Eight

NOVARIA’S POV

A few hours after Sylvester left the mansion, I began to realize something very important.

I was starving.

At first, I ignored it completely. Not only because I didn't want to bump into strange faces, but mostly because I had become ridiculously invested in the cartoon playing on the television.

What started as “I’ll only watch for five minutes” somehow turned into several full episodes, and before I knew it, I was sitting cross-legged on the couch completely focused on animated characters arguing over pancakes.

Honestly, I blamed Sylvester.

If he hadn’t turned the cartoon channel on in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened.

Still…The longer time passed, the louder my stomach became.

I stubbornly refused to admit I was hungry for nearly an hour before finally giving up. After all it was already lunch time.

With a dramatic sigh, I grabbed the remote and turned the television off..Silence immediately filled the massive living room.

And strangely enough… The mansion suddenly felt emptier than before.

I frowned slightly as I stood up from the couch. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t seen a single person around for hours. Not Kelvin. Not Collins. Not even one of the armed men constantly roaming around earlier.

The mansion had become unusually quiet.

I slowly walked toward the kitchen. Maybe someone would be there. Hopefully..Because despite everything, I still felt awkward opening someone else’s fridge like I owned the place.

But when I stepped into the kitchen,.nobody was there. Not a single soul.

I looked around the huge space in confusion. The kitchen somehow looked even bigger when empty.

“Where did everyone go?” I muttered quietly to myself.

For a second, I debated just opening the fridge and making something simple myself..But immediately, my social anxiety won the argument.

What if I touched something important? What if they had rules? What if mafia people had weird fridge etiquette?

No….Absolutely not.

I decided finding Kelvin would be safer.

The problem was…I barely knew this mansion. The only places I recognized were the living room, kitchen, and Sylvester’s bedroom. Everything else looked like a luxury hotel maze.

Still, I gathered enough courage and headed upstairs carefully.

The mansion remained eerily quiet until I suddenly heard something.

Click-click-click-click.

A keyboard.

The rapid typing sound echoed faintly from one of the rooms nearby.

Curious, I slowly approached the door. It was slightly open. So I carefully peeked inside and froze slightly.

If wasn't Kelvin. It was Collins.

He sat in front of multiple computer screens glowing brightly inside a dim room. Different maps, security feeds, codes, and documents filled the monitors while his fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard.

The entire room looked like something straight out of a spy movie.

I immediately stepped backward.

But unfortunately, Collins looked up at the exact same moment.

Our eyes met.

“Well,” he said, leaning back slightly in his chair. “How did you end up here?”

I awkwardly scratched my arm.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “The door was open, and I thought Kelvin was inside.”

Collins stared at me for a second before chuckling softly.

“It’s fine.” Then he tilted his head slightly. “Are you lost?”

I blinked at him.

Why did everyone here keep treating me like a lost child? I was literally eighteen. How exactly does someone get lost inside a house?

…Actually, considering the size of this mansion, maybe it was possible. But still.

“My pride says no,” I muttered under my breath.

Collins laughed quietly.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

I crossed my arms defensively before sighing.

“I’m just hungry.”

The moment the words left my mouth, embarrassment immediately crashed into me.

Why did I say it like that?

I sounded like an abandoned kitten begging for food.

I quickly looked away in shame.

Thankfully, Collins only smiled knowingly.

“Ah,” he said, finally standing up from his chair. “That explains it.”

He stretched his arms slightly before walking toward the door.

“So…” he continued casually, “how does another one of my legendary sandwiches sound?”

A smile escaped me instantly.

“Honestly? Not bad.”

And just like that, the awkwardness disappeared.

—--------

While Collins and I headed downstairs toward the kitchen, Sylvester was miles away from the mansion. And far from relaxed.

The black SUV rolled smoothly through the private road leading toward Omega territory.

Chris sat beside him silently, one arm resting against the car door while several armed men followed behind them in another vehicle.

Unlike Kelvin and Collins, Chris was naturally quiet. Dangerously quiet. The type of man who didn’t waste words unless necessary. But despite his calm demeanor, everyone knew one thing, Chris Muskegon was lethal.

