The bench inside the Las Vegas jail was cold.  It always surprised Marie how cold it got at night, when it was so hot during the day.  She wasn’t by herself in the lockup.  There were several women of the night, and a couple of dime bag drug dealers in the holding cell with her.   She chatted with them socially as she waited her bail to come through.  She had no idea what was taking Mat so long.  It should have been handled hours ago.  All he had to do was wire Chicago for the money and paid the damn bail money. 

She basically had not record in Las Vegas.  Sure, there were a few moving violations; but nothing serious.  She also knew that the FBN did not know her down here yet so there was not much chance that they would find out about her dealings with the FBN in Chicago. 

Finally, a cop came into the holding area and started to unlock the door.  “Marie Costa Lucania, your husband is here to bail you out.  You are free to go.”

“My husband?” She blinked and thought, “What the hell is he doing down here?  Fuck Mat how the hell could you screw this up?”

She stood up and followed the officer out of the holding cell area to where Luca was waiting for her.  Her new dress was dirty, but had survived the whole ordeal fairly well.

Luca was standing by waiting area by the desk sgt.'s desk. He was there with Charlie and Mat. Mat had wired Chicago for money and it came to Luca's attention since he was now the defacto GodFather of the SouthSide and her husband. He had called Mat and told him that he would be on a plane to Vegas and HE would be the one to bail her out. 

Luca couldn't believe she got arrested and for Grand Theft Auto as well. This was not a good way to start his leadership of the SouthSide and that's why he flew out to handle it himself. Needless to say, he was pissed and he was not hiding it. 

Marie's eyes landed on Luca first and she immediately glared at Mat.  Not saying a word she took the papers the desk sgt had for Marie as part of her the bail release.   After he had given her all her instructions about court dates and such, he turned to address Salvatore, "Good Luck to you sir.  Your wife here is going to need a husband's firm hand to keep her in line it would seem."  Marie glared at the sgt, but did not dare say anything.  Anything she might have retorted in that moment would only make things worse with Luca.  They all turned and walked in silence out the door -- the two hired men keeping as much distance from the couple as they could manage.

Salvatore opened the door to the car for his wife and then both climbed in with Charlie and Mat getting in the front.  Marie did not say anything and just looked straight ahead.  She decided to wait to see if they were going to do this here in the car or back at the hotel room she had reserved at the Golden Nugget.

Sal gave a look to Charlie after the Sgt. made his comment and Charlie nodded back. Luca may be pissed off but that kind of disrespect wouldn't be tolerated, he would have to reach out the Las Vegas family and smooth this over with them. They headed to the car and he held the door for the wife and she after she got in he walked to the other side and got in. 

Charlie drove the car to the airport. Luca sat there fuming at her. 

"How the fuck did you get arrested," he says pissed.

"And what the hell were you doing stealing a fucking car" he continued without giving her a chance to speak.

Marie pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.  So they were going to do this here.  Well if she was anyone else he would not wait for privacy.  She should not expect to be treated differently.  She had screwed up.  It was time to pay the piper.

She spoke quietly, and respectfully as one would speak to ones Godfather, "I am sorry Don Lucania for getting arrested.  I under estimated the response time of the police in Las Vegas.  I will not let it happen again.  As for the car, I was in need of a faster vehicle and I didn't have time to go buy one.  Frankie and I were chasing a couple of goomba thieves who had stolen a very valuable item from her.  I saw it as a potential opportunity to bolster our relationship with Las Vegas and with a very powerful Godfather in the old country who is Frankie's grandfather and the man who sent her the item that was stolen.  It was a split second decision that perhaps I might have made differently had I had time to think it through.  I humble accept whatever punishment you deem worthy of such a sin."

Luca hated having to do this, like this. She was his wife and he loved her, but when it came to business he refused to treat her any different and he knew she would not want it any other way. 

Hearing her refer to him as Don Luca was really different. He heard it a lot from his guys and others but never from her. He did not like it but was proud that she understood the situation. 

"You are the boss for a family and getting arrested." he stated

"and what the hell was so valuable that it required you to steal a car and chase them down?" he asks

"you were with a high member of the Vegas family... Neither of you could have sent some guys to deal with this shit?"

She thought about trying to obfuscate the true identity of the item that was stolen by choosing her words very careful, but she was certain that he would continue to push until he had the straight of it.  He was no fool.  She would not dishonor in such a way. 

"It was Frankie's wedding dress.  Her grandfather had it made in the orient somewhere and it was loaded with diamonds sewn into it.  We were on our way to the post office to pick it up when we came upon the Goombas robbing the place.  If we had waited to send others, they would have gotten away."

"A fucking Dress..." He said shocked. 

He could not believe what she just said. 

"I really don't get it. Why would you risk everything over a fucking dress? You realize that all the FBN would have had to do was call the Chicago office and you could have been fucked." he said

"I get the dress is important but you know as well as I do that they could not have done shit with that dress is any city without one of the families fucking knowing about it. You are a leader and a damn good one, but you can not run around like a soldier anymore," he tells her

"You are a leader of Chicago's SouthSide."

Marie closed her eyes.  His words stung like whip being lashed over her bare back.  They cut deeper than they would have had those exact some words had come from Don Ligambi because they were coming from the man that she loved.  She hated that she had disappointed him like this and worse there was nothing she could do to change it.  

"You are absolutely correct, Don Lucania.  I was a fool and I put the family in jeopardy.  It will not happen again." 

He was glad to be done with that shit. He hated nothing more than to have to reprimand her. 

They drove in silence for a while they hit the airport and boarded the plane back to Chicago. Marie and Luca sat in first class and their men sat in coach. The plane took off and Luca ordered a scotch and ordered a Gin for Marie. 

"So did you guys ever get the dress back?" he said to her. 

She laid her head against her husband's shoulder.  She had had a really bad day at work today and now she needed the comfort of her husband.    

"Yes, but not before they ripped and cut the diamonds out." 

"when we land I will make sure to put the word out. Cant have Frankie not be ready for her big day." he said holding her close.