Three weeks since I died.
Three weeks since I woke up in this body.
Three weeks of pretending to be Julian Marino—the family disappointment.
I stretched in my king-sized bed, staring at the ceiling of my penthouse. The old Julian lived in the family basement. But the old Julian didn't have a system that rewarded sin.
[Good Morning, Host] [Daily Sin Quest Available] [Current Sin Points: 127]
Not bad for three weeks of work.
The morning sun hit different when you weren't worried about assassination attempts. Though in this family, that could change by lunch.
My phone buzzed. Seventeen missed calls from Dad.
The Don can wait. I've got coffee to drink.
I rolled out of bed, catching my reflection in the floor-length mirror. The system's physical enhancement was subtle but effective—jawline sharper, muscles more defined, eyes that held danger instead of fear.
"Looking good, Julian," I told myself. "Or should I say, looking better."
The old Julian was soft. Weak. Spent his days reading manga and avoiding family business.
Me? I spent ten years in black ops learning how to kill with a paperclip.
Different worlds, same bullshit.
[Morning Routine Complete]
[Confidence +1]
---
The coffee shop was a five-minute walk from my new place. I'd made it part of my routine—small interactions, building connections. In my old life, we called it "establishing civilian cover."
Here? It was just good business.
"Morning, Julian!" Sarah, the barista, actually smiled when she saw me. Three weeks ago, the old Julian couldn't even order without stuttering.
"Morning, beautiful. The usual?"
She blushed. "Double espresso, no sugar?"
"You remember."
"Hard to forget when you actually tip." She leaned over the counter slightly. "Unlike your brothers."
Interesting. Filing that away.
"My brothers are idiots," I said, dropping a twenty in the tip jar. "Keep the change."
[Charm +2]
[Social Link Strengthened: Sarah]
While she made my coffee, I checked my phone. Three texts from Marco, two from Rico, and one from an unknown number.
Marco: "Answer Dad's calls, asshole."
Marco: "I'm serious."
Marco: "Fine. I'm coming over."
Great. Big brother wants to play.
---
I was halfway through my coffee when my phone rang. This time, I answered.
"Finally decided to pick up?" Dad's voice could freeze hell.
"Been busy."
"Busy? You're the third son. You don't get to be busy."
I smiled. "Things change, old man."
Silence. In the Marino family, nobody talked back to Don Salvatore.
Nobody except the new me.
"Marco says you've been acting strange."
"Marco says a lot of things."
"He's worried about you."
*No, he's worried about his position.*
"Tell Marco I'm fine. Better than fine."
"Julian—"
"Actually, tell him yourself. He's at my door."
I hung up.
[Defiance +10]
[Family Reputation: Neutral > Tense]
---
Marco didn't knock. He never did.
"Nice place," he said, helping himself to my whiskey. It was barely noon. "How'd you afford it?"
"Investments."
"Right." He downed the drink. "What kind of investments?"
"The profitable kind."
He studied me like I was a puzzle. Marco was used to being the smart brother. Enzo was the violent one. I was supposed to be the disappointment.
Surprise, big brother.
"You killed Roberto," he said finally.
"Who?"
"Don't play dumb. Enzo's enforcer. Three weeks ago. Beat him to death with your bare hands."
I shrugged. "He had it coming."
"Since when do you fight?"
"Since when do you care?"
[Intimidation +5]
Marco set down his glass harder than necessary. "Listen, little brother. I don't know what's gotten into you, but—"
"But what? You'll tell Daddy? Already did that."
His jaw tightened. "I'm trying to help you."
"No, you're trying to figure out if I'm a threat."
In my past life, I'd profiled terrorists and dictators. Marco was easier to read than a children's book.
"You're paranoid," he said.
"And you're scared."
We stared at each other. The old Julian would have backed down. Apologized. Made peace.
I smiled.
"What do you want, Marco?"
He relaxed slightly. "I need a favor."
*Here it comes.*
"Pick up Sonia from campus. She's being... difficult."
"Your girlfriend problems aren't my problem."
"Come on. She likes you. Always asking about you." He tried to look casual. Failed. "Just pick her up, take her to lunch, convince her to stop being mad at me."
"What'd you do?"
"Nothing."
"Marco."
"I may have forgotten our anniversary. While I was with another girl."
Classy.
"And you want me to clean up your mess?"
"I'm asking you as a brother."
"We're barely brothers."
His face darkened. "We're blood, Julian. That means something."
"Does it?"
[Hostile Intent Detected]
[Recommendation: Accept quest for information]
I pretended to think about it. In truth, my system was already analyzing the situation. Marco was nervous. Too nervous for a simple pickup.
"Fine. But you owe me."
"Sure, whatever." He tossed me his car keys. "She gets out at three. Don't fuck this up."
He left too quickly. In my world, that meant setup.
[Quest Received: The Girlfriend Pickup]
[Hidden Objective: Discover the Truth]
[Reward: ???]
I spun the keys around my finger. A Maserati. Of course.
Time to see what you're really playing at, brother.
---
I had two hours to kill before picking up Sonia. Enough time to check in with Rico.
My best friend—or rather, the old Julian's best friend—worked at a garage downtown. He was the only person who'd noticed something was different about me.
"Yo, J!" Rico slid out from under a car, grease on his face. "You actually showed up."
"Said I would."
"Yeah, but the old you would've forgotten." He wiped his hands on a rag. "How's the family drama?"
"Same shit, different day."
"Marco still being a dick?"
"When isn't he?"
Rico laughed. "True. Hey, you seen Luna lately?"
Luna. The old Julian's childhood friend. Sweet, smart, and completely obsessed with him. I'd been avoiding her for three weeks.
"Not recently."
"She's been asking about you. Says you won't return her calls."
"Been busy."
"Too busy for Luna?" Rico raised an eyebrow. "Bro, she's like, perfect for you. Smart, hot, totally into your nerdy ass."
If only he knew what kind of 'into me' she really was.
"I'll call her," I lied.
"You better. Girl's going crazy." He went back under the car. "So what brings you here? Need something fixed?"
"Just wanted to check in. Make sure you're not dead."
"Aww, you do care." His voice was muffled. "But seriously, you've been different lately. Good different, but different."
"People change."
"Not in three weeks they don't."
[Suspicion Detected]
[Rico's Perception: Higher than average]
"You'd be surprised," I said.
"Julian." He rolled out again, serious now. "You in trouble? Like, real trouble?"
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you went from manga-reading basement dweller to... whatever this is." He gestured at me. "New place, new clothes, new attitude. And I heard about Roberto."
"News travels fast."
"In this neighborhood? Yeah." He stood up. "Look, whatever's going on, I got your back. Always. But don't shut me out."
*In my past life, I didn't have friends. Just assets and targets. Rico was neither.*
"I'm good," I said. "Better than good."
"If you say so." He didn't look convinced. "Just... be careful. Your family's got enemies. And the new you? You're making waves."
"Let them come."
"See, that. That right there." He pointed at me. "The old Julian would never say that."
I checked my watch. "I gotta go. Marco needs me to pick up his girl."
"Sonia? Damn, good luck with that."
"Why?"
"You serious? Girl's had a thing for you since forever. Marco basically stole her." He grinned. "This should be interesting."
*More interesting than you know.*
[New Information Acquired]
[Sonia's Affection: Pre-existing]
I left the garage with more questions than answers. If Sonia had feelings for the old Julian, why date Marco? And why was Marco so nervous about me picking her up?
Only one way to find out.