How Lilies turn Black Chapter 16 - Silvano Giacone (1)

Dark eyes, with no light in them. 

 

For a moment, Lilia flinched, feeling as though her thoughts had been exposed.

 

His gaze never lingered on her, but instead drifted elsewhere as if he hadn’t even intended to stare at her in the first place.

 

Feeling embarrassed that she was the only sensitive one, Lilia lowered her head.

 

‘He’s always been a heartless man.’

 

It was always like that. She had sung on stage in front of him several times, but Theodoro had never shown any particular interest or response.

 

He would interrupt someone in conversation and listen to the song in silence. On those days, I braced myself for him to say something, but that was it.

 

How’s the new house, are you seeing anyone suspicious in the neighborhood, he’d ask, but never say anything beyond the usual courtesy.

 

Putting aside Wayne’s immediate problems, it was no wonder he’d been having trouble getting deeper into the organization these days.

 

‘If he’s going to be like that again today… I can’t let it go.’

 

If time alone showed no sign of progress, there was only one answer, she would have to take matters into her own hands.

 

It’s something Theodoro never expected. That the woman who hadn’t spoken to him would come back with great trouble…

 

✨

 

After about an hour of early evening performances, Lilia stood in front of the table where Paul and Theodoro were seated. 

 

Paul, of course, was the first to speak, “What can I do for you, Miss Moretti?”

 

“I have something to discuss with Mr. Theodoro.”

 

Paul was puzzled by the unexpected answer. 

 

Beside him, Theodoro gazed up at her grimly. Even though he was clearly looking down at her, his slumped posture and dry gaze made her feel even smaller.

 

Feeling her heart sink, Lilia swallowed hard and spoke.

 

“It’s about Mr. Antonio.”

 

She wanted to talk to him alone. It’s not a light matter.

 

Theodoro must have noticed, because he nudged Paul. While they cleared up, Lilia took a moment to reflect on Antonio’s recent history.

 

As for what had happened to him since that day, she’d gotten scant information from the organization.

 

Nothing major had happened. Theodoro hadn’t shaken up Antonio’s place of business as she’d hoped, and he’d ended up in the hospital with a few of his men.

 

It was a much milder punishment than she’d anticipated.

 

‘I wonder if I didn’t have enough of a case to break him beyond repair…’

 

It’s a shame. I wanted to make him pay for ruining my initial efforts.

 

‘Besides, I need to repay her for that.’

 

The woman named Yen, who had switched Lilia’s assigned injections, promised to help her get out of the Laura Club… but since Theodoro wasn’t as forthcoming as she’d hoped, Lilia’s promised repayment was for naught.

 

So Lilia had no intention of letting Antonio’s case go.

 

‘It wasn’t part of my original plan, but… I suppose it can’t be all bad.’

 

Revenge for the way he’d messed with her, and repayment for Yen’s little help.

 

Plus, she planned to use Antonio to create the first friction between Theodoro and Luciano.

 

“So, what do you say you want to do?”

 

The surroundings were now empty. When Theodoro, having bitten everyone in the immediate vicinity, left, Lilia smiled faintly.

 

“There’s something I’d like to ask your permission to do.”

 

“…”

 

“Do you, Theodoro, wish for Antonio’s club to continue?”

 

His brow narrowed slightly as if the question wasn’t harsh enough.

 

“Cut to the chase.”

 

He didn’t seem to be inclined to answer. But Lilia already knew the answer.

 

Of course, Theodoro wouldn’t want that, and if he couldn’t be bothered, and if he had no reason to…

 

“I’d like to offer you something called ‘change’ for your business, Antonio.”

 

Theodoro’s face crumpled at her words. The answer that came out of his bug-chewed face was predictably sultry.

 

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

 

“Seriously, I don’t need your help, Theodoro, I can make my move if you’ll let me-.”

 

“Nonsense.”

 

Theodoro pressed the corners of his eyes, tired of even hearing her impatient demands. Heavy shadows settled over his sunken eyes.

 

“Where does this confidence come from?”

 

“…”

 

“Why don’t you just stick to your job? You don’t want to end up paying for your own shenanigans.”

 

Theodoro spoke in a flat voice with a lack of any pitch. He didn’t even hesitate.

 

But that was to be expected. I’ve only been here a week. What an arrogant thing to do, to dare to interfere in the organization’s affairs out of character.

