Kathleen… Katy as she was commonly known, folded her hands in front of her.  She wore a simple, blue, flower print dress which flared at the waist.  Beneath, a garter & stockings – something only a woman of means could wear these days.  No gun this time.  Not here.  Most CERTAINLY not here. 

She glanced to Ignazio.  Her Sicilian best friend & #1 was dressed in the obvious attire of ‘the muscle.  He didn’t spare her a look… his eyes constantly taking in their surroundings.  She almost wished he wasn’t such a good bodyguard.  If he wasn’t, he might spare a moment to give her some audible or visual reassurance that she was doing the right thing.  Sadly, he wasn’t going to stop doing his job.  Not for one moment.

The weather in LA was considerably warmer than it had been in Philadelphia.  In truth a great deal seemed different from the east coast out here in California.  The mood of the people was certainly more playful, even amidst a depression and prohibition this place felt like it was on the verge of a party at any given moment.  While there was wealth to be seen everywhere, she knew there had to be poor in this city… but, as of yet, she still hadn’t seen a single beggar.

She’d been scheduled to sing in San Francisco once, the booking fell through though and her agent hadn’t ever bothered to reschedule as she was so adamant about not going to the United States back then.  She wished now that she had allowed him to book her here – she might have made a mint among such posh people.

Pushing a strand of her long red hair behind her ear, she wondered about the man she was sent here to meet.  Who was he really?  Was he a good man?  A vicious murderer?  Who could say… mafioso were as varied as anyone could be.  For this reason, she was understandably a touch nervous.

Uncle Joe had been the first mobster to take a chance on her when she arrived in the States.  He’d been a financial backer of both her mother and her uncle’s crime families and so the ties were deep.  After his tragic death she was taken in by the woman they called Adorkable… surely that wasn’t her given name, but it was precious few in the world of crime who did go by given names.  Names, as the old saying in Ireland went, had power.

Now, with Adorkable’s blessing, she’d come here.  It felt like madness, sitting here waiting to meet a man who wielded as much authority as RomanReigns – but she had made up her mind.  This was the course, one way or another she was going ‘home.’  If Roman could find a way to make that happen for her… well, he’d be the first man in her life willing to do that since Frank DiCaprio.

Katy’s emerald eyes drifted to the secretary, who was still filing her nails, for not the first time since arriving.  The woman had assured her that Mr. Reigns would be able to see her soon, but he was on some important phone call… she wondered if that was code for ‘what the fuck is some nobody wise guy like you calling on a godfather for’ or something much worse.

Her gaze then drifted to Roman’s office door and again she imagined what the man behind it might look like.  Old?  Fat?  Young?  Thin?  Godfathers, in her experience, were older.  They seldom had a look of youth about them and generally speaking didn’t have a lot to say to women, at least nothing of business.  Granted, for the most part her experience with Godfathers had been limited to the Old Country and they were still a bit backward thinking there – at least when compared to the way Americans treated women.

As his office door opened, she stood and instinctively held her breath, waiting to see who or what emerged. 

I took my time in my office knowing Kathleen was out there waiting. She wasn't the only nervous one though I would never show it. I had mail all over the place and it was quite embarrassing having someone about to enter his personal area while it was a mess. I cleaned up as much of the mails as I could sorting through it all and throwing the rest in the trash. With all the influence I had in Los Angeles it wasn't a surprise that I was getting asked for favors from almost everyone. 

I stood from my desk and straighten my suit as I walked towards the door. She had made the call personally to make this meeting happen between the two of us and I was curious as to what a wise guy wanted with my time. I didn't know much about her other then that she was working up in the east and had one hell of a reputation building of getting the job done. After a short conversation with Adorkable and the Godfather Chairman himself Syndicate I agreed to sit down with her.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, it was time I met Kathleen. Walking out from my office I noticed that she had been standing there waiting for me patiently. Feeling bad I quickly walked over and shook hands with a slender woman wearing a nice blue dress with flower print on it. She was rolling with a bodyguard that almost had me intimidated but I shook his hand looking him up and down. I was impressed with his size she was well protected and living up to what I had expected so far. I let Ignazio know he was safe protecting the secretary as I asked for Kathleen to follow me back into my office.

I closed the door behind us after an interrogation by Ignazio before let me take her back to the office alone. This was a private conversation and she was in one of the safest place in Los Angeles under my protection. I couldn't blame the man for trying it was his duty to protect her and I wouldn't stop him from that. 

I had her walk over to the window with me as we looked out over downtown Los Angeles. There were so many tall buildings there that stood around the headquarters. The city was amazing and the view from the top of the headquarters showed how far my wealth went. I pointed to a chair across from my desk and asked her to take a seat. I walked across to my seat pulling it back and sitting down giving her my full attention. I was more then interested to hear what she had to say. Her appearance was intriguing knowing that she was part of an organized crime ring. I wasn't sure if she was trying to down play the situation or was dressed up out of respect.

It's nice to meet you, you come to Los Angeles highly recommended. I appreciate you taking the time to meet at a time that was fitting for both of our schedules. I apologize for meeting in my office like this and usually use my conference room for meetings. I heard that you might be looking for opportunity while you are out here and I am willing to take some time out of my busy day to listen.

I looked at my watch as I sat back and put my hands together and gave her some time to respond. I still couldn't imagine what she would want to talk to me about.

Just as Kathleen was about to to start talking the phone rang from the direct line to the secretary. I answered the phone telling her no Ignzio couldn't come in and she laughed telling me I had another visitor outside your door and this one was worth opening it for. It took me a second to think about it because there was no way it was who I wanted it to be. I got up from my desk and apologized as I went to the door to see who it could be. 

