Aunt. {2}

Her mind drifted to the territorial wars of years past that were full of blood-soaked streets, shattered alliances, and the kind of chaos that only the big families could orchestrate. She remembered faces, some long gone, others still lingering in the shadows of the present. But one face, in particular, stood out.... Evangeline.

{Heh... I wonder when she'll finally tell that stinky brat the truth. Then again, I remember her saying something about making sure he walks the right path first...}

Mama shook her head while a wry smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

{Sigh. Women. Who can understand them? And here I am, a woman myself, and even I can't figure them out. Heh.}

She took a long drag from her cigar, the ember glowing brightly before she exhaled a slow, deliberate stream of smoke. It curled upward, dissipating into the dim light of the room like the ghosts of her thoughts.

For a moment, her sharp edges softened, the weight of her years and the battles she'd fought settling into the lines of her face. But then, just as quickly, her trademark smirk returned, and she chuckled to herself, the sound low and gravelly.

"Women," she muttered under her breath while shaking her head again. "Even I can't keep up with us."

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit depths of her bar's warehouse, Aunt Evangeline stood amidst rows of crates filled with illegal liquors that were kept as exotic treasures reserved only for her most trusted VIP clients.

But today, her attention wasn't on the bottles. Instead, her sharp olive eyes were fixed on the bloodied figure slumped in front of her, held upright by two men in black coats and hats.

The man, barely recognizable as the sniper who had called the hitman, groaned weakly. It had taken Evangeline less than a night to track him down, and now he was paying the price for his mistake.

"Why is it," she began speaking, her voice icy and measured as she adjusted her leather gloves, now slick with blood, "that even now, some random piston can mobilize the family's contacts? And worse yet! use them to go after my nephew of all people?"

She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slowly, as if steadying herself for what came next. Then, with a sudden exhale, she drove her fist into the man's face with brutal precision.

The sound of bones crunching echoed through the warehouse as she continued, each punch landing with calculated force. She only stopped when her breath ran out, her chest heaving as she stepped back with her gloves now dripping with fresh blood.

"Do you think he's still holding onto any useful information?" Evangeline asked with her voice calm as she peeled off her gloves and tossed them into a bucket of water. The splash was loud thanks to the metallic reinforcements on the gloves clinking against the sides of the bucket.

One of the black-coated men shook his head. "I don't think so, Lady Evangeline."

The other man, more pragmatic, grabbed the sniper's jaw and forced his mouth open. "I don't know about information, but he definitely doesn't have any front teeth left intact."

Evangeline tilted her head, her expression unreadable. Her olive eyes, usually warm and inviting, now looked hollow.... devoid of any light, as if the soul behind them had been extinguished. "Mmm, well then," she said with her tone chillingly casual. "Since you two are regulators, remind me... what's the punishment for leaking information about a secret family operation?"

The first regulator straightened, his voice steady. "Ma'am, the punishment for leaking family information is the removal of the tongue and limbs, followed by disposal in the industrial district's machinery. By the first hour of the next day, the steam will cook them alive."

Evangeline nodded slowly with her gaze, never leaving the sniper's broken form. "Mmm, well then, let's—"

Before she could finish, the warehouse door creaked open, and Amanda, one of Evangeline's trusted waitresses, stepped inside. "Lady Evangeline," she said with her voice calm but urgent, "your nephew has been spotted near the industrial district. He's being driven by one of Mama's subordinates."

The moment the words left Amanda's lips, the darkness in Evangeline's eyes vanished, replaced by a spark of warmth and excitement. "Oh, he's finally back!" she exclaimed while her entire demeanor shifted in an instant.

She smoothed her hair and brushed imaginary dust from her clothes. "How do I look, Amanda? Is there any blood on me? And where are my spare gloves? I don't want to touch anyone other than my nephew with my bare hands."

Amanda handed her a fresh pair of leather gloves with a small smile playing on her lips. "Here you go, Lady Evangeline."

"Oh, thank you, Amanda! You're the best!" Evangeline beamed while slipping on the gloves with practiced ease. "Take care of things down here, but make sure no sound escapes. I don't want my nephew hearing pigs squeal this early in the morning."

With that, she swept out of the warehouse, her steps light and almost girlish, a stark contrast to the cold-blooded enforcer she had been moments ago.

