"Take your people and get lost! Stop spreading this filth! It's because of money-poisoned vermin like you that everyone's heads are full of nothing but profit!
"You call yourself a Ferraro? Our family is a house of consiglieri! And you drag our name through the mud like this!"
I said nothing.
I just looked past him at the men he'd brought along.
My temp workers could afford gold bracelets.
His men's suits hung off them like they hadn't eaten a full meal in weeks.
His men still had patches sewn onto their trousers.
I clapped my hands together.
"New shop opening! Five cooks, ten clerks, one manager needed! Three silver a month, plus commission! Sign on and get equity shares!"
The men standing behind Emilio visibly froze.
From the moment they'd arrived, their eyes had been drifting over to my people. Every few seconds, a flash of envy crossed their faces.
"Me!"
Someone was the first to throw down his club.
"Me too! Me too!"
"You—!"
One by one, the men around Emilio bolted toward me.
I waved them off with a laugh. "Too many, too many."
"I'm strong! Pick me!"
"I'll work part-time! I don't need the shares!"
Emilio's teeth ground together.
"You worthless dogs! Ungrateful scum!"
I looked up.