The Amazing Son in Law The Charismatic Charlie Wade

As tension etched Jordan’s features.

Charlie, who had maintained a quiet vigil, instantly discerned the growing rumble of a motorcycle engine drawing nearer. It was heading their way.

In that charged moment, Hogan grasped the gravity of Jordan’s potential entanglement.

His voice turned stern as he demanded, “Jordan, lay it bare. Who have you crossed?”

Conceding that the truth could no longer be masked, Jordan, resigned, began, “Uncle Hogan, these folks here belong to a fresh gang making waves in New York…”

Hogan interjected, “Debt collectors, are they?”

Jordan hastened to clarify, “No, Uncle Hogan! They’ve just laid claim to Chinatown two days past. Now they’re squeezing folks for protection money, three grand a month. If you don’t pay up, they rough you up and threaten to ransack your store.”

Furrowing his brows, Hogan inquired, “Hasn’t Chinatown always been run by Chinese syndicates? The fee’s been a mere three hundred a month for the past few years. Why this sudden usurpation?”

a fierce showdown

revelation caught Hogan

a month since they’ve started yapping about three grand. Sounds rather fishy, doesn’t

frustration. “Who’s denying that! We toil from dawn till dusk in these stores, paying rent and working under the table since

and done, you’re only scraping together a few grand a month. They want three thousand, essentially

behind

a sprinkling of Latinos from Brooklyn and downtown. Word is, they’re backed by Italians. The Italians are slowly fading into the background, pulling the strings but keeping out of the fray. They’d rather let

those wounds on your face?”

with resentment. “They came to collect their ‘protection’ money. I couldn’t cough up the sum, so they beat me down. They’ve given me until tonight. If I don’t produce

the police?” Hogan’s tone

focus on the affluent areas. They

in Hogan’s eyes. “It’s utterly

said there aren’t enough officers to keep tabs here. They told me to call as soon as I