Vito took in a deep breath of tobacco from his cigar and he leaned up against the wall in the apartment. Watching another sunset over the city of Los Angeles. A city that had so much promise, now tainted with tension that you could cut with a knife. Vito knew that soon it would all boil over as once the fighting started, it wouldn’t be stopped. VincentMoretti had plans for himself, Vito & Marco. Plans that were becoming successful extremely quickly, maybe a little too quick.

The famous meeting at the Casino was the beginning of the end. Johnny kept to his word and set up the meeting between Vincent JimmySilver. The very powerful Don of Hollywood. Vito went with Vincent, but stayed away from the meeting. Had Vincent of needed support he would of asked, right? The Casino was in the city centre of Hollywood and the sounds & lights could be seen and heard for miles. It was really the talk of the town. Anybody who wanted to be anybody found themselves there. Vito went over to play some roulette whilst keeping a watchful eye over his friend. “100 bucks on number 8” Vito gestured to the croupier as he sipped on some whiskey.

Don Jimmy was a powerful and feared mobster in Hollywood. Someone of his stature didn’t command respect, he earned it. Listening to Vincents business proposition with a stern look. He didn’t even blink. “Fucking hell, I’m never sitting across the poker table from him” Vito thought to himself. Vito could see Vincents vague expressionless face as his sales pitch was over and he waited for Jimmy to give him an answer on the cocaine operation inside the casino.

“You’ve got balls Moretti” Jimmy finally broke his silence. “Johnny told me about your balls, now I see for myself. You really don’t have fear; coming to me with a plan like this. Do you know what Cocaine did to my district? But green is green.. every guy has a price. I’ll think your offer over and my guys will reach out with a decision." Vincent nodded at Jimmy “I understand Don. If you give my guys a chance, we won’t let you down. I promise”

Vito saw the meeting was over and went over to Vincent. “Looks like that could of gone worse, you’re still alive” he grabbed Vincent and held him tight. “Who would of thought where we are now. This could be a real good opportunity for us. But if it’s okay with you, I’m getting out of here. I’ve lost all my fucking money and I’m drunk on whisky. You stay here, enjoy yourself and hopefully we’ll be cementing a business celebration soon.” With that Vito left Vincent and headed back to the apartment.

Vito woke from the apartment phone ringing, for what seemed like only 10 minutes since he drifted off, over 4 hours had passed. As he walked over to the phone he awoke quickly to the realisation that neither Marco or Vincent were in the apartment. He put the phone to his ear scared of what he would hear. “Vito, it’s Marco. We’ve got a big fucking problem. I need you to get to the warehouse right now. And I mean right now. There’s no fucking time to waste. Make sure you’re not followed” With that the phone went dead, Vito stubbed out his cigarette, grabbed his jacket and headed out. The unease in Marco’s voice cut through Vito like a serrated blade. He knew something terrible had happened. When Vito arrived at the warehouse he saw Marco pacing up and down the back office. “What’s going on Marco?” Vito asked with his voice almost breaking that he couldn’t finish the sentence.

Marco looked back straight at Vito and just blurted it out. “Vincent’s dead” He had to be blunt. Marco had been thinking for the past hour how we could tell Vito, but in the end the easiest way was to just utter the 2 words that would change both their lives forever. “Not just him, Don JimmySilver too. They were both taken out in the Casino. Vito there’s a fucking war going on out there. Mobsters are being gunned down by the second. We need to get the fuck out of here right now.” The news of Vincent’s untimely death hit Vito like a brick. Vito looked up to Vincent like a brother. They had been through so much. Vincent saved him when he took the bullet in the left shoulder, it still hadn’t fully healed now. But if it wasn’t for Vincent, Vito would be dead. “Why the fuck did I leave? Why! I could of stayed, I could of got him outta there”

Vito punched the wall in anger. “If you’d of stayed, you’d be dead too. You wouldn’t of stood a chance. The cities lost a Don, we’ve lost Vincent.” Both Vito and Marco were marked men. They needed to both survive and carry on Vincent legacy. There was nothing that could be done to bring him back. They just needed to get out of Los Angeles alive. Right now there was no time for grief, that could and would come later.

