Chapter 122 The Traffic Light Trio
Matteo said there were over fifty troublemakers, but only three real ringleaders.
On the way, I looked into the basic information about these three people.
Their names were Hawk, Atticus, and Elijah. Just as Lucas had said, they weren't actually descendants of the Thornfield family, but three "probationary Caporegimes."
Mafia family organizational structures can be simple or complex, but basically can be summarized into five levels: the Godfather, the Underboss who's second only to the Godfather in power and status, the Consigliere, Caporegimes and Soldatos, and associates.
Among them, Soldatos are the most numerous. They carry out orders and are the most basic formal members. Caporegimes manage the Soldatos. In a large mafia family, there are definitely quite a few Caporegimes and Soldatos.
But the selection criteria for Caporegimes and Soldatos are different - strict for the former, loose for the latter.
The Thornfield family adopted a "cell division" expansion method. They absorbed small and medium-sized families or group forces that weren't yet qualified to become associates, making their leaders "probationary Caporegimes." They established a system of probation, confirmation, and promotion. Their subordinates didn't belong to the formal Soldatos, but had to show loyalty and follow orders just like Soldatos.
In other words, the troublemakers were desperately trying to please the Thornfield family, but the Thornfield family might not even think much of them.
After a quick analysis with Lucas, I calmed myself down.
Half an hour later, the car drove into the chaos zone.
From far away, I could see three "traffic lights."
Hawk had brilliant golden-yellow shoulder-length hair, Atticus had red hair, and Elijah had green hair.
They wore black leather jackets, pants and boots covered with studs, printed with skulls and middle finger patterns. Elijah had a "fuck you" tattoo on his chin.
I looked at them for a few seconds, then couldn't help turning to look at Lucas to refresh my sight.
I even took a photo of the three of them and posted it in our family group chat, specifically @ing Marcus: They look like you when you were sixteen.
Marcus: [Stop making things up!]
He sent a bunch of fierce emojis to push my message up.
Marcus: [Don't bring up my dark history, we're still good siblings!]
Among us four siblings, only Marcus had an extreme rebellious phase during his teenage years. When he was fifteen and sixteen, he was obsessed with dark-style clothing.
In winter, Marcus DIY-ed all his jackets, covering them with sharp studs. The family refused to hug him. My mother said he was a hedgehog. Most people would walk around him when they saw him, which made Marcus very proud.
In summer, Marcus bought a bunch of black ripped pants. My mother thought he looked like a beggar, but Marcus argued that as a member of a mafia family, he should dress like that.
Marcus got many ear piercings and wanted lip and tongue piercings too, but gave up when he heard water would leak out when drinking. As for tattoos, both my father and mother firmly opposed them.
With Marcus as a contrast, I seemed incredibly well-behaved.
Later Marcus grew up overnight, threw away all those stupid clothes, and desperately tried to convince the family, attempting to make us forget all those dumb things he did.
Forgetting was impossible.
I couldn't help teasing Marcus a few more times. After putting down my phone, I found the "Traffic Light Trio" in the distance glaring at me.
I was a bit confused. Lucas spoke up at the right moment, "They saw us as soon as we arrived and have been shouting for a while. You didn't seem to hear."
I thought back - it did seem a bit noisy just now.
"What were you thinking about just now?" Lucas suddenly asked.
He reached out to gently stroke the corner of my lips. "You were smiling so relaxed, so warm."
His finger pressed on the corner of my mouth, gradually applying more pressure. Lucas said expressionlessly, "I don't like it."
I tilted my face up slightly, meeting his gaze. "I was thinking about things from when I was little."
"I don't like you smiling so beautifully because of anything other than me." Lucas's finger moved to my lips, rubbing, pressing, and pushing. His gaze gradually deepened.
I glanced at the time. We'd already missed lunch, and Lucas should take his medicine after meals.
I quickly glanced at him.
This sudden burst of possessiveness - was his condition acting up?
I turned my head to avoid Lucas's hand and leaned forward to kiss him.
Our lips touched lightly, the distance ambiguous. I felt this wasn't a kiss, just flesh touching flesh, while I observed his reaction.
Lucas became excited in an instant.
He hooked my waist, wanting to deepen the kiss, but a bullet hit the ground a few inches in front of the car door.
I took the opportunity to sit back in my seat. I had only intended to briefly comfort Lucas anyway, but Lucas looked displeased at the "Traffic Light Trio," clearly thinking they'd interrupted our business.
He ordered Alfred to fire back - three shots in a row, accurately hitting the ground by those three people's feet.
"Damn it!" they screamed.
I found it amusing. "Cole, we can't fall behind."
"Yes." Cole understood and also fired three shots in a row, also hitting the ground by those three people's feet, triggering a string of curses from them.
"You're too arrogant! Do you know who we are?" Atticus shouted at us with a dark expression.
Hawk made a gesture, and the fifty Soldati behind them uniformly raised their guns. A row of cold, gleaming black gun barrels neatly aimed at us.
The air was cold and tense.
Edgar asked through the walkie-talkie if I needed backup, saying the snipers were in position.
I refused him, telling him to hide well and not show himself.
Although Hawk, Atticus, and Elijah weren't real members of the Thornfield family, Edgar's family was subordinate to the Thornfield family. If he was discovered helping us, it might bring disaster.
Seeing we hadn't gotten out of the car, Elijah asked with a sinister smile, "Scared?"
I lowered the custom bulletproof window halfway, took the mini megaphone from Adrian, tested the sound, and calmly asked back, "Is this all you've got? Worth being scared of?"
"If you've got guts, get out of the car!" Elijah shouted. "What kind of person hides in a car?"
"The kind who's too lazy to get out." I smiled. "Green Boy, you keep looking at my megaphone. Are you jealous?"
Elijah's fierce expression froze for a moment, then he roared, "Who are you calling Green Boy?"
"Are you colorblind or something?" I continued asking back.
Laughter came from all around.
This place wasn't just us in this standoff. Mafia members who had arrived in Starstream City during this time were all here, watching from various positions near and far.
I didn't want to be watched like this, but since I'd already "taken the stage," I might as well let this show go according to my wishes.
Elijah was provoked by the mocking laughter, his face flushed red, veins bulging on his neck. "Do you dare offend the Thornfield family? Get out of the car right now and apologize to us! Otherwise, you'll regret it soon!"
Hawk showed less emotion than the other two. He asked coldly, "Are we fighting or not?"
"Let's fight." I nodded, saying indifferently, "Did you think I came here to make peace?"
As soon as I finished speaking, our cars quickly reversed in unison, while five smoke bombs and small explosives were thrown out, drawing perfect arcs in the air and landing accurately in their camp.