It was middle of the night when the phone on the nightstand began to rattle as it rung, it rang and rang until finally Gino reached over and pulled the phone off the hook and brought it to his ear half awake.. He immediately recognized his Uncle's voice, Ron Patangeli, on the other side of the phone but he sounded distressed.. Gino quickly sat up in bed and waken himself up as he listened to his Uncle talk.. He mentioned a large mafia war in America, and that his cousin Peter had been shot... Gino's stomach dropped and before he could say anything, his Uncle beckoned for him to fly out to America before the phone went dead...

Gino placed the phone back on the receiver as he began to process his cousin's death.. The family had already went through so much in the least few years, another death was the last thing he expected.. He let out a deep sigh before tossing the covers off himself and heading into the bathroom to take a leak.. The house was quiet, nothing but the sound of the waves to the ocean could be heard through the house and Gino knew this peace and relaxation was going to be coming to an end here soon, it was time to head back to America...

"Ahhhh"

He mumbled as he began to take a piss into the toilet, the relief was overwhelming especially after a long night of drinking whiskey.. his head slowly cocked back while the loud sound of his piss hit the toilet water filled the room until he was finally done.. He tossed the seat back down and flushed the toilet before washing his hands and making his way out onto the patio of his bedroom.. He picked up the pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes on the table and stuck one in his mouth before flicking his silver zippo open with a sharp flick of his wrist and bringing the flame to the edge of his cigarette and taking a long drag...

He stared out at the ocean as he leaned forward and put the zippo down next to his cigarettes before pulling his cigarette from his mouth and exhaling a deep sigh of relief as the nicotine began to take over his body.. It had been two years since Gino had been to America since his mother died, but this was it, his return was long overdue and it almost felt like it was destined for him to return, someone had to carry on his father's legacy after all...

The day was moving along fast as Gino stepped out of the back of the dark black sedan and began to straighten his suit and tie out.. Today was the big day, the flight back to America.. He had butterflies in his stomach just thinking about it, he missed the smells, the sights, the people, but when he thought of America, he missed his mother the most.. That horrible night she was brutally murdered still lives on in his mind, the gunshots that erupted through the back of the car, the fleeing.. right up until he looked over and saw her slumped over in a pool of her own blood, that thought was one he could never escape..

He shook his head and let out a deep sigh before placing those memories into the back of his brain.. The sedan door shut behind him as his loyal bodyguard and childhood friend, Benny "Stoneface" Bianchi, exited the car and stood to his right and snickered..

"So.. we're going back to America? You sure about this Gino?" Benny said with a scoff

"Well, gotta go back and atleast bury my cousin Peter.. he was my Uncle's long lost son and before he could even find out.. he was brutally gun down in a large mob war.. was some tragic shit..." Gino replied before pulling his pack of Lucky Strikes from his front pocket

"Besides, My Uncle guarantee's we will be safe.. he's got a place in New York for me to stay at, and a local mafia family who will gladly take me in and give me some work.."

Gino paused and pulled a cigarette from his pack and stuck it onto the end of his lips before pulling his silver zippo from his pocket and flicking it sharply open to ignite the flame and raised it to the edge of the cigarette and began to take a drag, the edge went up in a small flame and extinguished quick as Gino pulled the lighter away and shut the lid.. Smoke began to rise off the end and a larger cloud appeared after he exhaled.. he let out a slight 'Ahhhh' and smirked as the nicotine took over..

"Anyways, there is much to discuss and a long flight ahead of us old friend.. let's just chat on the way there."

Gino said as he gestured for Benny and him to start walking.. he took in the sights around him and the smells as he finished off his cigarette and boarded the plane... Next stop... America...

The plane landed safely onto the tarmac in the New York airport, and while Gino was still feeling the jitters of being back in America, he was more happy to just be back on solid groud.. Flying was something he never enjoyed, driving by car was his first choice, even if it meant 30+ hours.. Car ride it was... Passengers quickly boarded off the plan and into the luggage area, where Gino was surprised to find his Uncle Ron already waiting for him, Gino ran over and gave his older Uncle a embrace and slight kiss on the cheek out of respect before taking a step back..

