Family, Honor, Silence
Since it was an era before obstetricians were common, the doctor arrived with a medical bag, and my father-in-law, Rita, and I headed to the suite on the top floor of the Lexington Hotel.
“It’s a pregnancy, Miss Capone.”
“I see.”
At the doctor’s declaration after the examination, I blinked blankly, my soul momentarily drifting away while I tried to offer a hollow response.
“Based on the examination, it seems to be a little over a month. You’ll need to get a proper check-up at a hospital to be certain, of course.”
The doctor continued to talk, but his words just brushed past my ears. Pregnancy. The fact that a child carrying both my and Rita’s blood was sleeping inside her lower abdomen still sounded like a dream to me.
I didn’t have children in my previous life, and since I never imagined it would happen without any warning, it truly felt like a dream.
That was when it happened.
“Pregnancy… so Rita is pregnant… Haha…”
Only after hearing the laughter of my father-in-law, Al Capone, did I manage to pull my wandering mind back to reality and turn my gaze toward him. Surprisingly, he was smiling.
“That, is it true?”
“Judging by the fetal heartbeat, the pregnancy itself is a fact. As I mentioned earlier, you will need to visit a hospital tomorrow for a detailed examination, but…”
“Good. Get it prepared.”
Click!
With those words, Al Capone opened a safe in the corner of the suite and pulled out several bundles of cash. Wait, why are you bringing that out here?
“Is this enough for the money?”
“O-Of course. I will prepare it immediately.”
Soon, the doctor, having received the bundles of cash offered by my father-in-law, widened his eyes, bowed repeatedly, and hurried out of the suite.
Good grief. How much was in those bundles? Well, it’s not like my father-in-law is short on money. Even if it is "dirty money" that’s tricky to use openly, a small amount for a house call fee isn't exactly a problem.
“Hmm.”
Once the doctor left, my father-in-law stood up and walked to the window. After looking down at the skyscrapers of Chicago for a moment, he turned toward us. His face still held a smile, though it had faded slightly compared to before.
“Ha, so I’m going to be a grandfather.”
Muttering to himself, Al Capone approached Rita and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine now, Father. The morning sickness has subsided.”
With those words, Rita stroked her lower abdomen with an expression full of affection. Soon, she looked at me. “Honey, it’s the fruit of our love.”
“Y-Yeah. It was a gift I never even imagined. Hahahaha!”
In truth, the feeling of being bewildered was stronger than joy, but I tried my best to hide it. I judged that it was best to faithfully follow the maxim from my previous life that the next thirty years depend on how you react in this moment.
“I’ll give you 14 days.”
It was then that my father-in-law’s cold voice was directed at me. When I turned my gaze, his mouth opened, his face expressionless as if he hadn't been smiling just a moment ago.
“Hold the wedding within that time. The location will be St. James Church in Cicero, and if you need anything, tell Frank; he will provide whatever is necessary.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“As soon as possible, and quietly but with formality. Do you understand?”
“Of course. I will prepare everything without any shortcomings.”
“And.”
Having finished his instructions, my father-in-law looked at Rita, who was still stroking her abdomen. “Rita, go outside for a moment. Tell the boys outside to bring Frank here, and tell him to bring ‘that’ as well.”
“Yes, Father.”
At those words, Rita carefully stood up and walked out. Before opening the door to leave, she waved at me. “Do a good job, Honey.”
“Huh?”
Do a good job? At what? But before I could ask, Rita gave me a meaningful smile and left the room.
“……”
A suffocating situation, left alone in the suite with my father-in-law. I couldn't say a word, just waiting for Nitti to arrive as quickly as possible. How much time had passed?
Knock, knock!
“Boss.”
With the sound of knocking, Frank Nitti, the second-in-command of the Chicago Outfit, opened the door and entered. In his hand was an unidentified velvet box.
“I’ve brought it, but are you really going to do this?”
“It’s the same case as Jake. You understand, right?”
“But this is a different situation. Jake Guzik showed his ability to the organization, but this fellow is an Oriental. Besides, he hasn't done anything yet…”
“Frank.”
What on earth are they talking about? The conversation between the two, which I couldn't understand, ended with my father-in-law’s low voice. Soon, my father-in-law’s gaze, having received the velvet box, turned toward me.
“Lee Jun.”
“Yes, Boss.”
…Seriously, what is this? The atmosphere is ominous. It wasn't "Oriental" or "Chinese," but the first time Al Capone called me by my name, I straightened my posture.
