Fully renovated by the Race St. Comapny: Midas, The Tops is billed throughout Detroit as a place for men to kick back, drink, laugh, and have a good time.

The Tops offers a classic Vegas experience, with cool, hip, fun, and macho posturing to entice those with a sense of style. This is a place for manly men with a dame on each arm; here to see the artists of Detroit as they perform their signature performances over at the Aces Theater. Choose a fine wine, order the steak rare, and have a good time, baby! The place is run by The Race St. Company: Midas, who talk tough, but most of them don’t take things too seriously; they’re just too cool and laid back to let anything get to them.

Lobby and Casino:

There is a circular desk in the lobby where a Greeter can usually be found. Beyond it is the casino proper, with a main hall to the right as one enters and a smaller section just behind the main staircase. If you wanna try your luck and see if Lady Luck is shining down upon you and sees you as a High Roller!

On the second level, just up the main staircase on the left, is a cashier where the High Rollers can change chips for cash and vice-versa. Right next to the cashier is the entrance to the Aces theater. Where you can see the true arts of Detroit and enjoy a nice night on the town with your lady.

Resturaunt

A bartender sells an assortment of drinks, ranging from Orange Juice to the Hard stuff that people want to take the stress of the day off their shoulders, here is where you can enjoy the true beauty of The Tops, as some in-house music is played to soothe the come and goers, allowing them to enjoy the music for a little while.

The Aces Theater

Men and women going to the Aces Theater can buy a drink or watch one of the shows and acts that are going on. Here they can find Charlie Pavanno who is always looking for more acts in order to liven up the talent that he associates with the Famous Casino/Resturaunt

Courtyard

The courtyard is a small area behind the Casino. It has a pool, which is surrounded by palm trees and a brick wall. There are several usually some of the High Rollers looking to relax from all the money they won, while a few of The Race Street Associates are seen hanging around, wanting to make sure that things remain tip-top

Charlie Pavanno is seen standing in front of a thin red velvet rope as news reporters take his picture and try to catch anything he might say about the opening of his newest venture in Detroit. It was clear that he was excited and he smiled as he spoke to them with a loud booming voice.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to the opening of a new Casino in Detroit, where the games are fair and people can relax, People of Detroit, I welcome you to The Tops!"

Charlie cut the red velvet rope, allowing people to swarm in, knowing that his guys would handle it, he answered as many questions as he could, knowing that this was just the beginning. He had plans for this Casino and future franchises, but this was only the start...

Louis walked in to the casino.  He was not at home in these places, he’d had a go in Las Vegas and while he enjoyed the thrill of dice games he much preferred the street dice to casino dice.  It was being able to see the guy who was ripping you off rather than it being some faceless no-name somewhere in a lounge being hand fed peeled grapes like some narcissistic emperor.

Louis walked around, he knew Charlie by sight but had never spoken to him.  Since discretion was the word de jour, there was no point drawing attention to the situation.  Bozo and Joe knew what to do with the truck.

Louis wandered over to some slot machines and put some cash in:

First up came three bells.  This was an auspicious start.
That was the end of the luck.  Within twenty minutes he was down $100k.

“Fucking expensive day this is going to end up” he thought with a grimace.

He walked past the roulette wheels

"Not a hope in hell" he thought.  That is way out of his league.  He settled down at a blackjack table.  This should be better.

Putting down a small bet, he was dealt a 10 and a queen.

“Stick” he said instantly.  The dealer pulled out two sixes to go with his jack.

“Nice” Louis thought, although the slot machine outcome preyed on his mind.

Another win made him smile but suddenly there again was a run of shitty hands that was starting to flush him out.

“Oh, fuck this,” he muttered to himself.  “This is why gambling is for mugs.”

He wandered about some more and found his way to the Aces Theatre, he needed a drink.  Slinking over to the bar he sat down and ordered a whisky.  When it arrived, he swirled the contents around in the glass and looked about.  As people moved about, he saw Charlie__Pavanno holding court.  Louis finished the drink and walked over and caught him in a break in the conversation.

“Mr Pavanno, I’m Louis Mezzo,” he held out his hand to shake Charlie’s. 