It was very common for Sylvester to bring Chris along with him in such situations. Not because he didn't trust his other brothers, but because…Chris specialized in weapons. 

Guns especially.

Collins was more good at hacking and planning missions. Kelvin on the other hand, not only was he good at building up strategies, he was very good at torturing people. He could be stone hearted at work, but he was quite a complete different person infront of innocent people; and that's why Sylvester didn't mind him staying with me at home.

“You really think these bastards just want to talk?” Chris finally asked calmly.

Sylvester stared ahead coldly.

“No.” His answer came instantly. “I already told Collins to monitor everything from home,” he added. “Something feels off.”

Before Chris could respond, the SUV slowly came to a stop.

Both men stepped out simultaneously.

Immediately, several armed guards exited the second vehicle behind them. Then a voice echoed ahead.

“Well, well…”

Sylvester’s expression darkened instantly.

Marcus Omega stepped forward alone. Unlike the Muskegons dressed in dark clothing, Marcus wore an expensive white suit, looking more like a politician than a mafia boss. 

But his smile? That smile was poison.

“Welcome,” Marcus said smoothly.

“Marcus,” Sylvester replied flatly.

Chris merely nodded once.

“What’s with all the hostility?” Marcus chuckled lightly. “I invited you here for a conversation, not a war.”

Sylvester scanned the surroundings carefully. Too carefully..Marcus noticed immediately and smirked.

“As you can see,” he continued casually, spreading his arms slightly, “I came alone.”

That meant absolutely nothing. Everyone knew Marcus Omega was a snake. The type who would stab you while smiling politely.

Still, after several tense moments, Marcus finally gestured toward the mansion behind him.

“Come inside.”

Neither Sylvester nor Chris moved immediately. But eventually, they followed. Marcus’s mansion was luxurious, though noticeably smaller than the Muskegons’ estate. Everything inside screamed wealth and power, but lacked warmth completely. The atmosphere felt cold and Artificial.

A single servant stood quietly nearby while Marcus led them into a sitting area.

Surprisingly…No hidden men appeared. No ambush. Nothing. Which somehow made Sylvester trust the situation even less.

“Chris and Sylvester Muskegon,” Marcus said while sitting down comfortably. “It’s been years since we all sat together like this.”

Neither man responded.

Marcus smiled faintly.

“Coffee?”

He gestured toward the servant.

Chris immediately spoke before the servant could move.

“Skip the coffee and tell us why we’re here.”

The politeness vanished from Marcus’s face instantly.

“Straight to business then.”.His tone sharpened slightly..“The Capones are becoming a problem.”

That immediately caught their attention.

Marcus leaned forward slightly.

“They’ve been crossing into my territory lately,” he continued. “And from what I hear…”.His eyes locked onto Sylvester. “They’ve been interfering with yours too.”

Silence filled the room.

Unfortunately, Marcus wasn’t wrong.

The Capones were reckless. Unlike the Muskegons or Omegas, they operated sloppily. Drug trafficking. Human trafficking. Random violence..Animals pretending to be businessmen. And lately, they’d become bold. Too bold.

Marcus slowly folded his hands together.

“So here’s my proposal.”.The smirk returned. “We work together.”

Chris looked disgusted instantly.

Marcus ignored him.

“We eliminate the Capones permanently,” he continued calmly. “Once and for all.”

For several seconds…Silence.

Then Sylvester laughed softly. But there was absolutely no humor in it.

Marcus’s smile faded slightly.

Sylvester slowly leaned forward, his cold eyes locking onto Marcus like a predator preparing to kill.

“Listen carefully,” he said quietly. 

The room instantly became tense.

“If you have another joke to tell, then tell it now.”.His voice dropped lower. “Because this one wasn’t funny.”

Marcus’s expression hardened..Sylvester didn’t stop.

“We would never work with you,” he continued coldly. “Not now. Not in a thousand years.”

Chris remained silent beside him, but his hand had already drifted dangerously close to the gun beneath his jacket.

Sylvester’s gaze darkened further.

“So tell me something, Marcus…”.The air itself suddenly felt heavy. “Why exactly did you bring us here?”