Pete was sitting down for dinner with his friends when a knock at the door came.  The police with federal agents came in and arrested him.  Pete asked about the charges and they told him he violated the Mann act and the Prohibition act.  They raided two of his warehouses and found liquor in barrels.  The agent smiled as they told him he was getting the squeeze and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do.   The cuffs were on him as they started to escorted him out to the car.  Pete looked at Nick Carrado and told him to call his lawyer Henry Roseburg.  Pete went with the police and was taken downtown. 

Sitting in a cell some of the local officers on his payroll were there checking to ensure he was okay and getting him anything he needed.  Pete was in the cell thinking about who ratted him out.  Pete asked for a newspaper to read what was written about him in the press.  He knew he was set up; the two warehouses just received new shipments the night before.  Pete was given a newspaper and there was no mention of him.  He sat on the bench in his cell.  He was in a cell with two other men and they didn’t know him but they asked him who the hell was he that the cop’s were running around getting him a newspaper and checking on his comfort. 

Pete didn’t care; he knew he would be out by morning and every Judge in town was on his payroll.  That was something Frank and Meyers told him to do; they told him he needed all the political friends he could get in the business he was in.  Pete thought on who had the most to gain from him being locked up and out of business.  He smiled as that list became extremely long.  He had to narrow that list down by looking at who had the balls and resources to get him pinched.  Pete shook his head and realized the list was still too long, so he looked at those that hated him the most and those that didn’t know about his reach.  Pete then had a list of fifthteen that could hurt him in such a way.  Pete also looked at friends that had something to gain with him out of the way.  That list was very short; it had three names.  Then he looked at who knew who and what they knew.

Pete finally had the list to eleven names, three that knew he owned the two warehouses and knew when they received the new shipments they were so called pals.  One with a big mouth he would be seen first.  Pete was planning gruesome ways to murder these bastards by taking what they owned, and then cutting their fucking heads off and tossing them into the ocean.  Burying their headless bodies in a field in Kentucky and if they had wives, sisters or daughters he was going to put them to work in his cat houses or turn them over to Charlie to work the streets as prostitutes. 

Pete needed to make a call to Alfonso Silvini, his contact in Canada to delay more product coming into the states and to double up on security.  He also wanted to contact Charlie and Meyers but not from jailhouse phones.  Arnold Rothstein would not be happy nor would Joe the Boss.  New Jersey still had product, untouched and he used that to supply New York and Philly for now.  Pete would have to reach into his pockets to cover what was lost and he needed to recoup that money fast.  He kept that list in his head and started to relax when one of the men walked up to him and questioned him.  

Pete didn’t like to be questioned and before he laid hands on the man asking him questions he heard the doors opening and then saw the police as they brought in three more men from booking.  Pete looked up and smiled as he saw that the new prisoners worked for him.  It was Neil, Neri and Athony Bruno, a up and coming gangster with brains.

Part two coming soon.

Part Two

The men sat in the cell for another hour before being pulled from the cell to appear before the Judge.  Pete's attorney was present with Nails.  The Attorney faced the arresting official and asked why his client was arrested.  The official stated that Pete violated the Volstead Act that the act states that "No person shall manufacture, sell, barter, transport, import, export, deliver, furnish or possess any intoxicating liquor except as authorized in this Act.  

Pete’s  attorney said exactly his client was not at either warehouse and that the arresting officers did not have a warrant and that they rushed in and never asked to see the shipping manifest.  His client is a business man and if they did their research they would have noticed that Pete purchased the first warehouse seven weeks ago and the second warehouse three weeks ago.  That since Mr. Gangi bought them and then staffed the warehouses; his employees were in the middle of inventorying the sites.  

The probes’ rushed to judgement to arrest Mr. Gangi and show that they made a major bust.  No trucks made any deliveries into any warehouse after the purchase and Mr. Ganji had no idea what was in them.  Where was the warrant it was signed after the agents and local police rushed in and arrested the employees.  The Judge said he heard enough and asked the Agent to explain.  The Agent was speechless and the Judge dropped the charges.  Pete then paid the fines for his men that got picked up to be in the cell with him.  

Pete was still hurting because they did destroy all the booze in both warehouses.  Pete needed to find out who did this to him and his vengeance was going to be costly to the coupreate.  Pete shook hands with his attorney and gave Nails a pat on the back for his quick actions and sending him protection.  Pete walked to the car’s that Nails had waiting for them at the courthouse  

When they got to Pete’s apartment Pete gave Nails an approving nod to pour drinks for everyone there.  Nails poured brandy for each person to include the attorney.  Pete sat down in the kitchen and Apples pulled out a platter of cold cuts with cheese and then the bread and the guys started making sandwiches Pete even made one for himself.  Pete poured a brandy for himself and then sat back down.  Pete stated that he wanted inquiries made with their contacts inside the police station to see how the shiit occurred and who tipped the agents off.   

