America 1919

Yesterday evening, the news of Donnie being shot spread throughout Atlantic City, and by today, the entire matter had reached a boiling point as Nevin Byrd was taken into custody by Eli Johnson with the Atlantic City Public Safety Department.

Everyone in Atlantic City was discussing the incident.

"Nevin has gone absolutely mad, to think he'd dare hire a gunman to shoot Donnie!"

"So he got slapped by Donnie, so what? In Atlantic City, some people wish to be hit by Donnie but don't have the privilege!"

"Let me tell you, Donnie didn't strike Nevin Byrd for no reason. In fact, Nevin Byrd wanted to use the people from Elwood Village to set up Donnie, and that's why Donnie laid hands on Nevin!"

"What do you mean, there's more to the story? Brother, do tell!"

"Let me tell you, some time ago, folks from Donnie's hometown of Elwood Village came to Atlantic City. Somehow, they ended up at Nevin Byrd's Night Devil Tavern and not only lost all the money they brought but also borrowed a large sum from Nevin."

"That's not a big deal, gambling has wins and losses. Nevin runs a money-lending business, lending money to those people is just business needs!"

"What do you know? Those people aren't the workers from Philadelphia or locals from Atlantic City with assets. They're just some yokels from Elwood Village, with no assets to their names, yet they were able to borrow over a thousand US Dollars from Nevin."

"That much?"

"What do you think? Nevin did it because these people are from Donnie's hometown. He wanted them to get hooked and then use them to get some dirt on Donnie."

"But still, I don't think Nevin would do such a thing. Donnie had just hit Nevin, and then a gunman finds Donnie. Isn't this too much of a coincidence? Nevin can't be that stupid, right?"

"What do you know? This is the darkness under the lamp. All of us think Nevin wouldn't make a move at this time, but precisely because it's this time, he did, which would seem more justified."
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"When you put it that way, it does make some sense!"

Discussions like this were happening in every corner of Atlantic City.

Everyone had their own opinions; some thought the act was done by another enemy of Donnie and not by Nevin, but there were also people who believed that Nevin Byrd was definitely behind it.

Soon, as the news that the gunman in custody had confessed to being hired by Nevin Byrd spread from the Public Safety Department all over Atlantic City.

Although there were still opinions that Nevin might have been framed, such voices were almost disappearing from the market in Atlantic City.

"Donnie, as you instructed, the discourse that Nevin Byrd hired the gunman has become the mainstream narrative in Atlantic City now!"

Robert sat by the bed and watched as Donnie took a freshly cut apple from Helen's hand and then glanced at Alice, who was pouring water for Donnie, feeling very envious.

As one of the closest persons to Donnie, Robert naturally knew the identities of Helen and Alice.

He marveled at his boss for managing to keep the daughters of two major American families in such check!

The shooting of Donnie was bound to make the news; in fact, "The Atlantic City Post" had, following Donnie's instructions, downplayed Luther Ganaxy's background in its report. The narrative pushed was that Nevin Byrd had paid for the deed.

Of course, those details that couldn't appear in the newspapers were spread among the populace by Robert, and now every person in Atlantic City was aware of them.

Luther Ganaxy was an underling of Hubert Lewis from Newark. Hubert Lewis had disappeared without a trace recently, and Luther Ganaxy suspected that Donnie was behind it, so he snuck into Atlantic City seeking to exact vengeance on Donnie.

However, when Luther Ganaxy arrived in Atlantic City, he realized he had no chance, and at this point, he found Nevin Byrd, who had a conflict with Donnie.

When Nevin Byrd heard that Luther Ganaxy wanted to take on Donnie Block, he immediately agreed to his request, providing Luther with weapons and Donnie's whereabouts.

And so, what happened at Block Tavern unfolded!

That's how the whole thing went down.

"With public opinion under control, Nevin Byrd is finished this time!"

Helen sat by Donnie's bed and spoke calmly.

Robert said, "Donnie, what should we do next? I already notified Eli not to allow Nevin Byrd's bail!"

Without waiting for Donnie to reply, Helen directly said, "You handled this wrong. Nevin Byrd can be bailed out. This is Atlantic City, and Nevin Byrd is the leader of the East Side. If Eli refuses to allow Nevin Byrd's bail because he followed Donnie's request, when Nucky returns, he will definitely suspect a secret relationship between Donnie and Eli that he doesn't know about.

This will make Nucky more cautious of Donnie!"

Robert looked at Donnie with suspicion, thinking that Donnie had told Helen about their situation.

Donnie shook his head, indicating he had not.

"Donnie hasn't said a word to me about this; I figured it out myself. Now what you should do is immediately go inform Eli, saying it's Donnie's intention, that he shouldn't concern himself with the fact that the victim is Donnie, and proceed as usual. The only thing he needs to ensure is that besides his men... I suppose you must have your own people in the Public Safety Department, right?"