Two black police cars idled outside the diner, their engines murmuring like predators waiting to pounce. Tommy Angelo was guided into the first car, flanked by Agent Williams—the same man who'd stepped in after the shootout. Paulie was ushered into the second vehicle, trailing behind like a ghost of Tommy's past.
The ride to the station was silent. Empire Bay passed by in a blur of light and shadows, the city alive with noise but hollow in spirit. Tommy stared out the window, his thoughts tangled between the promise of protection and the weight of old sins.
At the police station, the separation was swift. No words exchanged. No explanations offered. Tommy was placed in a sterile room with steel walls and a single flickering light overhead. The cold seeped into his skin, but it was the silence that gnawed at him. He'd faced killers, betrayal, and war—but solitude had a way of making even the strongest men question their footing.
After nearly an hour, the door creaked open.
Agent Williams entered first, calm and composed. Behind him came Agent Houlston—new face, hard eyes, and a jaw clenched like a vice.
"Sorry for the delay, Mr. Angelo," Williams said, his voice smooth but rehearsed.
Tommy didn't flinch. "Well, that's what you guys are good at, I guess. I was told you'd send people to protect me."
Houlston stepped forward, his voice sharp and loud.
"We're agents, Thomas Angelo. Not your dogs."
Tommy met his gaze without blinking. No emotion. No fear. He'd seen this act before—bad cop, good cop. It was a tired play, and Tommy wasn't buying tickets.
"Gentlemen, let's calm down, shall we?" Williams said, trying to defuse the tension.
Houlston broke eye contact, but Tommy didn't. He kept staring, his expression unreadable, until Houlston snapped.
"What are you looking at?"
Tommy tilted his head slightly and gave a faint, unsettling smile.
"Fucking creep," Houlston muttered.
Williams cleared his throat and shifted the conversation.
"Mr. Angelo, we'll honor our word. We'll do what we can to protect your family. I can assign a few retired soldiers and agents to guard your house."
Tommy nodded slowly. "Acceptable. But I want a female guard. You know the reason."
Williams didn't ask. He just nodded. "Understood."
He opened a folder, revealing photos and documents—pieces of Tommy's past laid bare.
"Now, onto the next matter. We've reviewed your history. Your affiliations with the Salieri family."
Tommy didn't react. Just nodded once.
"Mr. Angelo, the path you've chosen—it's going to make you visible. Maybe even famous. And when that happens, people will dig. They'll find everything. What will you do then?"
Tommy leaned back, arms crossed.
"Well, I'm in your care, aren't I? That's capitalism, friend. You take care of me, I take care of you."
Williams chuckled. "You got me, Mr. Angelo. Hahaha."
Houlston just frowned, his disdain barely concealed.
The meeting ended with stiff handshakes and forced pleasantries. As Tommy stepped out of the room, he glanced back at Houlston.
"See you again, Agent Houlston."
Houlston muttered something under his breath, but Tommy didn't care. He was already walking out.
---
Outside — 6:42 PM
The city was glowing. Streetlamps flickered on, casting golden halos over the wet pavement. Tommy stepped out of the station, the tension finally easing from his shoulders.
Paulie was waiting, leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets.
"You became a big man, Tom," he said. "You got a mansion, a car, a loving wife, a lovely daughter. Me? I'm stuck in a crummy apartment, wasting time on odd jobs and whores."
He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"Buddy, it feels like we're from different worlds now."
Tommy saw the sadness in his eyes—the kind that doesn't scream, but whispers. He placed a hand on Paulie's shoulder.
"Don't worry, pal. You still got me. And by the way… wanna go to a bar?"
Paulie raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Didn't you quit drinking as a promise to Sarah?"
Tommy smirked. "Salieri was behind that promise. That bastard was manipulating us from the start. And anyway… who's gonna tell Sarah?"
Paulie laughed, surprised and relieved. The tension broke like a wave.
They flagged down a taxi, the city lights reflecting in the windshield as they climbed in. The night was young, and for the first time in a long while, Tommy felt like he could breathe.
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