The House Always Wins

Chapter 16: Savior By Force

As Maxi and Freddy were returning to the car from their walk, they were demoralized due to not finding any talent. That all changed in a flash. As Freddy was entering the car, shots rang out from a bar about a block down from the lot where Maxi had parked the car. A man came running out wearing a ski mask, holding a six-shooter in his left hand and a blue backpack filled with cash in his right. Just out of randomness, he shoved Freddy out of the way and hopped into the backseat of Maxi's low rider. He pointed the gun at Maxi and yelled "Drive!" Maxi knew he could not escape death this time, so he did as he was told as he got in the driver's seat and turned the car on. Freddy hopped in the front passenger seat and they drove off quicker than light. After a half-hour of driving around, Freddy asked the man where he was going. The man told Freddy to go to an alley and stop, but Maxi decided against it. Maxi spoke. "No. We are going to the casino. We can count the cash there and the cops won't suspect a thing." The man held the gun to Maxi's head and said "Go to the casino then! If I'm sought out, you guys don't exactly get to walk away. Go." They reached the casino and went into the Don's office to count the money, waiting for the man's next move. "Count the money." The man displayed an eager but firm tone. Freddy, who was quaking in his shoes, asked "Do we get any of this?" To which the man replied with great danger. "No! I'm forcing you to do this stuff! You got a gun pointed at your head and you are outright dumb enough to ask "Do we get any?" No. This ain't hired help, you dipstick. Shut up and count!" Maxi glared first at Freddy, then at the man, before speaking. "You airhead. You think you'll get away with this? I'm with the Lestima family, and this idiot next to me, well, I bought the building from him. So next time you wanna wave a gun in my face and tell me to do something, think twice or else you'll be six feet under. Now give us twenty percent and we'll stay quiet." The man jumped a little at the force of Maxi's testimony before talking. "Deal."