Bertram had stopped outside the Sewing Factory Lofts, he left the car running as his employer told him too. Soon enough, emerging from the car was the usual childish, Charlie Pavanno, only this time, his eyes held boredom and above all, disdain. He was clearly in a mood, but the reason why? Well, it was anyone's guess.

He was waiting for his Boss, Adonis, to get a move on, so they could celebrate. He wanted to make sure his boss knew that he was happy for the new arrival, knowing that this would be needed to keep his Boss' mood up, otherwise, he may want to drown himself in a bottle of scotch, something that was not going to be allowed, with a sigh and impatient tapping of his feet, Charlie shouted.

"Donnie! Get a fucking move on brother, we got alcohol to drink and food that needs to be eaten..."

Charlie looked back to Bertram, who gave him a smirk back in return, before honking the horn, knowing that the bossman would have his head if he did not honk the horn, considering that his boss paid very well and business was usually generous with bonuses.

"That's enough Bert, let's hope he hurries his arse up..."

With a thin smile, Lee leaned back against the car, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes staying on the door...

Hearing the honk from the foyer, Adonis smirked. He had a newspaper in hand and was looking through it at the various pictures. He could make out some of the text here and there, some simple words like 'death', 'war', 'drugs', but for the most part he was interested in the mug shots that kept appearing.

The smirk on his face was due to the man behind the voice now booming from outside about food and liquor to be consumed. With a push on his kness, Joe rose from the comfortable seat. There was a lady working the front desk as per usual, currently attending to a potential stayer. 'Long term? No, short term,' Joe mused. He enjoyed guessing those that came through the main doors as he waited now and then in the same place, usually for Del Rossi. Today though, it was Bertram who'd be driving.

With newspaper still in hand, Joe slapped it down hard on the coffee table before walking towards the exit, buttoning up the bottom of his jacket as he did. A picture of Charlie Pavanno's mugshot was displayed on the very front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Joe found his own one in the thing a few times also, regarding some rumors about drug trafficking and mob ties.

Charlie's seemed to be all through it, including stories relating to links to various factions that otherwise would be seen as mortal enemies. The guy certainly knew how to capture the public's attention, Joe thought, as he walked out of the main doors of the Sewing Factory Lofts.

The sun caught his attention first, which had Joe squinting as he glanced up to see what kind of weather was out. It looked like a nice day. Perfect for a casual Sunday drive. As he moved closer to the still running car, he gave his captain an upward nod.

"Anyone ever tell you patience is a virtue?" Joe said with a smirk, pausing momentarily in front of Pavanno to catch his response, before pushing on towards the right back door of the waiting vehicle.

"Come on then."

"Anyone ever tell you patience is a virtue?"

Charlie smirked, his eyes holding amusment as he looked at the boss, as he leaned against the door before he removed himself from leaning as he watched his boss with his ever perceptive eyes.

"Heh, I've heard the saying, never really cared for it to be frank."

He stated in a bored drawl, before looking around them, noticing the patrolling Officers, who discreetly nodded to them, as Charlie allowed a thin smile, watching Office Jorge Lane, look at him with narrowed eyes, before going on his way. He and Officer Lane had a complicated relationship, he had gotten his daughter into University and in exchange, the officer helped Charlie out.

"But has anyone ever told you, Joe, that you should be outside by the time the car arrives? Or we may just miss the big celebration that is being cooked up for us right now. Congratulations by the way...You'll make an excellent Father."

He stated in a soft whisper, knowing his own past would not repeat itself with the Child of Adontoro, someone who would be greatly appreciated in the circle of Philly, but much by the family that Joe already had. With Nikita, Itachi, Viscorio, Arturo, and himself. They had a good group, just to name a few that would gladly give their lives to protect this baby.

"If you ever need anything, I know, I should be the last one to offer assistance with a child, considering my past, but, I want to help. Should that child ever want for anything, let me know and I shall help in whatever way I can..."

Charlie coughed, seemingly trying to rid himself of the emotions that he once fought down, before looking back to his Boss with a grin and nodding.

"Only tonight is about getting your ass drunk so much that you can barely think straight, East Cat, here we come, because business can wait for today Joe, this is a family celebration."

Charles nodded, before walking around to the left side of the vehicle and entering the backseat, waiting for Adonis and Bertram, so they could drink the night away and probably land a woman...

