Chapter 47

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 47 After collecting from the pimps, Rocco said we were going to break for lunch. He and his buddies strolled towards a pizza joint, the kind that serves fast food to tourists.

He’d just collected over $10,000 in protection money, but he was still going to eat at a shitty restaurant.

Figures.

“I’m surprised, Movie Star,” Rocco sneered. “You didn’t try to pay for a single one of them.”

“I only pay for normal people, not pimps and drug dealers.”

“Oh, you’ll be happy then – we’re doing the shopkeepers after lunch,” he said, and all his thugs laughed.

Suddenly Paolo came trotting up. “Hey, Valentino, something important came up – I need you to come with me.”

I immediately saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

I turned to Rocco. “Look, I don’t want to be there for the shopkeepers, and you don’t want me there – so can we call it a day?”

Rocco gave me a smile of smug superiority. I’d just asked his permission in front of his minions, establishing that he was the boss.

But I could see the wheels turning.

I could guess what he was thinking:

Do I humiliate him and MAKE him watch me shake down the shopkeepers?

Or do I let him go now, avoid another scene, and keep it so everybody KNOWS I’m the boss?

Rocco chose the second option –

With a twist.

“Say ‘please,’” he sneered.

I balled my hands into fists and made a calculation of my own.

Do I refuse to give in and then have to hang out with this asswipe for the rest of the day –

Or do I say one little word and walk away?

“...please,” I muttered, but couldn’t bring myself to make it sound like I meant it.

Rocco narrowed his eyes like he was pissed I hadn’t completely bowed down to him...

But he must have decided it wasn’t worth the chance I’d make him look bad in front of his boys later on.

“Get outta here,” he said dismissively, then walked into the crappy pizza joint.

I turned towards Paolo and smiled. “That was great. Thanks.”

“Glad I could help, boss, but I was serious – I need you to come with me.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” Paolo started down the street. “Come on!”

I frowned as I followed him.

Paolo was friendly and eager as always, but I didn’t like his mysterious vagueness.

The farther we went down Gela’s winding streets, the more paranoid I got.

What if he was taking me to get killed by some of Don Vicari’s men?

But –

Why?

It made no sense. I’d done nothing to deserve it.

Unless Uncle Fausto had cut a deal with Don Vicari...

But then why out here, where a dozen people walked by every minute?

Why not just wait to kill me until I was back at the compound?

I was sure Don Vicari had the local police in his pocket – but probably only as far as protection rackets went.

Even corrupt cops couldn’t overlook a murder in broad daylight with dozens of witnesses.

Paolo led me down a deserted side street – a cobblestone walkway with old, crumbling buildings looming over us.

That’s when I decided enough was enough.

I came to a halt and barked, “Paolo!”

He stopped and looked back at me in surprise. “What’s wrong, boss?”

“Where the fuck are you taking me?”

“Just over here!” he said, pointing down the winding street.

“I want to know where you’re taking me!” I demanded angrily.

“I wanted it to be a surprise, boss.”

“What to be a surprise?”

“She’s just over here.”

My mind immediately flashed to Isabella.

Had he smuggled the Don’s daughter out of the compound?

Was he insane?

“Who?!” I demanded –

And then Caterina stepped out from behind the corner.