Levianth gave GaetanoRusso an intense stare, not reaching for his gun, but still cautious. 

"Petah and his underboss, Abigail. How about you?" 

Gaetano took another long puff from the cigarette, while pondering for a moment.

"My name is Gaetano. Ask around and you will find out who I am. Now, here is the deal. I want 5 grand to settle things right between us. How does that sound to you?" he said. For him, that was a fair proposal and he seemed irreducible in that regard.

If this guy thought he was playing fair, boy was he wrong. Levianth began to chuckle silently, shake his head, before he pursed his lips. He tilted his head and spoke in a sarcastic tone. His eyebrows furrowed. 

"5 grand? I got a family to provide, brotha. And what my brother and I did to those guys were "

He quickened his pace towards the door and found himself finally in the hallway of the apartment building. Levianth gave one last look to the man. He seemed a little jittery and nervous.

"We have to head off. Come on Xavier."

After the successful torch of a rival's business with GiovanniLaurel, she invited him to see the new apartment building she had just finished renovating.   She asked Giovanni to meet her in the resident’s lounge of her Sleeping Giants apartment building.   It was a last minute invitation but asked the Café to deliver a nice lunch to her apartment.   This would be the first time she would be entertaining anyone there and was very excited about. 

When he arrived, of course, she had to give him the grand tour of the game room, indoor pool, outside patio, and courtyard.

When they arrive at her apartment the Café staff had prepared a very nice spread for her.  They went into her entertainment area and Giovanni had a seat at the bar as she made her way behind it and asked him what he would like for a drink.

Giovanni had just got the smell of fuel out of his hair when he picked a three-piece suit from his briefcase. He had been invited by Rain for lunch, after hinting that she should show him the sights around her home city.

Giovanni rung down to the reception of the hotel and requested a cab to pick him up outside, to take him to the Sleeping Giants apartment building. The trip was smooth and swift and the taxi driver was a chatty type.

Stepping out of the cab, Gio was impressed. The size and magnitude of the building he was looking at greatly exceeded his expectations. He was used to the architecture of Pasadena, where buildings rarely exceeded 5 stories. The spacious lobby was truly adequate to such a colossus of a building, the added touch of a modern looking canopy making it a very pleasant space to be in. Giovanni immediately spotted Rain inside and made haste to meet her.

She gave him a thorough tour of the place, showing him around the multiple commodities the apartment complex ensured to its residents. This was where the place truly shined, offering services that many 5 star hotels around the world couldn't compete with. Giovanni was clearly fascinated, even muttering "Damn, I need to buy a place like this."

Being done with the tour, they went upstairs to her apartment. It was a spacious place, carefully decorated. Rain quickly guided Giovanni to the bar area. Gio was unsure if it was because she knew him well or because she was afraid he'd break something. He chuckled at himself.

"I'd love some vermouth just to build up some appetite. It's the perfect aperitif. Tell me, what will we be having?"

Rain poured  GiovanniLaurel a glass of vermouth and pulled out her special jug of apple pie moonshine and pour it over a glass of ice for herself.   She had to laugh when he said tell me, what will we be having because actually, she had no idea.  Everything was so sudden she was downstairs with him while the Café staff prepared the spread in her apartment.

Well, we will have to just go investigate for ourselves.  I asked them to set this up while we were downstairs having a look around.

Rain pointed at the table and gestured to Giovanni for them to go take a look.  

Shall we have a look?  He followed her to the table.

On the table they opened small trays of mini rotisserie chicken sandwiches, artichoke and cheese stuffed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes stuffed with chicken apple salad, bacon-wrapped pineapple, and Asian chicken skewers.

Looks like they did a nice job.

She handed Giovanni a plate and told him to help himself.

Gio still had his glass in his hand when Rain handed him a plate. He was hungry and the drink was gone, so he just put it down at the table. Hopefully, Rain wouldn't mind. Now, to dig into the food.

The whole table smelled amazing, but the Bacon-wrapped pineapple really caught his eye. He grabbed a couple of pieces and put them into his place, along with some cherry tomatoes. He was eager to dig in, but he waited for Rain to have a full plate as well. Mostly because he was a gentleman, but also because he had no idea where would they be eating. The apartment was so big, it could very well have more than one dining room.

"I must admit, Rain, this is truly a treat. The apartment is absolutely wonderful, and the food smells marvellous. I only wish we would do this more often."

He followed Rain and got seated, nibbling onto the specialities while making small talk.  The food was truly wonderful, being both refreshing and heartwarming. The flavours were carefully combined in order to make the dish stand out.

"You know, I had never eaten bacon and pineapple. It's a bit like Prosciutto e Melone, I guess. Quite an interesting combination, however. " Gio took another bite while nodding heartily "Definitely a good one, though. I'm sold. Are you sure you guys don't deliver all the way to LA?"

Rain wan enjoying GiovanniLaurel company and conversation as they sat at the table. 

