Children usually avoided him.

Adults feared him.

But desperation had pushed this little girl to approach a man like him without hesitation.

“How long since she last ate?” he asked.

The girl hesitated before answering.

“Since the men came.”

Rocco’s eyes narrowed.

“What men?”

The Men Who Took Everything

The girl looked around nervously, as if afraid someone might be listening.

“The ones who said mommy owed money,” she whispered. “They took everything.”

Her voice grew smaller with every word.

“Furniture. Clothes. They even took my baby brother’s crib.”