“Frank…
I’m Alvin.
Alvin Satō.” Alvin clasped Frank Castle’s hand once more.
“To Nick, you’re a hero.” “I think he’d be thrilled to see you.” “I’ll go get him.” As they shook hands, Alvin noticed something.
The whiskey had loosened Frank up, but it had also aggravated whatever injuries he was hiding.
Even his calloused grip lacked its earlier strength.
Frank stopped him with a shake of his head.
“I’ve been coming here for days.” He pointed toward the lonely corner table where he’d been sitting every afternoon.
“You’ve seen me.” Then he lowered his eyes.
“You look more like Nick’s father than I do.” “I…
don’t think I’m ready.” Alvin frowned.
“If that’s true, why come now?” “You could’ve waited until you were.” Frank let out a humorless laugh.
“Because you have a daughter now.” “I watched the two of you together.” He smiled bitterly.
“I was so jealous I thought it would drive me insane.” “Nick and I should’ve had that.” “I used to believe the mission always came first.” “Only after I lost everything did I realize…” “…family comes before all of it.” Alvin leaned against the counter.
“So what are you waiting for?” Frank’s expression turned oddly awkward.
“I’m waiting for a job offer.” “I found work.” “If I have a stable job…” “I can stay with Nick.” Alvin blinked.
“What kind of job?” Frank looked even more uncomfortable.
“…Head of Student Discipline.” For a second, Alvin simply stared.
Then realization hit him.
There was only one community school in Hell’s Kitchen with a disciplinary department.
His school.
He couldn’t help imagining it.
Frank Castle…
Running student discipline.
With Frank’s personality, half the gang-affiliated kids would probably confess every crime they’d ever committed before he even opened his mouth.
Lock them in the same room with him?
They’d wet themselves before he had to lift a finger.
Then again…
Maybe that was exactly what the school needed.
Nearly half the students came from gang families.
Teachers constantly struggled to maintain order.
Someone like Frank might actually make the campus safer.
Alvin straightened his jacket and offered another formal handshake.
“Then let me be the first to welcome you.” “We’ll be coworkers soon.” He grinned.
“And if introducing you to Nick sooner requires me to write your appointment letter tonight…” “I can do that.” Frank waved him off.
“No.” “It’ll only take a few more days.” He hesitated.
“The truth is…” “I really don’t know what to say to my son.” “I need time.” Alvin laughed.
“Time for what?” “Are you planning to buy a parenting book?” “‘One Hundred Ways to Bond with Your Son’?” “You don’t need that.” He pointed upstairs.
“Nick doesn’t need a perfect father.” “He just needs his father.” “Sit beside him.” “Listen while he talks.” “If you help him finish his homework tonight…” “He’ll probably think you’ve hung the moon.” Frank still looked uncertain.
“I noticed you’ve got trouble waiting outside.” “Why don’t I deal with that first?” “We can worry about Nick afterward.” Alvin shook his head.
“That’s nothing.” “There isn’t a problem in Hell’s Kitchen more important than a father finding his son.” He reached over, grabbed a plate of pizza from someone walking past, and placed it into Frank’s hands.
“Right now…” “You’re a father.” “Not the killing machine you used to be.” He smiled encouragingly.
“Go.” “Stop waiting.” “When you’re standing in front of your son…” “You’ll know what to do.” The battle-hardened soldier who had slaughtered entire crime families now looked like an anxious student waiting outside an exam room.
“…Really?” Alvin chuckled.
“That depends.” “If you can help him finish his homework…” “You’ll instantly become his favorite person.” Then he added with a teasing grin, “No problem, right?” “He’s only in second grade.” Frank looked personally offended.
“Of course there’s no problem.” “I graduated from UCLA.” With that, he carefully picked up the pizza and headed toward the attic stairs.
Alvin watched him climb them.
The man moved with extraordinary caution, balancing the plate as though dropping it would be the greatest disaster of his life.
It was strangely touching.
Family really could transform a man.
Even someone like Frank Castle.
“Frank.” Alvin called after him.
“I think taking him a drink would be a good idea.” Frank nearly missed a step.
He caught himself just in time.
Turning around, he shot Alvin the fiercest glare he could manage.
Then, muttering under his breath, he marched back downstairs, grabbed a glass of lemonade, bared his teeth in mock annoyance, and tried the stairs again.
Alvin couldn’t help laughing.
Frank might become one of his employees soon.
He wasn’t exactly worried about being glared at.
Besides…
The poor guy looked close to having a nervous breakdown already.
There was no point teasing him any further.
Now that Nick’s father had returned…
Today had become a day worth celebrating twice.
Which meant it was finally time to deal with the idiots waiting outside.
Alvin tapped a spoon against his glass.
Ding.
The clear note echoed through the restaurant.
Everyone quieted.
Smiling, Alvin looked around the room.
“Today’s brought two wonderful surprises.” “The first…” He glanced toward the upstairs rooms.
“…is that I have a daughter.” Everyone cheered.
“The second…” “I’ll announce after I take care of a little business outside.” He looked toward the crowd.
“Nobody leave.” “The drinks are still free.” “But my waitress has something else to do.” “I need two volunteers to keep everyone’s glasses full.” Two young men practically launched themselves out of their chairs.
They stood before Alvin with eager grins.
He pointed toward the beer kegs behind the counter.
“They’re all yours.” The three exchanged high fives and fist bumps before the volunteers hurried behind the bar.
Old Kent immediately offered to gather a few men and accompany Alvin outside.
Alvin refused.
“I’m the principal.” “I’m going out to talk with a student’s guardians.” “I’m not negotiating a gang war.” Only JJ accompanied him.
The massive revolver at his waist was impossible to miss.
Outside, Jason looked ready to collapse.
He sat rigidly in his chair.
Beneath it…
There was a suspicious wet patch.
Several times he tried to speak.
Each time, Thor lifted his head and fixed him with a cold stare sharp enough to freeze his words in his throat.
Across the street, several brightly painted muscle cars had pulled up.
A mountain of a Black man stood surrounded by more than a dozen gang members.
Black Bear.
Alvin nodded toward JJ.
JJ gave a sharp whistle.
When the gang looked over, he simply crooked a finger.
Come here.
Black Bear crossed the street with his men.
As he approached, he quietly studied Alvin.
Young.
Probably not even thirty.
Jeans.
Flannel shirt.
Gray jacket.
He looked more like a farmer from upstate than the man who controlled three blocks of Hell’s Kitchen.
At the moment, JJ was helping him light a cigar.
Nothing about him looked intimidating.
Except…
Everyone in Hell’s Kitchen knew who he was.
This was the man who had driven every gang out of the surrounding three neighborhoods.
Even Kingpin himself had negotiated with Alvin instead of fighting him.
And afterward…
Kingpin’s entire organization had obediently withdrawn.
Black Bear didn’t know why Kingpin had chosen diplomacy.
But he’d survived long enough in Hell’s Kitchen by recognizing when someone deserved caution.
His own boss might rival Kingpin.
He certainly didn’t.
If Kingpin had approached Alvin politely…
Then Black Bear intended to be even more polite.
Because that seemed like the healthiest decision he could make.