“Do you know what this is?”
Click.
With those words, my father-in-law opened the box placed on the table. What appeared inside was a silver lapel pin. Picking up the pin engraved with the logo ‘O’, he looked at me with a serious expression.
“I do not know.”
“This is the symbol of the organization. Only family who have joined the organization can use it.”
Uh, um. Excuse me?
If he says "family," does he mean… the "family" I think he means? While I was panicking inside, Al Capone finished speaking and approached me holding the pin. At the same time, the room grew dark as if Nitti had adjusted the lights.
Soon, he pinned it to the left lapel of my tuxedo and continued.
“This pin mark will be the shield that protects you and the bullet that pierces you.”
This… is this an initiation ceremony? Even if I am his son-in-law, I’m not Italian!
While I was blinking in confusion, Al Capone stepped back. With that, Frank Nitti, who had been waiting behind, approached.
Tap, tap.
With a dissatisfied expression, Nitti approached me and tapped my right shoulder twice with his index and middle fingers.
“The first is Family, the second is Honor.”
“Yes.”
Is it really okay to do this? But I had no choice. If I said I wouldn't do it here, as Al Capone said earlier, my heart would be filled with lead.
“Repeat after me. Family, Honor, Silence.”
“Family, Honor, Silence.”
“From now on, you are the Treasury Clerk of the organization, and you will be in charge of the businesses you manage and the organization’s fund processing. Your duty, honor, and faith. If you betray even one of these, there will be punishment from the organization.”
“Yes.”
Damn, that just means if things go wrong, he’ll kill me, right? While I was thinking thoughts I couldn't dare say out loud, Nitti continued.
“Since you don't have Italian blood, your status to the outside world is an Associate, but within the organization, you will be accepted as a member of the Outfit.”
With those words, Nitti pulled a coin from his pocket, also engraved with the ‘O’ mark like the lapel pin, and held it out. “It is proof that you are a member of the organization. There will be times you need it, so don't lose it.”
“I understand.”
I accepted the coin with my answer. With this, I had boarded the same ship as the king of the underworld and Public Enemy Number One of the United States. Father, Mother, that’s how it turned out. A person has to survive.
While I briefly thought of my parents, who would soon find out that I had become a member of a gang, the dark lights brightened again. My father-in-law opened his mouth.
“The initiation ceremony is over. As I said earlier, from now on, you are a member of our organization. If there is anyone who touches you, I will kill them myself, even if it means a war.”
“Thank you.”
“And if you betray the organization, I will kill you too.”
“…Of course.”
Uh, I don't think you needed to say that. I felt my back getting damp with cold sweat for no reason. Meanwhile, my father-in-law picked up a small box that had been on the safe and placed it on the table.
“A gift. Open it.”
As my father-in-law gestured toward the box, I carefully opened the wooden container. …Isn't this a gun?
To be precise, it was an automatic pistol. The black-painted, shining pistol looked heavy just by looking at it. My father-in-law’s words followed.
“This will protect your duty and honor. Of course, the organization will move first before you have to use it.”
“Thank you.”
“If necessary, you will also have to use it to keep the silence.”
Ah, so that’s what it’s for. I closed the lid of the box containing the multi-purpose pistol that could kill both me and my opponent, and carefully accepted it. Then, Nitti opened the locked door of the room. Soon, Rita, who had been standing behind the door, entered carefully.
“Honey, did you do well? It seems like you did.”
Smooch.
Approaching me, she seemed to recognize the silver pin on my lapel, gave a bright expression, and kissed my cheek. Then, she turned to look at Al Capone and Nitti.
“Most of the guests who came to the party have left. It’s a bit of a shame we couldn't hold the engagement ceremony, though.”
“It doesn't matter, the wedding is in two weeks anyway. Take care of your health in the meantime.”
“I will. Oh, and.”
Rita, who nodded at her father’s words, clapped her hands as if she had remembered something she’d forgotten, and opened her mouth.
“I saw that there are a few reporters in front of the hotel earlier.”
“Reporters?”
“I will take care of them.”
“No, forget it.”
At Nitti’s words, who was about to pull out his gun and go downstairs immediately, my father-in-law waved his hand. “Tell them to take a family photo since it’s been a while. Come on, let’s go down.”
With those words, my father-in-law took me and Rita out to the hotel’s main entrance. And the next day.
My face was plastered across the front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune in giant letters, alongside the other members of the organization.