The flight from New York to Chicago was exciting.  Isabella had never been on an airplane before, a ticket bought by her host.  Like her dress, new hair cut, lip color and rouge - all came bought and paid for by the generous checks cut by Mr. Salvatore_Luciano of Chicago.  She'd practiced in the mirror for much of the night how she'd greet him.  Would she say father?  Would she call him Dad?  Maybe she'd simply say Mr. Luciano.

The cab ride to her hotel was nice enough and Chicago resembled New York in many ways with it's over crowded streets and buildings reaching up towards the heavens endlessly.  Yet, the air was different here.  New York's air was bitter and hard to breathe with industry and Chicago smelled of the business end of a butcher shop.  She'd heard that meat packing was big business here, but it seemed that was something of an understatement.

She'd been unable to resist the temptation of lifting a wallet in the elevator and she was amusing herself by looking at the photo that was faded and torn within, before pocketing the money she didn't really need... well, today at least.  

What did she really expect from Salvatore?  Probably not much.  They'd share stories about her life and her mother, he'd buy dinner, and then send her home most likely.  Then what?  Her job was gone - for good most likely.  She could keep picking pockets for a time... but if she didn't improve her next stint in the clink might be a long one.

If he really was a mob boss, as she'd heard he was and as the men at her mother's funeral seemed to indicate, well... maybe there was a chance for something more?  Maybe a chance for some new life that didn't involve soup lines and petty crimes.  

The doorman of the Italian Restaurant welcomed her and the matridee opened his book with a smile, one that seemed to indicate he already knew she had no business here at all.  "How can I help you?"  He asked with a twinge of superiority in his tone.

"I'm here to join Mr. Luciano's table?"  She said, folding her hands in front of her against her yellow sun dress. 

The man instantly changed his appearance, seeming to realize the importance of the young woman before him.  "Of course!"  He said in a bit of a panic, perhaps afraid of what her father would do to him for speaking to her in such a way.  "Mr. Luciano has reserved a very special table in our VIP section.  Just this way Miss."

Isabella flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder and tried not to let her smirk become too obvious.  She certainly could get use to smug assholes like this one having to kiss her ass every now and again.  In fact, just because she could, she lifted his wallet too.  Fuck 'em.  Dick.

The day had seemed to drag on. He had sent for his daughter Isabella to join him for dinner in Chicago and all day it was all he could think about. He had heard that her mother had passed and Lucky sent money to pay for the funeral along with a plane ticket for Isabella to fly to Chicago to meet him. As much as he wanted to attend the funeral he knew that he would bring to much attention and take away from the actual event so out of respect he stayed away. 

He dressed in a black suit and tie and headed down to the car where a couple of his guys where waiting for him. Lucky sat in the back of the car lit a cigarette to calm his nerves. He could not figure out why he was more nervous about this than when he knew he was going to get into a gunfight. 

The car drove through the streets and headed went around the back of the restaurant. Lucky got out with his two men and headed in through the back. They walked through the kitchen where Lucky tipped the Chef a couple hundred dollars to make them something special. Then he headed out to the private VIP table. 

He sat down and was informed that his daughter was here and was being brought back to the table. He took a drink of water and watched for her. 

Casually she put the man's wallet into her purse and entered the private room that had been reserved for them.

Salvatore was more handsome than he had been in the photo which she'd mailed to him.  All the awkwardness of youth had fallen away and the lifestyle he was living had clearly been good to him.  He appeared strong and somewhat intimidating - if she was really being honest.  She couldn't mistake him for a kind man, the sort you'd want to just rush up and hug & call Daddy, but she could see hints of nerves and that was something.

Stopping a short distance from the table she dropped her gaze instinctively, a small show of deference to the man who had given her life - the powerful criminal who out ranked her in all ways.  She wet her lips and lifted her gaze to meet him.  "Father."  She said quietly, the word had a weight to it that it had not had in the mirror last night and it felt oddly easy slipping out over her tongue and lips.  She knew she'd measure his visual reaction to decide if she'd ever call him that again.

"It's good to finally meet you."  She said stepping forward to accept the seat that his bodyguard had pulled out for her.

