In Millburg, within one of the tallest buildings, Raven sat in the head chair of the Shadows leader, a position once occupied by Dominic Russo. Surrounding Raven were the elders and younger generation of the Russo family, each seated in their respective places.

As their eyes fell upon the masked man in the head chair, a mixture of fear and anger flickered across their faces. Raven's countenance was hidden behind a black mask adorned with a yellow viper, adding an aura of intimidation to his presence.

"So, willing to comply or planning to play hard to get?" Raven's voice cut through the tension in the room as he casually swirled the gun placed on the table before him.

The elders exchanged nervous glances, knowing all too well the consequences of defying Hunter. Despite their territory not being vast, Dominic had managed to establish the Shadows as a formidable force in Millburg and its surrounding cities. Hence the news of Dominic's passing had sent shockwaves through their ranks.

As the elders and uncles of the Russo family prepared to voice their unified decision to comply with Hunter's demands, understanding that their very lives prior to wealth and position, a sudden eruption shattered the heavy silence.

The scrape of a chair against the floor echoed sharply in the room, drawing all eyes to the source. It was one of the younger generations, the second youngest cousin of Dominic.

With anger in his eyes, he slammed his hand down onto the table, his voice thundering in a silent room. "Why should we bow to the whims of an outsider?" he challenged, his words laced with defiance. "If anyone is to lead our gang, it should be one of our own kin!"

He was happy with his cousin Dominic gone but not with their gang taken over by an outsider.

Raven's gaze pierced through the mask as he narrowed his eyes at the young man. An unmistakable aura of danger radiates from him, sending shivers down the spines of those present.

Sensing the tension rising, one of the elders seated near the man reached out, urging him to take his seat and shut his mouth soon.

"Let it go”, the young man pulled his hand away from the elder's grasp. Ignoring the elder's pleas, he locked eyes with Raven, his expression unyielding. "Just because you are powerful doesn't mean we should kneel before you."

Raven's chuckle resonated through the room, laced with a chilling menace. "I like arrogance," he began, his voice dripping with a deadly calm, "but I don't like it when it's directed at me."

Without another word, he swiftly retrieved the gun he had been toying with earlier and aimed it at the young boy's forehead. In an instant, the room was plunged into a deathly silence as the gunshot echoed through the air.

The onlookers watched in shock as the man, who had been alive and talking just moments before, now lay motionless on the ground, his voice silenced forever.

"Now... any more objections?" Raven questioned them as if he had just swatted away a pesky mosquito buzzing in his ear.

The people in the room swallowed hard in fear, beads of sweat trickling down their foreheads as they timidly shook their heads in response. 

"Fine... Happy cooperation," Raven declared with a sweet smile. 

Rising from his seat, he smoothly transferred the remaining tasks to Hardin, who had been absorbed in his mobile throughout the entire ordeal, seemingly unfazed by the gunshot that had echoed through the room.

As Raven finished his shower and emerged from the bathroom, a towel casually draped around his lower waist, droplets of water cascaded from his damp hair.

His attention was abruptly drawn to the ringing of his phone, and without bothering to dry his hair, he made his way to the table to unplug it from the charger. A smile spread across his face as he noticed a video request from his son.

As Raven accepted the video request, Aiden's face filled the screen, causing Raven to blink in surprise. His son was dressed in a bright yellow baby duck onesie, an unexpected sight that caught Raven off guard. Behind Aiden, Siren sat with a straight face, wearing a matching duck picture on the front of her nightdress.

Raven couldn't help but touch his nose, trying to conceal the threatening laugh bubbling up inside him. He finally chuckled at their costume and asked him, “What’s up with your dresses?”

Aiden felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him hearing his father’s laughter.

Out of curiosity he asked his mother to open the gifts presented to him by his uncles telling her that he would like anything they present him, but who would have thought the things inside the packages were filled with big fluffy onesies.

As if not enough his uncle Sam gifted him a shirt in rainbow colour making his eyes go blind with its gradience.

As Aiden picked up one of the jumpsuits from its wrapper, his expression turned sour, he turned stiffly to his mother, hoping for her reaction. However, he was surprised to find her gaze fixed keenly on the yellow duck onesie in his hand.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, "I think I had an identical one like this."

Aiden's sourness from the yellow duck vanished in an instant, replaced with excitement at the prospect of matching with his mom.

“Uncle Sam gifted it to me,” Aiden informed Raven.

Raven hummed in acknowledgment, already knowing the identity of the man his son had mentioned.

Turning his attention to his new wife, Raven noticed her eyes fixed on his exposed abdomen. Smirking, he straightened his posture, subtly sucking in his breath as he allowed the towel to slip a little from his waist, showcasing the adonis belt that stood proud at his hip bone.

Siren quickly averted her gaze from his body, meeting his green eyes which held a teasing smile. She attempted to cover the awkwardness with a light cough, then turned her attention to the bed lamp on the other side of the room.

"Daddy, when will you return?" Aiden's question cut through the conversation, seemingly oblivious to the exchange between his parents.

"Probably after twenty more days," Raven replied to his son's inquiry.

Siren, who had been silent up until now, asked him, "Didn't the deal go successful? Then why more days?"

Raven couldn't resist teasing her further. "Stalking me, aren't you?" he quipped with a playful smirk, earning an eye roll from Siren.

"Gaining a foothold in a new city doesn't end with a few deals," Raven stated, his gaze locking with Siren's electric blue eyes.

Siren understood the meaning behind his words. She knew that Raven hadn't gone to Millburg solely to expand his business empire but also to extend his underground power and influence.