The air was thick with tension, as Joey and Winter found themselves sitting together at the gathering, their eyes occasionally darting to the other guests in the room. The energy of Capone's birthday celebration was a mix of lighthearted chatter and unspoken weight—especially considering the absence of Zoey, who had stayed behind to handle things at ROYAL, her responsibilities as the co-owner pulling her away from the event.
Joey couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. He observed his boss, Capone, who was busy chatting with a few of the higher-ups from the business, a hint of melancholy clouding his usually confident demeanor. It was hard not to notice the tension, especially since Zoey wasn't by his side.
"Zoey has to look after ROYAL," Capone had explained earlier, but Joey couldn't help but feel there was more to it. The way Capone kept glancing at the door, his eyes flicking between the phone calls he was taking and the people around him, made Joey wonder if there was something deeper at play.
Sitting beside Winter, Joey tried to divert his attention from the heavy atmosphere, casually asking, "So, is the guy in the small room still under watch?" His tone was light, but Winter's sharp gaze cut through him like a blade.
Winter raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing. "You don't trust me?"
Joey quickly backpedaled, hands up in defense. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that. Just curious, is all." He glanced at Capone, who was in deep conversation, and then at Diana, who was in the kitchen with the staff, ensuring everything was running smoothly. "I'm just wondering, I thought Capone had said he was going to release Cronus when Diaz's daughter was in a coma? But now, he's back in that damn room. Isn't it a bit dangerous, leaving him locked up like that while everyone's here drinking and relaxing?"
Winter took a long pause, his fingers drumming absentmindedly on the table before he spoke. "Don't worry about it," he said, his voice low and steady. "I've got a couple of my men keeping an eye on him. He's not going anywhere."
Joey didn't reply immediately, the weight of the situation settling in his gut. He knew Winter well enough to trust his word, but the fact that Cronus was still locked up—while the rest of the crew was celebrating—made him uneasy. It was clear that Capone had a lot on his plate right now, and the last thing anyone wanted was for something to go wrong in the midst of a supposed celebration.
Capone raised an eyebrow as he approached the table, his gaze moving between Joey and Terry. He could hear the banter between the two, the playful teasing that had become routine whenever the group was together. But he knew that under the laughter and jest, there was always an edge, a layer of tension that no one dared speak of aloud.
"What's going on here?" Capone asked with a chuckle, his deep voice cutting through the lightheartedness of the conversation. He ran a hand through his hair, standing with an air of authority despite the casual atmosphere. He wasn't a man easily distracted, but he could sense the undercurrents beneath the surface. It wasn't hard to tell when something was off with his crew.
Terry, ever the protective older figure, straightened up and gave Joey a pointed look before turning his attention to Capone. "Nothing serious, boss. Just this brat," he said, shaking his head with a mock scowl. "He's got a mouth that needs a good shutting up every now and then."
Joey, grinning like a mischievous child, threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just keeping it light! Someone's got to stir the pot, right?"
Capone couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head in amusement. "You're asking for trouble, Joey," he said, but there was a warmth in his tone. He glanced back at Terry and then around the room, his eyes flickering briefly to the other tables where the celebration was still in full swing.
"Let him be, Terry," Capone continued, his voice softening. "Everyone's here to relax. Let's not let the little things ruin the night."
Joey flashed a wide grin, relieved that Capone wasn't mad, though he still couldn't resist teasing. "I wasn't the one who spilled the champagne, though, was I?"
Terry, visibly annoyed but trying to suppress a laugh, reached for the napkin and swiped at the mess, shooting Joey one last glare. "You're lucky I'm not kicking you out of here tonight."
Capone turned his attention back to Joey, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're relentless, aren't you? But I get it," he said, his expression softening for a moment. "Everyone's got their own way of dealing with things."
Joey couldn't help but be a little taken aback by the shift in Capone's tone, the brief flash of vulnerability that had passed through his eyes. It was rare to see the boss like this—so open, so… human. For a moment, Joey considered pushing the teasing aside, sensing the weight on Capone's shoulders. But then, just as quickly, Capone's usual playful demeanor returned.
