Chapter 28: Departure
The two men walked side by side toward the roadside where Ken's prized possession waited. Tommy gave the sleek car a casual glance, then smirked.
"A Lamborghini Countach? Nice ride."
Ken's grin widened, clearly pleased with the recognition. "Good eye. And not just any Countach — this is the 25th Anniversary Edition. Only six hundred in the whole world. Took me a hell of a lot of strings to get my hands on her."
He slid into the driver's seat, his pride obvious. "I've got a friend who owns a Ferrari Testarossa. If you're interested, Tommy, I can introduce you."
Tommy shook his head as he eased into the passenger seat. "Forget it, Ken. You've seen my accounts. I'm not exactly swimming in cash."
Ken tapped the steering wheel, thoughtful. "Money doesn't have to be a problem. I've got a client in New York — his brother's in trouble. If someone can help, the reward will be very generous."
Tommy raised a brow but said nothing, waiting for the details.
The explanation was simple enough: Ken's client had been betrayed, his subordinates turning state's witness. Murder, racketeering, organized crime — the charges piled high, and trial was approaching. Tommy's role would be… cleanup. Remove the informants before they could testify.
It was dangerous, reckless even. He had just walked out of Redhaven's gates; stepping back into blood might send him straight back in. But then Ken named the price.
"Five million dollars. Plus, a car. Something rarer than this one."
Tommy let out a low whistle. He wasn't foolish enough to hide his interest. Five million wasn't just money — it was freedom, power, and leverage. He had maybe four million euros in liquid assets, savings he'd clawed together from prison hustles and Abruzzi's "donations." Five million more would double his war chest the moment he set foot in New York.
It was the kind of money you built empires with.
"I'll think about it," Tommy finally said.
For Ken, that was as good as a yes.
They drove in silence for a while, the Countach humming down the highway. At a stoplight, Ken flicked on the radio. A silky female voice introduced the next track before a pulsing beat filled the car.
As the music played, Ken cleared his throat. "There's one more thing, Tommy. Personal, this time."
Tommy glanced at him.
"I've got a niece in New York. Bright girl — top of her class at NYU Law. But money's tight. Tuition's killing her. I was hoping… maybe you could look after her. Just enough to keep her studies on track."
Tommy nodded without hesitation. "This isn't me doing you a favor, Ken. It's me paying one back."
It was true. In his world, a lawyer wasn't just useful, it was survival. Even an intern could draft contracts, stall prosecutors, or shield him with legal smoke when things got hot. Helping Ken's niece wasn't charity; it was an investment.
Ken smiled, relieved. He had defended killers and liars, men who forgot debts as soon as the gavel fell. But Tommy was different. Tommy remembered.
The Countach purred to a halt outside the airport. Tommy stepped out, his suitcase in hand. He clasped Ken's shoulder one last time before heading toward the terminal.
Ken stayed by the car, leaning against the hood as he watched Tommy's figure fade into the crowd.
The Camorra higher-ups thought they were exiling a dangerous subordinate. Santino especially had made sure of it, dressing the move as "expansion" while secretly cutting Tommy away from Gianna's side.
On paper, it was smart. Clean. Logical.
But Ken's gut twisted. He knew Santino, knew how he played the game. And he knew Tommy.
One day, Ken thought, lighting a cigarette, Santino's going to regret this. Sending Tommy to New York won't bury him. It'll make him unstoppable.
END of the chapter
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