"Thank you, Charlie." Joe replied, keeping it short.

He really wanted to tell the guy how much he had watched him grow. How much he'd developed beyond the bullshit he once held onto, and had turned himself into a man of honor right before his very eyes. Not just by being brought into the inner circle of the Midas and Race Street family, but by how he held and carried himself.

But, as Charlie explained, they were to celebrate. And Joe didn't want to linger on anything that might take their enjoyment too deep into the feels. He'd been through enough of that with Ilaria's scare. He just wanted to drink and let the good times roll.

Joe nodded his approval of the destination as he slid into the back of the car.

"East Cat it is, then."

Bertram soon drove a leisurely speed, allowing the men to talk if they should ever please too. He knew that his Employer was never that much of a talker with him when it came to true family business, but otherwise, they were a bunch that never liked talking in a peaceful drive, but he knew that with Joe here, they might as well.

"I have news for you, by the way, it seems that our Family has some challenge on the streets, heh. All fun and games, Artie Bucco seems to be conducting more business in the streets and Businesses that are around the city, might give us a run  for our money."

Charlie said with pure excitement in his tone, people talked of Artie Bucco like he was the King, giving him, a run for his money. Something that he enjoyed, as the last challenge he enjoyed was from a Philly Native like himself, Alexander Knight. To which, the Knight had pulled out and allowed him some rule on the streets, as people once again talked about with awe and revered tones. 

"We might have to step it up, truly show those Seattle Boys what we are made of. Only once again, that is for when you cure yourself of a hangover and I possibly finish a round of spin the whore."

He laughed with such excitement that one would recognize the child that people said he was in Philly, but then again, people knew his reputation and what he could do, when angered. He looked to Joe, wondering what the man was thinking, possibly about getting a large pint of beer, considering he would need it to take his mind off of Ilaria. 

"Make sure to request the Alexander Knight record, we need to enjoy and make sure that we are treated as the Kings we are. Bertram, speed it up a little, we are a little late..."

He shot a pointed look towards Joe, with a small smirk, before leaning back into the cool seats, knowing that his Boss was a rather relaxed and sometimes lazy man, but like him, when it came to Booze and Food, they were like the common man who wanted to spend a night with a Scarlett Woman...

The beginning of the drive had Joe's mind slipping back into the realm of Ilaria and the baby to come as he looked out the window. It wasn't until Charlie started talking that he had something else to focus on.

"We might have to step it up, truly show those Seattle Boys what we are made of."

Charlie always knew how to bring the energy level over nine thousand. The guy seemed to find new motivation and ways to get excited that even Joe had a hard time keeping up with. His own ambitions were well noted. And once upon a time he'd considered himself the top of the table when it came to rumors and stories spreading about him street side. But these days, it was all cat man.

"I like where your mind is at, Pavanno. We've been a little too quiet lately. We've let these jackals and hyenas too close. We've let them run a muck, eat our food, and fuck about in our domain. It's about time we reminded them what a real roar sounds like from true mother fucking kings of the jungle."

The two shared a common interest in being known as people who gave barbershops and the like a good bit of information to run with. Some rumors to take hold of, to spin into something that kept them entertained as they went about their daily happenings. Just a haircut wasn't enough. You had to get a story with it, and by fuck you were going to hear Charlie or Joe's name at least once by the time the hair master was done with you.

He had glanced back at Charlie momentarily, nodding his own approval at his words with an enthusiasm that may be slightly approaching nine thousand, before turning his sights back to the passing street outside the window.

Soon enough the car had stopped outside the East Cat Cellar, it was quiet, which Charlie enjoyed as he looked over to his boss, wondering if he was ready to go inside and be greeted like he was famous, in the right way, of course. They were famous, but more in the way of bad publicity that did not allow them to be as welcome in some places, then they would be here.

"You ready Bossman? 

Charlie looked to Adonis, waiting for him to answer, as he looked out the car window, possibly thinking about Ilaria and their child, something that he understood and knew about. Only, he would him to wallow like he did and so, he placed a hand on Adonis' Shoulder

"Oh Brother, you ready?

He asked, hoping that his Boss was not too caught up within himself. He waited, knowing that his boss probably needed this small moment, he counted a single second, before he smiled and lightly punched Adonis' shoulder, before stating with a loud tone.

