America 1919

Joseph's expression froze. Was Donnie showcasing the business of Atlantic City to him?

No!

This was Donnie showing off his power.

Donnie was telling him that Atlantic City had already united with several other cities!

"Alright!" After a brief consideration, Joseph spoke, "If you, Donnie, can reduce the Miss America sideline bets down to twenty percent next year, I can make a decision to increase the bootleg liquor dividends to thirty percent in Los Angeles!"

Donnie burst into laughter. A gangster is a gangster; even if they become historically renowned, they still couldn't shed certain bad habits.

Simple-minded!

At this point, Donnie had completely understood what Joseph was thinking.

Did the other party not have channels to transport liquor from Italy to Los Angeles?

That would be impossible. Working with the Coast Guard was simply making what used to be an under-the-table operation overt and also allowed for an increase in quantity.

So what Joseph truly wanted was for Donnie to reduce his cut on the Miss America sidelines.

As for the bootleg liquor business dividends, they were actually much higher than the Miss America sideline bets. That would only be a successful endeavor once the business picked up.

But as for specifics, no one could be certain before the deed was done!

So, apart from being simple-minded, they also had the bad habit of being shortsighted!

However, it was also not wise to underestimate these people.

Donnie was one hundred percent certain that if an agreement was truly reached, the other party would definitely tamper with the transported quantities.

At that time, with over two thousand miles separating Los Angeles from Atlantic City, he would have no way to verify the accuracy of these figures.

That's why the other party was more determined to swap the Miss America sideline bets for the bootleg liquor dividends!

Listening to Donnie's laughter, Joseph's face began to look ugly.

"Donnie, are you mocking me?"

Donnie shook his head with a smile, "Of course not. I was just thinking, Joseph, if I were that easily deceived, I wouldn't be here negotiating with you in less than a year!"

Joseph heard the implication in Donnie's words, and his pale cheeks flushed slightly.

"I am sincerely talking about cooperation with you. You should know, Donnie, Italians do not deceive each other!"

Whoever believes that is the real fool!

Donnie had said these words to others before!

But what did Donnie do?

"If that's the case, Joseph, how about we switch to a different mode of cooperation? I take care of the Coast Guard in Los Angeles for you, and the Miss America sideline bets can be reduced to twenty percent. However, I don't want a cut from the bootlegs you ship over from Italy, but you have to pay me two hundred thousand US dollars in cash every month. What do you think?"

Two hundred thousand US dollars in cash, that's nearly forty percent of the high-end liquor profits in the Los Angeles market every month.

Eventually, as the supply of bootleg liquor stockpiled in the United States dwindles, the price of high-end liquor will surely rise.

But Donnie only wanted two hundred thousand dollars a month, half of which would go to the Coast Guard.

Joseph's expression darkened again, "Donnie, you don't trust me!"

Donnie spoke indifferently, "I'm talking business with you, and I believe that this distribution plan will actually make you earn more!"

If everything was calculated based on the real figures, Joseph would definitely not earn as much as he imagined!

"Fuck, why are you little bastards so noisy!"

Joseph didn't respond to Donnie's words. Instead, he suddenly rose to his feet, took another iron rod from one of his men, and started hitting the cage where Max and the others were kept!

Donnie sat there, unchanged in expression, watching Joseph's actions and occasionally sipping whiskey.

Only after Joseph had finished venting did he sit back down on the couch.

"Donnie, what will you do if I don't accept your terms?"

Joseph, panting heavily, asked Donnie.

Donnie spread his hands, casually smiling, "Then I guess, Joseph, you won't be able to attend the upcoming Family Alliance conference in Atlantic City. As for who from Los Angeles will be invited to attend, that I don't know."

Donnie actually had a firm grip on one of Joseph's weaknesses—the relationship between Joseph and the Los Angeles police forces, Coast Guard.

Before Joseph fled Los Angeles, the Matte Galan gang had used substantial funds to sway the local police.

Everything was working well until Joseph played his king's return move, taking out two bosses from the Matte Galan gang.

Additionally, Joseph was already a wanted criminal.

Such status and actions made Joseph a persona non grata to the Los Angeles police force.

Therefore, Joseph could never really step into the light.

If that was the case, he needed Donnie even more than other city bosses did.

And he needed the recognition of the nationwide Family Alliance even more.

Otherwise, if Donnie invited other families from Los Angeles, Joseph's situation there would become even more dangerous.

It's just that, after all, Joseph was a boss, and now being threatened by Donnie, his face could hardly maintain composure.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Donnie, I have already told you, this is Los Angeles. Don't you want to return to Atlantic City?"