Lucky watched her walk up to the table, she was a very attractive young lady and he could see her mother in her features. He felt pride when he watched her drop her gaze to him, "she has some knowledge of the life" he thought to himself. 

His heart started pounding when she called him father. He wasnt sure how she would address him but that one word made his day. He got up and approached her to hug her, but stopped just short allowing her to make the decision whether to hug him or not. 

"I am really happy to finally meet you," he said to her smiling. 

Salvatore's approach was unexpected, she felt unsure what to do really.  She considered hugging him, the image of the men in wing-tipped shoes at her mother's grave made her hesitate.  Instead the hug sort of became an old world greeting, she kissed his cheeks, acknowledging him as immediate family member... but the subtly of true affection was with held.  

Once they'd greeted each other she sat down.  "My flight was very enjoyable."  she said.  "Thank you for sending the ticket.  I... I've never been to Chicago before.  It's quite a city, what little I've seen of it so far.  Have you been living here for very long now?"  She attempted to make small talk - to get to know him some.  That, after all, seemed polite.

Lucky sat down and tried to slow his thoughts down. He was racing with a million questions for her. He took a drink of his whiskey that the waiter had brought to him. 

He listened intently to Isabella's questions. 

"Well, I came here with Godmother Marie a while back. But after I left New York I ended up in L.A. for awhile," he said to her. 

Lucky didn't know what she knew of the life. She obviously knew a little bit of the respect aspects but other than that he wasn't sure how much interaction she had with it. 

"Chicago is a beautiful city. It's not as big per say as New York but it does have a lot to offer," he says to her. 

"How was the funeral? I wish I could have attended to pay my respects but I was afraid of being more of a distraction than anything else," he said sadly. 

She shifted in her chair at the mention of the funeral.  Behind her she heard the matridee enter the room again, trying to be subtle and obviously looking for something.  He spoke quickly to one of her father's bodyguards who shook his head 'no' and sent the man on his way.  Isabella smiled.

"It was, for the most part, very nice.  The priest gave a lovely eulogy of her, and your flowers were breathtaking.  Honestly, mother's family hasn't ever been a part of her life - not since before I was born so... it was pretty much just me there."  She picked up her glass of water and took a sip wishing it were something MUCH stronger.  How the hell was she to let a mafia boss know something like this?  

"There was..."  She tried to find the words.  "Some men who came by... briefly."

Lucky was taking a drink when she mentions someone came by the Funeral. He straightened up and got serious. 

"What do you mean? Tell me everything Isabella," he said to her.  

Lucky couldn't think of who would just show up at a funeral. He didn't think her mother was even involved in anything. Maybe she owed someone money? 

"Three cars full of men in suits and wing-tipped shoes."  She lowered her voice.  "They had a shadow, clearly coppers, I've seen their sort before.  It's how I found out where to find you.  Once my mother had come clean about what it was you were involved in... well, I had to pay a fellow who associates with that sort to get information on where I could find you."

She felt terrible talking like this.  She didn't mean to insult him.  She didn't find shame in what he did, in truth she was impressed by him, but she didn't have the right to speak about things she had no real knowledge of.  Doing that was a quick way to piss someone of - even if he was your father.  She hadn't lived this long by running at the mouth before she knew who the fuck she was dealing with.

"They brought flowers.  Roses.  Red ones."  She kept her tone quiet, clearly not wanting to be overheard by anyone coming and going from the room with drinks and food as they managed to find their way in.  "The eldest guy said his name was Mr. Riesi, spoke as though he was someone real important.  Thick accent... I figure he's a first generation."

"He gave his condolences on mom's death.  Asked if you were coming to the funeral because he had business with you, something about a friend of his named Mr. Pisa."  She noticed Salvatore's recognition of the name, but when he didn't interrupt her story, she continued.  "I told him you weren't coming that ... that I was aware of your business but it had no place at my mother's funeral and I asked him to leave."

"He... he said that he would go but on his way out he wanted me to convey to you a message.  He said I should come to you and tell you that the families of New York send their condolences on your loss and that they have a very long memory."  She was clearly nervous about speaking the last part she had to say.  "They wanted you to know they also send their condolences on your future losses... that it would be a shame if he and I were to run into one another again."