"Aye, come on, let's get you a drink inside! It's a celebrating time..."

It was the day after. After what, was the big, head pounding holy fuck what happened last night question. His eyes slowly blinked till he realized they were stuck shut by that stuff called sleep, which was exactly what Joe Adonis and Charlie__Pavanno were having a hard time now waking up from.

"Fuck..you." Were Joe's first words, lightly said, under a breath of throat scolding exhale. He immediately felt just how dry his throat was, which had him feel the need to open his eyes further, for some reason, which just reminded him how much they really weren't ready for being open at all. The fuck happened last night.

There was a shit of a kid running a metal baton up and down the bars of what looked to be a large cage they were in. He knew he was imprisoned, that much was for sure, and now seating upright and forcing his eyes open with a long, much needed stretch of the arms, Joe confirmed it. Definitely, imprisoned. For fuckn sure. And that kid better shut the fuck up were his thoughts.

With a glance to the left he noticed Charlie, still asleep. With a raised boot, Joe nudged Charlie , attempting to wake the man up.

"Ngh! What in the fu-"

Opening his eyes with a groan, Charlie grew annoyed as he heard the mocking laughter of the jailor or whatever sort of cop this was because he was in no mood for technicalities, he had a killer headache the size of his bank account. He looked up and saw that his boss was nudging with his foot, in a regular he would have asked what was up, but in this one...

"Stop fucking kicking me with the bloody shoe mate! Shite...What in the blazing hell did we do last night?"

He suddenly felt something in his coat pocket, reaching inside, he felt it was a rather large bottle of Scotch Whiskey, now he didn't mind the occasional drink, it was something that he had learned to control, but if it was involved, then he would have to stop it, because he would not go down that track again...

"Charlie!"

Hearing the voice of what would seem like an angel, Charlie looked across the cell and noticed that it was a rather revealing dressed woman, she had black hair and piercing violet eyes, Charlie's eyes had widened, before looking to Adonis, hoping to god that this was not his lady of the night..

"Oh god...tell me, this wasn't mine, right?"

Charlie said in a hushed tone to Adonis, still wondering what in the fuck they did last night...

"Just, calm the fuck down, would ya pal?"

Joe looked over to the women with a squint.

"Charlie?" 

He said with a slowly rising pointed finger towards the women in question.

"What's that on her finger?"

Silence. That was all that was heard, he looked at the woman with a nervous smile, before his eyes became heavy, his movements all over the place. His voice quiet, knowing that his...well, they were not there yet, but it was getting close.

"Oh N- N- Oh No..."

He looked back to his boss and down at the bottle, then switched back to Adonis with a chuckle, which oddly turned into crying, Charlie threw the bottle of scotch to the wall, smashing it to pieces. He fell to his knees, looking between the woman and Adonis...

"What in the fuck happened last night!? I cannot be married to...Tanya?"

The woman, who Charlie supposed was Tanya looked a bit down, before growling out in a rage, as Charlie backed away with a slight chuckle, knowing that Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.

"Tara, you oaf!"

Charlie looked to Adonis, wondering if he could make sense of any of this...

"Okay...Okay...Okay, Boss, we gotta find out what happened!" 

"Look, it's simple." Joe was now quite awake compared to how he'd experienced things a few moments ago, dead.

With a glance between the two, he made sure to smile lightly before saying "Trouble in paradise already?"

It seemed to be a problem. Not just Charlie possibly but most likely being married to some common... Tanya?

It was also the question, and something Charlie had already been on about, and that was... What in the hell happ... Mexico?

Joe couldn't help but notice the look of a guard coming down the distinctly cream colored solid concrete passage, walking towards the cage. He'd never been this far south before, so he wouldn't know precisely that's where they were. Yet given they definitely weren't still in the United States, any guess was a good guess right now.

With a wiggle of a set of keys, the mustache sporting brown skinned man opened the barred jailhouse door.

"Okay...So thanks to my business agreement with the Cordelia Family, I think I can get us a ride, but she ain't coming with us! She can hitch her own ride, she is not Mrs. Pavanno!"

Charlie turns pale at the thought and looks to...Tara with a friendly smile before holding out his hand with, to which she slapped him and his head had turned with such force that Charlie found himself thinking he was in a boxing ring with his boss again. He stumbled, stabling himself as he used his hand to rest for a small moment. 

