Honeycomb hideout. A place for all mobsters, a joint to just kick back and get to know folks. Jeff always had a vision of a mafia world that would fit the regular as well as the super gangster, bosses under-bosses, and the upcoming hustlers. A hideout that wasn’t a hideout but an open pallet for everyone to work and make moves, meet, greet as well as collaborate. This could be the spot where the new blood is identified as well as some ol skool talent that may be in the shadows overlooked. The location would take over a block of real estate and was located in the perfect spot for a swift move if needed. With that in mind, the place was also a good location to take over or just hit for the goods it may hold. There were a group of entrances strategically set in spots that were inaccessible, but if you know then you know, if not then you should be ready.  

A place of peace while in these walls, a place of unknown hustlers, the overlooked mobsters, the ones that are not getting the nod to be part of anything, can be a part of this. Sometimes you need people that will look at you and be honest. Sometimes honestly is not what you get. What exactly is everyone chasing, what could be their motivation. Only a good leader will search for those answers. Jeff made his way to his office to take a seat. There was a front desk clerk that would greet you and maybe point you in the right direction. A very simple set up to make moves in. Jeff waited to see if anyone would come. They always said if you build it they would come.  See how that pans out.

Heard about this place, Jeff. A spot where the air's a little less thick with grudges and a bit more open to new faces... sounds like somethin' a guy just tryin' to find his way around town should check out.

Name's Rocco Moretti. I'm still learnin' the lay of the land on these streets, tryin' to see who's who and what's what. This "Honeycomb" idea... it's got a different vibe than some of the other corners I've been lookin' at. A place to actually talk and see what makes folks tick? That could be useful.

Just stoppin' by to see who's around and maybe hear a story or two. You said the new blood might get spotted here, and some old talent that's been overlooked? Well, I guess I qualify for one of those categories.

Mind if I pull up a chair and listen to what's brewin' in the Honeycomb?

A story huh? Well that is a good start, let us talk about someone who was no one, and then became someone, but again became no one. A relative of mine, a great person in my eyes, but just needed the right person to put them in the right place. Imagine a young new hustler, I'm talking about real green, not the come back and fake it, actually just starting. The young hustler was happy to get an opportunity to be with a good group.  Opportunities knock and sometimes you have to open the door.  The scene:  the rhythm in movement was just what the body of people needed, from the outside looking in everything was looking copestetic and the learning curve was at a reasonable level. New to the fold the new hustler laid it all out on the line. In these days about 60% of the cash you earned went up to the leader, and that was a must. Death could be an endgame quickly due to not getting your hustle on, or showing your worth to the boss. It seemed there was more skin in the game, a reason to be the most active, a reason to want to learn and try new things. 

Jeff takes a moment to pause as he takes a drag of his blunt. honoring the past showed a big change in the present, with little motivation being produced 

Yes it was a thing, push as much up as you can to show that you are a fit, or speak to everyone you can so they know you are about that life, or even can be trusted. The dynamics have changed just like the world itself. So the young hustler kept his ledger clean and the funds continued to grow, you may even catch that young hustler reaching out to young thugs like himself to offer the knowledge that he has picked up. Things were looking good, he sees a few mobsters get invited to the fold and has nothing but good thoughts and is yet inspired to push that button to get to that spot. He always thought there was a way and knew he would get that chance. 

Sometimes things don’t go as planned, or as you would expect, things never do in this life. So the days past, and the nights light up with many moons to pass, the young gangster just made a wise guy takes a seat  on the curb just waiting for his next sale, the next move that needed to be made, but all he heard was silence. He thought to himself, what would be the move to get into place. He reached out to leaders of the circle trying to not sound too thirsty, but his reach was not long enough it seemed. He had no idea. 

Just a city over was a gangster on the come up. Not in the fold this gangster approached the young thug inquiring about his future. 

“I see you out here doing some good work, what kinda plans do you have for the near future.”

The young thug was excited to see that someone had noticed his hard work and could only see the positive possibilities

“Hey thanks for noticing, but I am just trying to learn and be useful to my family here”

The gangster looks and continues on his way giving the new thug some dap as he moves on.  

This interaction was pretty normal, but where would it head is the question. 

A few days pass and the young thug picks up a paper to see the daily news. To his surprise the gangster he was conversing with was dead. Now how did that happen so quickly with no warning from someone who had bright ideals. A fellow thug passes by hearing the young thugs comments. 

“They didn’t think he was loyal and someone set him up.”

The thug said as he kept moving through the alley with his head on a swivel.

That's a hell of a story, Jeff. This young hustler... it sounds like he was doin' all the right things, puttin' in the work. What do you think went wrong? Was it just bad luck, or were there signs he missed? Makes a new guy wonder what to watch out for on these streets.