Marco shoved his phone in my face.

“Make the transfer. Now!” he urged impatiently. “I don’t have all day.”

More and more employees were gathering around. Some were whispering, some giving me looks of pity. A few were secretly filming, waiting for the show.

Bianca stood next to Marco, her eyes gleaming with vengeful delight, already imagining me on my knees, begging.

I scanned the crowd, then asked calmly, “Manager Marco, does every employee have to pay this five-thousand-dollar fee?”

Marco hesitated for a second, then sneered. “Of course not. This is a special ‘handling fee.’ For guys like you who slip in through the back door.”

“Processing fee?” I raised an eyebrow.

“That’s right!” Bianca added proudly. “You broke the rules getting hired. My cousin is helping you smooth things over. What’s wrong with him getting paid for his trouble? Getting to drive me, having my cousin deal with you personally… you’re lucky!”

I looked at the two of them and had to laugh.

“And if I refuse?”

Marco’s face darkened instantly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“Refuse?” He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a threat. “Kid, you know the family has a big meeting today, right? The big bosses are coming. All I have to do is mention your bad attitude, your insubordination… and you and whoever got you this job are both screwed.”

He clapped me on the shoulder, hard.

“Twenty grand for some peace of mind. It’s a good deal. Be smart.”

Bianca suddenly piped up, excited. “Marco, is the new Don coming today?”

Marco nodded proudly. “Of course! The new Don is leading the meeting himself.”

Bianca’s eyes lit up, and her voice turned sickly sweet. “Can you introduce me? I need to know what kind of woman the Don likes…”

She fluffed her hair, striking what she thought was a seductive pose.

“If I can become the Don’s wife, our family will be set for life!”

I watched her pathetic act and shook my head.

“The Don wouldn’t be interested in someone like you.”

Bianca’s smile froze on her face, then she exploded, pointing at me.

“You piece of trash! Who are you to judge me?! You’ve never even seen the Don! What do you know?!”

“I haven’t,” I shrugged. “But I know his type. You’re not it.”

“You—!” Bianca’s face was beet red with fury.

Marco had lost all his patience. He stared at me coldly.

“Enough! Stop wasting my time. The money. Are you paying or not?”

The air was thick, ready to catch fire.

The crowd held its breath, waiting for my answer.

I met Marco’s threatening gaze and said, calmly and firmly:

“No.”

Marco’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.

“Fine. You want to do this the hard way…”

He bellowed to the crowd. “Security! Get over here!”

Two large security guards immediately pushed their way forward.

“Manager Marco, what’s the problem?”

Marco pointed a finger at me, his voice like ice. “This man is an illegal employee with a terrible attitude. Get him out of the club. And make sure he never sets foot in here again.”

The guards exchanged a look, then started moving toward me.

“Sir, please leave.”

Just then, as they closed in, a clear voice cut through from the back of the crowd.

“Capo Vincent is here!”

Everyone fell silent, parting like the Red Sea.

“Capo Vincent.”

“Good morning, Capo.”

Greetings rippled through the staff.

A man around fifty walked through the path they’d made. He wore a sharp, dark blue suit, his hair combed perfectly, carrying the natural authority of a man used to being in charge.

It was Vincent, one of the family’s Capos.

He scanned the crowd, his brow furrowed. “What’s going on? Why is everyone crowded around the back door?”

Marco’s face instantly changed, all greasy smiles. He practically scampered over, like a dog wagging its tail.

“Capo Vincent, you’re just in time!” he said, fawning. “I was just handling a little problem.”

Vincent’s eyes swept past Marco and locked onto me.

His pupils shrank to pinpricks. His voice was a choked whisper.

“Don… What are you doing here?”