"No! Don't come over here… Haha, that tickles! Don't scratch me! Oh no, you might hurt your wound!"
They began to play around, and Sophia, afraid of hurting his injury, was cautious in her movements. It was easy for him to pin her down, his lips covering hers, teasing against them.
She closed her eyes, quietly feeling the affection flowing between them.
Breathless and with a racing heartbeat, Sophia felt a slight ache as he sucked on her lips. It seemed clear what would happen next.
But Capone let her go, lying down behind her and pressing his chest against her back. "I'll let you off for today, so you can't say I only think about teasing you. Get some good rest; I'll stay right here with you!"
Sophia didn't expect him to actually stop, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
"What's the matter? Am I disappointing you for not unwrapping the gift?" Capone teased as he pinched her full chest.
"Not at all!" Sophia really wanted to ask what their current relationship was, but she knew he would say she was his woman. Despite everything that had happened, their future was what mattered, not the present or the past.
"I... I was just thinking that you haven't given me my gift yet! For both Christmas and New Year, there should be presents. I saved your life, so shouldn't that merit some acknowledgment? Since we're so familiar, just give me a discount, and I'll count it as one!"
"What do you want?" Capone thought she could have anything she desired, except for a request to go home; that would make him feel like they were back at square one.
"If I say it, it wouldn't be meaningful. It has to come from your own thoughts to show sincerity!"
"Alright!"
Capone agreed, tightening his embrace a bit. They fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms, lost in boundless dreams.
When Sophia woke up, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and Capone had already gotten up. She saw his silhouette as he wiped down a black gun, his lips pressed tightly together, the motions neither too light nor too heavy, causing her heart to skip a beat.
"Capone…"
He turned around, walked over, and sat down at the edge of the bed with the gun in hand.
"You're up so early; why don't you sleep a bit longer?"
Sophia shook her head. "You should be the one resting more. Don't you need to go back to the hospital?"
"It's fine; Cronus will come by with people to change my bandages and give me injections. Once the fever subsides, I'll be fine!"
Gunshot wounds are quite sensitive; usually, those who suffer such injuries wouldn't go to a regular public hospital. Cronus was one of their own, with reliable surgical skills, and he could handle most situations if it wasn't too serious.
Sophia still felt a bit drowsy, her gaze falling on the gun in his hand, and the last remnants of sleep vanished. "What's that…?"
Capone took her soft, pale hand and placed it on the black gun's body. Sophia was startled by the cold touch, but he wouldn't let her pull her hand back. "Feel it; this is also my treasure. It has been with me for many years, and I modified it myself!"
Sophia was at a loss for words. Aside from the bloody associations, the feeling of the gun in her hand was surprisingly substantial. "What… what's it called?"
"An MP5 submachine gun, made in Germany. It's lightweight and highly accurate; you can hold it with one hand!"
Sophia's curiosity was piqued. "I've seen my brother and his friends play shooting games like CS. Isn't this the most commonly used gun in those games?"
Capone chuckled. "That's an AK-47!"
"I originally didn't want you to touch these things," Capone said, looking down at the gun and her delicate hand. "But you're my woman, and you shouldn't be too unfamiliar with them. There might come a time when you need to rely on them to protect yourself!"
She was so pure and innocent; she shouldn't be dragged into their brutal, bloody world. But with things like Lucas kidnapping them on the ship, no one could guarantee it wouldn't happen again in the future. She needed to understand that self-defense was more important than anything else.
He opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out something, handing it to Sophia. "And here's this; keep it with you. It might come in handy someday!"
Sophia looked down to see the small dagger Mandy had given her on Christmas Eve. Capone must have found it when he carried her back to her room that night after she got drunk; she thought she would never see it again.
"This is…"
"It's a gift from another man," Capone said, his expression still dark. "But you can keep it for self-defense. Just hold onto it; I'm thinking of you!"
Sophia keenly asked, "Did something happen? Did you have a conflict with Lucas again?"
