Almonette wakes up and pays for her room at Hotel California.  As she's walking out, she spots the Ford Coupe, "I should take this back to Silk." The mobster says to herself.  When she arrives at the Hotel Office Mary Jane is sitting at the desk working on the books, "Well Hello Almonette"  She says fondly.

Almonette, gives an honest shocked reaction and says with a coy smile, "Well there's a flattering compliment, if I ever heard one.  I didn't think you ladies bothered to remember your clients names."  The mobster notices some visual scratches on Mary Janes arms, and tells her "Aye, sorry about those.  I sometimes loose myself in the moment.  But I'm here for Silk's keys to the coupe."

As Mary Jane hands the keys to Almonette, Killer was in and starts rubbing on her legs.  "OH did Martina have a carrier or something for this guy?  An' what the hell, she said this cat was a soulless bitch."   Almonette said.  Mary Jane went digging through a closet in the corner of the office and handed the mobster a harness and leash.  "Wait, she WALKED the cat?  On a leash?"  Almonette felt silly walking the cat through the Brothel and into the car, but Killer seemed perfect content to just walk along.

Before heading back the shop, Almonette stopped by The Corktown Supermarket to pick up some kitty essentials.  "Lets see. I have 2 bowls, a litter box, cat toys, food and litter. Good enough."  Almonette said as she raced back to the car where Killer was asleep on the passneger seat, and she put the stuff in the small trunk and took off to her shop.

As Almonette drove up, she recognized the vehicle parked in the street.  "Oh shit!" the mobster cursed, "Come on Killer" the gangster said as she grabbed the cats leash and hurried to the trunk to grab the few bags back there, and she rushed upstairs.  She let Killer walk around as she dropped the bags on the floor and quickly rushed up to the man waiting for her.

"My Godfather!" The mobster bowed. "What do I owe this great honor?"  Almonette listened to the Detroit Godfather.  "Mustard right..."  The shopowner comes back with some glycerin soap, a butter knife, and a small bucket of cold water.  She lightly scrapes off what she can of the mustard with the knife, then applied the glycerin soap with her fingers and rinsed with the cold water.  "There, now if you have it laundered as normal, perferably with a bit of mild bleach, the shirt will be as good as new."

She listens as the Godfather now asked for something new. "Of course, I would be honored. Let me take your measurements quickly here."  Almonette grabs the measuring tape and a note pad, and makes quick work of measurements. "Alrighty, I got what I need.  Come back in a day or so... or I can drop them off to you of course.  Thank you very much for visiting my humble establishment."

A new day. A new adventure.

Silk woke up on the couch in the back of HotIce Family Suits and looked around in confusion. For a few seconds the young mobster couldn't remember how she got there. As it all started coming back to her Silk put her hands over her face and cursed, "FUCK!" She remembered everything and every word she boldly said to her sponsor. "I should drink more so I forget the stupid things I say." The California girl mumbled as she sat up. "At least she didn't slice my throat open."

Embarrassed about the night before Silk didn't look around the shop for Almonette. Instead She quietly went to the door that connected the shop to her apartment. The walk of shame, she thought with a frown. In the apartment Silk was surprised to see Killer. The mobster picked up her cat and greeted, "Good morning, my new friend. How did you get here?" Naturally the cat didn't answer, but it didn't matter to Silk. She continued talking. "I'm in so much trouble with Almonette. I may have to get on my knees and apologize, grovel or whatever it takes."

"Before I face the music I need food." Silk told the cat. "After I eat I'll go to the Fish Market and get a treat for you." 

After breakfast, ten cups of coffee, going to The Fish Market to buy fish for her cat, Killer, smoking a joint, making fish food, selling heroin to junkies in Black Bottom, buying FBN ceased cocaine for $4500 per unit, selling the cocaine to crack whores downtown for the sweet price of 11k per unit, checking the oil in her Ford Coupe, cleaning her apartment, taking a shower and napping with Killer the California girl was ready to face the music.

"If I'm not back later be nice to my next of kin, Killer." Silk said to her cat then left her apartment and walked into HotIce Family Suits. Behind the counter Almonette was measuring and cutting fabric for a suit. Silk was impressed. She thought the suit shop was only a drug front property.

"Hello, Ma'am." The young mobster greeted her sponsor respectfully. "Sorry to bother you. I just want to apologize about last night. I..." Silk paused to figure out how to explain the words she boldly said the night before. "I was wasted out of my mind."

In the fairytale world of Mafia Land an apology was the same thing as waving a magic wand to kill evil dragons. With a few words everything was forgiven and all was right in the Mafia Land again.

