After they got back in the car Frank couldn't help himself, "You've got a horrible smile you know that?
"Forget about a scary story, just smile at your future kids Vito, that'd put them right to sleep."
Vito didn't bother to hit back, "Heh, if you were me you'd also be smiling. That cocksucker's been holding out on me.
"He had enough money stashed up there to pay for the next 6 months."
"So what? Shows he's a smart guy, knows not to mess with you." Frank didn't get it.
Vito smiled again, "Bullshit. It shows that he's making money out his ass, what he's been paying me has been chump change.
"I helped him figure out a new arrangement for us. He'd get to keep himself intact and I'd get 30 dollars at the start of every month."
Frank smiled and shook his head, "Lucky guy ay?"
They kept going from one place to the next.
Vito's guys didn't give him much trouble, they had the money ready on time. After their last stop though, Vito had to collect money from one of Masseria's guys.
This was his first time going to the guy, but Vito had heard that he'd have his hands full, "Frank, we got one last stop to make.
"Joe gave me one of his guys to collect from. I don't know much about the guy, but from what I've heard, he'll be trouble."
Frank nodded, "Don't get your panties in a twist just yet, Vito. If he doesn't pay, I'll have the bat ready for him."
He shook his head, "You gotta stay in the car for this one. Joe doesn't know I brought you along so neither will this guy.
"If he sees 2 of us, he won't talk. Just be ready to grab the bat if anything goes down."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
They drove over to a nice looking house and stopped.
"Be ready Frank." Vito got out of the car and shut the door.
Frank got one of the bats from the trunk after Vito was out of view and propped himself on the car. This way, if there was trouble he'd be quick to react.
Not a minute later, there was shouting coming from the house. Frank didn't know what was going on, but he did hear Vito telling the guy to relax.
Vito? Telling a guy to relax? He must have a knife to his neck at the very least.
Frank held the bat tight and sneaked his way towards the back of the house. If Vito was really in trouble, there was no point in running over like an idiot.
From what he heard though, words were still being exchanged so there was no need to panic yet.
By the time he made his way to the back of the house, he started hearing them more clearly, "Get the fuck off my property before I smash your head in kid!"
Frank recognized that it wasn't Vito that was making the threats. He turned the corner of the house and saw what was going on.
A middle-aged guy holding a golf club in his hands was shouting at Vito.
There was nothing Vito could do. He left his bat back in the trunk to try to avoid pissing the guy off before the conversation even began.
It looked like he didn't have a chance to begin with though, because the guy clearly had the golf club prepared in advance.
Frank walked as silently as he could, getting closer and closer to him.
Vito saw him as soon as he turned the corner so he tried to buy some time for him to get close enough, "Alright, alright, I'm going.
"You sure you thought this through? If Joe doesn't get his money, you know what's waiting for you."
The guy didn't seem to give a shit, or maybe he was a good actor.
Either way, he didn't back down, "Shut up! You think I need a kid like you to give me advice?
"Get out of here befo…"
Before he could finish talking, Frank got close enough and hit him with the bat, right in the side of the head too.
The guy felt like he was hit by a bus. He fell to the ground before he could even register what happened.
"What a swing Frank! A home run swing if I've ever seen one." Vito gave him a small applause before he started kicking the guy that was still on the floor.
Frank reminded Vito, "Easy Vito, keep going like that and you'll kill the guy."
Vito was Frank's only way in with the higher ups. He didn't want to see him lose his life over something stupid like killing a guy on the boss's payroll.
Vito listened this time, he stopped kicking and waited for the guy to answer, "Where's this month's money you cocksucker?"
He could barely speak through the pain, "Ah, fuck! It's inside… in the kitchen…"
Now that Vito calmed himself down, Frank had him stay with the guy to teach him a lesson, "I'll go get it Vito, you finish up here."
He entered the house and saw an envelope on the kitchen counter. It looked like the guy was ready to pay, so what the fuck happened?
Frank grabbed it and walked back outside, "Money was there Vito, let's go."
"Next time you bring a bat there'll be no warning, you hear me? No one will find you." Vito kicked him again and walked off.
They got back in the car and drove off.
"What happened back there? The guy had an envelope ready and everything." It made no sense to Frank.
"Who the fuck knows? I knocked on the door and the guy came out with a bat. Maybe he didn't believe that I was here instead of Joe.
"Good thinking back there by the way, saved me some time." Vito didn't forget to thank Frank.
Frank waved it off, "It was nothing. You just get Masseria that money and sell him the gin. I can't be going around carrying a hot gun for much longer Vito."
"Alright, we're going there right now. You stay in the car and wait for the good news."