Marie looked at her appearance in the mirror stand, turning from side to side to see every angle.  She absolutely loved this dress.  It was perfect and it would definitely turn Luca's head.  The thought of that made her smiled.  When she was satisfied, she closed the office closet door where she housed the mirror, and turned to grab her clutch and the dress' matching wrap.  She threw the wrap around her and let if drape over her elbows until she was ready to go outside.  Then she would pull it up over her shoulders to protect against the winter chill.

Walking out of her office she went to Mat and instructed him to go get the car.  She then went to Rand, her head of security and talked to him about the various details of the evening.  The men would stay outside the steakhouse as it belonged to Don Sal_Moretti.  Such an action would be an insult to him.  Regardless their would be a small army occupying the streets around Sal's place tonight just taking in two CL's security and two RHM security.

Once all the details had been arranged she went to see if Rum was ready to go to dinner.  

Luca had one of those days that he was just glad to be done with. He tightened his black silk tie, which he had loosened earlier in the day, and put back on his Black suit jacket. He called Charlie into his office to go over the protection plans for the night. Having the meeting at Don Sal's place meant the inside was well protected which meant the details of the attendees for the night would be taking up positions outside the restaurant, needless to say, a small army was going to be there for this dinner. 

Once the plans where set Charlie headed out to get the cars ready. Luca headed over to his desk and opened the drawer containing his Nickle Plated .45 1911 which he had his family crest engraved on the handle. He loaded it and put into his holster in the small of his back. He headed over to Roadrunners office to see if he was ready to go.  

Rum took a breath, straightening her hair out for the hundredth time that night. It was almost time to leave for dinner with Marie and her heart was pounding, which confused her a little. She and Marie were close, she and Luca had worked together before, and Road was going to be there. There was no reason to be nervous. To be fair, she was about to have dinner with half of the crew leaders of Chicago, which should make anyone nervous, but they were her trusted and respected friends. Everything was going to be fine. Hell, they might not even talk too much business.

With a start, Rum jumped a little as she heard a knock on her office door before it opened and her Bosslady walked in, looking as beautiful as ever. Rum grabbed her purse and smiled to Marie, giving her a nod. She looked around, doing one last check, hoping she hadn't forgotten anything.

Coming, ma'am! I'm ready!

She took one more breath before following Marie out of her office.

Road sat in his office doing some small tasks waiting for his boss to finish getting ready. They were going to a dinner with Marie and Rum, something the two crew leaders had thought up to say thank you, not sure it was necessary but it felt nice to be appreciated. He had gotten ready quickly. He was wearing a tailor made suit, one fitted to hide the Browning high power 9 millimeter hand gun he always wore. 

He looked up as the boss knocked and came in. Nodding to Mave, his head of security who was always with him, they headed towards the cars. Mave had already been told she would have to wait outside out of respect for Don Moretti, she did not like it but there would be a small army outside. They would all be safe. Road stood and put his jacket on checking his weapon out of habit, then followed his boss out.

Luca lead Road to the cars outside, they both got into Luca's car and Charlie drove off with a convoy of vehicles following. Luca reached into his pocket and pulled out two of the finest Cuban cigars money can buy and handed one to Road. Then he clipped his and then lit it and handed the cutter to Road. 

"Here one of Cubans finest," he said to him while taking a couple of drags off his. 

Luca then leaned forward and pulled out a wooden box and handed it to Road. 

"This is for you. A small thank you for your hard work," he said watching Road open the box. 

Inside the box was a Nickle plated Browning 9mill with the family crest engraved on the handle. 

"I know you have a thing for the Browning 9 mills," he said 

"I am so glad we are doing this.  I was needing a break.  My eyes were starting to cross from looking at numbers all day long," Marie said as she got situated in the car.  Once Rum was situated as well she told the driver they were ready and the car headed toward's Sal steakhouse.  They had asked to have a private room and had made sure that everyone had already received a tip that was greater than what they normally would earn had they had a full compliment of customers.  Things would be ready when they got there and there should be no waiting to be seated.

As the car traveled down the street, Marie pulled out a box that was under her seat.  it was a long wooden box that had a pretty purple ribbon bow on it.  "I wanted to get you a little something to let you know how much I appreciate all that you have been doing.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to lead this crew with out you.  Thank you."

Inside the box was a black leather sheath that held a unique knife.  "I hope you like it."

Road sat in the car with his boos as they headed towards the restaurant. He watched as Luca pulled out a wooden box. Road opened the box and stared at a beautiful Nickle plated Browning 9 Mill hand gun. Road pulled it out, thoroughly looking it over and admiring the work and detail it held. He checked that it was loaded and ready then removed his other one and put it in the box then placed the new one in his holster where it would be from this moment on.

He turned to his boss. "Thank you very much it will never leave my side." Turning he leaned back happy to be working along side a man he not only respected but one he called friend as well. Road knew they were going to build something great together.

Rum got comfortable in the car and after a moment or two they were on their way. She smiled and nodded when Marie mentioned how the numbers made her eyes cross, knowing the feeling. It was definitely good to take a break and relax a bit, and there's no better way than with a steak dinner. Especially one that someone else was paying for.

