The rain dripped from the rim of his hat, the downpour scattering holidaymakers on the pier to seek shelter. Only those committed and with purpose remained on the pier.

"Ladies and gents, thanks for your attention.

"Today marks a day of expansion for Race Street. With the blessing of our Godfather, we've taken the initiative to expand our current operation to introduce a subdivision, working right here on the pier. This division will operate within the same parameters as our existing crew does. It is designed as both an opportunity for individual development and to expand our presence here in Philadelphia, supporting the overall growth of the city."

Jack looks to the cluster of individuals stood at his shoulder, also doused by the rains.

"One man has risen through our ranks and displayed a great understanding of our approach and what we're trying to achieve here on the pier. His past has never come into question and his commitment has been without question. I'm proud to establish this individual as my Underboss right here in the Old City of Philly.

"Mr. Bowden, please step forwards."

William_Bowden moves up, standing alongside Jack.

"William will be running his own operation from this very location, Purgatory Gym. He will be taking a hand picked number of our soldatos to ensure the core of his operation is well supported. Between the two of us, we will continue to drive focus on introducing newer members to the world and meeting the ambitions of those in our walls.

"I have every confidence in Williams abilities and hope you will join me in congratulating him on this new venture.

"Saluti, signore Bowden!" 

The pitter-patter of rain entwining with the sound of industry moving along in the Race Pier gave Spaceman a feeling of quiet calm as he listened to JackMezzo.  Spaceman's hands gripped an increasingly wet leash that was attached to Rubix, whose occasional adverseness to rain was remedied by a jerry-rigged, custom umbrella attached to a harness that allowed the dog to be kept dry.

Spaceman brushed a few drops of rain from his jacket as he approached JackMezzo and William_Bowden, shaking the latter's hand.

"Congratulations on this achievement, William.  Your hard work in the Race Pier has paid off, and I'm happy to see you open a new chapter in Philadelphia.  With your stewardship of the Purgatory Gym, Race Pier's forward-driven approach will hopefully continue with the amount of care and dedication that Don Mezzo has taken in his work."

Spaceman grasped the young man's shoulder, patting once before moving back next to JackMezzo.

William Bowden stood proud before the esteemed members of this thing of ours. Though the rain poured on the pier he felt a warmth that spread through him at the words of Don Jack Mezzo.

"I would like to thank Don Jack Mezzo for all that he has taught me and all that I continue to learn alongside him. I am thankful to him, to Godfather Spaceman, and truly to all who have worked together to build this city, and this country to the point we are at. The opportunities that have been offered to myself and those who will be taking this step with me are the result of the cooperation we are all striving to strengthen and it is my hope to be able to stand alongside the great men and women of this thing to continue that work. It is truly an auspicious time we find ourselves living in, and one with a great deal of hope for things to come."

From the backseat of her car, behind tinted glass, Isabella played with a cheap bracelet on her wrist as she watched William_Bowden achieve just what she knew he would all along.  Her smile was bittersweet as she watched him be called forward for recognition.  In a way, she itched to join him. A thousand unspoken things raced through her mind as she watched William positively radiant - surrounded by the people of Philidelphia.  

Neil made his way through the crowd, there was no need to disrupt William's moment with her presence, this should be all about him and what he'd accomplished - not her and the drama she'd brought to his life.  When Neil came to William, he waited for other ranking Mobsters to speak and give gifts before he stepped forward and offered to Will a small (VERY LIGHT) box and an envelope.

She'd sent Neil knowing the man couldn't do anything other than shake his head, so William wouldn't get anything more out of him regarding her well being or anything else.  Instead, she could see Neil shake his head 'no' likely to Will asking if she was here.  This, of course, was what she'd told Neil to reply with if asked.  Neil was a shit liar, but without a tongue, he'd improved.

She watched William open the letter first - it read:

Don Bowden.

Allow me to be among the first to congratulate you on your success.  In this thing of ours, many aspire to the position you have achieved, but few ever know the burden it truly is.  While I could regale you with tales that might make you second guess your new standing in our society - instead I will say this with the utmost confidence: NO ONE is better suited to the task than you. 

I have seen you do so many things recently that prove you worthy of this challenge.  You have inspired the hopeless, fought impossible odds and grave injustice, and you have put aside rivalries for those who were nothing to you except that you shared one thing in common:  Philly.  You are called to this, to lead men and women.  You have a gift and I do not say that lightly.  I am deeply jealous of the City of Brotherly Love because it is the place will you call home.  It is infinitely blessed to have your constant, steady hand guiding a part of it.