 

‘Oh well, I’ll push it as far as I can.’

 

Lilia retorted, clenching and unclenching her small fists with tension.

 

“This, this is the main battle, and if I die, Mr. Theodoro won’t lose anything, and if I succeed, then you will be able to accomplish what you wants.”

 

“…”

 

“Of course, I’ll succeed, I know it’s ridiculous for me to say this when I have no ability.”

 

“If you know that—”

 

Narrowing her eyes, she interrupted Theodoro, adding.

 

“So I’m going to get someone to work with me, and if you think I’m not good enough, I want you to judge me by the person I’m bringing in, not by me. I’ll never be good enough to go up against Antonio.”

 

A moment of silence. Then I heard Theodoro’s lethargic laugh. Not the slightest hint of amusement, of course.

 

“Who.”

 

He raised his glass sarcastically.

 

“Do you think to take Paul or something?”

 

“No. I’m trying to convince Silvano Giacone.”

 

At that moment, the arm that had been moving fluidly caught in midair. The only thing that stirred was the thick liquid in the glass.

 

As if time had stood still, Theodoro stiffened, and a chilling silence fell over the table.

 

“…Say again. Who?”

 

Lilia repeated, word for word.

 

“Silvano Giacone.”

 

✨

 

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk—

 

The wooden desk creaked as if it were about to crack with each movement of the man’s back, and each time it did, a cloud of fine dust rose.

 

“Ahhh, yeah! Just a little more, just a little more!”

 

A voice echoed through the musty, dirty warehouse. The woman was sprawled on the desk, her hips bucking in time with his movements.

 

He stared down at her, his eyes never leaving her as he continued to stroke his member, and suddenly his arm moved. 

 

The hand gripping her pelvis moved upwards and grabbed her reddened throat.

 

“Hmph…!”

 

She whimpered, her eyes squeezing shut. 

 

Even such a gruesome act of violence was arousing.

 

But she must have sensed something amiss, because the pressure on her throat grew stronger as it went on.

 

“Ugh, huh! This, this… more!”

 

With a grimace, she slapped the man’s shoulder. 

 

As he looked down, the corners of his mouth twitched upwards, and her breathing quickened.

 

“Huck, humph…! Aah!”

 

“Why, are you frightened?”

 

The man whispered in a low voice. His vigorous thrusts became subdued in response. He leaned forward, burying his face in her shoulder and nudging her waist.

 

The slight movement in and out of her opening made her forget the pain for a moment, and then she was lost in pleasure again. She gasped, clutching at the nape of his neck.

 

“Scared to death, yes… Hmm… Hmph! Ahh…!”

 

And then, once again, a crooked smile on the man’s lips.

 

“I can’t kill you yet.”

 

The woman let out a small gasp at his muttered words and frowned.

 

“Hmph…! What did you say? I didn’t hear you, hmm…!”

 

When she said she didn’t hear him, he didn’t repeat what he’d said. Instead, he breathed a completely different word into her ear.

 

“Three hundred and nineteen dollars.”

 

‘’Hmm, what?”

 

“430 dollars.”

 

“Hah! What are you, what are you talking about?”

 

The woman gasped and asked, but he did not explain.

 

As he continued to thrust between her legs, he whispered a sum of money without context, which grew increasingly larger.

 

”Five hundred and seventy-six dollars. Don’t you remember?”

 

“What are you talking about…!”

 

“One thousand and forty-eight dollars. I think you should know what I’m talking about.”

 

“Hah! What?”

 

“One thousand eight hundred and seventy dollars. Your appetite is getting bigger, isn’t it?”

 

The languid way he smiled.

 

The woman’s face slowly faded into contemplation as she realized the meaning of the sum. The man saw it, and his smile widened.

 

“It’s money you stole. Isn’t that right?”

 

“Wait, that’s not… that’s not… argh!”

 

“Do I look like an idiot for managing a crumbling smuggling warehouse in a run-down neighborhood like this, that I didn’t realize I’d been missing a year’s worth of bounty?”

 

The woman’s face went pale. She struggled wildly to free herself from him, not sure when she had gotten so tangled up.

 

“Let go…! No, n-no, nnhh, th-that’s enough!”

 

But she could never break free of his firm grip on both her thighs, and the more she twisted her hips, the rougher and more insistent his movements became.