It was well into his first week back in America and Gino had already made a name for himself quickly around New York, he was appointed Union Boss by his new Don, Hulk Smash, and since then the flow of narcotics and other various illegal merchandise had been flowing through his dockyards in the industrial area of Brooklyn known as Sunset Park. Things were definitely coming together, but something just never felt right about him being here in New York.. Philadelphia was where his family Legacy was established, the Patangelis ran that city with an Iron Fist, or so he heard the stories anyways from his babbling old Uncle who was now his part time Consigliere on all matters...

Perhaps it was time he visited home.. his mother had left him the deed to the Patangeli Manor in the hills of South Philly, her and his father lived there for many years until his passing, supposedly it has remained untouched since his death besides a weekly butler who comes by, per request of his Uncle, to tidy up the house and keep it just as his father left it.. It was like he knew Gino would always be drawn there.. Home is of course where the heart is, and although he didn't know his father.. he carried him dearly within as his role model..

"Mr. Patangeli, that plane ticket you requested just arrived.." his secretary said as she placed it down on the edge of the desk and smirked "The nobody has stopped by today yet for any more interviews.. why don't you take off for the day boss? Seem like you got a lot on your mind.."

Gino leaned forward and picked up the single plane ticket and smiled.. It was a one way trip to Philadelphia leaving tomorrow morning.. he picked up his cigarette from the ashtray and took a long drag while he continued to inspect the ticket and exhaled a large cloud of smoke as he rose his gaze to the women infront of him..

"Yea.. I think I will do that. If my Uncle stop's by.. tell him I've got a flight to Philly in the morning.. tell him I'll be at my apartment packing for the trip."

He took another small drag off his cigarette as she nodded to him and stubbed it out in his ashtray and rose from his desk and began to put his suit jacket on.. His secretary walked off and went back to resuming her duties while Gino walked over and began to stare out his large window that overlooked the dockyards from the second floor of the tall building he was in.. He let out a slight sigh as the good thought began to fade from his mind.. returning home to Philly was in a way going to be rough, seeing all his father's things, pictures, hearing stories and memories.. But he was determined to learn more.. and supposedly he had a sister? Nobody ever told him not until his Uncle let it slip anyways...

Gino awoke the next morning to his alarm clock ringing on his nightstand.. The loud bell was hard to ignore but he lay there motionless for a few more moments before letting out a deep groan and tossing himself over and smacking it off with his hand.. He was never much of a morning person, well not this early anyways, and it didn't help he had drank a bit of whiskey the following night before.. Perhaps that wasn't such a good idea the night before a flight but he couldn't say no.. the bottle was calling his name.. He let out another deep groan that was mixed with a sigh as he rolled back over into his bed and opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling as he began to wander in thought...

Home was just a short plane ride away.. but was it home to him? It's not like he grew up in that house, hell he's not even sure what it looks like or even what may be inside of it.. Cash? Jewelry? Old clothes? .. His uncle mentioned pictures and what not, but never really gave a full description of the place.. And then he said something about his sister.. Valencia.. How come his mother never told him he had a sibling? Perhaps to shelter him from the pain of knowing another loved one had passed before his time.. Or was she simply ashamed of her? There was a reason why she never brought her up, but he was destined to find out everything about his family and past, and he hoped that home had some answers..

Knock.. knock.. knock...

The loud knocks coming from his front door startled him, but when he heard his bodyguards voice, Benny Bianchi, he quickly hopped up from his bed and went out into the living room to unlock and open the front door.. Benny chuckled at him as he walked into the residence...

"Shit Gino, you still in your underwear and shit! You best be getting ready to go, flight is in two hours..." Benny poked at him

"Yea yea.. I've never been a morning person.. you know that..."

Gino closed the door and latched the lock again before walking over into the bathroom and lifting the lid to take a leak.. There was a short silence in the house while he did so, minus the sound of piss hitting the water in the bowl, until the loud sound of flushing came and Gino appeared into the living room again and found Benny sitting on the couch..