Well no we can't deliver to LA but you could always make this place your home away from home.  Sometimes it nice not to have to stay at a hotel every city you visit. I have another apartment in Chicago but all other cities I have to stay at one of my hotels.  The hospitality/entertainment business has been a very lucrative one for my family.  Definitely a sure way of keeping the FEDs off your back and hiding our illegal activities. Not like there hasn't been a lot of lost and sacrifices.  Through their hard work, I have been able to reap the benefits of a good life and will try hard to maintain it.   We all work hard in this thing of ours.  I just want to create an atmosphere enabling people to relax and enjoy the benefits of their hard work. 

When they finished eating Giovanni helped her cover up the food that was left on the trays.  Rain placed their dirty dishes on the kitchen counter. 

When they made their way back to the entertainment area she asked if he cares for something different or another vermouth?

Giovanni was considering Rain's proposition. It wasn't a bad idea at all. Especially considering the distance between Los Angeles and Detroit, it could come in handy. Plus, he would need somewhere to lay low whenever the law came too close for comfort.

"I definitely would like to talk about that. I'd be more than happy to have a place to call home on the East coast as well."

Gio lit a cigarette while heping Rain tyding up the place. "You hotels do seem to work quite well. I have been a costumer in them more than a few times, as you know."

It had been an incredibly enjoyable lunch. Gio had ended up eating a little more than what he expected, so he was hoping for a digestive. Unsurprisingly, Rain was truly a good host and led him back to the bar, where he'd find an ashtray and the much desired digestive he was looking for.

"I'll have a Fernet Branca, if you have some. It's wonderful for digestion, really. Tell me, do you have anything else planned for today?"

Rain excused herself from@GiovanniLaurel a minute.  When she returned.

I do have plans for later this evening.  I have to meet an informant at my Bosses place later.  He has a spot called Russo’s Bar.   We are looking for the whereabouts of two of the Capone boys.  They did a job with us and running their mouths on the street.  We need to shut them up before they jeopardize the whole operation.  You are more than welcome to join me a little later.  I think you might like the place.

Rain looked through the bottles she had stacked under the bar.  I am sorry I don’t have a bottle of Fernet Branca.  I will make sure I order some. She pulled out a bottle of Braulio Amaro Alpino.  Would you like to try this one?

Giovanni waited for Rain to return to his company. He fiddled with a cigarette but decided not to smoke it right away. He would wait for his drink and decide on it.

"Oh damn. I was hoping we could check out some places in Detroit. Perhaps next time, though?" Gio chuckled. He always wanted to know the top spots in every city. It was almost obsessive to him, finding out hidden gems he could grow attached to in every city. He took a moment to remember his favourite places in Seattle.

"I'll be happy to join in a little bit. I'll take a while to acquaint myself with the free apartments so I can pick one, perhaps? We'll have to talk prices, the Bar would be wonderful."

Gio lit the cigarette he had fiddled with earlier as Rain checked up some bottles she had put inside the bar. He couldn't see her, but he did trust her judgement. However, she didn't have his favourite drink.

"If it's good and strong, it'll do. Most Amaros are simply great."

He took a sip of his drink while smoking and then told Rain:

"So, what time should I meet you later on?"

Rain took GiovanniLaurel to see two apartments she thought might interest him.  She knew that APT 404 would be ideal for him.   Sure enough, he was very impressed with it.

The luxury kitchen had bright white finished cabinets, enhanced by its golden details and honey-colored marble countertops.

The living room had an oversized sofa and love seat made of gray leather with carved legs and finish in leaf gold. Also, an impressive element of the living room is a big luxury library of great artisan work.

The king-size beds in the master bedrooms have large headboard consisting of padded elements embellished by capitonné machining.

Giovanni loved the place.   I told him the leasing requirements,  that I would hold it awhile to give him a chance to make a decision on it.  

We walked back to my apartment, he picked up his coat and we decided he would pick me up in a couple of hours to go to Russo’s Bar.

Giovanni was truly impressed by the apartment. The attention to detail was wonderful, and the condition of the building was stellar. He simply could not resist it. He did tell Rain he would need some time to decide on it.

Not that he would need to spend much time thinking about it - he was sold, and this was definitely the kind of thing he needed on the East coast. He'd be happy to live out of this place whenever he was in Detroit and manage some business from there. Rain had been nice enough to provide him with plenty of space for reading materials, one of the simples pleasures he constantly indulged in.

Back at her apartment, he agreed to pick her up after dinner to swing by Russo's bar. Not that he didn't want to have dinner with her, but he understood that she was as much of a busy woman as she was a lovely host, and he simply couldn't hold her back.

He decided he'd take a ride through Detroit and think about the apartment, but he was really only trying to meet his surroundings a little better.

Kenny walks in his new apartment and it's amazed by how good it looks. He signals Ciri that she is free to do whatever she wants and she goes to meet the new apartment, smell things and all that shit that dogs likes to do. Kenny walks over the kitchen and sees a bottle of whiskey waiting for him. He smiles as he knows that it was Rain who placed it there. She knows him so well. He grabs a cigarette pack from his pocket and pulls up one. He lights it and grabs the whiskey bottle. He cracks it up and takes a long sip.