Lucky was PISSED, to say the least. How the fuck could that shit with Piza still be going on. He signaled for Junior to come to him. When the man walked over he whispered something to him and then Junior nodded and ran off. 

"I am sorry for that. It should have never happened there and for him to threaten you shows how much of a weak piece of shit he is," he said angrily. 

"I spent time in Sicily and Don Piza was..." he paused trying to figure out how to phrase this. 

"was on the receiving end of my not so nice side. He got pissy and tried to have me killed twice. Obviously he failed and in the end, was killed. Now I am thinking this jack ass is the one who took his place. I will deal with it." he said matter of factly. 

"again I am truly sorry you had to deal with that," he told her. 

"What are your plans? Do you have a job in New York?" he asked. 

Not so nice side?

He'll deal with it?

Isabella was many things, a decent pickpocket and budding confidence artist, but even with her very short life in crime she knew EXACTLY what her father was getting at.  Blood would spill over what happened and there was nothing she could say to change that because the fellows who came to her mother's funeral were dead serious; and so was her father.  This fight was happening long before she became involved and was far past being solved with words.

"I..."  She started to lie to him, so he wouldn't worry or make a big deal over her situation, but she could see by the look on his face (still lined with annoyance over this Piza business) that maybe she'd best keep to the truth for the time being.  In the little bits of confidence work she'd done, she'd learned staying near as possible to the truth was always best.

"No.  I don't have job.  I haven't worked in a while.  I use to wait tables in a diner for a while and let's just say I don't have the temperament for it."  she laughed remembering sticking a steak knife in the hand of a man who got too handsy on her one day.  THAT had been the first time she'd be arrested, and a fortunate thing too.  She'd met her mentor in the cells that day.  The woman who taught her everything she knew about lifting wallets & small con work up until this point.  She hadn't seen JoliBebe in some time and she often wonder what became of her after they'd last seen each other.

"I've been food on my and Mom's table with some more creative talents I possess.  Things I could tell my mom about."  She opened her purse and pulled out the Matridee's wallet.  She pushed it across the table to her father.  "In case you like the guy... but um, if you ask me, he could stand to be brought down off that high horse a bit."  She shrugs.

"I've spent time behind bars... again, mom never knew, it wasn't long but I made some acquaintances on the inside who helped me learn things.  I've gotten pretty good.  Good enough to provide for myself I think.  My confidence work could use a little work still, but I can hold my own and when I can't, I have a mean right hook."  She chuckled.

"Sorry I couldn't tell you that I'd taken up something as safe as Mom's career... but I couldn't let us starve.  And, honestly, like I said... where has pride ever gotten me?  In a jail cell that first time.  I couldn't stand how men looked at me, talked to me... how they treated me and the other waitresses.  I won't ever work like a dog for a man again.  Not like that.  I'd sooner die."

Lucky listened to his daughter talk about her situation. She was like him in many ways and he was happy to hear that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. The thought about what he could do to help her. He couldn't just send her money, he figured she would not like that, but he couldn't have her working alone. 

"Well, you are getting old enough now that you may draw attention. Do you kick up to anyone in New York?" he left it vague to test how much she knew.

Junior came back and whispered something to Lucky. 

"Get some men there now and hold him. Do not do anything to him till I get there," he tells him before Junior leaves again. 

"No, but the lady who taught me what I know.. I'm pretty sure she was paying someone a cut of what we were taking when she was teaching me the ins and outs of how to lift without landing in the clink."  Again she lowered her voice, not wanting to draw down negative attention on the woman who had been a teacher and friend.  "Her name is JoliBebe but I haven't seen her in quite some time now.  And, since we parted ways, I haven't give tribute to anyone."

She sighed.  "But I suppose I've drawn attention to myself now... I bet that sleaze bag Goomba Harry probably told his boss I paid him for your contact information.  It's probably how that guy Mr. Riesi knew our connection to each other.  Last names being the same, the funeral... all of it.  Wouldn't take a genius to put two and two together."

She shakes her head.  "If I go back home and keep hustling as I was, I bet Riesi's people will find me and try to get their due one way or another.  So... I either need to take up with a family in New York or consider moving."  