Pete wanted to recoup his losses which meant finding who did this and talking their money, products and then their fucking lives.  Pete needed to talk with Joe the Boss after he speaks to his partners, Charlie, Frank and Meyers and see what they could find out.  Pete told them this is the business they choose and now they needed to conduct business the hard way.  

Nails would speak to their contacts, Apples will stay with Pete and Joey will check on all the spots and ensure that the guys keep their eyes peeled open and their heaters loaded.   Pete then went to his balcony and slowly finished his drink.  He thought about the names and the cunningness of the men and put them in order.  He was going to handle all business old and new once he finds the men responsible.  

Part Three coming soon

Part Three

A week went by when Pete found out the George old man Revilli was out of the business, he sold it to Santo Desantis and Desantis was too small to try to muscle Pete’s operation.  Pete also crossed off Sal whiskers O'malley and Johnny Ola were locked up in the old country across the pond.  Three down eight to go.  Pete had Apple’s and Nails accompany him to a sit down with Steve Tinyman Roper.  Steve was as big as Pete and normally they didn’t interfere with each other.  But Steve was expanding and the last time it was in Charles and Meyers territory and it was Benny and Vito who made him understand at the last have a sit down.  Pete was more into negotiating then Benny and Vito he liked to bride before going to a gun.     

Steve was a few years older and he was six feet five and skinny. Steve brought his clothes off the rack and he looked disheveled.  Pete stood six two and fit his suits tailored and he loved cologne.   Every hair in place and his shoes matched his pants and his socks matched his shirts.  The two men sat at a table and Steve started the conversation with why were they trying to close him down.  Pete was surprised and listened to Steve gripe and realized that they were in the same boat.   Pete began to explain the events that happened to him just as Steve explained them to Pete.   Steve and Pete decided to collaborate with each other until they both find out who was moving against them.  As they compared notes Pete saw three names that Pete listed on his own list.  So Pete would have to check out those three and his fourth name Willie Herburt. 

When Pete got to his office Joey was there and told him the reason he couldn’t find Big Willie Herbert was because he died a month ago.  His wife was facing charges he was found stabbed to death with his testicles next to him in his own bed.  She was sitting at the kitchen table smoking a cigarette with blood on her hands and the knife next to her.  They way the story was told by the prosecutors report was Mr. Herbert came home late smelling of another woman's perfume.  According to the neighbors they fought constantly every day but this night Herbert  told her he didn’t care and that she wasn’t leaving.  Then he took her into the bedroom screaming at her.  Then the lights went out four hours later they heard a scream.  They heard Mr. Herbert screamed for help and then in less than a minute, it stopped.   It was then that she sliced his throat to shut him up.  She was facing life for killing her husband.  Pete nodded then shook his head and said that Big Willie was now going to be remembered as Willie no nuts.    Nails laughed and said his wife will be known as Ms. Willie slices as the laughter continued.  

The three remaining names were People he hoped he never had to deal with.  They were bigger and smarter.  The muscles that they each had around them made Joy the Boss leave them be back when he was alive.  Two of them even joined him and gave him a slight tribute which Joe the Boss took to save face they kicked up five percent of their monthly take.   Pete looked at AR, Cola Schiro or Salvatore D'Aquila.  Pete knew that this would cause Charlie and Meyer’s to rethink the issues and pay them off. Pete would have to talk with Frank to work on convincing Charlie and Charlie to help convince Meyer’s.  Whichever the three one or all three must go. 

part four coming soon.

                                                     Part Four                                                                  

Pete was sitting in his bar on Mulberry street bar he was having a sitdown with Joe The Boss Masseria  Joe gave Pete the go ahead for Schiro and D’Aquila. Joe wanted D’Aquila gone first and Pete would be rewarded for doing this.  Pete was surprised that Joe authorized him to move on the two Sicilians.  It was more beneficial for Joe which made Pete realize this was bigger than him getting ripped off and jailed.  Pete realized that he had been set up by Masseria.  The picture became clear.  Masseria had the police nab him in his own spot and now Masseria is playing Pete like a sap to get him to do his dirty work.  

Pete needed to speak with Charlie and Frank.  They needed to know that Masseria is the man behind Charlie losing his drugs, Pete losing his shipments and AR putting the squeeze on Meyer making AR think that he was helping Meyers and Charlie or maybe AR and Masseria are working together to break up Charlie and Meyer and the gang.  Nevertheless Pete had to rethink his actions and yet he knows he can’t drag his feet because Masseria could wipe them off the map alone.  