“Don Strigliori asked me to deliver some packages here.  I have them in a truck out back”

Charlie socialized with the high-profile people of Detroit, from Police Chiefs to City Officials, he was the talk of the entire city, men wanted to be him and women well...let's just that they were left with rather vivid dreams. He had a glass of scotch whiskey in hand, listening to the musical talents of Braun Weiler, one of the greatest pianists to ever grace The Tops and was now a nightly regular here in The Aces Theater. He told the bartender to bring a bottle of champagne, wanting to charm more of the guests had come to spend the night while playing a nice game of cards.

The Tops was more of a different vibe, relaxed, chill, and all-around welcoming. He noticed a few of the women had decided to take up drinking some of the champagne that had just been brought over, he smiled at a few before going back to the men with his smile still in place, it was like they had forgotten he was a mobster with the friendly and relaxed Casino of his, it was one of his greatest ventures yet. 

Charlie heard a voice calling out to him, he turned around, noticing someone of importance, with a smirk, he straightened, wiping the smirk off his face, noticing that it was The Boss' of the Race Street Empire Grandson, LouisMezzo. 

"Mr. Mezzo, what a pleasure to finally meet you, I hear news of how you've been a few places, looking around at our operation. Welcome to the newest Casino in Detroit, The Tops, you enjoy it so far?"

He had heard the other news of what had been delivered into his Casino. The Packages would be dealt with later, right now? He needed to entertain his guest, he hooked an around the shoulder of Louis Mezzo, sitting him down at a table, as he told the Bartender to get a bottle of everything. 

"So, how you enjoying things so far, friend?"

Louis took a glass and poured whisky into his and Charlie's.  He felt flattered that the reknowned Charlie__Pavanno would view him as anyone of importance and it should definitely be the other way around.

"Things are going well Charlie.  I just wish I wouldn't lose so much money in these places but you know.  You wouldn't set up a casino to give money away now would you!"

Louis looked around the bar at the celebrities lining up to have their pictures taken and be seen here.  He felt really quite underdressed amongst all the glamour.

"The casino business must be quite the thing though.  How on earth do you attract so many rich and famous people?"

Charlie chuckled lightly, his eyes holding a bit of amusement as Louis spoke of the Casino, it was clearly one of his more better ventures, as the others merely provided the start for his dreams, The greatest casino to ever grace the Motor City, it was something of a legacy that he hoped would stay with him forever, he noticed that Louis had poured them a drink, to which he gratefully nodded in respect...

"Well, The House, or in this case, The Family always wins, am I right?"

He laughed, trying to convey the humor, but one would be able to see the ruthless mobster that lay underneath, he may have been cordial and outgoing with the city officials and police chiefs, but that was with them, this was something else. This was a man who had worked his way to the top and was not going to stop, he had yet to reach the glass ceiling and if he did, he would make sure that it broke, because he was not ready to stop, he knew his potential...

"The Casino is something alright, but don't forget, I'm paying upkeep to the Detroit Boys, and got to pay Adonis his part of the Casino Share, I still make money and lots of it, but I ain't ever forget those who helped me out, eh?"

Charlie spoke truthfully, knowing that he did not have to pay the Detroit Mob or even his Boss, yet, it was all about respect in this business. If The Godfathers of Detroit, Assunto, or even DeeSe7en, find out that he was not paying them any of the upkeep, it would start something that he was not willing to let destroy the little peace they had for now.

"Heh, they want to be a part of The Life, Lou, why do you think they come here? Bringing their wives, playing blackjack, slots, and entertaining the less known gamblers. They wanna feel on top of the world, and what better place to do it, then at The Tops Casino? Where everything is chill and relaxed, Ring-A-Ding!"

Charlie raised his glass in cheers, before leaning forward, speaking more privately with the Prodigal Grandson...

"So, what's with this shipment? Did he tell you anything about it? Or, am I supposed to move it? What? I can't have a truck full of contraband in the Casino with Police Chiefs here..."

Where else would Joe Adonis be but at the poker table. It had been a little while since he'd set foot in an establishment to bet on lady luck's turning of the cards. Being the busy man he was, he'd usually be playing hands against whomever happened upon him at the moment the urge struck. At the airport in Philly, or a drug front property in LA, or one of his businesses on The Pier. If he had a deck of cards in hand, whoever was on hand would end up playing some hands.