She took a bite of the lunch that had been set down in front of her a bit ago.  "I hate to leave mom.  I know it's just a grave... she's in Heaven now, but... New York is my home.  I just... I can't imagine running away from home because of some..."  She stopped herself from slandering Riesi.  You didn't throw stones at made men.  She knew that much at least.  "I just... I can't leave New York.  Not for good at least.  Maybe for a little while, but eventually, I have to go back."

"You will not have to worry about that guy. My guys are going to arrange a meeting between me and him," he said to her. 

Lucky thought for a long moment. He could bring her to Chicago. But what to do with her when she got here? She had some skills but she would have a steep learning curve to get up to speed. Most people in this life start out early doing little stuff here and there and then building up and learning more and more as they get older. 

Lucky also thought about what family to have her in. The obvious choice would be his own family but he had concerns about that. 

"I understand not wanting to leave her. It was hard for me to leave New York all those years ago. But I didn't have a choice." he said 

"You can come to Chicago if you like. But if you do know it won't be as a two-bit hustler," he said picking up the wallet. 

"You will learn how to earn real money for the family and how to earn respect. Some will give it you simply cause of your name. But I want you to earn it on your own." he says to her seriously. 

"You are my daughter but if you choose this life I will expect the same from you as I do anyone else."

Isabella didn't know if she should be hurt or proud that he didn't want to treat her differently than other people.  For an instant she thought about letting him know he didn't need to do her any favors, she'd done fine without him thus far and the only reason she'd even consider coming here was because of the trouble his presence in her life brought.  After all, had she not been his daughter, she might never had earned enough cash as a 'two-bit-hustler' to have warranted his wrath.

But, then she hesitated.  Perhaps it was because of his status as a Gangster that she did, it surely couldn't have because of any bond between them - there wasn't one yet.  In that moment of hesitation she considered why he might say what he did and it was then she remembered his mention of a Godmother.  A woman.  A woman who was above him.  Well, it would seem that even murderous mob bosses had people they answered to... and he wasn't going to have her accusing him of nepotism.

She drew a steadying breath and pushed down her initial sassy response and nodded.  "I can see how my presence here might complicate things for you; not that you wouldn't accept me, you seem every bit the man my mother made you out to be, but... you didn't even know I existed.  You have things settled here, a life, a family, and business obligations - all of which I..."  She struggled to find the right words.  She wanted to run off at the mouth, to yell at him, but she remembered all her mother ever taught her and kept her Sicilian rage in place.  "...complicate.  Any accommodations you'd make for me would be seen in a poor light."

She shakes her head.  "Maybe it's best I go back to New York and pursue my future there.  I think my path is chosen, I really don't question that part of what you've said, but I promised myself I wouldn't be a burden on your life.  I wouldn't... make you change things for me.  Even if you try to treat me like any other thief on your payroll... can you REALLY say that's how it would be between us?"

"I mean... I can look you like that.  I can, but, I see how angry you are over Riesi's threats towards me.  I afraid I've already caused you to do things you wouldn't have done if we never met."  She reaches across the table and let's her finger tips touch the back of Lucky's hand.  "You've been so kind to me and my mother... you made her final days bearable for both of us."  Tears welled up in her doe-like eyes as she thought about her mother's final days.  "I'll never be able to repay that debt and even if this is the last time we share a meal... some part of me will love you for it."

She pats Lucky's hand.  "I'll find my way somehow.  You don't have to make a place for me in this world of yours."

Lucky felt prideful towards his daughter. He had been harsh on her on purpose. He needed to know how she would react would she blow up at him or would she remember how things are and that even mad she had to remain calm and respectful. Her mother brought her up right, but now if the criminal life was what she was going to do it was time for him to teach her. 

"Complicated well yes but not in the way you think. You know how I mentioned Godmother? I did leave out a big part of that. She and I are engaged to be married and you will be a sister soon." he said with a smile. 

Isabella pulls her hand back from her father's as if it were a snake set to strike.  She sits up a bit straighter, the small bit of intimacy she'd begun to share with him melts back into formality with blinding speed.  Everything she had begun to formulate in her head about how this might work, about how she could navigate the waters of her relationship with her father & the mob, it all melted away with this one (well, soon to be two) detail.  Her eyes drifted to his hand where she assumed she'd see a wedding ring, a ring she'd been a blind fool not to have noticed only... there wasn't one. 

