Rain poured hard outside, not like Francesca had been use to in Sicily; rain was different in the desert.  Standing at the window of the highest room in the tallest tower of all Las Vegas, she watched as the landscape covered in casinos, businesses, and homes was assaulted by the unrelenting deluge. 

She could feel the eyes of her husband, TonyDicaprio upon her.  She could hear the scratching of the pen held by SullivanBlack at his desk a few feet away.  Both men were silent as she considered their words, their advice carefully.  The men had reached a consensus on the matter and now it was up to her.  Only she alone could give the word.

Pushing a strand of her long raven hair from her face, back behind her ear, she exhaled a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.  "Send someone to fetch Heathro immediately."

She could hear Tony move towards the door without hesitation, calling some goomba or another - telling them to summon the Tower's senior Wise Guy to his Don for an important discussion.  Lightening flashed on the horizon.  A somewhat cryptic warning from Heaven of possible unknown troubles ahead.

She liked Heathro, a great deal, he'd become like a brother to her. 

She prayed that he was ready for this challenge.

Tony sat there looking at Frankie as if see was studying the rain drops.  He knew she had many thoughts running around in her mind.  Sully had given her wise advise and she was now thinking on those things.  Tony watched as she fiddled with her hair it was a clear sign that she was planning things out hoping to come to the best solution.  Tony poured him self a drink and then looked at her goat.  That's when he called Thumbs into the office.

He instructed Thumbs to walk that goat every day and ensure the goats eats all the wild flowers and grass around this building and if that's not enough go to the casinos and let him become a mascot to one or two of them.  Just ensure the Goat is out of the dam office.  Thumbs nodded and put a took the Goat out in the rain. 

Frankie looked at Tony when a bit of anger as Tony replied there is a good reason he is called thumbs.  Tony keep looking at her as she sucked her teeth and turned away.  Tony shook his head and told her that he knows she is making a tough call but a good one.  Even when He told her he and Sully had faith she ignored him and there was nothing he could do at this point but wait.  

"Sir.." The Hostess persisted to nudge Heathro as he finally began to wake up

"Good morning Sir! A good sleep I hope? We are just currently getting ready for landing here in Las Vegas, can you please proceed in buckling yourself in and prepare for landing in just a few minutes.. 

She then smiled and walked up the ever so narrow lane way to the next lot of seats.
Heathro grunted, buckled up and closed his eye's once again.. flying was most definitely not his strong suit. 

Still extremely groggy from the flight, heathro slowly makes his way off of the plane; upon exiting he is hit with the 
ever so familiar heat of the Mojave Desert.. After a much needed "Holiday", he was home.

He continued on to pick out his overweight "baggage" from the insanely crowded drop off zone, He hadn't really been on your iconic holiday.. gangster's don't have time for such pleasure, he had personal loose ends to tie up in his home town but that's a story for a rainy day.. 

Finally he manages to find his bag, he then turns and begins to walk out swiftly only to be stopped by a man holding
a piece of paper reading.. "Eathro", Weather or not he was trying to spell "Heathro" wasn't clear so Heathro decided to confront
the unfamiliar man..

"Heathro, huh?" He begins looking the man up and down, wary as to weather it was a good idea making himself know in 
the first place.. "I may know who you're looking for lad, what's the reason?"

The Young, slightly odd looking man doesn't say a single word, Instead just keeps looking straight forward as If he didn't hear
him..

Heathro, having just gotten off a 12 day flight becomes ever so agitated.. "Look here" He launches forward
toward's the man promptly but elegantly grabs him by the throat and then continues to speak..

"I haven't slept properly in 12 Day's, I have't had a proper meal nor have I been able to lock my lip's around a bottle of Whiskey in that time so kid, make yourself known or so help m.." He suddenly stopped, the man looked absolutely terrified..

The man begins to quickly try scramble some word's together

"La, lady, Lady Messina!! sent me to pick you up, she requests to see you sir!"
"That's all I am here to do, that's all!!"

Heathro's attitude suddenly subsides.. "Well shit, why didn't you say that!" Heathro then continues to let go of the man, and pats 
him on the chest.. "Let's not dwell then boy, getta movin' if that rustled your suspenders you don't what to see how Frankie
get's when she is left waiting! Heathro then smiles, beckons they leave and begins to follow the man to the car he has parked 
out front of the airport!

Well driving down the strip Heathro's mind begins to wonder off.. "I wonder why she has requested to meet me, I do hope she got 
my letter about heading away for a few month's she's been awfully busy lately I didn't want to interrupt her day to day with my
personal business.. surely she got the letter. Maybe she just has a small task for me, that will be it!".. "I hope.. Requested 
meetings go all but two ways.." I have been finding myself In a few awkward predicaments lately but surly.." His thought's were
suddenly stopped in their tracks.

"We are here, sir" the man say's "The Tower"

Slowly getting out with his bag in hand he look's back at the fellow associate..

"I'm not usually that short tempered pal, you can never be too cautious these days.. remember that."