Kenny walks over to the fridge and opens it. It was filled with all kinds of food. He grabbed a big piece of meat and whistled to Ciri, he threw the meat on the ground for her to eat. She devoured the thing like crazy. Kenny smiled then petted her while she was eating. She was swinging her tail like crazy.

He grabbed the bottle of whiskey and walked over to the dining room. He took a seat at the table, grabbed a journal then read it while smoking and having a drink.

Once again Stefano had been called to meet Rain and once again she was not to be found.  He still followed her directions and walked the hotel grounds and learned a few things about the join.  However he didn't see the point she ran the hotels and he wasn't a guest of them nor did he have any authority to change things around.  Whenever he had something to say she would either cut him off or dismiss it and malarkey.   He was under her orders so like a good toy soldier he marched to the beat of her drum.  It was a good thing she was cute or he would have told her a thing or two.  

He looked up the cost of staying there and realized he would have own a back to stay their.  He was not a successful lawyer or doctor and cost was an issue unless he stayed on her dime or in her apartment.  The thought of that was pleasant but then turned scary at the thought of her coming home finding him and shooting him twice.  After rethinking it was better to just put in the work.

After a few hours of learning the who, what and why's of the staff and plans Stefano received a call from Rain.  She instructed him to stay there a few days and that he could stay in Franks old place.  He heard the name but didn't know the guy.  Then a staff member point him out in a picture.  Rain and Frank -Cali were in many pictures together.  He felt honored to have his place of residency.  Then as he went to check out the place he found some of Frank's clothes and he refused to wear the clothes of a dead man.  

Stefano called the salvation army and they came an took away everything that had to go.  Clothes, shoes, sheets pillow cases, mattresses & dishes.  He purchased everything he needed from local tailors, and, shops.  Then he went to work looking over the back ground of every employee and business partners to ensure they were doing the job they were best suited for and that they were not trying or planning to rub Rain.  He laid down the rules in away that they knew that Rain would not even know they went missing.  

Lucchese made sure that when things went right that the staff received a cash bonus for the work they put in.  When things went wrong they paid a price they were not willing to face again.  The staff ran to Stefano for everything and they respected him fully.      

Kiddo  was stating home this evening he ordered pizza to be delivered by the way he usually stays here when he is home which is not often  at the The Sleeping Giants Apartment..   After dinner he turns to the news and sit's back relaxing all business done for the day he back home to spend the night he is so pleased....

Things were settling down and getting back to normal as Rain arrived back at her apartment.  She had some very challenging days.  Again she had to deal with losing someone she loved very dearly.  She knew it was going to take some time to get over the fact that she had lost Frank but was taking it one day at a time. 

They say that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.  She felt that she had found that new light in Stefano_Lucchese. She had recently recruited Stefano into the business because she felt he had enormous potential.  They both had roots in the old country and it struck a chord when he told her”  I was sent here to get established so that my family can migrate here and have a little something to ensure they live and have means to conduct business.”   He reminded her so much of Frank, but knowing she was still grieving losing him she told herself not to let those memories get in her way a allow Stefano to prove himself on his own merits.  She was a little upset at first at the fact Stefano had got rid of Frank’s things, but quickly came back to her senses knowing they had to be removed.  She hoped her gut feeling about Stefano were  correct and eventually able to give him more responsibilities.

With spring in the air she thought how nice it would be to have a nice hello neighbor party in the courtyard, so the tenants could get to know each other.

Stefano walked in tried from his train ride from New York and was a little irritated knowing that he would have to return there soon.  Going from New Your to Detroit to Vegas was draining on the body when you want a goodnights rest.   He walk toward his kitchen and looked around then grabbed a glass and then turned on the water facet in the sink and lit it run until the water was good and cold.  He filled the glass and drank some then poured the rest out and turned the facet off.  He then looked in his refrigerator and pulled out some cold cuts and made a sandwich.  He had beer and a smile came across his face.  Walking past the radio he stopped and turn the thing on then he walked over with the sandwich and beer he sat on his sofa.  

He was a bit concern because he had another meeting with Rain however the last three meeting she called him for god knows where only to cancel and give him more work assignments.  He didn't know why he liked her but he did and yet he felt as if he was striking out.  She wouldn't give him the time of day unless it was to point out he wasn't at work or working at that time or he should be getting to work.  She had the boss's ear and the respect of the family so he had to smile and get to work.  He hoped just once she would sit down and have a conversation about anything except Frank Cali.  

Kiddo just got home from a days work exhausted he pulls in his place he usually stays The Sleeping Giants Apartment.  he pulls his car up to the front to pick up his key ,the man attendant handed kiddo the key and off to his room he went.    after a shower he walked across the street to pic up his pizza hut he ordered and pays for it turns and heads back to his room.he sat the pizza down and cracked open a beer. soon after 3 beers and 4 pieces of pizza kiddo feels complete,and props his head on his pillow and slowly fell asleep.