Page 168 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Rocco looked at the money greedily and literally licked his lips.

That told me everything I needed to know.

All that money he collected every day? He didn’t keep much of it. The lion’s share went to his father, and a chunk of the rest went towards paying his men. He was probably lucky if he was clearing 10%.

Unfortunately, when I mentioned Don Vicari, his face went cold. “You want me to lie to my father?”

“A little white lie. Not to mention you’ll get me out of your hair.”

“And you think I’m gonna lie to my father for – what, a couple thousand?”

“Ten large.”

Rocco unconsciously licked his lips again.

He might have been amafiosoand the Don’s son, but he was probably on a fairly strict budget.

Whatever vices he was into – hookers, alcohol, cocaine, who knew – ten grand could buy him a good time.

But in the end, fear of his father won out.

“Fuck you,” he sneered. “I’ll let Pop know you tried to bribe me to get you out of work.”

I still hated Niccolo, but he’d taught me something else valuable over the years:

If your first offer gets turned down, find out what the other person truly desires. Because there’s alwayssomething.

“If you don’t want the money, then what do you want?”

Rocco paused for a second like he was afraid to name his price –

And then an ugly smirk curled across his face.

“I want to punch your fuckin’ lights out in front of my boys.”

Ah.

Sothatwas it.

I’d humiliated him that first day by standing up to him.

I’d made him lose face.

His buddies probably didn’t look at him quite the same way.

They knew he wasn’t top dog anymore – that the new guy could fuck with him and get away with it.

And ifIcould, well…

Maybetheywere starting to push back, too.

It was probably little things…

Like moving a little slower when Rocco ordered them around.

Maybe muttering under their breaths.

If he didn’t nip it in the bud, soon he’d have all sorts of disrespect flying in his face…

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