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The knock on the office door was so tinored the faint tapping, his gaze trained on the dingy briefcase on the desk in front of him

After a ain, Corrado ignored it

Mafiosi knew they were supposed to carry the with thedown Lucifer personally, surrounded by briht to eternal damnation They needed to keep their coht, and never ever let their fear show The streets were ruthless and their rivals wouldn’t hesitate to n of weakness Vulnerabilities were exploited, and the worst thing they could do was co--they needed to always appear right

And Corrado, most certainly, was not convinced

It took a while for the third knock to come It was louder,back in his chair and glancing at his Rolex as Re the door behind him

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"I did," he stated "I told you to be here at nine It’s nine oh three You’re late"

"But I was here," he said defensively "I was out in the hall"

Corrado raised his eyebrows "You have the audacity to make excuses?"

"No, I, uh"

"I’less tolot You had better drag your h time to be inshort of death is reason enough to be late Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir"

Corrado could s the office with the sickly-sweet scent of sweat and panic Remy was tall and skinny with shifty eyes, but they were more about his sudden fear and less about deception Was he hiding so? Maybe, but he didn’t let it show He had been called into a Capo’s office--a wise man knew those situations didn’t often end well But he cah

What he lacked in brains he uts

Reetting caught, which hy he had entrusted Carmine to his crew

"Word around is you’re the best at picking locks," Corrado said

"Uh, yes," he said "Not to brag or anything, but I’ve yet to find a lock I couldn’t pop on the first date"

Re to break the tension, but Corrado didn’t find it funny He just stared hiht one for the job

Tense silence ensued Re to have a seat?" Corrado asked

Remy’s eyes darted to one of the empty chairs, but he still didn’t move "You didn’t invite me to sit down, sir"

Maybe he was set this open?" he asked, turning the briefcase around to face the boy Re as he studied the small lock

"Uh, yeah, I think so"

"Think so or know so?" Corrado asked "If you’re not certain, turn around and walk out that door I’ll find someone better equipped to do the job for me"

Remy cleared his throat "With all due respect, sir, there is no one better equipped If I can’t get it open, nobody will"

Touché Corrado nodded,him to prove his worth Re into his pocket and pulling out a small tension wrench and a pick Corrado watched, fascinated that the boy carried them with him "Do you make it a habit to keep tools in your pocket?"

"Yes," he replied "You never knohen you ht need to pick a lock or hot-wire a car, so I try to keep what I’d need on uessing"

"Do you carry a gun also?"

"Not always," he adht be on the line"

"Do you have one with you now?"

Remy hesitated "Yes"

Corrado s his foot to the beat of the s froress, a s the boy’s face as he finally jih to see inside, but enough for Corrado to take over