Pete agreed to move D’Aquila first then Nicilo Schiro.  He asked about AR but Masseria told Pete not to Worry about AR he had plans for AR for another time.  Nodding Pete poured Masseria another double shot of Irish whiskey and they toasted as Masseria began to tell Pete about the fourteen times that other gangsters tried to kill him.  Pete was aware and just as he knew Masseria had his own nephew killed over stealing twenty dollars of liquor when his nephew was only 16 years of age.  Pete had to play this out right without tipping his hand.  He listened to Masseria retelling of his life as if this was the first time hearing it.  Pete even asked questions as Masseria went on and on.  Then when Masseria was done Pete stood up and walked Masseria and his guards to Masseria's car.

When Masseria drove off Pete turned to Nails and Apples and told them to make sure everyone is ready for war, as they walked back towards the bar Pete continued to tell them that all shipments are to be doubled up and their people know that there may be a problem refilling orders but he hopes not.  Everyone will get two double shipments and then back to normal as soon as possible. The buyers need to hold on to the surplus in case times get hard and they have lean times. As they entered back into the bar Pete told Popeye and Joey to follow him, that they were going to see Charlie and Frank.  Pete knew that Frank and Charlie would be at Charlie’s favorite night club.  Charlie was into a cabaret dancer by the name of Peggy Charlie never talked business at his place the Waldorf Towers which was part of the Waldorf Astoria hotel.  

They drove to the club but as soon as they entered Pete was told that Charlie and Frank just left. They went to Frank’s hangout which was a social club for businessmen to talk and smoke expensive cigars and drink Cognac.  When they arrived there they were just sitting at a big ass window laughing and smoking.   Pete shook his head as he has told them several times to stop sitting in the windows and to change up their hangout spots. They were too predictable; anyone wanting to wack them could find them just as he did.  When he walked in Charlie laughed and said here comes trouble.  Pete asked them to walk with him and they entered Pete’s car Joey and Popeye stood outside the car watching over them from a short distance.  Pete explained to Frank and Charlie what had transpired between him and Masseria.  Charlie was taken back, and Frank started trying to ask for additional proof of Pete's accusations.  Charlie didn’t need any and told Frank to stop it and think it through.  The men sat in the car for an hour talking and yelling and cussing.  They needed to talk with Meyer and let Vito, Benny and Albert in on the situation. 

Part Five coming soon

Part Five

When everyone got together to talk about Masseria deal with Pete it was quick.  Everyone agreed that it should be done but it needed to be done in a way that they get more bang for the buck.  First AR was not to be touched. Second, Joe Masseria claim’s that Schiro committed a hit and demanded Schiro pay him $100,000 and step down as leader of his mafia crime family.  Two days after everyone agreed Pete and Charlie sat with Masseria.  With Charlie as Masseria’s new underboss he set the meeting up as a request from Pete.  Charlie would agree and tell Masseria that Pete’s requests were beneficial for Masseria, two birds with one stone and as the boss of bosses no one would dare question him.  The $100,000 would show that he wasn’t a greedy boss and would treat everyone under him fairly. 

D'Aquila crime family operated from East Harlem to the Bronx, and was now expanding his crime family's power into Brooklyn and southern Manhattan's lower east side in the Little Italy neighborhoods.   Weeks went by and Joe Masseria was getting impatient with Pete but Pete explained that D’Aquila was not easy to reach and that the man had more soldiers.  Masseria stated that D’Aquila enforcer tried to kill him this morning and he wanted this done soon or Pete would be on the slab next.  Masseria then told Charlie  to take out Umeberto Valenti by the end of the week.  Charlie fired back to give him to the end of the month. He needed time to find the guy and form a solid plan.  It took Charlie two weeks to find the man and learn his habits.  Charlie  made a plan to get him as he walked from his home to his store but Charlie missed Umeberto Valenti but it was close enough for the man to go into hiding for a while.  

With Valenti in hiding Pete was able to wait for D’Aquila at D’Aquila aunt's house.  Pete had been watching his targets longer than Charlie and knew their habits.   It was October 28, 1928 and D’Aquila was at his mistress' house a few blocks away from his Aunt’s home whom he always ate Sunday dinner with.  D’Aquila knew no one would attempt a hit on him in his territory.  D'Aquila was shot dead on Avenue A in Manhattan.  After the killing Masseria was named the new capo dei capi.   Pete was there when Masseria was named the official Boss or Bosses.  The air was filled with animosity and it was seen in Salvatore Maranzano's face.   Maranzano was smart and after the ceremony Maranzano began gathering people under his wing to challenge Joe the Boss.  Pete and Vito knew this would happen and Meyers wanted to set it off and Charlie knew this would be the time to grow and expand the operations they all shared.  

Pete’s vendetta will have to wait until the time is right, he showed his commitment and resolve by waiting patiently but thats part of another story.