Tonight though, with his sleeves rolled back and a cigarette dangling from his lips, The Tops was where it was at. A Midas Air private plane brought him to Detroit and would take him home shortly after. Ilaria suggested he go. Maybe he was doing her head in with the flicking of the cards in the apartment. Leo was certainly having a ball trying to catch them midair before they didn't end up in the target area of a waste basket.

"Call." Joe said as he flicked some chips forwards on the table.

His stack was running low but he wasn't here to win. Each hand was played in his usual aggressive style. Sometimes you won, others you lost. It was the enjoyment of the game itself that roped him in every time. Joe took a drag of the smoke then took a sip of the Singleton single malt. Cards, whisky, tobacco. Not a bad way to spend time losing some pocket change.

While talking with LouisMezzo, Charlie had been informed by his right-hand of The Tops, Benny, that his boss was here and playing at the table, losing badly. He shook his head, before motioning to Louis that he would only be one second, before heading out of The Aces Theater. He made his way to the rail and noticed Adonis low stack of chips, he whispered to the floor manager, telling him to handle the dealer. 

Soon enough, the floor manager had gone down and whispered in the dealer's ear, telling him to ease up on this guy, to which he looked back up at Charlie who stared back at him blankly, before placing a smoke in-between his lips and lighting it, knowing that he was already antsy, he did not need his Boss losing this much at The table, it would be a bad image and deter other gamblers from paying, thinking if the infamous boss of Midas could not win, what chance did they have?

"Let's go greet the Gambler..."

Charlie walked down, Benny by his side and the two of them had drawn the attention of many others, some of the maidens blushing and curtsying in their presence, while the men smiled and waved. They had soon made it to the table as Charlie had hooked an arm around the shoulder of Adonis...

"If this ain't a surprise, the Boss himself has visited his esteemed Left Hand, Ring-A-Ding! Now, what's up bossman, what brings you the relaxed and swankiest place in Detroit?"

Louis stood up as Charlie__Pavanno excused himself.  The mention of Adonis had piqued his interest, Jack had encouraged him to have a chat after meeting with Arturo, so he followed Charlie at a respectful distance. 

Louis cast his eyes around, he hadn’t really noticed just how busy it was while he had been looking for Charlie.  Blue-rinsed old women splurging their grandkid’s inheritance mixing it up with the titans of corporate power in Detroit, this gambling thing had really taken off.  Hats off to Charlie for this.

Hearing Benny whisper in his ear as he waited for Adonis to finish his game, he looked behind him, noticing Louie standing a little awkwardly to the side. He motioned for the kid to come forward, wanting to make the introduction for the Kid, give him some more contacts in this world of theirs. 

"Boss, this here is LouisMezzo, I'm sure you've heard of him, he came here to enjoy the games as you did, but he also failed like you dd. Anyway, he has been informing of his little time in this world and its good to hear that he is such a big earner."

Charlie finished with a chuckle, motioning for a stool to be placed down for the grandson of Jack Mezzo, he was not going to allow him to be disregarded as a common associate, even though that was his standing, Charlie believed that the guy had earned some points with him. He braved the life that not many few were willing to cross into. 

"Anyway, he's been meaning to talk with you so I hear, and what better place to do it at a Casino filled with Women and Booze, eh?"

Charlie chuckled, motioning for some more drinks to be brought for them, he arched an eyebrow as he continued to curiously watch Adonis play...

Tossing more chips into the center, Adonis listened to Charlie with his head leaning in his direction. The guy seemed to be right in his element running this place and not just because within the crew he was the premier bettor, his way with words and charm seemed to do well managing people who could potentially turn in a split second.

Gambling was like that fro Joe's experience. Some people just lost themselves to it, in it. It was a world all its own. Some would lost their souls before they'd lost their lives too, and he also knew this from experience. Losing chips wasn't a big deal in contrast, and having been a part of an illegal gambling ring in his early days he immediately saw telltale signs the dealer was being informed a thing or two.

Poker was about reading people when it really came down to it, and Joe enjoyed that part more than anything. He smirked at the realization, then took a sip of his whisky before replying to Charlie. He eyed the contents of the glass and swirled it around as he did.

"I did hear that name through the grape vine."

Adonis had his ears to the pavement. He had a growing collective of newspaper sellers out there mixing among the locals, taking in more from them then the papers they were fobbing off as newsworthy.