Capone didn't confirm or deny it; he simply carefully put the gun away and said, "Don't ask so many questions. This isn't something for you women to worry about! Hurry up and get dressed; I'm taking you out!"
"Out? Where are we going?"
Capone raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you want a gift? I'm taking you to pick one out!"
Holding Sophia's hand, Capone led her out, as if he had done it countless times before, showing no signs of awkwardness or discomfort.
It was Sophia who felt a bit shy. She knew Capone's subordinates were shadowing them in the dark, ensuring their safety, yet here he was, holding her hand tightly...
She moved her fingers slightly, but he held them even tighter. Embarrassed, she didn't dare to look up, feeling as if everyone around them was staring at them.
"Um… where are we going?"
"To buy jewelry. Don't you women love that stuff?"
"Not at all!" Sophia felt frustrated. His tone was so familiar, as if he knew her well, and she could only imagine how many women he had charmed with this tactic in the past!
What exquisite, glamorous jewelry had she not seen? She wasn't really fond of flashy things hanging on her body. Yet he was judging her based on past experiences, assuming she was one of those vain women!
He led her through the small town of Mesha Island. Sophia was a bit confused; if they were going to pick out jewelry, shouldn't they be heading to a larger store in the harbor area? Why were they in this town instead?
The town was indeed small, only about two miles long from north to south, and roughly the same width from east to west, entirely nestled on this island. Just outside the stone railings where one could sit or lie down, the vast sea was visible.
There was a stone-paved street running east to west, which served as the main thoroughfare. It contrasted sharply with the asphalt roads running north to south and was connected to a series of narrow alleys that twisted and turned like a maze. The path was paved with blue bricks, and the marks of time were faintly visible on it.
Sophia let Capone hold her hand as they walked into the alley, curiously glancing around. The town was lively near the dock but was usually quiet and peaceful, like a hidden paradise. The last time she escaped, she had headed straight for the harbor, staying on the outskirts of the town, and hadn't had the chance to appreciate this serene and beautiful place.
"This place is beautiful! Even prettier than the towns I've seen in Europe!" Sophia exclaimed sincerely, her steps becoming lighter.
"Do you like it here?"
"Um…" Excluding the fact that she had been kidnapped and imprisoned here, she quite liked it.
"How did you choose to settle in this place?" she asked curiously. The harbor area was surrounded by islands, with 13 inhabited ones and abandoned spots like the Great Salt Field. Capone and his group had various places to stay, yet he seemed particularly fond of Mesha Island.
Capone curved his lips into a smile but didn't answer, leaving her hanging in suspense.
They walked through an alley and arrived at the entrance of an ancient-looking shop, a serene spot with intricately carved wooden windows and a dark plaque. Surprisingly, it was a jewelry store.
Sophia thought that if Capone hadn't been with her, she would have likely gotten lost on the island trying to find this little shop by herself.
"Come in!"
He took her hand and stepped over the high threshold. Inside the shop was a middle-aged woman who smiled warmly upon seeing Capone. "Little Capone, you're here to buy something?"
After saying that, she intentionally glanced at Sophia behind him.
"Yeah, Rainie, is Marvin here?"
"Yes, he's in the back!" Rainie called out to the back room separated by a door. "Marvin, Capone is here!"
"Let him in!"
Capone tugged at Sophia, and her astonished gaze finally shifted from the exquisite jewelry displayed on the counter.
This shop primarily sold gold and silver jewelry, but the craftsmanship of those pieces was unique and distinctive, unlike anything you would find in an ordinary jewelry store.
Sophia, who had just been annoyed at being treated like a superficial woman, now found herself unwittingly captivated by the dazzling array of items.
Previously, she hadn't thought much of jewelry, feeling indifferent towards it. Perhaps it was because she had seen too many generic designs; now that she encountered something unique, she found it particularly stunning.
"Can I go in?" she asked Capone softly. The back room looked so mysterious and quiet; she wondered if it was inappropriate to intrude into the owner's space since it was her first visit.
"Don't worry, Marvin watched me grow up; he's not a stranger!"