It was mid-afternoon, and the Iceberg Lounge had few guests—mostly Italian gang thugs mingling with the club's prostitutes.
Unlike the small-time gangs, Italian thugs, Gotham's dominant force, were generous even at lower levels. Their largesse made them popular with the women, who didn't mind earning a little extra before the evening crowd arrived. Even the show-off types, who expected freebies, indirectly offered protection, and that made them worth tolerating.
Amid the relaxed chatter, members of the Sabatino Family, fresh from a war with the Russian Mafia, entered. The lounge shifted immediately.
Everyone here answered to Falcone, Gotham's crime Pharaoh, but factions existed beneath the surface. Sal Maroni, Johnny Sabatino, and Fish Mooney were the three top bosses beneath Falcone. Publicly, they were united by Italian pride, controlling Gotham's underworld together. Privately, rivalry simmered.
Oswald Cobblepot, the lounge's manager, wasn't Italian. Once a mere umbrella-holder for Fish Mooney, he had leveraged the ongoing factional battles to rise to the fourth boss-level position under Falcone. His sudden ascent emboldened ambitious underlings, but until now, only Oswald had successfully advanced.
With the Sabatinos' arrival, the Iceberg Lounge stiffened. Oswald approached Johnny Sabatino, arms wide and smiling.
"Johnny, congratulations on your recent success. The Dimitrov Family won't bother our port for months."
"Of course," Sabatino said, smirking. "Those Russian bastards were no match. Falcone's decisions are always precise. I am their natural enemy."
As they went to embrace, Sabatino paused, looking down at Oswald. "Damn, I forgot to squat! Hugging you feels like embracing a dwarf. Falcone should have sent you to face the Dimitrovs—your limp and short stature would've had them rolling with laughter."
He waved at his subordinates. "See him? Limping like a penguin. Thin too. I don't even need Animal Planet to see penguins—they're right here in the Iceberg Lounge!"
Oswald's smile never faltered. Behind him, his men tensed, pistols ready, but he raised a hand to stop them.
"Is there anything more fitting than a penguin running the Iceberg Lounge?" he said smoothly.
Sabatino snorted. "Falcone's always wise. That's why I manage this place, not you!"
Taking a cigar and cutter from a subordinate, Oswald clipped the cigar and addressed Sabatino elegantly.
"Mocking me, provoking me—what are you trying to prove? That Falcone made a mistake? Believe in him as I do. I feel sorry for you, Sabatino."
Sabatino's grin twisted into a sneer. "Glib-tongued trash. You're here by double-crossing. Falcone doesn't trust you—especially after betraying Maroni and Fish. You're just a target, penguin. Consider yourself lucky I haven't ended you yet. Step out of line, and your corpse won't float in the bay—it'll be returned to the Antarctic to guard icebergs, crowned king of penguins!"
He stepped forward, finger pointed at Oswald's chest.
Oswald casually bit his cigar, letting a subordinate ignite it. He inhaled, exhaled, then shook his head.
"Sabatino, you weren't born leader. Before your rise, who knows what you did? Neither of us is defeated by words alone. If you're truly dissatisfied with Falcone's decision—or with me—why not pull a trigger?"
He snapped his fingers. Every one of his men leveled their pistols at Sabatino, while Oswald patted his arm in mock camaraderie.
"Want to bet? Bet I'd shoot you here, or bet your courage isn't even penguin-level. I've put my chips on the table—your move, Sabatino. Call or fold?"
Sabatino laughed dismissively. "Put your guns away. You think this penguin would dare kill me here? Not today!"
He signaled his men to lower their weapons, puffed out his chest, and stepped closer to Oswald's muzzle.
"Come on, penguin. Show me your all-in. This is the Iceberg Lounge, Falcone territory…"
Bang, bang, bang!
Oswald's sudden gunfire startled everyone. Pistols rose again, ready for retaliation, but Oswald laughed, pressing the gun muzzle against Sabatino's chest.
"You're scared, Sabatino. Bet your mind's flashing back! Lesson one: even when the road ahead seems clear, unexpected thorns can trip you. When you mocked my posture, I laughed at your bluster, your bullying of the weak while fearing the strong. Facts matter: I'm not a penguin, not in the Antarctic, and I'm making a fortune without unnecessary fights. The person you used to boss around is now untouchable. I'm young—you're aging. One day, I'll hear of your death."
Oswald stared disdainfully at Sabatino, letting the words settle. When Sabatino finally regained composure, Oswald spoke again.
"Since I'm glib-tongued, remain silent. Enough jokes. You didn't come this far for nothing. Now it's time to discuss serious matters. Remember, Sabatino, don't piss yourself just yet."
____
Milestones
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 2 Bonus Chapters
If you want to read in advance, check out my Patreon:
Search for "Zphyr" or use this link: Patreon.com/Zphyr