The Press Conference

Alvin stood at the entrance to the hospital.

A shabby podium of unknown origin had been set up in front of him. Behind it was a huge "billboard," covered in all kinds of obviously illegal advertisements.

Looking at the rickety thing piled high with microphones, Alvin glared at Bruto, who was bragging to Brian, Pepper's bodyguard. The guy was completely unreliable.

He'd asked him to prepare a press conference, and the bastard had turned the place into a product showcase.

The gangsters had been forced into ridiculous promotional T-shirts. They linked hands to form a human wall in front of the media reporters, who were on the verge of going crazy.

April, Steve's girlfriend and the only reporter allowed to conduct a close-up interview, stood just off to Alvin's side with her photographer.

April glanced at the comical-looking gangsters and smiled at Alvin. "What is this? The Hell's Kitchen Expo?

Did you charge those guys for advertising?

A chance to get on national television through a strip club doesn't come around often. Gable Clothing, the Hell's Kitchen Racing League, Old William Liquor Company, Bruto Chain Pharmacies...

What's this? 'Alexei is at your service'?"

Seeing April's amused expression, Alvin pinched the bridge of his nose and said sternly, "Beautiful, if you keep talking about Hell's Kitchen's businesses in that tone, I'll accuse you of regional discrimination.

The crooked lawyers around here aren't joking!"

April covered her chest and laughed sweetly. "This is an absolute farce. Why do things that happen in Hell's Kitchen always end up so bizarre?

What goes through those guys' heads? If they had this kind of business sense, why did they ever join a gang?"

Alvin looked around at the terrible setup with a pained expression, glared at the host, Bruto, once more, then looked at April