"Alright, alright, enough with the small talk," Capone said, clapping his hands together. "Let's all enjoy tonight. No more bad moods. No more talk about anyone who shouldn't be mentioned."
Terry gave Joey a final, exasperated look before accepting the change in subject. "You heard the man," he said, throwing back his drink. "No more distractions. Let's keep it positive for once."
Joey nodded, but his mind wandered for just a moment. Capone might be in a celebratory mood, but he could sense that beneath the surface, there was still a lot left unsaid. And he wasn't sure if anyone, even Capone himself, was ready to face the full weight of those unspoken words.
Capone chuckled, knowing full well how much Joey valued his relationship with Zoey. The playful banter was always a relief in moments like these, where the weight of responsibility and past mistakes could easily make things feel too heavy.
"Good," Capone said with a satisfied nod. "Keep it that way. We have a lot of people who look up to us, Joey. What happens today could mean a lot for the future. Not just for me, but for all of us."
Joey, realizing the sincerity in Capone's tone, nodded seriously, his earlier playful mood fading slightly. "I get it, boss. You can count on me."
Terry, who had been silent during their exchange, finally spoke up, his voice a little more serious. "Yeah, Joey. This isn't just about tonight. It's about the bigger picture." He paused, glancing over at Sophia, who was quietly sitting with Diana at the table, chatting softly. "We all need to keep it together, especially with everything going on."
Joey's eyes briefly met Sophia's, and he saw the calmness in her demeanor despite the tension in the air. It was hard to imagine how much she'd been through, how much she'd endured, and yet she still carried herself with grace. His respect for her deepened.
"Understood," Joey replied, his tone now more respectful. "No more distractions. I'll keep my mouth shut and make sure we all stay on track."
Capone gave him a satisfied look, his usual charismatic smirk returning. "Good. Now, let's enjoy the rest of the evening. We're here to celebrate, not dwell on the past."
Joey, realizing how quickly things could turn serious with Capone, decided to ease back into the lighter mood, though he remained aware of the weight of the night's events. He made his way over to grab another drink, trying to put the thoughts of business and tensions aside, at least for tonight.
The conversation flowed again, the atmosphere lightening as everyone found their seats and relaxed, but Joey couldn't shake the feeling that Capone's words had settled deeper than expected. The night wasn't just about celebrating a birthday—it was about mending things, healing old wounds, and moving forward. And whether he liked it or not, Joey knew they were all part of that process.
"Just now, KK called. He's stuck with a woman, something about a gambling queen, can't get away, so he can't make it today! But Stone will come. His flight from Hokkaido arrives at 3 PM, so he should be here soon!"
Sure enough, as soon as the words were spoken, Lucy's loud voice was heard at the door. "Ah, Stone's here! It's been so long, just got off the plane, right? Come in, come in, it's cool inside! Don't drink alcohol, Lucy will pour you some water with lotus root!"
"Thank you, Lucy. Really sorry to trouble you!"
The clear, pleasant voice of the young man was polite and steady.
Sophia turned towards the door at the sound and saw a tall, handsome young man in a crisp suit, carrying a heavy briefcase, the epitome of a professional—just the type of white-collar elite she often saw in the big cities of Hokkaido.
The fresh, sweet water made from arrowroot was right next to her. She poured a cup and, on Lucy's behalf, handed it to the young man.
"Thank you, Miss Sophia!"
The young man took the cup from her hand, giving her a look that seemed to carry a certain meaning.
Sophia smiled in return.
"You two haven't met before, so let me introduce you. This is Harris, our brother. We usually call him Stone! This is Sophia Diaz, and the little one in her belly is my precious, though we haven't picked a name yet!"
Capone happened to walk up at that moment, his hand resting on Sophia's shoulder as he introduced them to each other, and casually mentioned the baby as well.
Sophia blushed and quickly turned her body, dodging his hand.