"Happy to meet any friend of a friend." Joe said before downing the last of the drink and placing the glass back down.

Two cards had now been dealt to each person playing at the table and the community cards were just being drawn. He was on a short stack but never counted himself out. Anything could turn the tide in a game, especially one that had no limits on buy ins. You were never truly out until you had your foot in a waiting car. Even then you may decide to come back for another spin depending on how loose you were, and after a quick bite to eat.

"Look at this guy! Never stopping, reminds me of an Older Charlie Pavanno, but still, nothing beats the original, Eh Benny?"

Charlie looked to his Right-Hand who was obviously uncomfortable throwing a couple playful jabs at Charlie's boss and therefore, his boss as well. So he turned away, his face reddening in embarrassment, before turning to look at the rest of the floor, noticing a couple out of town mobsters, some from Buffalo. It was clear that his boss' Casino had reached everywhere and now everyone wanted to see what it was about, hopefully, nobody tries to get a percentage of control out of his boss...

"Eh, I can't comment on that Charlie, he pays your checks and you pay mine, thus, I cannot comment!"

Charlie laughed loudly, not once caring that he was being loud or uncaring towards the other Casino goers, he owned the joint and who was going to go against the owner? He looked back to Adonis, before leaning forward with a small smirk on his face, motioning Benny to place a few more chips for Adonis, on the house, of course. 

"You know, the grandson of our Godfather decided to deliver a nice little truck here, filled with gods knows what, but, I have to move to it. I'm thinking, we take it to Philly, fly it to LA, and distribute there. More profit, we all know the movie stars and up-coming stars wanna ride on the wild side. What'cha think? That way? Or should I sell it to some out of town family, like the Buffalo bastards over there?"

He knocked back a drink of Scotch Whiskey, before motioning Benny to patrol the area with a few other Enforcers, to which his Right-Hand had done immediately, he looked over to Louis and noticed him looking a little awkward still and gave a nod to a waitress, telling her to bring him a nice glass of Whiskey, help him loosen up and enjoy the day...

Louis took the stool from Charlie’s guy and was sitting watching Adonis just keep going despite a run of luck that would have had Louis curled up in a ball.

Louis listened to the plan about taking the truck back to Philly and smiled.  Did Charlie not know it was a 12 hour journey back?  

No problem Charlie; me and my guys can take it back if you want.  There was little issue getting it here.  Give us a few hours tonight to get some rest and we’ll do it in daylight tomorrow.  It’ll just look like another truck on the road.

Louis didn’t want to break Adonis’ concentration looking for details.

I’ll tell you what, we’re pretty shattered after the journey.  Bozo said he has a cousin with a garage or something here.  We can park the truck up there.  I need a wash and a wee sleep so have a think and I’ll pop back in tomorrow.  I can help distribute it here or take it out to LA.  I should still have some contacts over there plus I know some folks up in Seattle if you want to move it further afield.

Louis shook Charlie’s hand.

Great to meet you.  I’ll catch up with you later.  Don Adonis, I wish you the best of luck with your evening here.

Louis pushed the stool back and headed to the exit to get some well deserved rest.

"Oh?" Joe said with a more lively tone and a head turn.

The card game was now second to the business Charlie was mentioning. Looked like Louis Mezzo wasn't just coincidentally in town, as Joe initially thought when his left hand man mentioned his name.

"The city of Angels, definitely." Joe said as he tossed more chips forward of his stack and turning his attention back to the game unfolding, where the players were deciding whether the flop had given them a reason to continue. Joe had struck a pair of 7's, in his hand. The spread showed another which had him with trips. Lady luck was smiling down. Or Charlie was poking a charming big of fear into her. Joe smirked, believing it to be the latter.

"And this Louis character. Is he here still?"

One of Charlie’s guys stopped Louis before he got to the casino door. 

“Joe wants a word”

Louis came back to the tables. 

Apologies Don Adonis. I hadn’t intended to disrupt your card game. Don Striglioni asked for a number of packages to be brought to Charlie’s casino. I’m more than happy to assist with anything else needing done. 

Louis retrieved the stool and sat beside Adonis. 

​​​​​​​The truck is out the back of the casino at the moment. It’s not causing a stir or any issue. 

"Haha! Brother, you seem too focused on the game at hand..."

