Chapter 140: Davey’s Conditions
Davey knew that old Lady Catherine wasn’t wrong.
Angelo Bronte was a true power—he controlled nearly half of Saint Denis’s underworld.
Compared to him, Dutch’s Van der Linde Gang was nothing more than a small-time outfit.
Angelo Bronte was the Mafia’s family head in Saint Denis.
The Mafia originated in Italy as a secret society, based in Sicily—hence the name Sicilian Mafia.
When the wave of European immigration swept into America in the 18th century, Mafia members poured into the United States, rooting themselves in the Big Apple and spreading across the East.
They ran every illegal trade—gambling, prostitution—and engaged in professional crime: kidnapping, murder, robbery.
Within the Mafia, each faction was ruled by a family-based structure.
They first established themselves in the Big Apple region, then expanded across the eastern United States.
In New York City, five major families dominated: the Buono family, the Colabro family, the Gambino family, the Genovese family, and the Lucchese family.
By 1899, more than twenty Mafia families had grown across the country.
The Bronte family was the Mafia’s representative force in the West.
The word “family” didn’t mean blood relatives—every Italian who joined became part of it.
And official members were strictly pure-blood Italians.
Mafia families followed a tradition of elite selectivity: large families had around 100–200 members; typical ones had 50–60.
Beyond that was the Mafia’s partnership system.
And the fact that Bronte could dominate Saint Denis meant he belonged to a major family.
If Davey cooperated with Bronte in the moonshine trade, he could become a Mafia associate.
With Bronte as a bridge, his moonshine could flow across the eastern United States—into every territory touched by Mafia influence.
The Mafia’s development model was undeniably the most suited for the times. By 1899, they were in a period of rapid expansion.
Come Prohibition in 1920, the profits from moonshine would make the Mafia’s economic power rival that of the largest national conglomerates.
Prohibition would mark the peak of Mafia power across the United States.
In the original game storyline, the only reason the Van der Linde Gang ever managed to grab Angelo Bronte was because of the ambush—and because Bronte’s arrogance made him underestimate them.
In a real fight, the Van der Linde Gang wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Of course, working with Mr. Bronte would be a wonderful opportunity.”
“But my men didn’t die for nothing. My reputation must be compensated.”
“I… need to see sincerity.”
“A beautiful young lady? That won’t cut it.”
Davey spoke without a shred of politeness.
The Mafia was powerful—but far from unified. Internal conflicts were constant.
Even if Davey killed Bronte, it didn’t mean he would be at odds with the entire Mafia.
Penelope was the first to feel uncomfortable.
She never had any romantic thoughts about Davey, but being spoken of so dismissively stung any proud young woman—especially when he said it so openly.
Lady Catherine’s expression darkened as well.
In her view, Davey was supposed to marry her daughter.
But judging by his tone, he wasn’t thinking of marriage at all—more like treating her as some household servant.
“So, Mr. Callander… what exactly do you want?”
Lady Catherine fixed her gaze on him.
Davey calmly poured himself a glass of red wine, swirling it lightly as the crimson liquid rolled against the glass.
“Mrs. Braithwaite, my demands are simple.”
“First, the Laramie Gang must pay a heavy price—especially Laramie himself. His head will honor my fallen men.”
“Second, those distillery managers who hired the Laramie Gang behind the scenes—I want them to pay for damaging my reputation. Hanging from the gallows would be a fitting fate.”
“Working with Mr. Bronte in the moonshine trade is indeed an excellent idea. But production happens only on my territory. Mr. Bronte handles distribution.”
“As for how the partnership works—that’s not something you get to decide, Mrs. Braithwaite. Discussing it with you won’t change anything.”
“If these conditions are acceptable, then I’ll negotiate with Mr. Bronte personally.”
Though Davey sounded forceful—even rude—his terms clearly showed genuine willingness to cooperate.
This eased the tension in Lady Catherine’s expression.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Callander. As you said, matters concerning the Laramie Gang, the distillery managers, or moonshine cooperation—none of these are decisions I can make.”
“I will relay everything to Mr. Bronte. Please give us a few days. I believe you will receive a satisfactory answer.”
Author's Note
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