"Okay Love, listen 'ere, I don't know what fucking happened, but there ain't no way I am going back with you to Philly, so take off the fucking ring and you can ride with us!"

Tara with a sniffle gave the ring, knowing that she was mostly going to use it for status, but she had snagged the mobster for the night before the feds had come and locked them up, something that she hadn't known either. 

"Fine! But just know that you should blame the bottle of Scotch Whiskey, you played a good game, while the man behind you just well, drunk at the bar for a while, but that's all I remember..."

Charlie nodded before groaning, swearing to never play the game that caused him to be hungover like a bitch and forgetting most of the night, now he knew that they were at the bar, but what happened after that? Guess they would find out soon, bloody hell...did their luck ever turn?

"Alright let's go, for fuck's sake...Never play Spin The Bottle again!"

With this, Charlie walked out of the cell, being followed by Tara as they went to grab their stuff, he looked back to Joe, who was still wearing that little smirk...

"I know your my boss and all, but if that smirk is not off your face in the next five seconds then we're boxing again and this time...I ain't pulling punches..."

Charlie turned away, wiping the confident look off his face, as he muttered, "Am I fucking stupid? The last time he punched me I was sure that I was literally put into next week..."

Joe chuckled as he raised his arms in the air, playfully showing he wasn't a threat.

"Whatever you say, lover boy."

As Charlie and his Tara left the cell, Joe began to stand himself up, pushing down on his knees to make it that much easier. He felt like shit. Probably stunk like it too. What began as a simple celebration to usher in the news of Joe being a parent soon enough, had turned into a quirky little ending.

The only thing was, this was far from that. They were in a foreign country. They didn't know exactly where, yet. But it was safe to say they weren't going to just walk out the front door and be able to cab it back to Philly. How they got back would be their mission. What happened along the way, stories to tell over more drinks whilst celebrating another occasion. And as they'd gain traction to their goal of safely returning home, the story of last night would continue unfolding.

Joe cracked his neck, his right hand rubbing against the back of it, feeling just how tense and dehydrated he currently was. He felt a little light headed, his mouth was like the Sahara, and he was still extremely tired. As he walked out through the jail cell door, turning to the right and making tracks in the direction Charlie and Tara went, all he really hoped right now was that this jailhouse had a fresh pot of something caffeine based he could dive into.

The walk down the corridor felt like the walk of shame. He could only imagine how Charlie was taking it. Tara, he wasn't concerned about. She looked like a golddigger if Joe were attempting to place labels. He'd met a few in his earlier days. One which rang loudly, as the thought of Tara sharing the same casual profession tickled him.

Joe took a gander at the various jail cells still occupied as he walked towards a door at the end, which Charlie had just passed through, followed by Tara. The people behind the bars all looked fairly similar. Not in physical appearance, as each had their own individuality. In what was left of, if anything, their souls. They looked like they'd lost chunks of it, each one's eyes showing the darkness that came with such progression.

Joe Adonis wasn't exactly a religious man. He just knew what it looked, and felt like to be happy. Coming from a place where he was far from it, and finally stepping into that open doorway, he could relate to their struggles. Each man he viewed had a similar problem, which was maybe the catalyst. They lacked the kindness a caring soul offered.

As he passed the last cell, a hand reached out and gripped his wrist.

"It's the devil in ya. It 's always there. It wants ya. And it'll get ya!"

The guard who'd let them out and was escorting Joe, raised a baton and let it whip down hard on the inmate's knuckles.

"Ahhhh!" He yelped, stumbling back into his cell. The mustache followed up with a swat against the bars, then pointed the thing directly at the troubled man.

"One more time and it's lights out!"

Frustrated, the guard nudged Joe towards the solid metal door with the same baton before sliding it into its holster at his hip.

"And you, hurry the fuck up!"

Charlie glanced to the side, noticing his ever constant companion in this situation, Tara, walked closer to him. Trying her darndest to not be grabbed or groped in any way, Charlie protectively placed an arm around her shoulder as they walked through the door, collecting their things. Only the first sight he came too was Bertram, he breathed a sigh of relief, thanking Fortuna that he was here.

"Oh thank you, Bertram, come on, you can get the car! Let's go..."

