Foreword

Louie holed up with the rest of his family, the Chicago Blackhawks, alongside his Don and some of the other members. War had broken out that morning and our family backed Godmother Marie Lucania. In my head, I had no clue why war had broken out, but in my heart I hoped that Chicago and Godmother Marie could still stand strong.

Sometime later into the night, with the family holed up in their headquarters main lobby, with tables overturned as cover and havoc everywhere. Louie patrolled the lobby along with some of the other members, leading them as a Boss of the family. Suddenly, opposition gangsters, thugs, and wise guys blasted the front door, and the battle was on. They sprawled into the door, and spread out everywhere, as my family rained machine gun fire upon them.

Louie revealed a polished Colt M1911 .45 from his back waist, sliding it away from his blazer, and began to send some shots towards the door. He gripped the pistol one-handed and quickly squared it off on his target's head and firing twice before adjusting targets. Eventually, Louie clicked his trigger twice at a gangster who should have died, and in his speedy, fumbled attempt to change magazines, caught a bullet in his right shoulder, sending the gun one way, and sending Louie to the floor. Defenders had noticed Louie get hit and it distracted them enough for the invaders to gain an upper-hand. One by one, the shooting began to slow down, until it was silence, except for the low groan of Louie and the footsteps of gangsters on the other side of his table.

The Loop, Chicago.

My family wasn't always in the Loop. We moved into a small suburban neighbourhood on the outskirts of the Loop, after the very sudden and concurrent passing of my Father, Louie Canicatti and Uncle Silvio. Here, I lived with my widow mother and the most rest of my family. In his day, my Pops ran a large portion of rackets in the South Side, granted to him by his Don, the head of the Chicago Blackhawks. As far as reputation goes, my bloodline may not be worth much anymore. My Father time was an age ago, and these days the streets are probably a lot different. Now it was my time. Thanks to the funds my Father left behind, I was well done by and educated but now I have come of age. University isn't for me as I never got by well in school. Picked fights, I was truant, I didn't respect authority, and most of all they hated my skills with a Slingshot. I think my attitude stemmed from my roots, because I know what my Father was, what I could achieve. I've always wanted to be just like my Pops. He was respected, wealthy, and protected, but he earned that all.

I didn't know where to start, but I knew now was the time.