He laughed, humor in the tone of it, he looked at Adonis with an arched eyebrow, wondering if he was too into the game, but he could tell that it was true. He probably never even noticed that Louie had long since left and was on his way to a hotel, it was funny for him, but he remembered that he had that problem at one point. Now he was the one watching the gambler, instead of being the Gambler.

"He's gone to take care of the little distribution problem, he's going to deliver the truck and from there, deliver it around the cities that we need it delivered. Now, you gonna finish playing or we going to go mingle with the out of town Mobsters? Your choice Bossman..."

Charlie sipped his drink, watching his Boss with a small smile playing in his head, he wondered what he would choose, Business or the gamble of winning big? Either way, he would get his entertainment somehow and he could have Benny manage the out of town Mobsters who had come here for some reason, possibly to inform him of something, but that could wait, for now.

Tara had broken out the blue dress that she'd worn to Vegas for Isabella's equivalent of a bachelorette party- one that uproariously good fun at the time, but whose recollection now evoked only sadness due to the deaths of Isabella's step-mother and sister. Still, it was a dress for fun. Tonight, she hoped, would be fun as well. Charlie had invited her to talk about business, but there was no reason not to have fun as well. She'd invited Isabella to join her; with the amount of work the new Mrs. Byrne was doing oth for Jack and at home, she deserved an evening off as well. 

She grinned at Isabella-Luciano as she strolled into the lobby.

"'evening, Isabella. Ready for some fun?"

'How much did I drink?'

He noticed Louis had come back, sitting beside Adonis with a small smile on his face, before mentioning that the truck was still here and he was not in that much of a hurry, Charlie was sure that he had left though and was now wondering if Adonis had slipped some sort of drug in his drink, because bloody hell, it had to be some kind of drug to make him think that Louis had already been on his way to the hotel...

"Louie, bloody hell mate! Gave me a right old scare there, you gotta announce your presence sometime, anyway, considering that this one has someone with him, also known as you! I'll go mingle with the out of town bastards, I'll be right back!"

Charlie walked off, a small stumble in his step, wanting to go off to see the out of town Buffalo Crew Members, knowing that they had to of been here for some reason besides taking a dance with lady luck and trying to poke her otherwise cruel defenses...

"You two have a good time and do not, I repeat, do not! Go to the 13th Floor, it's my presidential suite and its only for me. I'll see you High Rollers around some other time, have a good time at The Tops!"

Charlie boy finished with his signature flair, knowing that he was putting on for the Gamblers, appearing welcoming and homely to the more innocent bystanders. He waved to Adonis and Louie before walking towards the Buffalo Mobsters who were playing a game of Blackjack and winning quite easily, he wondered who hired the dealer, seemed odd...but whatever.

"So Gentleman, I'll be with you one second, for now, deal with my associate, Benny."

Charlie waved over to Benny, telling him to handle the Buffalo Mobsters while he managed the floor, knowing that he had to appear busy and welcoming to the comers and goers...

Bella entered wearing a classy black dress and carried a small sparkling black clutch.  Gavin had selected the dress, a process which was amusing to no end.  She resolved to ask his opinion more often when she wasn't going to be out with him.

Tara looked stunning, as usual, but the dress... where had she seen it before?  Oh yes!  The bachelorette party, it was sad to think of that as one of the last times she was with both Elie and Marie... but she couldn't fault Tara for keeping it in her rotation, the dress was a knockout.

"Absolutely."  She said patting her clutch.  "I'm here on Gavin's dime tonight, I figure he'll figure that out sometime later this evening."  She smirked.

"What should we do first?  Mingle?  Blackjack?  Roulette?  I mean to end the night at the poker tables.  It's long past time to test all those lessons Gavin's been giving me."

Bella smiled at several familiar faces around the room, certain that it was going to be a long but pleasant night.

Tara smirked. Her brother could afford it, so she hardly felt bad for him.

"I agree with ending at the poker tables... maybe a drink and a few hands of blackjack? We'll catch up a bit, then wander around and take in the sights? Unless you're feeling luckier with roulette?"

"I've always had good luck with Blackjack.  Let's go."  she smirked and began walking towards the tables.

"So... what's the news from the front lines of your personal life?  William making time to visit?  Kacey?  Or someone new perhaps?"  She chuckled and waved over a waitress.