Liliana could no longer bring herself to deny it and tightly shut her eyes. 

 

She tried not to show it, but her muffled voice spilled out.

 

“So… what do you intend to do? If you return to Demercy, are you thinking of… trying to see Judith again?”

 

And the answer that came back. 

 

A laugh, so incredulous it could hardly be called an answer.

 

— Haha… what?

 

It was Liliana who was left flustered instead. 

 

Even though Theodoro wasn’t in front of her, her eyes shook, unable to find their footing.

 

“…What do you mean, ‘what’? I asked if you were thinking of reaching some kind of agreement with Judith…”

 

— That doesn’t even sound like words.

 

“Huh? But… then things might be resolved more easily than you thi—”

 

— So. Shall we go?

 

A tickling laughter laced his soft voice, making her heart beat out of rhythm. Her words were stuck in her throat—what could she possibly say?

 

And Theodoro, as if he could somehow imagine her flustered state, couldn’t hold back the snickers leaking out.

 

— If you’re going to talk nonsense, go home and get some sleep.

 

“That wasn’t my intention…”

 

— Ah, and…

 

“Yes?”

 

Just as he was about to hang up, he gripped the receiver tightly, his languid eyes flashing dangerously.

 

— If you’re thinking of pairing me up with Judith so you can play around with that ‘teacher’, drop that thought right now.

 

💫

 

Theodoro was wrong. 

 

There was no way Liliana wanted to pair him up with Judith, so she could ‘play around’ with that ‘teacher’.

 

From the very beginning, she had not the slightest intention of encouraging their meeting… 

 

Whether the two met or not, she had to maintain her relationship with Wayne.

 

There were various reasons, but for one reason in particular, the very next day, Liliana ignored Theodoro’s warning and sought out Wayne.

 

“…So, we need to find a way right now.”

 

They had gathered to discuss the fire that had landed right at their feet, named ‘John Bruno’, and to prepare countermeasures.

 

Wayne, who had heard the general situation, continued the lesson with a strange smile.

 

“This time, turn to the right.”

 

“Wayne…?”

 

Instead of an answer, he pretended not to know. 

 

As if he hadn’t heard anything, he lifted her right arm. Then, putting strength into the hand encircling her waist, he spun her around.

 

“Huh…?”

 

Liliana, forced to spin a full turn, landed back in his arms with a dazed expression.

 

“You haven’t forgotten that I’m a detective, have you? You seemed to take my cooperation for granted.”

 

“…What?!”

 

In an instant, her body, which had pivoted on one foot, lost its balance and wobbled. 

 

The moment that she would fall lasted only a brief moment. 

 

A gentle hand lifted and supported the small of her back.

 

A voice, as soft as that touch, poured down like sunlight.

 

“If one mafia member gets imprisoned, it’s something I’d welcome with open arms. Isn’t that right?”

 

“Ugh…”

 

Her startled heart was pounding, and her bewilderment at this unexpected reaction was beyond words.

 

“B-but… our target is Theodoro… and to get to him, you know we have to protect John Bruno… you know that… eep!”

 

Her arched waist was pulled up forcefully. In the blink of an eye, his neat face was close, right before her nose. 

 

Freed from the precarious posture, her body regained its balance.

 

Staring into her wide-open blue eyes, Wayne kindly curved the corners of his own.

 

“I’m joking. Of course, we have to worry about it together.”

 

Finally, Liliana’s eyelids gently lowered, and a light of relief flashed across her eyes.

 

“Haa… Wayne, are you teasing me?”

 

“Who said I wouldn’t? I did say your reactions when I tease you are quite entertaining.”

 

As she pouted, a refreshing, hearty laugh washed over her ears. 

 

Wayne let her go and handed her some water.

 

“Haha, my apologies. Anyway, so… isn’t it about time for Theodoro to come back to Demercy? A matter of this scale seems like more than enough reason for him to return.”

 

Liliana, taking a short break that also served as a meeting, settled onto the sofa with him.

 

“It seems difficult right now. Well then… I guess I, who am here, have to try whatever I can.”

 

“I heard you have so much to do in Phelps? That’s surprising.”

 

“They’re still persistently chasing leads on Gasparo… I heard they need to find even circumstantial evidence. That way, they can present it to the Mafia Committee or the Syndicate to impose sanctions. Apparently, they can’t just leave Gasparo’s company alone, especially since three of the Bucio family’s caporegimes have already been killed.”

 

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason he couldn’t return to Demercy. 

 

One of the deceased caporegimes was a member slated to carry out the operation to assassinate President Findel, so filling that vacancy immediately had become urgent.

 

Because of this, Theodoro and Joseph Bucio were putting their heads together, searching for a replacement.

 

“Theo, if it really doesn’t work out, let’s assign someone from our side. When it comes to ensuring the assassination succeeds, which family they belong to isn’t important, right?”

 

— I’m already considering it. Allen Goldberg should be here in a few days. We’ll discuss it then. By the way… Liliana.

 

“Yes?”

 

— You’re more ruthless than I thought. I didn’t expect you to voluntarily suggest getting involved in the assassination.

 

Liliana couldn’t deny those words. No matter how much she had her own reasons for supporting Findel’s death… 

 

Now, as she was gradually being stained by the organization, becoming an inevitable villain, she could only taste the bitterness on her tongue.

