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Chapter 4:
Jim Gordon had been a nuisance from day one. There was no day when Victor Zsasz fought the detective, he was frustrated to discover that Gordon was on his trail because he was two steps ahead of his bosses. Every day he cursed the detective, he despised him. But recently, everything had changed, he had begun to feel something different. Suddenly the detective wasn't as annoying as before, sometimes he was amused by his dangerous but sporting encounters. He had never believed that he would one day welcome Jim Gordon's presence in Gotham…until now.
Thanks to him his family was fine.
His bubbe kept telling over and over how exciting the kidnapping had been. Victor had looked at her as if she had lost her mind. He knew his bubbe had a jovial spirit but exciting kidnapping, really bubbe? But his bubbe had become a die-hard fan of the detective, just like Don Falcone. His father acknowledged that he owed him a life debt, but he wasn't singing odes to Gordon or praising his good looks, thank goodness him. It seemed that Don Falcone and his bubbe had got together and at any moment would start the Gordons fan club, of which fortunately his father would not be a part.
However, one of the tasks that his father had entrusted to him was to find out what Gordon might be interested in or what trouble he was in, in order to pay off his debt as soon as possible. The Zsazs owed nothing to anyone. Unfortunately, as much as Victor had searched for connections that would tell him something about the detective's life, he couldn't find anything valuable enough to express how grateful he was for saving his family. It didn't matter that Gordon said he was just doing his job, Victor knew how things worked in the world and if he didn't give himself a nice gift when someone had done him a favor, maybe next time Gordon wouldn't put in the same effort.
At Mario's suggestion, Victor had prepared dinner for the detective. Well, Mario suggested that he invite him to dinner, it was VĂctor who had sneaked into his apartment without his permission and had ordered dinner at one of the restaurants run by his family. He didn't even know if Gordon liked Russian food.
He was never prepared for Gordon to pull a gun on him once he found out he was the one who had broken into his house. He couldn't understand. Didn't Gordon know that Victor owed him a blood debt? Jim was perfectly safe in his presence.
- There is no need for that, Jim.-Victor said raising his hands.-I come in peace.
- I don't know if I believe you, Zsasz.-Jim replied, but he put his gun away, which was the important thing.-I'm getting a lot of visits from the mafia lately and I don't like it. What do you want?
- I've come to collect my debt.-said Victor.-You saved my family, but you still haven't asked for anything, so I've ordered dinner for both of us, while you think you want us to stay in peace. You are a difficult man to please.
"I've already told you that it's not necessary," Jim said, but he sat down at the table and ate, which was the important thing. Victor smiled.
Normally Victor's dates would be filled with awkward silences, but this time the silence was quiet, pleasant even. Victor was confused, he had never felt this way about anyone. There were very few people he really enjoyed.
"How did you come up with inviting me to dinner?" Jim asked.
- It was Mario who suggested it.
The reminder was painful, but at least Mario wasn't Sofia. Victor knew that he had seen Mario at the scene, his girls had told him that Mario seemed worried. He didn't know if all this concern for Victor and his family was Mario's ploy to get Lee and Jim to forget or if it was genuine, but Victor was grateful that Mario had tried to help.
- Thank him for me.-said Jim.
It wasn't the first time that Victor felt jealous, but he didn't expect to feel it with Jim. It wasn't the first time he imagined it, he had seen the way they both looked at each other. Jim and Mario. There was something between them, a kind of understanding. Victor knew that Mario felt something for Jim stronger than he did for Lee, it wasn't that he didn't love Lee, but he didn't respect or admire her as much as Jim. And it hurt, like it hurt every time Victor compared himself to Mario. He wondered if this was another one of the Mario games where he got hurt. He knew that, if confirmed, Lee would also be hurt. Would Lee know that she would eventually become the front? That while Mario would have his adventures, she was destined to become the perfect wife, the one who knew nothing about her husband's business? Lee agreed to marry Mario knowing all that? She had never seemed like the kind of woman to let herself be trampled on, but with her morality, much like Gordon's, it was the only way for her to be safe. Victor forced a smile, but he didn't say anything. He knew that Jim could tell that he was tense, but he wasn't going to pretend that everything was fine, Gordon wasn't one of his bosses.
"Did I say something to upset you?" Jim asked.
- No.- Victor replied dryly. He knew that Jim knew he was lying, but he continued to take the Shchi from him.
-Liar.-said Jim.-I have to admit that the food is very good.
- It's from one of my family's restaurants.-Victor said happily.-I said it was for you, they send their regards, my bubbe wants you to visit her from time to time. She doesn't stop talking about you. I don't know what happened in that car, but you made a pretty good impression on her, Jim. And I always thank my family friends for their help and favors.
- Your bubbe is a lady, Zsasz.-said Jim.-Tell her that I hope to see her again, but in a more favorable situation this time. Tell me what happened to those who struck?
- That stays in the family, Jim, you should know.
- I highly doubt they're the ringleaders. The Ibanescus and Antonovs had a lot to lose. This is someone else's doing and for the first time, I'm not referring to Oswald.
Victor's cell phone rang. It was a message from Carmine, even if it hadn't been from him, Victor would have to take it, he was exempt from table etiquette when it came to his work. He paled as he read it.
Sofia Falcone was in Gotham.