Amanda watched her go, letting out a quiet sigh. She was used to Evangeline's dual nature of the doting aunt and the ruthless capo.

Turning back to the men in the room, she reached into the slit of her skirt and pulled out a sharp knife hidden against her thigh. The blade gleamed in the dim light as she closed the warehouse door behind her.

The sniper's fate was sealed, and only those present would ever know the details of his final moments.

"Erm, wait a second…" Alexius grabbed Natalia's hand, stopping her just before she could push open the bar door. His expression was a mix of hesitation and mild panic.

"What's the matter?" Natalia asked while tilting her head as she looked at him, her oceanic eyes filled with curiosity.

"Well… before we go in, there's something you need to know," Alexius began speaking while scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "My aunt is… a bit special. She's really overprotective, and, uh… she doesn't exactly like other women. Cough. Anyway, just keep that in mind. Let's get inside before the police or something worse spots us."

Before Natalia could respond, Alexius pushed open the bar door and stepped inside. The moment they crossed the threshold, a blur of motion shot toward them. Evangeline, with her presence as charming as ever, practically materialized in front of Alexius, wrapping him in a warm, suffocating hug.

"You're finally here!" she exclaimed with her voice being a mix of relief and scolding. "Where have you been all night? Let me see you; are you hurt? Have you eaten? Did you sleep well?"

Her hands moved over him like a whirlwind, checking for injuries, brushing imaginary dirt off his shoulders, and fussing over him like a mother hen. Only when she was satisfied that he was unharmed did she finally step back, her sharp olive eyes softening.

Alexius chuckled, gently grabbing her wrist to stop her frantic inspection. "As you can see, Aunt, I'm fine. I just missed the train because work at the academy ran late. I had to spend the night at Mama's place." His voice was warm, his smile genuine, and the look in his eyes was so tender that Natalia couldn't help but stare. It was a side of him she'd never seen before.

{Awww, my handsome nephew is lying to me so I don't worry! But don't fret, my dear... your aunt has already taken care of those ugly bastards for you～}

Evangeline thought, her inner monologue dripping with affection.

Her gaze then shifted to Natalia, who was standing awkwardly behind Alexius. "By the way," Evangeline said with her tone becoming suddenly cooler, "who's the Cheeto behind you?" Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Natalia over Alexius's shoulder.

{Who is this damn bitch daring to get near my nephew?! These annoying bees always buzzing around my honey!}

Evangeline's thoughts were far less polite than her words.

"Oh, right!" Alexius said, as if suddenly remembering Natalia's existence. "Aunt, this is Natalia. She's a college student who got caught up in some trouble and doesn't have a place to stay. Can she stay with us for a few days while she sorts things out with her parents?" He gave Natalia a subtle nudge forward, pushing her into the spotlight.

Evangeline's smile tightened, her voice calm but laced with steel. "You know how I feel about other girls staying at the bar, Alexius. It's not appropriate. And nothing here is free... not even if it's a request from you." Her tone was firm, but her thoughts were far more venomous.

{Did you hear me, bitch?! Get the hell out! You're not allowed in the heaven I've built for my nephew!}

Natalia, sensing the tension but refusing to back down, stepped forward and grabbed Evangeline's hand. "I won't stay for free! I can work... I don't need pay. I just need a place to stay for a few days. Please."

{T-this bitch dares to touch my hand?!}

Evangeline's inner voice screeched, though her face remained eerily composed.

Before Evangeline could respond, Alexius swooped in, grabbing her other hand and dropping to one knee. He pressed a gentle kiss to her gloved hand, his olive eyes wide and pleading. "Please, my beautiful and understanding aunt? Just for a few days?"

Natalia blinked while being taken aback by the sudden shift in Alexius's demeanor. The man she knew that was gruff, sarcastic, and perpetually annoyed was nowhere to be seen. This version of him was almost… sweet. It was unsettling.

{Heheh, I know you can't resist my puppy eyes! This always works on you!}

Alexius thought with his inner smirk evident even if his face remained innocent.

Evangeline, on the other hand, was having a full-blown internal meltdown.

{Ahhhhhhh, he kissed my hand!!! Why was I wearing gloves right now?! Ahhhhhh!}

Her thoughts were a chaotic mix of delight and frustration.

It was clear where Alexius had learned his manipulative charm. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.