In a suite at a resort hotel on the outskirts of Richmond,
Eddie—director of Lando Construction and son of Governor Clint—was mercilessly whipping a girl tied to a fixed clothing rack.
Tears streamed down the girl's face. With a wooden gag stuffed in her mouth, she could only emit muffled cries.
That morning, she had still been a student at a girls' school.
But after cursing a man who tried to flirt with her, she'd been kidnapped by his men and brought here.
Only after the girl's back had become a bloody blur and she lay barely conscious did Eddie finally toss the whip aside, gasping for breath.
He slumped onto the couch.
On a nearby sofa, Herbert signaled to his bodyguard, Carl.
Carl and his men carried the girl out, discreetly closing the door behind them.
Eddie accepted the drink Herbert handed him and took a large gulp.
"I finally get why everyone talks about you when they mention the Gurion family—not that idiot Ben.
That fool even managed to lose meat delivered to his mouth!
Listen, Herbert—if you want my friendship, today's little surprise isn't enough.
I think Ben, who botched everything, deserves punishment."
Herbert replied calmly,
"No problem, Eddie. When it comes to friends, I don't know how to say no.
Ben's mother bought him a small villa on Long Island.
Decent location. Perfect for... indulging your tastes."
Hearing "Long Island," Eddie's eyes lit up. He leaned forward and asked in a hushed voice,
"Will he agree?"
With a confident smirk, Herbert answered,
"He's in Cuba. He won't be needing it.
But Mr. Eddie—one small request. Please don't tell Ben that the lumber has arrived in Richmond."
Seeing Eddie's confused expression, Herbert smiled even wider:
"I just enjoy watching my brother suffer.
And don't worry—that was just an appetizer.
I've prepared a real surprise for you!"
Herbert clapped his hands.
The suite door opened, and in walked a woman in a tight black dress and black hat.
"Holy sh*t… that's Rita Hayworth!"
Eddie, wide-eyed and swallowing hard, jumped to his feet at the sight of the iconic pin-up girl adored by soldiers everywhere.
"Tonight, she's yours. Enjoy, Eddie."
Herbert said with a wink.
"No problems with the camera, right?"
Outside the suite, Herbert asked his bodyguard.
"None. We'll have a crystal-clear film of the governor's son in action," Carl assured him.
Herbert's lawyer reminded him,
"Courts don't admit covert recordings as evidence."
"That's fine. It's not for court—it's for the press."
Then he turned to Carl and asked,
"Is the guy I wanted brought in?"
"He's here," the bodyguard replied, grinning.
"Bit shaken up, though."
Herbert opened the door to the adjacent suite.
Inside, completely naked and trembling, was Johnny.
"You caught him in bed?"
Herbert asked with a chuckle.
"More precisely, on top of a woman," Carl replied.
"Who… who's there?"
Johnny's head jerked in confusion under his black hood.
Herbert settled onto a couch behind Johnny and waved for the show to begin.
A guard behind Johnny kept his head facing forward, making sure he couldn't look back and see Herbert.
Another guard stepped forward and yanked off the hood.
The suite's bright ceiling light made Johnny squint.
Colder than his naked body was the chill in his heart.
Just earlier, while passionately enjoying his "safehouse," a group of burly men had barged in—and now he was here.
It felt just like that childhood moment when Leo nearly beat him to death.
He could smell death again.
"Johnny, take a look—what's in front of you?"
As his vision cleared, Johnny's eyes widened.
A towering pyramid of cash sat on the coffee table before him.
Gulp.
He swallowed reflexively. He had never seen so much money in one place.
"And now… feel what's at the back of your head."
Herbert's voice again.
Cold. Hard.
A gun.
The thrill of money vanished in an instant.
"I want you to do something. You're a smart guy, Johnny—I know you won't say no."
Feeling the pressure of the gun barrel, Johnny stammered, on the verge of collapse:
"W-what do you want me to do?"
"Gather your pals. Rob a red suitcase."
"Where is it?"
"There's a time and address under the cash.
You'll be contacted after the job. Don't get clever, Johnny.
And as compensation for ruining your night—the room's yours.
You may… continue."
With that, the hood was pulled back over Johnny's head.
The gun disappeared from the back of his skull.
The door shut.
Only Johnny's own ragged breathing remained.
He tremblingly pulled off the hood.
His face was grim.
The next day in Richmond, Leo met up with Michael, who had been escorted by Joseph.
They entered Lando Construction Company together—joined by attorney Tucson.
The company had clearly anticipated Michael's arrival.
None of the men who had threatened him before were present.
The negotiation atmosphere was oddly warm—almost like the good old cooperative days.
But Leo remained wary.
"A million dollars isn't small change," said one of the representatives.
"We'll need some time to gather it."
"According to the contract, no more than five days,"
Tucson interjected coldly.
"Oh look—it's Richmond's most righteous lawyer, Tucson.
What's this? Can't get real clients in the city, so you're chasing backwoods work now?"
Herbert pushed open the door, walking in with an air of arrogance.
He sat next to Tucson with a grin and quipped:
"Improving—I see you didn't run away this time."
Tucson was older than Herbert, but from the moment Herbert entered, he visibly shrank into himself.
"Oh, and by the way—my people tell me Lisa's having a blast in Cuba.
Her new business is drawing plenty of customers."
Tucson trembled violently.
He looked up at Leo and muttered,
"I… I need a smoke."
Leo had been watching Herbert the whole time.
Though he seemed to be tormenting Tucson, Leo could feel Herbert's sidelong gaze was constantly on him.
Clearly, Herbert had investigated Leo thoroughly.
Any hope of remaining behind the curtain was now gone.
"Five days.
We'll process the fund transfer right here then."
Herbert had replaced the company rep and said this to Leo directly.
"Why such a long wait?" Michael asked, confused.
Herbert replied,
"My foolish little brother never even prepared the million for you.
So now it's being scraped together on the family name.
I hope you'll understand."
Looking at this smiling but domineering man, Leo said:
"We agree."
"Wise choice, Mr. Valentino.
In fact, I should thank you—for ruining my idiot brother's plan!
Now I can take his wonderful idea somewhere else. I'm already salivating at the thought of his miserable face.
Oh—and to avoid complications, I trust you'll keep the lumber delivery a secret from him too?"