The child the Godmother was carrying was a bastard just like she was.  Her father had done no better for his second than he'd been able to do for his first.  Why was that?  Surely it had nothing to do with the Godmother, she was powerful and no doubt desirable.  So why would he allow her to give birth to a baby out of wedlock?

Her mind racing she managed to eek out,  "Congratulations." 

Surly they're engaged... so, he's as good as married.  Right?  He's going to have a baby - one he's going to raise with his ACTUAL wife, and not just any wife... a Godmother.   Damn it.  I've gotten so good at this I conned myself into thinking this was a thing that could happen.  

"I can only imagine how much you must have on your mind right now."  She forced a chuckle, trying to lighten her own mood.  For a moment she'd seen herself in her father's life - living life as a leader, not a beggar, a powerful Mafioso - and in an instant it all melted away.  He was happy, she could see it in his eyes when he spoke of his coming child and the woman he clearly loved. 

"Well,"  She takes up her napkin and wipes her mouth.  "You know... I can be on a plane tomorrow if you like, the Godmother doesn't even have to know I was here.  I won't touch another wallet until I'm out of Chicago.  You have my word.  And... if you like, you can look in on me in New York whenever your around.  And if not, I understand.  I meant EVERY word of my letter to you.  I don't want to get in the way of your family or business operations."

Lucky's face goes to shock as he notices she took things the wrong way. His mind raced as to where he went wrong. Then it dawned on him. 

"Isabella... Marie knows of you already. She is just as happy as I am and she knows you are here in Chicago." he says to her. 

"When I said complicated I didn't mean that in any way as a bad thing. I want you here with me in Chicago. I won't force you as you are a grown woman. But I want to build a relationship with you." he says lovingly to her. 

"I was harsh when I called you a two-bit hustler. But I had to see how you would react. This thing of ours is a tough life and to succeed in it you have to be thick skinned and know when you can blow up at someone and when you need to suck it up and remain respectful. I wouldn't have been mad if you blew up at me here and now. But the fact you knew better told me a lot about your understanding of how things work." he says to her

"I told Marie about you right after I got your letter. I told her about your mother and that I was doing what I could for her. She was happy about you and completely understood about helping your mother."

"Having a twenty-year-old daughter that I never knew about would be complicated, but that complication in my life I welcome truly," he tells her with a smile. 

"You are my daughter and yes when it comes to working I have to try my hardest to treat you like the others."

"will that always happen... probably not. You can ask Marie when you meet her... I get a little overprotective of those I care about."

Isabella thinks about all he says and she nods.  "Well, then it's settled I suppose.  I'll stay... but I want to know what I'm getting myself into."  She sits forward, a bit more confident. 

"I want to go back to New York with you, when you go have your meeting with Riesi.  If you don't want me to be some street hustler... that must mean you want me to learn the ropes of the sort of work you do - and I'll work my ass off to make you proud; but this is personal.  I was burying my mother and he threatened me."  She shakes her head. 

"If you're not going to protect me from things... if you want to make sure you treat me like you'd treat anyone else you were mentoring to learn your skills... I think I should see what it's all about.  The worst of it, if necessary."  She picks up her drink.  "And, if I should ever end up in New York again - maybe it wouldn't hurt that people remember to associate whatever you do to Riesi with my face.  It could serve me well to have a little fear to go along with the respect I hope to earn for myself."

"What do you say?  Can I come with you?"

Lucky sits back and thinks for a min. What he had to do there to make sure this shit ends once and for all will not be pretty but she has a point. If he was going to teach anyone the ropes... he would have them there watching and learning. 

Tiny walks over and whispers something to Lucky. 

"Good call and make flight arrangements," he tells him

"for when?" Tiny asks Lucky

"When I get my ass on the plane. You tell them to hold that fucking plane till I get there," he says sternly. 

Lucky watches as Tiny nods and leaves then he turns back to Isabella

"What is going to happen there is I am going to put that piece of shit in such a world of hurt that he will beg me to kill him. I want to send a message to those that follow him that coming after me or my family is an incredibly stupid fucking idea." he says to her directly. 

"So when you are there you are to watch and learn. Do not show anything that you are feeling and You do not walk away or leave once it starts. Understood." he tells her.