"I have an idea." Silk told her sponsor as she approached the counter. The young mobster fired up a joint and handed to Almonette as she worked on the suit. "The Coupe was used in a bank robbery. The mayor is out for blood because his daughter was killed during the robbery. My idea is..." Silk sat on the counter like she owned the place and continued, "If we find the guy who popped his daughter we can offer him to the mayor for something we want, less raids in our business district. Less raids mean more business. More business means more money." Using her hands to make a wide sweeping dramatic gesture Silk added, "More money means everyone is happy in Mafia Land."

"Hello Silk." Almonette said back to her associate, "you know you don't have to call me Ma'am. You can call me Alma, you've earned that right.  My kids told me what you did to my father." Almonette could see the shocked expression on Silk She paused for a second,'s face. "No, No, not like that" the mobster laughed, "I'll tell you about them later, you came in here for a reason it looks like, speak."

"Silky you don't have to appologize for what you said lastnight, you were being honest, albeit completely fucked up on whatever drugs you were smoking.  Now let me be honest with you."  The mobster could see the questioning expression, "No I AM NOT high"  "Or drunk. Just plain sober honesty.  The only reason I'm NOT knocking on your door is because I'm your sponsor. Its my job to take care of you, show you the ropes, and most importantly  I am the one who puts in the good word on wether you make it truly into the family.  They'll never take my word if we're going at it between the sheets.  You have greatness in you, I could tell that the moment we met, I'm not going to ruin a chance for you to become great just because I'm attracted to a beautiful smile."

Almonette, gladly took a hit off the joint her associate had handed to her.  After listening to Silk's idea to go after the men responsible for killing the Mayor's daughter. She firmly asked, "Have the cops been giving you a hard time about that car?   I fucking told that pig if you did, I'd feed him is fucking ears so he would have an excuse to not listen to me."  When her associate gave her a hurried no, Almonette calmed back down quickly taking another hit off the joint.  "That's a good idea, the driver is already dead though, forget fish food. This guy is fish shit by now.  The trigger man, yeah we could do something about that."  The mobster thought for a moment and wrote down a name. "This is your idea, so I'm giving you point. Just to get you started call down to the FBN and as for this man." Almonette handed the piece of paper to Silk.

Officer Picha

"I've worked with him before, he's reliable. For now, you can trust him."  The mobster takes another hit and passes the joint back to Silk. "Let me know when you've got something."  Almonette adds before going back to work on the suit.

he young mobster didn't waste any time when Almonette gave her the piece of paper with the FBN's agent name on it. She jumped off the counter and left HotIce Family Suits.

Instead of taking her Ford Coupe the California girl walked the few blocks to the pay phone in front one of her favorite places in the city.

The Corkown SuperMarket

"Picha." A man's deep voice answered the call.

"Good afternoon, Officer Picha." The young mobster greeted cheerfully. "My name is Silk. Almonette is a friend of mine. She told me you can give me some information."

"Oh yeah? What kind of information?" The crooked FBN agent asked.

"I'm looking for the trigger man who killed the mayor's daughter during a the bank robbery." Silk explained.

"You and every cop in the city are looking for that guy." Officer Picha replied and added, "If I knew who he was I would've delivered him to the mayor's front door by now."

Stupid cops, Silk thought and shook her head. "Sir, with all due respect, the people I work with have ways of finding people The FBN and Detroit's Finest would never think about doing. If you don't mind I'd like copies of all files the police have about robbery. Can you meet me somewhere later and give them to me?"

"Sure, but it's going to take more than one name to vouch for you before I put my career on the line for you." The FBN agent said.

"More than one?" Silk asked with a laugh. "Okay, I hope you have a pen. I'll give you a few names of people who will vouch for me."

The California girl named dropped A list mobsters, talked to the crooked FBN agent for another minute then ended the call.

HotIce Family Suits

Back at the suit shop Almonette was still behind the counter working. Silk sat on the counter again and told her sponsor about the phone call to the FBN agent. "He's going to make a few calls to vouch for me then meet me later to give me info about the bank robbery." The young mobster lit a joint, looked at the fabric Almonette was working with and asked, "Are you making a suit for a friend of ours?"

"Good job"  the mobster said to her assoicate when she had told her everything so far.  "Picha called while you were out, asking about you.  Such a tight ass, told him a trip to Hotel California would do him some good, but he just laughed at me."

When Silk had asked her if the suit was for a friend Almonette nearly choked, and said, "Yeah, you could call him that."  The shopkeeper kept busy, with folding, sowing and measuring, but before long she had a suit fit for a king.  "A Fucking masterpiece, if I do say so myself"  Almonette proudly said to herself.  She held it up to her associate, who was smoking another joint, and asked Silk, "Its fit for a Godfather isn't it?"  Her assocaite just nodded in agreement, clearly more into her joint than what seemed a silly old suit.

