Vice Caruso.
One of his lieutenants. A trusted man in charge of collections and territory control.
Emma spoke again.
“Mom… the man with the scar also hurt Mrs. Patterson. And the family with the newborn baby. Sometimes I see them cry.”
Rocco looked at the child with a new understanding.
This wasn’t an isolated case.
Vincent had been running his own operation, using the Moretti name to extort families who already had nothing left to give.
—How many families? —Rocco asked.
Emma counted slowly on her fingers.
“Seven that I know of. Maybe more.”
Seven families. Seven homes torn apart.
Rocco rose, unease settling in as he thought about what would come next.
First, he made a phone call.
“Toy, bring groceries to the address I’m about to send you. Enough food for a week. And bring cash. 500 dollars.”
He paused, glancing at Emma and Sarah.
“Make it $1,000. And bring it now.”
He ended the call and turned back to Sarah.
“The food will arrive within an hour. The electricity will be back on tomorrow morning. Someone will fix your door.”
Sarah looked at him, confused.
“I don’t understand. Why are you helping me?”