While riding down the road, Marie pulled out a box and handed it to Rum as a little thank you gift. Rum didn't think thanks were in order. Hell, it was an honor to be the Right Hand to such an amazing lady. She should be thanking Marie for giving her this opportunity! But of course, it would be rude to turn down a gift. She took it and smiled, examining the wood grain and the pretty purple ribbon. She hadn't expected to get a present, and she had nothing in return for Marie. Had she known there were gifts she would have found something befitting an amazing leader like Marie. Carefully undoing the ribbon, she opened the box to find a black leather sheath. Her smile grew. Only one thing came in a sheath like that. She pulled out the gorgeous skeletal stiletto, turning it around in her hands. Her eyes lit up as she looked back to her Bosslady.

Like it? It's beautiful! I love it! Thank you, ma'am.

"I just wanted to thank you for all the work you put in. We made it to the top and I couldn't have done that without you" he tells his RHM. 

The cars made their way to the restaurant. Luca had sent men ahead to make sure the outside was secure and drop off the payment. He wanted to make sure that there was no trouble when they arrived. Tonight was a night for celebrating not for unexpected events. 

Luca's car pulled up behind Marie's in front of the restaurant and Charlie got out and opened the doors for Luca and Road. When they got out Luca walked up to Rum and kissed her on both cheeks and did the same to Marie. 

"I am glad you guys made it. I hear everything is ready," he says to Marie. 

Marie smiles as Luca greets her the customary kiss on both cheeks.  "Well than let's get out of the cold and inside where it is warm.  I sometimes think this wind will carry me away."

She leads the group into the restaurant and they are immediately escorted to a private area with a single table set up for them.  Once they were all seated, the waiter took down everyone's drink order with a promise to be right back with them. 

"I am so glad that you both were able to join us tonight.  We want you to know how very appreciative we are to the both of you.  We know you have both sacrificed time with each other to become apart of two different crews.  We still are one big family, but it is a sacrifices none the less."

She gestured to the menus.  "Please order whatever you would like. "

Roadrunner waits for both the CLs to be seated then helps his wife into her seat. He listens to Marie speak and feels a sense of pride. "I am honored to be working for you, Luca, and to call you both friends. I look forward to seeing what we can build here. He picks up the menu and orders a light meal of rib eye steak, well done, and potatoes and asks for a light butter sauce for the potatoes.

Rum smiled as her husband helped her into a seat, even though she could have managed it herself. It was still a sweet gesture that she appreciated. Turning to Marie, she smiled and shook her head.

"Our sacrifices? What about yours? I see how hard you work, and how little sleep you get making sure everything is in order. We are not the only ones to have made sacrifices here, ma'am." Thinking back, it was hard to leave Road behind in another family, but it was what was best for the city. And it's not like they never spent every spare moment they had together anyway. Putting her attention to the menu, she decided on a steak and mashed potatoes with a side of broccoli, something she knew Road wouldn't touch. He didn't like vegetables, and apparently potatoes did not count as a vegetable.

After helping Marie to her seat Luca sits in his chair. He orders a 10 oz Choice Filet with potatoes and Asparagus and the best Scotch they have. He waits for the others order before he addresses them. 

"Thank you Rum. Yes, it has been long and hard for us as well but we expect that being the boss. We lean on you two heavily" he says with a smile. 

"And you two have done everything we have asked and more to help us get this thing off the ground. That is what we are here to thank you for," he says

"There is another reason we brought you two here tonight. We wanted to tell you both personally that Marie and I do not just have a professional relationship. We have a personal one as well." he pauses to let that sink in 

"We are together as a couple now." he clarifies before turning to Marie.

Looking between Luca and Marie, Rum couldn't help but grin. It all started coming together; the late night phone calls at the HQ, Luca hanging around more than he used to, and not to mention the few glances she thought she caught between the two of them. At the time she had thought nothing of it, just a couple of friends, which she knew they were. Seeing them together like this, and how Marie could hardly contain her glee, it was refreshing. She wasn't sure quite how that would affect herself and Road, but she didn't think it would be anything bad. It might even be fun. Oh, the things these two couples could do together... Not like that, of course! Probably... No, definitely not. More like movie nights, double dates, raiding each other's HQs, walks in the park... Stuff like that.

She turned to Marie with a grin. "Concerns? What sort of concerns would I have? I think it's great that you found someone to share feelings with, even if it is Luca!" She shot him a playful look then looked back to her boss softly. "No, I really do though. This can only be a good thing. If you were all business all the time, you would get fried so fast. You need to be able to relax, and if he's the one that can help you with that, then you have nothing but my support."

Road listened as his boss spoke, and quietly watched the reactions of Marie. He smiled to himself and thought back to all they had been through as one family and then slowly setting up separate crews. He had come to call both of them friends and knew that they could both stand to have someone good in their lives, knowing that it would be each other, well that was even better. 

After his boss finished and then his wife being the open and wonderful self she was Road leaned in and spoke. 

"I am truly happy for the both of you, and I look forward to seeing what the future brings for us all." He raised a glass and toasted, "To prosperity and happiness."