It seemed that Bertram had something interesting to tell him as the man squirmed and gained a look of discomfort, something that he would never place on Bertram, that means something must have happened. He walked forward, gripping his guard's arm with tender care for that little while.

"Tell me, my friend, what is the issue? What has happened?"

Bertram coughed uncomfortably, before muttering under his breath, something that Charlie did not quite catch, leaning in so that he could hear him better. 

"The Lincoln was destroyed..."

A hum was heard before Charle had turned away, his precious car had been destroyed, by who!? He would find out, but for now? He needed to call one of the guards for the Cordelia's because he was not going to walk through this freaking desert wearing a suit. 

"Call Nestor, tell him that we need a vehicle, I ain't trying to get chewed out by Ilaria_Santoro because Joe here ended up in Mexico. Do you know anything about that?"

Bertram hummed himself, before nodding.

"Yeah, you got into a fight with a couple of gangsters over this Lady of the Night, what was her name? Tara! That's it! Tara, from there, shit went downhill and Joe had to help you beat 'em up, they called you out and from there, you guys left without me..."

Charlie nodded, finding it believable that they had gotten into a fight, possibly that was how the car got destroyed, but if he got into a fight for Tara, then she must know these fucking Gangsters!

"So...whore, what do you know?"

Tara's eyes had widened before spluttering out, knowing that these types of guys did not like being lied to more than once and even the first time was something they frowned upon.

"Fine! I know their names, Urick and Dutch, they're a couple of gangsters from Manhattan. They're regulars and usually request my services, they hang around your building, The Policy. Usually trying to win big."

Charlie nodded, finally having a lead in what could have occurred during this freak of a night, he was already beginning to wonder if he even played spin the bottle or spin the whore.

"Let's wait for Joe..."

As Charlie and Tara got into it, Bertram made his way over to Joe who was currently leaning against the wall, rolling his sleeves back, whistling. His jacket was who knows where, his shirt a mess and then some. His face had dirt marks on it and some abrasions. But in all, he was quite calm. Still could go a pot of coffee.

And with that thought, a roasted cup passed by in the hand of a uniformed police officer. Joe's wide eyes followed the steaming cup as Bertram began filling Joe in on the situation back in the States. They were deemed missing when they didn't turn up the next morning. It was a little unlike Joe to do not come home these days unless it were necessary due to work and Ilaria was always informed.

Blackout drunk and missing though, not the usual news you'd expect to hear rattling through the Race Street grape vine regarding two of Midas' more well known members.

"So, lay it on me, pal." Joe said still rolling back his sleeves. His attention was back on Bertram, having come to grips with letting a coffee go for now.

"How bad were we, really."

Joe's recollection of the nights events were hampered by his dehydrated state and the thumping headache. He'd been here enough though that he could see the humor in it and enjoy it for what it was, something different to break up life's monotony. Unclear images would flash in his minds eye, but he didn't know if they were from last night or what. He was hoping Bertram could help make sense of things for him, as Charlie also approached with a folded-armed Tara in toe.

Bertram bowed his head to the Don, knowing that respect was to be shown to his superior in this situation, before looking back up, but made sure to not make eye contact. 

"Well sir, you are not that bad, in general, you are not that far from the border, but it will take a while for you to get back home. I'd say forty-eight hours or more. Right now, we would need to get you two to a Hotel."

Bertram looked to Charlie and the woman of the night, they both looked a bit different, with Charlie pouting as he was probably mourning his prized Lincoln K Series, something that Bertram understood, as he too loved the car and loved driving it. He looked to the Whore with narrowed eyes, the cause for this entire shit-filled night!

"Charlie, why in the fuck is she still here!? You do realize it was your libido and her never-ending tracking device that caused this problem, the next time you want to play Spin The Whore, don't! Because Joe here has to be back in Philly!"

Charlie stared back at Bertram with a soft smile before it went blank, his eyes holding fury, but also held embarrassment. It was clear that Bertram had hit the nail on the head. He was embarrassed, but how was it his that he wanted to spend time with a woman like Bertram was any different.

"Oh dear friend, like your any different, let's just get out of here and get some breakfast or something, I want to find those bastards Urick and Dutch, apparently the bastards who started this whole problem. You coming, Joe?"

Charlie asked with a slight grin, knowing that his boss would possibly return it or punch him, either way, they would get out of here, gladly.