Vito’s voice cracked under emotion “you’re right Marco. We can’t stay here any longer. Let’s get back to New York. I’ve got a contact in Queens, we just need to pack the bare essentials and leave straight away." Marco nodded – “what about the others Vito? We can’t just fucking leave them.” Vito snapped back in anger “we’ll just have to send the word to them later of where we are, the more people that travel the more likelihood of us getting fucking caught. My priority has to be both of us. We can’t all travel together. You got it?”

The journey for them both was extremely dangerous. A journey that almost certainly guaranteed death if they were spotted within the city. Vito had already mapped out the city back streets from all those times he was selling Vincent’s cocaine. For once he’d done something right, something that he could now use to keep both him and Marco alive until they were clear of the city. Vito had to survive this; not just for him, not for Marco. For Vincent. They’d been through hell and back. Vincent’s memory could live on by Vito dedicating his life to telling famous tales about his friend. Once again Vito found himself leaving behind a successful business. First it was Little Havana in Miami. Now a second warehouse in Hollywood. “Will this ever fucking end?” Vito thought to himself. Los Angeles was in total ruins, but Queens had potential to be yet another new opportunity. To start anew once more.

Vito and Marco reached Queens successfully. Vito felt a sense of relief but also guilt. They’d left their friend behind. Vincent was lost to the war. There wasn’t anything that was going to bring him back, Vito knew he’d make the right decision. But a hard one. He felt a sense of familiarisation now he was back. It had been many a year since Vito had been in Queens. Maybe this was his destiny all along? Vito rented a tiny apartment – far from any enemies left behind in LA. But still, he could never be too careful.

A few nights later as Vito drank away his sorrow in a liquor bar, a familiar face approached him. It was Salvatore Ramano - "Sal" as Vincent often referred to him. He was a dangerous man. But one that always did what he said. Vincent often spoke about Sal being a unique, but loyal individual nonetheless. “Long time no see Vito. I heard you guys picked up some trouble out West. Let me be clear with you here, we don’t want any violence on these streets. So whatever happened there, it needs to remain there. Capiche?”

“Sal, that’s a huge understatement you’ve just made there.” His voice starting to crack once again. “Me & Marco lost Vincent. He’s gone, it’s a miracle we got out alive. The whole city turned red with death.” Sal nodded sympathetically “Vito I heard all about it. Vincent was a good man. Always did what he said. His actions were sometimes questionable, done things differently to the way I would. But god damn that Viper was quick to sort a problem out. I’ll give him that. What’s your plans now? Have you thought about what you and Marco are going to do here?”

Vito took in a deep breath before necking the remaining whiskey in his glass. “I need to start over, I need to start fresh. We done it from Miami to LA, I can do it again. But I need you, and I need resources. What jobs have you got going?” Sal paused with his foot tapping on the bar floor. In deep thought he was thinking of a task that would be suitable to Vito & Marco to get them started. “I do know a guy Vito. Goes by the name of Joseph_Ligambi. He’s got connections in this city. Connections that run deeper than you’ll ever know. Runs his own family. He’s always got opportunities for guys wanting to prove themselves. If you get him on side, it can be a game changer for both you and Marco.”

“And the angle? What are you sending us into here Sal? Are you sending us into certain death or is your finders fee taking 60% of the take?” Sal laughed and patted Vito on the back. “He’s a businessman, straight up as they come. First and foremost he’s an investor; if it generates profit. If you can help with that. You’ll get his interest. However, Uncle Joe is a cautious man Vito. You and Marco will both need to prove that you’re worth him taking a risk with the pair of ya.” Vito nodded. “Understood Sal, set up a meeting, I’d be interested to see what opportunities arise.”