"So, did my Uncle say anything? He hasn't stopped by to wish me goodbye.." Gino questioned him sternly

"Nah, not much... just said he'd make sure to take care of things down at the Union while you were gone.. the man is busy, and old, maybe you should go say bye to him?" Benny replied as he lit up a cigarette and exhaled

"Nah, fuck that, were already late.. I'll just call him from the house in Philly... give me like fifteen minutes and I'll be ready..."

Gino walked over and picked up a pack of his smokes off the living room table and stuck one in his mouth and sat down with a smirk on his face as he flicked open his zippo and ignited it with the flame that raised off it...

"Alright make it twenty.. I need a cigarette first..."

The plane landed safely down on the tarmac in Philadelphia and came to a halt at the end of the runway where the passengers quickly boarded off the plane and into the respective terminal.. Gino and his bodyguard quickly got their belonging and got out of the terminal to flag down a taxi, of course Gino immediately lit up a cigarette, but that was to be expected, the guy couldn't go 30 minutes, let alone having to sit 3 hours no cigarette.. 

"That's exactly why I fucking hate flying! Next time we are driving.. infact, fuck it we are driving home!" Gino said enraged as he took a long drag off his cigarette and exhaled with a slight sigh of relief

"Was your idea boss to take a fucking plane.. I can't believe you didn't even buy me a ticket either.." Benny grunted at him

"Anyways, seems like that taxi is gonna stop.. you got the address and all that jazz?"

Gino was still puffing on his cigarette and just gave off a slight nod at him before picking his bags back up and walking over the the taxi that just stopped for them and tossing them in the trunk.. Gino pulled a small piece of paper from his suit pocket and handed it to the taxi driver and told him to drive to that address.. Gino noticed the man glancing between the paper and back to Gino...

"Is there an issue? I told you to drive there so let's go..." Gino barked at the cab driver

"Sir, are you sure you don't have the wrong address.. I'm almost positive that belongs to the late-" he was cut off by Gino

"No, I do not have the wrong address.. that is my house so take me to it.." Gino barked again at him

The cab driver knew the address, it belonged to a powerful mafia boss who controlled Philadelphia, least that's what the papers say.. There is always a article here and there about that place and address, is this the son to that man?? He quickly shook the thoughts and realized he better just do as the man asked...

"Right away sir, it's only a 25 minute drive so enjoy the, erm, scenery outside.."

Gino chuckled and shook his head before placing his head back on the seat and closing his eyes as the car came to life and began traveling to the Patangeli Manor.. Man how much he hated that fucking jet lag.. even three hours made him quite sleepy after..

The car came to a stop at the top of the long round driveway that had a big white fountain with water spewing from it.. It was the very first thing Gino noticed as he opened his eyes before turning and seeing the huge mansion that accompanied it..He sat there in awe for a minute before the taxi cab driver finally spoke up...

"So, you just gonna sit there and look at it? Thought this was your house.." the cab driver said as he turned around and held out his hand

"Yea, uhm here you go.." 

Gino took out a wad of cash and stuck a hundred dollar bill in his hand before opening the door and waiting for his bodyguard Benny to get their stuff out of the trunk before slowly climbing the steps to the place as he pulled the key to the front door out of his suit pocket and held it in his hand..

"This place is fucking marvelous, like.. it's beautiful.. I can't believe my mother never told me about it, or wanted me to come here and see it and she used to live here... it's crazy..." Gino said in awe

"Still in pretty good condition too.. almost looks like someone still lives here..." Benny murmured

"Uncle Ron has someone come by and clean the place weekly, supposedly its someone trusted so they have never stolen or taken anything from the house.. It's exactly how my Father left it the night he got gun down..."

They came to the large wooden mahogany doors where Gino placed the key into the keyhole and unlocked it, the large click as it did so sent a large chill down his back before he gently pushed it open.. It was eerie and quiet other than the large creak of the door as it opened on its old hinges.. It was definitely still in immaculate condition, and the first thing he noticed was the various artwork and pictures along the walls as he entered as well as a large stand nearby that had a pair of keys sitting on it, with what looked like an old bottle of whiskey and cup to which Gino walked over and picked up to inspect.. it read 'Crown & Cork Whiskey Co.' across the top of the bottle in big letters followed by 'A Patangeli Incorporated Company' in smaller letter underneath...

