"We sure we want to do this? It's a big deal brother, what we do here sets up the future of our business. You ain't going straight, this is left and the basketball, the fans, the people that look up to you now, will shun you like the devil they no longer know as a person. This is the moment where you need to be someone who understands the world they're entering, there is no more basketball, there is only money and what we do to make it. I need you to know that, because what Gimp is offering you, is short, it's efficient but can it sustain you?"

Ricardo Vinci, family friend to Rom and now someone who was giving him some much-needed advice. He was about to step into a world that he had no business being in, his coaches had been trying to get him back to Chicago, to playing the game and almost giving another ring a chance at something. Legendary status, greatness, and even some of his former friends were willing to pass the rock with him, allow each other a chance at getting themselves on the radio, on the court again. It could have been a reunion for the Celtic's team, a great one actually. 

No, he had told Vinci and various coaches. The life of basketball was over for him, he said. His business with suppliers, ones where he knew that chances were not going to be passing him by in such a manner. Here he was, his crew made money, and he was getting known on the streets as someone who knew his way around and had some pretty good ways of making monies, whether it be through his slaughterhouse business. Maybe his association with Mercy_Fiorentino and then there was Ron_Swanson. Rom knew that he had some people he could call upon to help him out. 

"It's not about sustaining me, it's about living a life that I am not meant to be having. One where I go out there and decide that gambling is more important. I've lived a great life Ric, I've done it all and I want to do more, even Sync has decided to get out here and do something. Become someone in the chosen society, why can't I!? I have something that could be more than a little of money. It could be my way of securing a future for all my boys, that crew downstairs, they're not looking for the next payday shipment from Cordelia."

It was the truth, his guys were getting a bit restless, DickGrayson had sold the last shipment with effective ease. The man was beginning to become an important member of his inner circle, being a dealer on the streets was tough enough. Rom knew that this game wasn't exactly like the one he knew more than well enough, but he understood the basics. If a better offer came along, Gray might just decide that this kind of menial work wasn't for him. 

For that day, Rom knew he had to be prepared. It's why he started talking with Ennio_Morricone and unlike Gray, he was from Chicago and that was something he really wanted to start exploring. The man had offered himself up as an ally to his way of doing business, it was going to be one heck of a way of going about it. Ennio could prove to be his foot in with the Chicago people, Cromwell didn't exactly have enough pull from...wherever he was. Maybe he needed these connections, Ennio would be one. 

As he had told his crew, Las Vegas was an option with Optimus out there being one of the most valuable friends he had in the cities. A man like him and his wisdom, if Rom could call it that was valued by everybody. Then there was Cassi, she was someone that he had just got to know, he knew a lot of people, and they all had their ways about them but maybe, he could trust one of them to fill up the space Gray would continue to have for the foreseeable future.

"This business hasn't left me much in the way of friends, it hasn't given me much in the way of cash but it's already doing tons for me in the way of making connections. Maybe I can use that but for right now? I'm joining this job and maybe Gimp will have more than enough for me to settle my curiosity, eh?"

Ric nodded his head, Rom had done a lot of thinking and had decided that this move would have been best for him. There was nothing holding him back from even continuing to go ahead with this plan. It was a sound move, he wished to move on with his life and it seemed that it now held going into the criminal style that he had once been a part of. 

The Oppai Incorporated business of Estarossa had a lot of opportunities before he had been gunned down, it was lucrative for him. Now he had just handled requests of the company, while trying to find a good successor for his now dead boss. It was going to be a long time for him, he knew that.

"As long as you know what you're doing, kid. This isn't the walk in the park stroll that you're used to, eh? It's real life, it's where we all make our bones, Rom. We can't be having a little thing hold us back. So when you walk into that room, you keep your mouth shut. Wherever cut you get, you take and be grateful. Gimpanzee might not be like these other bosses, it doesn't mean that he doesn't have rules and that respect isn't earned in this business. He has earned it and deserves, do not doubt what he hopes to do, what he can do and what he has done."

Those words echoed in his head as Rom met his mentor's eyes and for once, he wasn't fearful of what he was to do next, he knew his role in the business plans of this depot, and so he nodded. Taking a piece with him, he strolled out, taking a smoke as he did so. 

"This is our friend, Rom."

He introduced to a few people, those being Newt_Scamander, Sienna, and Sync, again. He was not going to be forgetting them, he took a seat at a chair on the end. Sitting with his arms leaning against the rest of his chair. Nodding his head in respect to each one of them, he knew what he was trying to do here, and he was setting himself up, for the big one!

