(Noice! I'll throw in some more soon.)
Valerio looked surpisingly calm as she began to choke on her words. He shrugged at her question. "What we want is simple: money. Lots of it... I doubt your daddy gives you very much. By the sound of what Otto's told us, it only seems to be the case in very special circumstances." He said casually, soon flashing her a smooth smile. "You're little to me, pigeon. I'm much taller than you. And we'll see about that. Your family will say something, I'm sure." Although it really was a toss up, from the intel Zoticus had relayed...
Her surprise with Zoticus had Valerio quite content, for some reason. His face was quite happy, in a sneaky sort of expression. "He's played bodyguard before. He's pretty good at it, too. He's a bit higher than me on our food chain, but that's just because the leader's a friend of his uncle's, who founded the gang." Valerio rolled his eyes at this, clearly unhappy about the difference.
He watched like a cat watched a mouse as she ran for the door, and just stood there and watched as she tried to open it. "There's five locks there, sweetheart. You're not leaving." He said in almost a teasing tone, soon sauntering over to where she was by the door. "We'll see. As far as I can see, you're a walking diamond. If your parents don't vouch for you, then who knows? Maybe someone else will."
Suddenly another voice called through the doors. "Val? Stop teasing her already! Dinner's soon and I'm starving!"
"Ah, shut up and be patient, Richie! I'm almost done." Val barked back, soon looking down at the girl.
"If you're good, I'll bring you back some dinner, too. Amber makes a mean tatertot casserole." He purred. "What do you say?"