Accept this gift as a token of my undying affection towards you and my best wishes for a long run as a Don.  When I see you next, I shall bring with me wine from my family's property in Sicily and we will toast to your success.  For now, enjoy the moment and all that it brings.  You have a lot of work ahead of you.  

-I

Inside the box, was a photo of two people who had been very dear to Will in the past:  Connor and Kinzie. 

On the back of the photo, it says in Isabella's hand,

"We should never lose touch with those we care about most.  Look on the street corner.  I told him you might have work for him."

It had cost her a shit ton to track them down, but it was worth every penny to see Will's face as his old friend and he met eyes for the first time in years - Will now a powerful Mafia Don and Connor ... well he might work out to be one nice piece of muscle for the new Don.  Every Don needed a guy to lean on, someone who you could talk to, someone who really knew you and would speak to you straight and tell you like it was.  Connor could be that for Will.

"Let's go."  She said to the driver, as Will's focus wasn't on the crowd looking for her anymore.  She left him to his celebration and his reunion with his oldest and dearest friends.

The rain was heavy, but the mood lightened with the news of an expansion to Race Street. Adonis stood quietly among those present. He was thinking he should've worn something other than a thick woolen overcoat. An umbrella would've worked well. He let the water run down his face as he stood at attention whilst the others spoke and gave well wishes.

The man that first approached him regarding work had now lifted off into the stratosphere of what was capable. The water hit Joe's lips as he made sure to look the goods. Stay dangerous. The words of his Don always at the forefront of his mind. He kept his eyes peeled for anything suspicious, allowing the others to be a little more at ease as they celebrated the news.

It was a good time, Joe believed. How could it not be? But some, somewhere, in the shadows, would surface soon enough crying otherwise. 'Always someone wanting to watch the world burn', he thought, as he noticed a black cat scurry down the pier trying to get from one place of shelter to the next. Adonis smirked at the sight. A lucky omen, he mused. For an auspicious time, indeed.

Henry stood next to Joe Adonis, he noticed that his focus was entirely set on the crowd of people that stood before them.

"Ay ya bastard" Henry proceeds to give Joe a light punch on the arm.

"Listen, even though I'm with Bill now, we gotta keep this bond between our families strong. We are the newer generation, you, JoeyGunz, Killian, myself... ehh fuck it, the whole lot. It's up to us to make the older boys proud"

Henry gives Joe a solid handshake, similar to what the younger generation referred to as a "Bro shake"

"Purgatory Boys and the Race St OG's gotta look out for each other. If you ever need me, I got you"

The bonds between all Philly crews were strong. Interwoven family ties meant that Philly would remain an unbreakable city. Henry was confident that this city would stand tall, even during the most challenging times.

After a couple failed attempts at lighting a match, the cigarette hanging from Maldini's mouth was all but soaked. He loosened his jaw and let it fall to the ground. This goddamn rain. He watched from the outer fringes of the group. He wasn't going to be jockeying through a crowd of Made guys just to get a better view. Operations were expanding - that's all Maldini knew - and Bowden was at the head of it. It was good news all around. He pulled his hat a little bit further down over his face and continued to observe, full of confidence in the men who led the family his future was tied to. 

Tara stood, smiling, beside William and shook his hand when he was finished.

"I've already spoken enough to you in private to talk to your ear off. Let me repeat that you have my full confidence, and I'm excited to see what you accomplish."

She kissed his cheek, then patting him on the shoulder- her grin breaking out.

"So excited for you, Will! I know you'll make us proud."

"Congratulazioni amico mio, te lo meriti." 

Eddie couldn't be happier for William Bowden. The two had been great friends since Eddie had first started off doing collections for Jack Mezzo when Eddie first came out to Philly from Queens. William became a sort of mentor for him, and he was proud to see him doing so well in life. He'd be sure that he would be making the big bucks in no time at all.

"Billy, you know my door is always open for you should you need anything at all. Just don't ask for my cousin Jackie. I know you been eyeing her up for weeks now you bastard."

Eddie embraces William as a brother, planting a cigar in his shirt pocket.

"For later back at The Queen of Hearts. Smoke it like a fucking King, eh?"