Gino smiled before feeling the cup on the stand around for some dust, blowing into it, and then pouring a small drink and taking a sip.. his taste buds were taken for a spin, it was some of the finest whiskey he had ever tasted.. He wondered why nobody carried on making this stuff, just because his father died didn't mean they couldn't brew more? He smiled and poured a tad bit more into his cup before placing it down on the table and continued to explore the house...

"Go ahead and get settled in Benny, I'm gonna keep looking around.. see if there's some foot to eat, I'm starving.. I always am."

Benny chuckled and shook his head as Gino began to climb the stairs and went to the second floor of the house.. He wandered from room to room, inspecting various family pictures, artwork, and in some cases expensive sculptures his father had bought.. even his large bear rug in his room was pretty interesting.. but then he found his father's study, the big large brown desk sat in the center of the room with a large throne looking like chair resting behind it.. Gino slowly walked over and smirked when he saw the golden ashtray on his father's desk, it seemed they both fancied the same habit.. smoking..

He ran his fingers along the stained top, and they glided as it was still freshly polished and in pristine condition for being so old, before sitting down in the chair himself and leaning back into it.. This was his father's chair, where he conducted business, this very room was super important to him, Gino could feel it.. He popped open the desk and much to his surprise, there was a ledger still inside of it.. his father's black book? The one with all his dealings? Business Partners? How had the cops not come and gotten this after his death...

The ledger slapped down onto the table as he let it drop before pushing the drawer closed again and opening up to the first page.. IT was actually quite the opposite of what Gino thought it was.. It was all of his legal business ventures.... seeing this brought a huge smile to his face, Gino always wanted to be a business man.. little did he know, that is what his father was.. Gino ran his finger across the page as he read the names out loud in his head... Candor Legal Services...Depravity Club...Crown & Cork Whiskey Co.... there was many more names but these three operated within the city limits of Philadelphia, along with serious investments in others across the nation.. 

"My Father... man.. he had some serious connections in his day.. I wonder what has become of all these families.. and the descendants he worked with.."

He thought to himself before pulling a cigarette from his pack and lighting it up with his zippo and taking a long drag and exhaled a cloud of smoke with it as he closed the ledger and leaned back in the chair.. The more and more he learned about his father made him happier, but Gino was quickly starting to realize, he had some extremely large shoes to fill.. would he ever even be as great as his father? Would it even matter? Perhaps it was time to starting getting out of his shadow, and creating a path of his own, or atleast.. he would try to anyways...

Gino was sitting in his father's study still when his bodyguard rushed into the room in a frantic pace but let out a deep sigh when he saw Gino sitting there smoking a cigarette and still sipping on that glass of Crown and Cork whiskey he poured.. Gino glanced up at him and noticed the distressed look in his face as he took a long drag off his cigarette and exhaled as he set the cigarette on the edge of the golden ashtray on the desk and took a sip of whiskey...

"What is it Benny? Haven't seen you like this in awhile.." Gino poked at him as he set his cup of whiskey down on the desk and smirked

"Apparently there's been a huge mob war boss, tons of gangsters are dead across the nation.. but it seems New York is alright.. for the most part.." Benny said as he was panting "I ran up here as soon as I heard to check on you, wasn't sure if someone may have gotten you or not.."

Gino shook his head and chuckled before picking up his cigarette from the edge of the astray and taking a long drag off of it and smiling at him..

"Nobody is gonna find us out here bud, we're deep in the South Philly hills, and not many people even know I'm here.. did they say the war was over though? Who got hit?" Gino said with an exhale of smoke

"No boss, just that some high ranking members all died.. I assume it will be frontline news here tomorrow.." Benny replied

"Shit, I'll have to give Hulk a call and make sure he's alright..."

Benny chuckled at Gino and shook his head, it was Hulk who had called him and told him about it all...

"He's safe and alive boss, I just came up here to make sure you were all good.. I'll leave you to your thoughts..."