My eyes lit up as she stood there in front of me, licking my lips I pulled her in giving her a big kiss. She must of just gotten back in from her trip from Cuba and I was more then curious to ask her what it was all about, but first I had to explain to my Marie_Lucania why I had another woman alone in my office. I was beyond happy to see her, but knew I already had some explaining to do as she looked in and saw Kathleen seated looking back at her. 

I ushered her in and let her take my seat across from Kathleen and I grabbed another seat next to her. I could see Kathleen looking at Marie wondering why she was now being allowed to sit in their meeting. I tried not to focus my full attention on Marie as it was Kathleen that had requested my time. The perfume she wore was always intoxicating and drew me in every time. 

I am excited to see you Marie, this is Kathleen. She has come to us from Philly from Adorkables family with a big reputation. We would be dumb to let her go back to Philly after her visit today, but I figured I would let her explain it herself. Did you have anything you would like to say or ask her before we get started?

Katy tried to hold in her smile of pride when the Godfather RomanReigns spoke so highly of her.  He wasn't anything like she feared he might be.  He was an imposing figure, to be sure, but not in the usual ways.  For one he was far younger than she was expecting, and taller too.  He was also far more... impressive... physically than she'd been prepared to expect.  

Ignazio, Neri, Pietro were all lithe men - handsome and Italian in their ancestry... but Roman's muscular form made her think more about her former Irish lover, Aidan_OConnor, than any of her previous Italian paramours. 

As he moved about his office, Katy watched the cut of his muscles flexing beneath his clothes.  She might have been ashamed by her own boldness; but she was sure even nuns, in their devotion to the Lord Christ, would have a hard time not appreciating God's handy work. 

At least until Marie_Lucania arrived.  

Roman kissed the Don and Katy's body tensed as she considered what might have become of her if she'd been seen oogling a Godfather who was the lover of a powerful Don.  She tore her eyes instantly away from the two of them and found something else to look at.  What a lovely plant... 

Katy felt a small bit of surprise when Roman brought Marie into the room, but after how she'd seen them interacting a moment ago... well, who was she to say a word about it?  Godfathers do what Godfather's do and no wise guy was gonna say shit about it if she was smart.  If he wanted a whole army of soldiers in the room during the meeting... well, that was his prerogative.  However, it did fall to her to decide what she was willing to say in front of this dangerous woman.  She'd been prepared to reveal her secrets to the Godfather in favor of earning his support and help in Chicago... but Marie?

As Marie seemed to indicate she had no questions to ask, they both turned their eyes to her.  Katy was in the spotlight and all the sudden she found herself speak, truth pouring from her lips heedless of the danger it placed her in.  What other options did she really have in this moment?  She was here - she couldn't make up a lie or waste a Godfather's time.  No, if Roman trusted Marie, she had to as well.  She'd put her money on Roman Reigns... she'd tied herself to him, and for good or ill, her fate was now in his hands.

"Well, as you are aware, my name is Kathleen DiCaprio."  She wet her lips and folded her hands in her lap.  I am the daughter of Lucia "Lucky Lucy" Fazzone."  She saw recognition in their eyes.  Lucky Lucy had been a well known mobster in her time.  Member of Godfather Tobias' Divergent Crew, Right Hand Man of Godfather Chairman Varys' Little Birds... and founder of The Ivory Tower a powerful, if short lived, criminal organization.

"While her husband Frank DiCaprio is my legal father... and truly the only father I recognize;" She drew a breath to steady herself - she'd never shared this with anyone outside the DiCaprio Crime Family, "It's known to me that a member of the Tyler Durden crew was my father.  I don't know who, or the details.  Those details seem to be lost in all the deaths of my youth.  Why I mention my birth father, has a lot to do with why I'm here.  You see, Tyler Durden's crew went to some effort - a few years back, to insert a young man into my life.  I was a young girl, foolish, and eager to be in love and married as young girls can be.  The con man did his job well.  During our relationship I made the naive error of signing over deeds to many of my family's business holdings to my soon-to-be husband who - in turn - passed them on to his boss.  Durden."

"This began my journey into the life my mother and father hoped I would never become a part of.  They very much would like for me to have stayed with my Opera career and never found my way into the world of mafioso... but it would seem that it is as much a part of me as they are.  And now, with the recent fall of Chicago into enemy hands, I... well, Chicago is where my family's home is.  My parents, my grandparents, my uncle... they are all buried there.  The thought of rogues - the very sorts of men my mother declared an all out war against - keeping me out of home makes me sick."

"I want to go home, Godfather Roman.  I want to go home to Chicago, but those men are linked to Durden.  The minute I show my face there... I'm going to be a target.  I can't go home alone.  So... I'm here with my hat in my hands asking for your help.  I, of course, don't ask for this expecting to give nothing in return.  I would, as is only right, be your friend going forward... without question.  And, as my friend who has done such a big thing for me, I would be willing to offer you a stake in my inheritance.  If you invest in me, and help get me back home, as I take back what is mine... I would share a part of that with you, my good friend."

She shifted in her chair, wondering if any of this was tempting to Roman.  Surely he knew Frank DiCaprio had holdings all over the United States... that the deed to The Cotton Club in New York, Brennan's Cellars in Vegas, and countless other locations were all huge money makers he'd become partial owner in if he'd simply help her retake her home and holdings within Chicago.  Be damned all the other businesses, Chicago had been what Katy really wanted all along and she’d let Godfather Roman have the lion’s share of the rest, just so long as she could finally go home.