Page 120 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“No, it’s gonna make themfearme, andthenthey pay me on time!” he roared. “What the fuck kind ofmafiosoARE you?”

“Not the kind who beats up old men.”

“What’re you gonna do, you fuckin’ moron – give money to every goddamn lowlife who can’t pay his bills? Huh?”

“You can do whatever you want to the pimps and the drug dealers, but leave the shopkeepers alone.”

Rocco laughed and shook his head incredulously. “Pop said you Tuscan fucks were soft, but I didn’t know how right he was. Jesus fuckin’ Christ.”

He started to push past me to go back into the shop –

But I stopped him with a hand to the chest and pushed him back.

He slapped my arm away. “GET YOUR FUCKIN’ HANDS OFF ME!”

I stepped right up to him and growled low enough that the others couldn’t hear me. “Donotgo back in that shop, or I’m gonna hand your ass to you in front of all your buddies and the entire town.THAT’Snot gonna make you look so tough.”

Rocco stared at me, his face full of fury –

But I just stood there, never looking away.

“Get the fuck out of here,” he snarled. “Go back to my father’s, you fuckin’ retard. School’s over for today, and you fuckin’failed.”

“Fine,” I said coldly. “Do you want your money or not?”

I held out the four hundred to him.

He glared at me with all the hatred he had inside him –

And then he snatched the money out of my hand and stomped down the street towards the next shop.

“COME ON, LET’S GO!” he screamed at his buddies.

As they walked out of the shop and followed Rocco, some looked at me in bewilderment. The others sneered in contempt.

I just waited until they rounded the corner. I didn’t think it was wise to pick another fight. There was only so much I could get away with before the knives and guns came out.

The old man stood in his shop doorway, staring at me like he couldn’t believe his eyes.

I reached into my wallet and pulled out the rest of the cash I had in my wallet – everything I’d brought from Tuscany – and held it out to him. It was probably a couple thousand euros.

“That should be enough so he’ll leave you alone for a few months,” I said.

The old man looked down at the money and shook his head in terror. “I – I thank you, but I cannot – ”

“It’s a gift, not a loan. I’m not like them. Take it.” When he still hesitated, I said, “For your wife’s sake.”

His eyes filled with tears, and he hesitantly took the money.

“Che Dio ti benedica, signore,”he whispered.

God bless you, sir.

“Let’s hope,” I muttered, and walked off to find Paolo.

I found him down the street, talking on his phone as he watched me. He must have been following us at a distance.

As I walked up, he said something into his cell, then hung up and put it in his pocket.

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