingering just enough to leave a warmth behind.
"Are you okay?" Ricky asked, his voice quieter now, the guilt pressing on him.
He sort of hated the thought of just showing up only to walk right back out the door, like he was dangling himself in front of her and then disappearing again.
"I am now." Maria said, her voice gentle, almost fragile, as her eyes lingered on the ground.
But when her gaze lifted to him, it carried this quiet conviction, the kind that spoke louder than any plea.
Then, she turned and began walking toward the play area, her black dress brushing lightly against her legs as if pulled forward by the laughter of the children.
However, seeing all his kids playing together, Ricky never wanted to leave.
For a fleeting moment, this was enough.
But deep inside, something tightened around his ambition, because he wanted more.
More to give them.
More to protect them.
He looked up at the women, each with their own expression as they caught his gesture to the watch on his wrist, the subtle signal that he needed to go.
Jennifer rolled her eyes.
Azalea scoffed.
Sarah gave a small nod.
Yet despite their reactions, every single one of them smiled.
This was the hardest part about being head of the family.
The part Lucky never told him, the part you only learned when the weight rested on your shoulders.
Being head wasn't just power, it was a sacrifice.
Ricky felt it sharply now as his eyes swept across his kids and the women he loved, all laughing, all fitting together in a way that made his chest ache.
This was it.
This was everything he could ever want.
But still, he couldn't stay.
Things were already in motion, and he knew, deep down, that if he wanted to keep those smiles untouched, he had to make sure there wasn't a single thing in this world capable of turning them into frowns.
"I was ashamed of what happened in our absence." Alexander admitted, his smile faint as he watched the warmth of the family scene.
"I kept replaying that day over and over in my head." Alexander's voice wavered, the truth finally spilling as he revealed why he hadn't been at Ricky's side.
"But I-" Alexander faltered, guilt weighing down his words.
"I know." Ricky's voice cut in, giving Alexander a reassuring smile since he understood that exact feeling all too well.
"But we gotta get back to work."
There was so much that needed to be crammed into such a short time, and Ricky knew he needed Alexander by his side.
It was the only way he could drag this stubborn gerbil up with him, the only way to get him to the stars Ricky so desperately wanted them both to reach.
"Ambition is as cruel as it is fulfilling." Alexander merely said, watching Ricky slowly nod before turning away.
"Damn straight." Ricky muttered, the door swinging shut behind him as Danielle stood frozen in place.
"Bye, Daddy" Danielle whispered, her voice too soft to reach him, her sad eyes lingering on the empty space where he had just been.
BAM
"AYE!"
Right before he could step away, the door burst back open as Ricky strode back in.
The other kids flinched, but it was the Lucianos who jerked their heads first, their instincts sharpened to their fathers explosive entrances.
"What do Lucianos do?" Ricky's voice carried through the room, making every child freeze mid-motion.
Their eyes darted to each other, uncertain but trying to remember.
"Look after their own?" They answered, not all in sync, not all in the same tone, but every voice carried the words.
"That's f*cking right." Ricky grinned, pride tugging at his lips.
"Love you guys."
With that, a shimmering portal tore open behind him as he gave one last wave before stepping through, the glow swallowing him whole as his children's voices rang out in overlapping laughter and cheers.
"Bye daddy-"
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Sarah suddenly burst forward, sprinting toward him just as Ricky began to back into the portal.
Suddenly, with all her might, she hurled the nickel.
The two boys froze in horror, watching the small silver coin spin through the air toward their father.
"A nickel?"
With a calm flick of his wrist, he snatched it from the air, opening his palm to the lone coin glinting in the portal's light.
He looked up to find Sarah grinning at him, her thumb pointed proudly into the air.
"You're gonna need it, Daddy!" Sarah exclaimed, flashing him a toothy grin as Ricky couldn't help but return it with one of his own.
"Atta girl." Ricky chuckled, backing into the portal before turning his eyes toward Danielle as he gave her a quick wink.
"And there ain't goodbyes in this family, Danny, only see-you-agains." Ricky's laughter lingered as the green light swallowed him, leaving Danielle wide-eyed before her lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Okay, see you again."
Meanwhile At The Stork Club,
"What is this? Where are we?" Alexander asked, his eyes flicking to Ricky, who stood smirking outside his own club.
"This guy had the balls to tell me we're meeting at my club." Ricky scoffed, shaking his head at the gesture, not sure whether to take it as an insult or a show of arrogance or something else entirely.
"Very, ballsy." Alexander added, trying Ricky's lingo, which earned him a sideways look from the man himself.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Ricky asked, strolling forward toward his own club doors.
"The one known as Marco," Alexander said matter-of-factly, staring straight ahead as Ricky gave a single nod, before pushing open the club doors.
Almost immediately, Ricky pushed open the doors to his famous club, only to find it stripped of everything that made it his.
The dance floor, once alive with a jazz-riddled rhythm, was silent.
The music had been cut, leaving only the hum of the lights above.
The air carried no perfume of liquor, no trace of laughter or even a hint of chatter.
Nearly three dozen men lined the walls, shoulder to shoulder, each one gripping pistols, shotguns, knives, bats, and every weapon meant to send the same message.
Their eyes followed him in unison, watching his every move as if on guard from the very moment he stepped into his own doors.
And at the center, sitting like a spider in its web, was a single man at the middle table.
"Do you know why coins have their ridges?"
Author's Note: Ngl, I'm late with teh chap cause I f*cked up and totally forgot J.P morgan f*cking died man. In 1913. Had to completely pivot from what I was gonna do and it's the reason I delayed the chap. I also will post tmmrow cause I'm a dumbass.