"Zio, stai bene, it's like you haven't aged a day... il tuo immortale" he softly spoke in mixed English and Italian

"Good to see you to Nipote.. you know, you look more and more like your father with each day that passes.. he would have been proud of the man you have become.. and still yet to become.. sei destinato alla grandezza!" Ron said firmly as he watched Gino collect his bag 

"Grazie zio, Vorrei solo che mia madre fosse ancora viva.." 

He replied with a sad tone, he missed his mother dearly.. it was all he thought about, he hadn't met a woman in Sicily, due to him knowing he would return to the states at one point, but also because he still found he was depressed about the whole ordeal.. He always replayed the events in his head, what he could have done differently, maybe she and Melvin would still be alive.. His Uncle's deep voice broke his train of thought..

"Tua madre era una brava donna, ha fatto bene Luis e ti ha cresciuto bene ..." Ron replied with a sad look on his face

"But what is most important.. importante.. is you and I are still alive, rest in peace my son, but you are the future of this family son.. the legacy will live on in you.. I'm far to old to carry out much now.. Sono fragile..."

His uncle always liked to repeat himself when he felt something needed to be stressed, he knew that he had huge shoes to fill in the underworld, his father was a power Godfather here in the states at one time, but in recent years, it seems all his family struggled to do was just live.. constantly in the shadow of him, it's like it did his family and descendants more harm than good, perhaps this was the way when you were from a prestigious mafia lineage, but Gino was not his father, he was his own man just trying to find his way in this world, atleast his father Luis had the honor of knowing his father, Gino never even got to meet the man...

"I know zio, you are getting fairly old.. I will do my best to carry on the name, but you are not going anywhere.." Gino said with a smile before beginning to walk with his Uncle and their various bodyguards

"I know lad.. just.. sto diventando vecchio... not sure how many years this old body can take.." Ron said with a chuckle as they exited the front doors to the airport terminal

"Your all the family has left.. Pete is gone, your sorella Valencia..."

Gino stopped dead in his tracks when his Uncle mentioned his sister... SISTER? His mother never mentioned anything about a sister.. for all he knew, he was a only child.. The sudden sadness of hearing about another family member gone began to take over.. he hadn't known her, but still she was still his sister.. famiglia .. that was special...

"Sorella? Uncle.. what do you mean.. I was never told I had a sister..." Gino said sternly as his Uncles bodyguard opened the back of the sedan doors for them to get in

"Ah yes, she was your father's first child from a previous marriage.. She died shortly before he did when your father finally lost control over the American Mafia... they gunned her down on the Philadelphia Bridge as she drove home... Luis was devastated.. but he got you and your mother out of the city safe, your mother was pregnant with you..."

Ron gestured for Gino to get into the back of the car as Ron's bodyguard took his suitcase and began loading it into the trunk

"Come on, we can talk along the way.. I have someone to introduce you to here in New York anyhow, think you'll get a kick out of him and his appearance.."

Ron said chuckling as Gino shook his head and let out a deep sigh, he wanted to know more about his sister, but for now he would just leave it alone.. He was really jonesing for a cigarette right now too, fuck nicotine withdrawals...

The car ride was a long one into the heart of New York, the traffic caused multiple delays, and much like what Gino remembered of L.A, there was just too many people everywhere.. Sidewalks, roadways, it was like everyone was packed into a small sardine can and stuffed into the same pocket or something, but man did he miss America, it looked and smelled the same as he remembered, the rustle and bustle of the city, he was happy to be back here, Sicily was far to dull and boring, but it didn't help either he was depressed.. America brought that revitalization to him, or something, because he felt anew.. Sure he missed his mother, rest her soul, but he was here in the land of opportunity and he was going to seize what he felt was his... the world...

He smirked as he thought about it, he was always living in the shadow of his mother and father, but he was determined to make a name for himself, one that was different from what his parents were remembered as, mafioso.. he wanted to be a 'business' man, do things right.. but it was like every turn he made, the life was slapping him in the face with a large wet trout...