 

Anyway, Phelps was going about his business like that. She couldn’t bring herself to mention this assassination operation to Wayne, who belonged to the FBI.

 

“Carmine Lombardi…”

 

Liliana snapped out of her thoughts at Wayne’s sudden mutter.

 

“Huh? Why him all of a sudden?”

 

“Ah, I was just thinking about asking Lombardi for help.”

 

Wayne added calmly, stroking his chin.

 

“You probably know roughly, don’t you? The fact that Carmine Lombardi has deep connections with judicial officials. There’s a famous story, too. It was about 5 years ago, I think. The Attorney General granted parole to Lombardi’s crew, and about a year or so after that, he was appointed as a federal Supreme Court Justice.”

 

“So, in exchange for the parole, he was helped into the federal Supreme Court Justice position…?”

 

“Well… there’s no concrete evidence, but all us investigators suspect that.”

 

“I’d heard in passing that he had influence in the legal world… but I didn’t know it was to that extent.”

 

It made sense. When she met Wayne in her previous life… back then, Carmine had already stepped down from the boss position and taken on the role of Consigliere.

 

He wasn’t in a particularly noticeable position, and the Lombardi family itself wasn’t based in Demercy. 

 

There was no way Liliana could have known him well.

 

“He probably has connections with most legal professionals. The problem is, whose help we seek through Carmine, and what we give Carmine in return.”

 

Wayne was right. 

 

There was no way Carmine would help without any benefit, so there had to be some form of compensation… and even if he agreed to help, deciding which official to bribe was also a problem.

 

Liliana was lost in her own world for quite some time, her mind racing. 

 

So, she didn’t notice Wayne’s eyes narrowing gently as he watched her intently, nor did she feel his fingers lightly wrapping around hers resting on the sofa.

 

“Liliana.”

 

“…!”

 

A sudden warm breath tickled her cheek, causing Liliana to startle and turn to look at Wayne. 

 

He was so close, leaving only a sliver of space between them, smiling with a slight grimace.

 

“This is a bit disappointing. Even though I was the one who offered to help first, aren’t you treating me a bit too much like a tool?”

 

“What are you…! No, that’s not it.”

 

“Seeing you today, it seems you don’t even perceive me as a member of the opposite sex.”

 

“Ah, no… It’s just that you came up with such a good idea…”

 

Liliana mumbled an excuse, burying her head deeply.

 

“I never even thought of Carmine Lombardi. So… I was just trying to plan a little-“

 

“Liliana.”

 

Wayne gently cut her off, cupping her slender chin and turning her face towards his.

 

His honey-colored eyes, holding only her, drew closer and closer… They were just about to touch lips.

 

“…Ack!”

 

Liliana reflexively turned her head away, avoiding the kiss.

 

And then one second, two seconds passed… Her eyes gradually widened. Only then did she realize what she had done.

 

“Ah…? It’s, it’s not that…”

 

Liliana frantically waved her hands and spoke quickly.

 

“It’s just that Theodoro found out about when you kissed me before…! That’s why. It’s not that I have any other meaning…”

 

“Ah, I see…”

 

“Sorry, I’m really—”

 

“Not at all. It’s I who should be sorry. I kept feeling strangely competitive… It was my fault for being hasty, please don’t worry about it.”

 

Wayne smiled faintly, his eyes crinkling as if to say it was okay. 

 

But Liliana couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

 

The words she had rattled off incoherently. She herself couldn’t even be sure if they were sincere.

 

In truth, wasn’t it because of the sense of depravity and guilt from having mingled bodies with Theodoro?

 

Even if it wasn’t exactly that, wasn’t it because of some strange… instinctive aversion that words could never fully explain?

 

The answer was unknown, and only a shock, as if her head had been struck, was shaking her.

 

💫

 

“Honey.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

At the sudden sweet baritone, Liliana lifted her head with unfocused eyes. 

 

Seizing the moment, a cold scoop of ice cream slipped between her lips.

 

As the vanilla scent filled her mouth, Liliana’s eyes widened. Silvano, chin in hand, admired the sight and lifted the corner of his lips.

 

“Zoning out in front of ice cream is rude. It’s disrespectful to the ice cream.”

 

“…What? You said you wanted to eat it—.”

 

“Here, one more bite. Ah.”

 

“Are you crazy? You eat it.”

 

Liliana slapped away the arm he extended with the spoon once more. 

 

Having finally reacted like a human after being lost in thought, Silvano licked the spoon long and slow with a satisfied expression.

 

“So, what were you thinking about so deeply?”

 

His smooth face and black eyes staring at her with relentless intensity.

 

Afraid her complicated feelings about Wayne might be exposed, Liliana averted her gaze and sighed.

 

‘That’s not what’s important right now… Let’s not think about it for now.’

 

Wasn’t resolving John Bruno’s matter the top priority?

 

Since visiting the ice cream shop, she finally started something resembling a conversation for the first time.

 

“Before we get into the details of the plan… there’s something I want to ask your opinion on.”

 

“What kind of wild plan has our Lily come up with this time?”

 

“Could you join an assassination operation for me?”

 

“Who’s the target?”

 

“‘That person’ you know well.”

 

The ice cream Silvano had scooped with the spoon plopped back into the cup. He had expected something outrageous, but apparently not that.

 

“…Who says something like that in an ice cream shop?”

 

“I want you to help the Lombardi family and join the operation. If you do, I think even Carmine would agree to negotiate.”