“Just checking on some business, Vincent. Nothing that concerns you.”

“Of course not, boss. Just making sure nobody was causing problems in my territory. You know how protective I get about the families under my watch.”

The audacity nearly made Rocco laugh.

Vincent was bragging about protecting the same families he had been destroying.

“Speaking of families,” Rocco said slowly. “I met an interesting woman tonight. Sarah Thompson. Name ring any bells?”

The silence on the other end lasted just long enough to confirm everything.

“Thompson,” Vincent finally said. “Doesn’t sound familiar, boss. Should it?”

“Her husband Marcus apparently owed us money before he died. $15,000 plus interest. You handled the collection personally.”

“Oh… right. Yeah. That Thompson. Sad case. Husband left her with a mountain of debt. Had to recover what we could.”

Rocco pulled into the parking garage beneath his office building.

“Vincent, I need you to meet me tonight. Bring the paperwork on the Thompson account.”

“Tonight? Boss, it’s almost midnight.”

“Tonight.”

His tone left no room for argument.

“My office. 1 hour.”

He ended the call.

The next hour gave Rocco time to prepare.

He called Tony to pull every file they had on Marcus Thompson. He called his accountant for records of any loans issued during the past 2 years. He asked his security chief to gather surveillance footage of Vincent’s recent activities.

Then he made one more call.

Detective Maria Santos.

One of the few honest cops left in the city.

“Rocco,” she answered. “This better be important.”

“It is. I need you to document something. Seven families in the Riverside neighborhood have been extorted by someone claiming to work for me.”

“You’re calling the police on your own operation?”

“This wasn’t my operation,” Rocco said. “This was someone stealing my name to hurt families with children. I need records showing they were victims.”