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Chapter 58: The Test Subject?
🕑 Added 2024-12-02 07:32:34 +0000 UTC"Thank you, Mr. Brook!" Francesca thanked the driver after they arrived home and stepped out of the car.
"Don't mention it. We're all working for the boss!" Brook waved his hand and drove off.
"It seems your boss might be more impressive than I initially thought," Vito remarked as he watched the car drive away.
"Why do you say that?" Francesca asked, puzzled.
"If I'm not mistaken, that driver used to be a soldier—one who’s seen action on the battlefield," Vito explained.
"Really? I didn’t notice. But it’s no big deal; Mr. Kahn isn’t just a celebrated war hero featured in the papers, but also a military supplier. Having a few veterans on his staff doesn’t seem unusual," Francesca replied thoughtfully.
Seeing her naive response, Vito shook his head and chose not to say more. From his experience on the battlefield, he could tell Brook’s demeanor didn’t match that of the typical laid-back American soldiers but was more akin to the disciplined German soldiers he had encountered.
"Why is our new home here? Isn’t this Irish territory?" Vito asked, shifting his attention to the neighborhood. The house was in the West Side, an area far better than their old home in Little Italy, but it raised concerns for him.
For years, neighborhoods in Chicago were segregated by ethnicity. Italian immigrants like them rarely ventured into areas dominated by other groups, unless they were wealthy enough to avoid trouble.
For someone like Vito, who had grown up amidst the street politics of Little Italy, moving into Irish-controlled territory seemed like asking for trouble.
"Vito, don’t say that. Things are different now. The Italian mafia is almost non-existent in Chicago; it’s the Irish who call the shots. But don’t worry—Mr. Karn holds a high position in the city. The gangs here know I work for him, so they wouldn’t dare cause trouble," Francesca reassured him.
"...Alright. By the way, Sis, have you seen Joe? He took off with all the goods from our last job before I got arrested. Did he ever give you the money?" Vito asked, changing the subject.
The "Joe" he mentioned was Joe Barbaro, someone he had once worked with before getting conscripted.
Unknown to Vito, Joe had already been dealt with—disposed of by Kahn and traded to Daenerys Targaryen for reasons best left unexamined.
"No, I haven’t seen him since you got arrested. And as for the money—nothing. If it weren’t for Ms. Margot’s kindness, we wouldn’t have even had enough to bury Father. Now that you’re back, please find a proper job and stop associating with those types," Francesca said earnestly.
"...You worry too much, Sis. The war isn’t over yet," Vito replied, feeling a mix of frustration and affection for his sister.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I asked Mr. Kahn to help get you discharged from the army, and he agreed! Tomorrow, you’ll come with me to thank him," Francesca said cheerfully.
"What? Really? Is that even possible?" Vito exclaimed, wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Of course! When Mr. Kahn makes a promise, he keeps it," Francesca replied confidently.
Vito opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.
That night, lying in the comfort of his new bed, Vito couldn’t sleep. The thought of finally escaping the horrors of the battlefield filled him with both relief and disbelief.
The next morning, Francesca led Vito to Kahn’s mansion.
"Vito Scaletta?" Kahn, seated in his study, looked over the tall, handsome young man before him. Despite his imposing presence, Kahn appeared younger than Vito had expected.
"Yes, sir, I’m Vito," Vito answered, feeling a little uneasy. Though Kahn looked younger than him, his commanding aura was comparable to that of a high-ranking officer.
"Here’s your discharge certificate," Kahn said, pushing a document across the desk. "It’s an official document from the Veterans Administration, so you don’t have to worry about any repercussions."
"Thank you so much for your help, Mr. Kahn," Vito said sincerely, his admiration for Kahn growing.
He knew how difficult it was to obtain a formal discharge during wartime. Most people could only hope to forge medical records, yet Kahn had provided official documentation.
"It’s nothing. Francesca is a diligent worker, and I’m not a stingy employer. Helping her with this small favor was no trouble," Kahn replied with a wave of his hand. Then, his tone changed. "I heard that you were saved by Captain Rogers during the war?"
"Yes, sir. Captain Rogers rescued both Captain Bucky and me. If it weren’t for him, I would’ve died on Hydra’s test table," Vito said, taking the opportunity to flatter Kahn. He had noticed the unmasked photograph of Captain America on the wall and correctly assumed Kahn had connections with him.
But Kahn wasn’t interested in the flattery. His expression turned serious as he focused on one specific detail.
"You said you and Bucky were on the test table together?" Kahn asked, his gaze locking onto Vito with intensity.
