Chapter 1. A Run-in with the Mob Boss

Evening approached as Robert Verrelli drove through the Bronx, New York. He pulled over on a busy street and parked. Getting out of the car, he grabbed a stainless steel suitcase and pulled a nine-millimeter pistol out from under the driver's seat. He quickly shoved the pistol into his coat pocket and set the car alarm. He ran through alleys and jumped fences for about an hour to come to an old abandoned warehouse. He walked up to the thick steel door and opened it. The warehouse contained a single room, which was pitch black. Robert slowly walked into the quiet room.

"Anyone in here?"

A pair of hands clapping answered Robert. A low watt light bulb illuminated a cheap wooden table.

"A clapper? I thought you'd be a little more creative, Sonny." Robert said to the darkness almost amused

Sonny Marino emerged from the shadows. Sonny had black hair and sunken brown eyes. He always wears a black suit and the same expensive necktie. Sonny had a very interesting job also. He wasn't a lawyer or a doctor; Sonny Marino was a mob boss.

"I like the jingle! Clap on! Clap off!" He sang smiling. He paused to see the smile on Robert's face. His smile faded. "Yes. Well.... on to business. Do you have what I asked for? "

Robert smiled. He dropped the suitcase on the table, flipped it open, and spun it around.

Inside were several sealed plastic bags with white powder in them.

"Twenty pounds of cocaine, right here. "

"Good. I'll take this then." Sonny said nervously. He grabbed the suitcase and started to walk off.

"Wait! Where's the money! ?"

"If I can recall correctly, you had some trouble with a local gang last week did you not?"

"Yes, but..."

"And if it weren't for my men u would be dead right now?"

"Look, I just want the damn money!"

"I have already paid you with my services. You're not getting the money. You can leave now

Mr. Verrelli. "

Robert quickly pulled the gun out of his pocket and pointed it at Sonny. To Robert's surprise

Sonny had a gun pointed at him. They both stood waiting for the other one to make a move. A car alarm sounded in the distance. Robert saw Sonny's finger move very slowly. Robert quickly flipped the table over as Sonny pulled the trigger. Splinters flew everywhere. Robert jumped over the table and tackled Sonny. He held his gun to Sonny's head.

"Give me the money or I'll blow your freaking brains out!"

"All right! All right! Please I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!"

Robert slowly got up off of Sonny. He still held the gun to his head.

"Where's the money?" Robert asked

"It's in the safe."

"What safe!? There's nothing here! It's pitch black!"

Sonny started to walk over to what Robert thought was a wall. Sonny flipped a switch on the wall. Rows of lights suddenly illuminated from overhead. Robert could now see the whole warehouse. Sonny walked over to a small safe and put in the combination. Robert watched all of this from over his shoulder. He quickly memorized the code. 15-06-23.

Sonny opened the safe. Inside was a small stainless steel suitcase, identical to the one Robert had. Sonny opened it. Inside the suitcase were one hundred twenty-dollar bills. A total of two thousand dollars. Robert took the suitcase.

"A pleasure doing business with you." Robert said as he turned and left the building.

When Robert got back to his car, he immediately realized something was wrong. The driver side window was smashed and the seats were torn.

Robert casually slipped into the car and started to drive to his apartment.

As he pulled out of his parking spot he muttered,

"Damn mob bosses think they can do anything. "