"When we move for this branch, I want you driving the getaway car Rom. Have your boys secure us a good car, don't want anything that fucks us over. Make sure that this is taken care of, got it?"

Gimpanzee stared him down, making sure that he knew his role in this. Looking around, everyone had a smoke in hand or a drink, and they seemed pretty calm with his role in this. Not that it mattered, Boss' word was law and that was that, all he could do was nod his head and understanding that he was to be the one that made sure they all got back safely. 

The meeting went like this for a while, everyone was assigned their spots in this little organized crime. He wouldn't lie, he felt nerves shooting up his spine as if the dull blade of a knife was warning him that this was his last chance. After walking out with them, nothing would be the same again, yet he found himself manning up, he felt himself grow brave at the moment and did not look back.

"Kid, you'll be finding yourself with a small cut. One of my guy's recommended you and we decided to give you a chance, make sure you have our backs out there. I hear your pretty good speeding away, make sure you're like that in a car that can hold all of us, I want to make sure we get this fucking loot, do you hear me? No drawbacks, no fucking it up, this is going to be easy and clean. You have no worries on your end, don't make it be one. Now go and get the car, we'll see you at the depot."

Rom stood from his seat, for a moment he had to wonder if this was exactly what Ricardo had told him about. Following orders, being the man that had set himself up for the big one. Instead, he didn't deny himself the moment, he wouldn't even try too. Instead, he smirked and nodded his head to the boss before heading out. 

Maybe he could talk to one of his guys, surely, they would have a nice escape car ready and waiting for a job like this one. It was time to find out at the very least. 

Drumming his fingers along the steering wheel, his eyes distantly looking ahead at the trucking depot. The boss and his crew were meant to be out a few minutes ago, he had heard nothing from them, little did he know that the boss had been set up and managed to get himself out with a few bribes, him, well not the same exactly. He was a nobody and now he was about to pay the price for it, looking ahead, he saw a torch beaming at him and for a moment, he was about to back away but the sound of guns, not a single gun but GUNS, plural, cocking at him made him stop. 

"Woah... Romulus, long time no see...it seems that we caught ourselves a little rabbit here boys. Now, want to tell us what you're doing all the way out here?"

Leaning against his window was the sleazy officer, Patrick Mack of the law who was on the take but was cocky about it, he thought that people like him didn't get their props or had earned the respect his superiors had. Rom kept silent, Patrick knew he would, he wasn't a fucking rat, and so he pulled Rom out of the truck and laid him flat on the ground before the assault began. Boots and Batons could be the name of the game as he found himself being beaten nearly half to death.

"Listen here, punk. You can tell us who it was and maybe we come to an understanding, what was being held in that depot were diamonds and the FBN have a pretty big group of men watching it here tonight. So we prepared, what's a low-level fuck like you doing here Rom? Seriously, let this stop, or we take you downtown, and we book you. Let all the mothers and kids know your dirty secret, you're running a criminal operation and that you're nothing more than fucking lowlife thief!"

And as Patrick ended that statement with a kick to Rom's stomach and the quiet associate, Rom was found himself closing in on himself before he was hoisted up and thrown into the back of the police car. Being taken to the Corktown Police Station. It was something big, this was not simply anything for him, he had been booked and somehow the boss hadn't even been here or mentioned. So he knew, he was okay, he just had to keep quiet.

"Get him out, now."

And an hour later, he was released from the holding cell of the C.P.D as Gimpanzee walked into the station with Newt and Sienna, both of them looking a bit bored but maybe that was a bit more natural for them or a mask. He didn't exactly know them all that well, before long, he was out and in tatters. His suit covered in dirty and his face marred with cuts and dried blood...he looked every bit the thug that the police wished to paint him as. 

Walking out of the police station with the three of them, he seemed out of a place, Rom wouldn't deny that. Maybe he needed to catch a quick shower before heading out on more business.

Gimp stopped, holding his hand out to Rom, making hims top and meet his eyes. For a moment Rom thought he was going to be taken to the side and given a different kind of talk, one where his body wasn't found until years later. Only the Gimp smirked, looking at Newt who gave the kid a nod in approval as did Sienna.

"You didn't say shit, kid. We're proud, when you next have a moment, come by. We'd love to make sure that you get a reward, you did well, by us and by the crew. Go. Enjoy yourself."

Rom walked away, Gimp had passed him a thick envelope and he had walked away a little richer. This was good, it meant something, he was now someone in this world to the crew. He was guy who was associated, maybe he could become a little more in the future, only time would tell. For now, he would let the dice rolls and let the good times roll as well....