Page 169 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

At least until he made an example out of somebody.

But Rocco struck me as the kind of guy who couldn’t make an example out ofanybody.

Not unless they were weak and powerless.

So if he could punch out the guy who started it all…

That would solveallhis problems, wouldn’t it?

Normally, I would have told him,Go fuck yourself.

No way I would have taken a fall.

No wayI would allow myself to get humiliated by a fuckin’ loser.

…but.

If it meant being able to be with Cat…

If it meant being able to hear her come again…

Then I would swallow the bitter taste of bile that rose in my throat.

“You can punch me in the gut,” I said. “Once. I’ll sink to my knees, you scream some shit at me, and you’ll make your point.”

“No. I want to – ”

“You punch me in the gutonceand tell me to hit the road, or I’ll just spend the entire day with you and your boys.” I ran my thumb along the edge of the bills with a softfrrrrripsound. “And I’ll pay off anybody’s debts I want to until I run out of money.”

Rocco stared at me in shock – then outright hatred.

He knew I was offering him two choices:

Play it MY way…

Or I’ll fuck you over in front of your friends even worse.

“…alright,” he finally agreed. “One in the gut.”

“And tell me to get lost.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t go getting cute and try to hit me again, because Iwillget back up,” I warned, “and Iwillfucking put you down.”

“Okay, okay,” he said angrily.

“Good.”

I started to pocket the 10,000 euros –

“What’re you doing?” he barked. “I want the cash, too!”

I glared at him. He was pushing it.

But the money was nothing to me.

Cat was everything.

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