Benny quickly left the room and again Gino was left alone in his father's study.. His mind began to wander, how many times had his father gotten the same news in this very seat? Probably quite a few.. This old leather chair had definitely heard its fair share of stories, secrets, and mafia politics in it's day.. It felt like an honor to receive some similar news in the same one as him.. He smiled and took another drag off his cigarette and exhaled before snatching up his whiskey on the desk and taking another large sip.. Mmmm, this whiskey was the best...

The following morning Gino woke up in the bed that he found, he assumed it used to be his father's and it was quite an odd feeling to wake up here in it, but it was better than no damn bed and the guest bedrooms throughout the house had beds that were more uncomfortable than the couch! How they even made, sold, or why his father purchased them was beyond him but oh well, this bed was mighty comfy.. He yawned and rolled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to take a leak, he could hear his footsteps the entire way.. as he relieved himself, his might drifted off into thought a bit.. thinking about his father, and the various business' around Philadelphia that he had left behind.. The one in the ledger though that was circled was Depravity Club, he wondered if this place carried significant interest in him?

He quickly took a shower and such after finishing up.. The warm water was just what he needed to wake himself up this morning, and in no time he was dressed in a nice fine suit and made his way down the hall to his father's study again where he sat down in the chair and lit up a smoke with his zippo.. The black ledger book was still sitting on the desk and as he exhaled his cigarette smoke he flipped it open again and found the name of the Depravity Club again.. it said it was located here in Philadelphia.. perhaps he would go down and take a look...

"Morning boss, brought you some coffee... heard you stirring about and figured you would need some after the drinking last night"

Benny said appearing through the door before he came over and put the cup down on the desk for him, Gino smirked and nodded..

"Thanks Benny, say.. you didn't see any car's down in the garage did you? I want to take a trip out today.. go and see if one of the business' my father was a partner in is still around..." Gino said as he pulled the coffee towards him and took a light sip and smiled

"Not that I saw.. but I will go and check for you boss.. anything else?" Benny said in a soft tone

Gino shook his head no before Benny nodded at him and went to go and check to see if their was a car in the garage.. He took another long drag off the cigarette that was still burning away in his hand and leaned his head back against the chair.. It had been many years since a Patangeli roamed the streets of Philadelphia, in the same thought.. would that club even be open anymore?

flipflops thinks she can't resist again

Should we factor in Queen in LA and Jav in Philly?

The car ride over from the Patangeli Manor was a fairly long one.. Nestled deep in the South Philly hills, it was far away from the city but not too far.. It was still pretty rural and unincorporated minus a few traces of industry here and there.. but they soon arrived outside the address that was given in the ledger and much to his expectations, the club was no longer here.. It's sign still hung from the side of the building but it was boarded up, and actually looked like it still had some bullet holes in the walls.. It was a immediate reminder to him of what transpired here many years ago, he wasn't alive or around then, but just knowing this was one of his father's business.. it was probably connected...

The black sedan came to a halt next to the curb where the engine died and the vibrations from the rumbling engine faded.. Gino quickly popped open the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, fixing up his suit jacket and tie before pulling one of his cigarettes from his pocket and sticking it into his mouth.. before he could light it up.. a random stranger came bumbling by.. mentioning some random names of the sorts before asking for a cigarette and being shooed away.. he chuckled and shook his head before igniting the cigarette with his zippo he pulled from his pocket..

He took a long drag off the cigarette before exhaling a large cloud of smoke as he watched the stranger bumble away.. 

"People.. no shame. Who wanders up to someone in the streets like that?" he said chuckling again

His attention returned to the old building in front of him once again.. The Depravity Club... it seemed still in decent condition, it must of not been closed long.. he got closer and noticed a large note stuck to the front of the door and began to read it as he took another drag off his cigarette..

"The Depravity Club has closed it's doors and moved to New York, please take a flier below to find our new location!"

He glanced down and seen some in a basket against the door.. perhaps it hadn't been closed too long then.. He picked one up and smiled as he exhaled a large cloud of smoke.. Looks like he was headed back home...