You're right about one thing, the money to loan to the French; could go to ask for the money with the gun with which killed the rabbit or could seek help from Tony instead of getting manhandled and groped suicide; if he asked Tony to say that his restaurant was off-limits, crew members don't would try to cheat him, same thing with Charmaine if she said "Fuck you, I close the restaurant and go on cruise, with you or without you," Tony asked him if he would loanshark money on his own, and he said no.
Sorry about Artie but would have to understand that it takes a bit of nastiness to get ahead in the life.