Enya sipped her whiskey while gazing at the crimson-tinged sky through the glass window. On the computer screen she hadn’t even glanced at, there was an article about a bomb attack on the hospital where Hunter had been staying.
Realizing the bottle was empty as she tried to refill her glass with only ice remaining, Enya pressed the call button. A man who came up immediately cleared away the empty bottle while cautiously checking her expression.
“This time, Loch Lomond single grain whiskey.”
“…Should I refill the ice bucket as well?”
“That would be nice, Cameron.”
Cameron seemed relieved and returned her smile when Enya grinned at him. Though the atmosphere had felt ominous since morning, making him worry, she appeared perfectly normal aside from drinking more alcohol than usual.
With a cheerful mechanical sound, the elevator doors opened, and another man abruptly emerged. Cameron, startled, looked at the man approaching Enya with long strides, his eyes showing disbelief.
“Boss, the news is reporting that Federico is dead!”
“I know.”
The man, who had been making a fuss, became even more flustered by her unexpectedly nonchalant response.
“Will Mr. Cooper… be safe?”
“Oh my, Mark.”
Enya gave a pitying look to Mark, who had been trailing after Theo for a while, professing his fondness for him.
“I heard he even grabbed you by the collar a few days ago, and you’re still going on about Theo?”
“I’d gladly offer my collar to be grabbed as many times as needed.”
“Haha, you’re stubborn like that boy too.”
Cute things. Enya muttered in a voice full of amusement before rummaging through her drawer. Among the neatly stacked pile of documents, a single photograph with worn edges peeked out.
Enya carefully lifted the photograph and remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Cameron pulled back Mark, who was trying to discreetly approach out of curiosity about the photo, and they both entered the elevator, minimizing their footsteps as much as possible.
Enya, caressing the damp glass with her fingertips, looked down at the city submerged in a red sea. Her eyes gradually regained vitality as she watched the sunset burning across the sky.
“I wonder how his end will be.”
Time to step in, perhaps? As she blurted out these words, as if in response, Maria in the photograph faced forward with a bright smile.
* * *
Alone on the hospital rooftop helipad, Hunter absently watched the setting sun. When a cool breeze blew through his hair, he closed his eyes tightly and let out a silent, deep sigh.
Searching his pocket, he found a leather cigar case.
Congratulations on becoming underboss, Hunter.
It was Federico’s gift, now old and worn, with no trace of its former luxury.
Furrowing his brow, he put the last remaining cigar in his mouth and dropped the case with a thud. Once again, he fumbled in his coat pocket to find a lighter, but hesitated when he remembered that this too had been received from Federico long ago.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He muttered, flinging the lighter behind him. Taylor, who had approached without notice, even took the cigar from his mouth and crushed it with his hand, leaving Hunter no choice but to let out a hollow laugh.
“What are you doing?”
“You need to recover your health.”
“Touchingly thoughtful of you.”
Taylor, who had taken off his coat, saw the cigar case and lighter on the ground and asked.
“Do you regret it?”
“What?”
“Killing him.”
Hunter clicked his tongue habitually at the uncomfortable question.
Federico was dead. The man who had been called the worst mafioso of his generation was killed by a single bullet Hunter had fired.
He didn’t regret it. If he hadn’t killed him then, not only himself but everyone remaining in the hospital would have been mercilessly killed. It was a good choice, if anything.
Though it was a relief that the leech who had clung to his ankle no longer existed, the image of Federico left alone in that cramped control room kept surfacing in his mind.
How should he define this unpleasant feeling? Hunter, whose mouth twitched with distaste, eventually answered.
“Not particularly thinking about it.”
“He didn’t seem to meet such a miserable end as expected. I heard he was smiling.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“From Marsha.”
“You two became close without my knowing.”
“We exchanged words occasionally while taking care of you.”
Hmph. Hunter gave a slight smile before lowering his voice and changing the atmosphere.
“I’ve thought about that too.”
What Federico wanted from me, that is. Hunter, who had walked a few steps to lean against the railing, carelessly cast his gaze toward the concrete jungle spread below his feet.
…Because I’ll meet the death I desire.
He had constantly speculated about what kind of death Federico had wanted. What form would the conclusion drawn by someone who had gained everything and lost everything take? Then suddenly, a conversation they had once had while heading to a Nevada brothel came vaguely to his mind.
Among the children we’re bringing this time, I wonder if there will be one who holds a grudge against me and tries to kill me?
It was an out-of-the-blue question. Since he had been focusing on organizing documents in the passenger seat, he had only half-listened. Well, I don’t know, but I hope there is such a child. Federico glanced at him as he answered dismissively and laughed cheerfully.
That would be too unfair for me.
Hunter snorted at his answer. What’s there to be unfair about? It’s all a result you brought upon yourself.
Haha, that’s true. But I don’t want to die like that.
You’re demanding. Then how do you want to die?
Well… Federico, who had been thinking deeply, turned his head and stared intently at Hunter. Hunter frowned at the sight that shook violently left and right as the car bumped along, irritably telling him to watch the road, but Federico just kept grinning, pretending not to hear.
What could be a more perfect ending than dying at the hands of the brother I love?
“…Ah.”
His legs weakened, making him stagger at the memory that flashed like lightning. Yes, he never intended to commit suicide by detonating the bomb in the first place. Hunter let out a hollow laugh while tightly gripping Taylor’s hand, who was supporting him and asking if he was okay.
He was just waiting for me to fall into his trap.
Only then could he understand Federico, who hadn’t lost his smile even until the end. As he remained silent for a moment in hollow feelings, a ringtone broke the silence. Taylor, who took out the phone from Hunter’s coat since he seemed unwilling to answer, flinched.
“Hunter…”
Hunter weakly turned his gaze to the phone that Taylor cautiously held out. Squinting at the blurry letters on the screen and moving closer to see, a familiar name appeared.
Enya Cenaline, it was her.