He waved good bye and slowly made his way up the path to the grand front door where he was greeted by 
the usual body guards' whom swung open the door for him as he approached.. "Thank you fellas" he muttered as he walked on through

Having reached the utmost top floor after a harrowing walk, Heathro started to feel a tad nervous which in turn was odd because
hes done unspeakable thing's that would otherwise turn any "normal" man completely insane, But he knew what a formally requested meeting meant.. He just hoped it was for the good.

He approached Madam Messina's door and begun to knock..
 

The door came open.  Frankie sat behind her desk, a troubled look on her face.  She waved Heathro forward.  "I'm sorry we all but pulled you right off the damn plane, but this couldn't wait."

She sat forward in her chair as the young associate approached her dark oak desk that seemed to dominate the dimly lit office space.  "Tyler Durden and his crew are in town."  Durden was always a reason for concern... but this time Frankie seemed, especially worried?

"I've already got most of our associates out on the streets doing patrols, running messages between myself and the other crew leaders of Las Vegas, but there are a few task of a delicate nature which need to be handled by people I know I can really count on."

She looked up to Heathro's eyes, "I and my hands believe you're such a man, Heathro."  Frankie stood up.  "But, I won't lie to you.  There's a very real chance that you're gonna bleed for me tonight. If you're willing to go out on one of these tasks, I can't promise that you'll even come back."  

Frankie seemed particularly troubled at admitting that - but she felt, for his loyalty and dedication thus far, she at least owed Heathro the truth.  "Maybe you're not ready for me to ask that of you - but I've come to believe you might be.  So - I have to ask before we go any further - are you ready to bleed for us if it should become necessary?  Will you shed blood for us if it comes to that tonight?"  

As Heathro entered he acknowledged TonyDicaprio & SullivanBlack with a slight nod.. He had come to admire these two, one day he wishes to be of such worth himself.. but good things take time and he understand's that.

..After listening to what his Don had to say, Heathro ever so slightly.. smiled. 

"Frankie,  the answer is and will always be.. a yes. You could sling me into a gun fight with nothing but my bare hands to defend myself and I will come out swinging, for you.. But I do hope that scenario does not have to come up " Heathro smirks and continues talking " I'm young, I may sometimes make the wrong decisions and I may find myself in sticky situations from time to time but you always back me day in and day out, so for that alone I shall always be loyal to you and the cause.  I have utmost trust in you and your decision's and I would like to say I think you're making the right one.. I would be honored to take up the task at hand, and any future tasks' you see fit for me.. whatever they may be."

"I would be honored to shed my blood for you, The Tower and this city."

Sullivan chuckled, having looked up from his paperwork to observe the conversation at hand. Heathro certainly seemed eager to jump into the work, and courageous enough as well. Hopefully what they were asking wouldn't be too much of him. He'd been a damned good associate so far, and it would be detrimental to the books to loose him.

"Careful what you wish for, Heathro... Some of the tasks may very well be signing your own death certificate..."

Sully smirked as he placed his hands over a stack of papers, patting them for emphasis. For everyone that knew Sullivan Carlisle Black, it wasn't odd at all that he'd have those here at the Tower with him; especially considering he'd just signed one for a previously comatose family associate... May the God's rest their soul.

"Glad to hear you'd be honored to shed your blood though. We'll try to not make it an every day habit." His face quickly faded from the mirthful smile he'd worn, his lips pulling tight and his brows furrowing a bit. "Durden, however, is a very serious issue. So with that, I'll let Frankie continue."

Sullivan leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs and laying his arms on the chair's armrests.

"Alright then, come with me."  Frankie took up Uffa's leash, waking the goat from her nap.  She shook herself and flicked her tail as she sped to keep up behind her Mistress who was taking long strides towards the door.  "It started less than ten hours ago when our patrols noticed several of Durden's people in a variety of places.  We think he's making a quiet, but aggressive move on our holdings... but there could be more to it than that.  For him to get a toe hold on our operation he'd need friends... I'm deeply concerned about the nature of our alliances with several key people."

"That being said," She went down the stairs but didn't stop at the bottom.  Instead she opened a door that, until this point, Heathro had not seen anyone outside of the Don and her hands enter.  This, so far as anyone in the crew knew, was off limits to anyone save for made men and women.  "I'm sending you out to meet a friend of our family."  She closes the door behind him, flicking on a light as she does so, saving them both from drowning in darkness.

"You'll be debriefed on several tasks that need doing tonight.  You'll pick one.  Other members of the crew will be asked to handle the others."  She walks down the long flight of cement stairs under the hum of industrial lighting.  At the bottom of the stairs she stops at a lone white steel door.  She pulls out a key, hanging on a chain around her neck.  She unlocks the door and motions Heathro to enter.  "Everything changes from here.  One way or another... nothing will be the same ever again after tonight."

After Heathro enters, Frankie & Uffa follow.  She shuts the door behind them with a resounding bang.  All that can be heard after that is the scraping metallic sound of a deadbolt being slid into place & then... silence.