Mafia Kings: Roberto: Chapter 97

Lau was the only one with any sense.

“Mr. Gota, put your gun away,” he snapped.

“He’s bluffing,” Gota said – but he sounded a lot less confident than earlier.

“You already heard Mr. Han’s opinion on that,” I said.

“Put the fucking gun down, Gota,” Han snarled as he pointed his own gun at the Yakuza boss’s head.

Three of the other gangsters immediately aimed their guns at Han.

I was momentarily afraid that it really was going to end badly –

When Lau shouted, “EVERYONE! Put your guns down, NOW!”

Every single gangster in the room – Han, Xi, and Gota included – gradually lowered their pistols.

Lau turned his fiery gaze on me. “Satisfied?”

“Thank you. Do you agree to my demands? Safe passage for Mei-ling and me, and you agree never to come after us?”

Lau narrowed his eyes. “If you don’t give me back the 200 million, I will not only send men after you, Ms. Chan, and your brothers… but I will have my men bring you back here where I will make your deaths both excruciating and slow.”

“I believe you.”

“You should also know there isn’t a place on Earth you can hide from me.”

“And you should know that if you try to get revenge on Mei-ling, I’ll spend the rest of my life tracking you down… and I will make your death horrific in ways that only a Sicilian can.”

The tiniest bit of a smile tugged at the corner of Lau’s mouth…

Almost like he respected me.

Then he regained his neutral composure. “One more thing.”

“What?”

“I need to make a phone call before you leave.”

“Why?”

“To tell them to let you use the helicopter on the roof – and to give instructions that if you detonate the bomb and kill us when you leave, assassins will still hunt you down.”

I considered, then nodded. “Go ahead.”

Lau pulled out a cell phone and made a call. He spoke in Cantonese, though I heard the name ‘Rosolini’ more than once.

Then he hung up.

“Did he do what he said?” I asked Mei-ling.

“He did,” she confirmed in a shaky voice.

“Alright. Do we have a deal?” I asked the old man.

“When can I expect my money back?” he growled.

“I’ll transfer it as soon as we arrive safely in Italy. Do we have a deal?” I repeated.

He looked at me for a long moment… then nodded.

“We do. The two of you may take my helicopter to your plane.”

“WHAT?!” Gota roared.

Lau silenced him with one single, hateful look.

Then he turned back to me.

“Well played, Mr. Rosolini.”

“Thank you, Mr. Lau. It’s been… interesting.”

The old man almost smiled…

And then he told everyone, “Let them go.”

“Are you SERIOUS?!” Gota snapped.

Lau glared at him with the fire of hell in his eyes. “Let… them… go.”

Gota looked like he was about to object…

But then he gave up.

He lowered his gun and muttered something in Japanese.

His three underlings glanced at each other, then holstered their guns…

At which point Xi spoke in Chinese, and his men put up their guns, too.

I held out my hand to Mei-ling. She came out warily from behind the desk and put her hand in mine.

Lau gave me one last irritated look.

Han’s face was back to emotionless, as usual.

“Gentlemen,” I said.

Then Mei-ling and I walked out of the room.