"We are here.. nipote" his Uncle said sternly as the car came to an abrupt stop

Gino looked around at his surroundings, he was much lost in his train of thought and had totally blurred out most of the last ten minutes of the car ride.. They were outside a large building, it looked almost like a compound of the sorts.. a mafia headquarters persay.. this was the kind of shit he was talking about though, every turn he made.. there the life was slapping him in the face with a...

"Well come on now, let's get a move on we don't have all day... mossa"

Gino let out a sigh before opening the door to the back of the sedan and climbing out and turning around to help his Uncle out of the car.. Gino noticed quickly there were a few suits guarding the place and it was easy to tell they were packing as they flaunted it at their waistband.. He wondered who this place belong to, his Uncle did mention something about a man he wanted me to meet and something about his appearance..

"Facile ora zio .." he joked as his Uncle slowly climbed out of the car, his old age really had done a number on his body..

"Fottiti, aspetta fino alla mia età.." Ron snickered back and smiled "Though I'll be long gone by then.. we both know that.." 

He managed to find his balance on the sidewalk and was given his cane quickly by his loyal bodyguard who was driving but now standing next to the pair.. Gino nodded at him and smiled before replying..

"I don't know Uncle. you still got some fight left in you.. forte.." Ron chuckled and nodded at him before he started walking inside the building

"Vieni, non voglio far aspettare l'uomo verde"

His uncle said as he slowly climbed the steps to the building.. did he just say we shouldn't keep the green man waiting? What green man.. who on earth has green skin? This day was about to get a little weird.. perhaps it was time for a smoke...

The office was fairly well lit, quite dim infact, when they entered .. His Uncle Ron was leading the entire way and just like he said, this man oddly had green skin.. He still wore a suit, looked like a mafia don.. sort of.. he gestured for them to take a seat quickly without speaking much.. His Uncle was the one who started off talking..

"Afternoon Don.. this is my nephew I was telling you about, the one who fled from America.. 'Luis' son.." he said with respect as he gestured to Gino sitting next to him "His father worked in the Union.. I'm sure he will be able to easily step into the same kind of role as his father did... He's a perfect candidate for next Union boss..."

The green man sitting infront of them grunted before looking at him up and down and barking back at his Uncle in a booming voice...

"He look puny, humans all puny.. you sure he tough.. good for job? hmm.." 

"His father was a powerful man.. sure the boy is young.. but he's a hard worker.. go getter just like his father.. his name will instill respect and fear alone.. the dockworkers will not forget about the Philadelphia Union that was ran by his father.. he's the best candidate..."

His Uncle replied sternly as he nudged Gino to say something himself so he wasn't doing all the talking...

"Umm, yes Mr. Don.. sir.. uh.. what was your name.. My name is Gino Patangeli...." he said extending his hand for a shake

"Your hand, puny like all humans..." the green man barked again before reaching his hand out and nearly crushing it as he shook it "Hulk.. nice to meet you.. me Hulk.. SMASH!!" he got really uppity and aggressive as he said that, even smashed the stapler next to him...

"Umm, yea.. I have hands like a human.. so, Don Hulk.. as my Uncle said I am a hard worker, my mother taught me everything there is to know about the underworld, along with my Uncle here... I really need something going for me now that I'm back in America..."

The green man tossed the broken stapler to the side and grunted again at Gino before sitting back down in his seat.. he scratched his head a few times before slowly nodding his head and speaking once more...

"Fine, you be Union Boss, I .. Hulk.. hear stories about your.. father." he paused for a moment before going on "He good man, I respect.. you I respect too.. now go! I send minions later to help..."

Gino nodded and smiled before getting up from his seat.. he went to shake the man's hand again but still felt the pain from his last handshake so decided not too.. instead he tipped his hat to him in respect and slightly bowed...

"Thank you Don Hulk you can rely on me.. me and my Uncle will take our leave now..."

Gino helped his Uncle up from the chair and took his keys and the deed to his new establishment, Sunset Park Union, and left the building...he was already moving up quickly.. He surely knew he was doing his father proud, and his mother.. rest her soul... The Patangeli legacy would never die..