When Your Song Ends, Mine Begins: It's My Turn to Be Boss

"Ah!!! It hurts like hell!"

The black boss clutched his crotch and howled endlessly.

The underlings around him looked at one another, not daring to step forward.

Eddie watched the man who had always been hard as steel scream as vulnerably as a woman.

Unable to help himself, he rubbed his forehead and sighed, then waved a hand and ordered,

"Simmons, go help Boss Quinn."

Simmons nodded, walked over, and painstakingly moved the black boss back onto the stretcher.

The black boss's pain seemed to ease considerably.

He lay on the stretcher with his eyes closed, gulping down ragged breaths.

"Huff~ hah~ huff~ hah~..."

After a while, he abruptly opened his eyes.

"Eddie?"

Eddie walked over and crouched down.

"I'm here, Boss Quinn."

The black boss gritted his teeth and asked, "Where is that bitch Fiona?"

Eddie fell silent for a moment. "Fiona escaped into White Ghost Gang territory."

"Fuck! You bunch of useless trash!" the black boss cursed. "Go to the White Ghost Gang and bring that bitch back!"

Eddie fell silent again. "I can't do that, Boss Quinn."

"You don't dare?" The black boss glared at Eddie. "When did you become such a coward?"

After sneering at him, the black boss shouted, "Daniel! You go bring Fiona back!"

The surroundings fell silent.

"Daniel?" the black boss called again, but no one answered.

"Daniel is dead, Boss Quinn," Eddie suddenly said.

"What did you say?!" The black boss jerked his head toward Eddie. "How did he die?"

"The White Ghost Gang ambushed us yesterday. Daniel was shot in the back," Eddie said expressionlessly.

"Not just him. Mickey and Farmar are dead too."

"Bastard!" The black boss grabbed Eddie by the collar and snarled, "Then why aren't you dead?!"

"Did you hide in a corner like a coward while everyone else was fighting for their lives?!"

Eddie's face twitched as fury surged in his chest. His jaw clenched hard, making his cheeks bulge.

But he did not argue.

Instead, the underlings around them spoke up indignantly for Eddie.

"Boss Quinn, how can you say that about Brother Eddie?!"

"If it weren't for Brother Eddie, our Black Snake Gang would've been wiped out by the White Ghost Gang yesterday!"

"Brother Eddie took a knife to the chest to save me, and he still hasn't gone to the hospital!"

"Exactly! Brother Eddie was afraid the White Ghost Gang would launch another ambush, so he held on until now despite his injuries!"

The black boss looked somewhat dazed. He stared at the people who were usually meek and submissive, unable to believe they had suddenly found the courage to contradict him.

"You all..."

Eddie suddenly said, "Fiona was an undercover agent sent by the White Ghost Gang, Boss Quinn."

The black boss's heart jolted, and he immediately retorted, "That's impossible!"

"White Ghost Donnie told us himself yesterday," Eddie said flatly.

The black boss said nothing.

After a moment of silence, the black boss asked hoarsely, "How many people do we have left?"

Eddie looked around at the wounded underlings. "Probably a little over twenty."

The black boss froze, unable to believe it. "Th-That's impossible!"

"Ah..."

Eddie sighed, violently shook free of the black boss's grip, and stood up.

"Boss Quinn, bringing you back from the hospital was the last favor I, Eddie, owed you."

"From now on, I'm the boss of the Black Snake Gang."

The black boss's body shook at those words.

"Someone, carry Boss Quinn out. From this day onward, he has nothing to do with our Black Snake Gang."

As soon as he finished speaking, several underlings immediately stepped forward.

"Wait!" the black boss suddenly shouted. "Send them all out, Eddie. I have something to say to you."

Eddie narrowed his eyes and waved the underlings out.

Simmons adjusted his glasses, gave the black boss and Eddie a thoughtful glance, then turned and left.

During the lunch break, Richard changed out of his white coat.

He was about to call his girlfriend, who had taken leave and was at home.

Bzz~

A call came in at that very moment.

Richard glanced down at the caller ID and answered.

"Hi, Director Elwin. Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Dr. Richard," Director Elwin asked from the other end of the line. "Do you have any surgeries scheduled this afternoon?"

"No, Director."

"Good. Stark Industries just called and invited you to consult for Tony Stark."

Tony Stark?

Richard's eyes lit up slightly when he heard the name.

He had seen in the news that Tony Stark had apparently been rescued from Afghanistan a few days ago.

When he did not receive an answer, Director Elwin asked in confusion, "Dr. Richard?"

"I understand, Director."

"Good. Stark Industries will send a car to the hospital at around two this afternoon."

"Okay, Director."

After hanging up, Richard immediately dialed Christine's number.

"Chris?"

"Richard, where are you? I made pan-fried pork ribs, garlic shrimp..."

Christine's voice on the other end was extremely cheerful.

Richard hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, honey. I can't come home and have lunch with you."

"Why? Is there an emergency surgery?"

Christine sounded somewhat disappointed.

"No, I'm going to consult for Tony Stark this afternoon."

"Tony Stark? All right!"

Christine's tone shifted as she suddenly said with a smile,

"Darling~ I made too much. Shall I save some for you as a late-night snack?"

Richard did not notice the change in his girlfriend's tone and casually agreed. "Sure~"

"It's a deal. No backing out," Christine said happily, letting out a silvery laugh.

California, Malibu, an oceanfront mansion.

Inside the equipment room, Tony Stark clanked away as he dismantled a boot.

"Tony?"

Pepper Potts came downstairs carrying a cup of coffee.

"I'm here."

Tony shouted without turning around.

Pepper entered the passcode and opened the door, finding Tony fiddling with a combat boot.

"Tony, what are you doing?"

Tony removed the heel and tossed it onto the floor. "Uh, clothing. Yeah, something you wear on the outside."

"Tony, there's nothing wrong with my eyes." Pepper set the coffee on the table and crossed her arms. "That's a weapon."

"No!" Tony Stark argued. "At most, it's a prosthetic limb. Yeah, a prosthetic limb."

"You're safe now, Tony." A trace of heartache flashed through Pepper's eyes. "You don't need it to protect you."

"But I can use it to protect other people!" Tony turned back and said. "To protect you, Pepper."

Pepper's eyes moistened at Tony's sudden words.

She took a deep breath and changed the subject. "Tony, two top surgeons from New York Presbyterian Hospital are coming this afternoon..."

"Stop!" Tony waved a hand and looked down at the miniature reactor in his chest. "Pepper! I'm fine. I'm healthy. I don't need to see a doctor!"

Pepper was silent for a long time before she pleaded with a hint of grievance in her voice.

"Tony, please~"

Tony Stark looked at her glistening eyes, and his heart softened.

"All right, all right, I get it. I'll go..."