"Hey Silk, I gotta drop this off.  Why don't you come with, I'll introduce you to the man. Yup, the Godfather of all of Detroit.  I'll put a good word in for you directly to the man himself.  Something is going down, SpaceCowboy wouldn't have stopped by here if there wasn't something in the works."   Almonette said to her assoicate as she was packing up the suit.

"THE GODFATHER!" The young mobster said with excitement and jumped off the counter. "I've only read about Godfathers. I've never met one. This is going to be totally fucking awesome!"

As they walked towards the door Silk stopped suddenly and said, "WAIT! I should change my clothes." With a glance down at the clothes she just put on before groveling to her sponsor the excited young mobster added, "I can't go meet THE GODFATHER looking like a bum. I'll be right back. Wait for me. Pleeeeeeeeeze don't go without me, Ma'am, I mean, Alma."

An hour later after showering and changing her clothes Silk returned to HotIce Family Suits with a suitcase of money and a big smile.

"Ready to go!" The California girl announced to her sponsor and held up the suitcase. "A little gesture of respect for THE GODFATHER!"

When Silk had walked back in after changing, Almonette said, "Daaamn girl," clearly checking out her assoicate in ways that were not appropriate for a sponsor.  She shakes her head to clear her thoughts and says "C'mon, lets go."

Almonette locked up the shop, and followed Silk to the car.  She hung the suit up in the back and when both women were in the car, she took off.  Occassionaly the mobster would glance over and smile, her associate was so excited she could hardly keep herself still. Oh this should be interesting, she thought to herself.

Her young assoicate nearly bounced out of the car, and Almonette walked over to her and placed her hands on her associates shoulders.  The sponsor smiled, as she told her assoicate "Just breathe, you'll be fine.  Just remember that politeness of yours and you'll be fine."

The two women walk up, and ring the bell at SpaceCowboy's place, neither women were surprised when a burly looking bodyguard answered the door and just said, "Name and business."

Almonette spoke. "I'm Almonette, ower of HotIce Family Suits.  This here is my associate, Silk.  We are here on business to drop of the suit the Godfather ordered." She said holding up the hanger she had the suit on. 

"Whats that" The guard said motioning to the case in Silk's hands.

"A gift for the Godfather."  Almonette calmly said.

The guard reached for the case and said, "We don't know her."

Almonette stepped in his way, and said, "But you know me.  I say she's fine, the gift is fine. If there is something in there that causes any harm to SpaceCowboy, then you may take my life as payment for said harm."

The guard grunted in agreement and let the two women pass.

"Grumpy assholes, the lot of them."  Almonette said to her associate as they walked to the parlor, and waited for the man to arrive.

SpaceCowboy arrived with in minutes, preceeded by two or three body guards, and followed by just as many.  Almonette bowed when he entered, and noticed her associate quickly follow suit. Quick thinking Silky, she thought.

"Greetings sir."  Almonette said, "I have your suit.  I hope it exceeds your expectations."  After the Godfather got done examining the suit, and nodding in what Almonette could only hope was approval, she said "Sir, I would like to introduce to you one of the younger members of our Detroit family.  Her name is Silk, she's a cousin to MartinaGiorgio.  She is very impressive, very is smart, quick thinker, resourceful, and trustworthy.  She's even working on who shot the Mayors daughter, waiting on a few calls, but things are looking good for us to get in further with the Mayor."  She looked at the Godfather, and answered his only question. "She is young sir, but she is destined for greatness, and yes.  I would trust this woman with my own life."

As Almonette walked past silk she stopped and whispered in her ear, "Nows not the time to be timid, smile and show that charisma. Just be polite."

The drive to The Godfather's mansion seemed to take hours for the excited young mobster. When they arrived Silk remained silent as Almonette got them through the maze of bodyguards. Although the suitcase she was carrying was heavy Silk worried it might not be enough money to make a good impression. If she brought anymore she would've had to request the help of one of her bodyguards.

As Almonette greeted The Godfather and praised her young associate Silk barely heard a word. Instead she studied the powerful man standing in front of them. Silk was surprisingly not intimated by him like she expected to be. The Godfather was as welcoming and friendly as everyone else she met in Detroit's organized crime syndicate.

"It's an honor to meet you, Sir. I've heard a lot of good things about you from Carl and Zero. When I arrived in your city the welcome and help I received was..." Silk paused to think of how to describe how overwhelmed she was on her first say in The Motor City. "It was inspiring. It made me want to work hard to prove my worth to the people who showed me so much kindness and support."

"A gift for you, Godfather." The young mobster handed over the briefcase and added, "As Miss Almonette said I'm working on finding out who killed the mayor's daughter during a bank robbery. When I find the trigger man I'm certain the mayor will do anything we want. I plan to ask him to order the police to do less raids on our businesses. If there's anything you want from the mayor don't hesitate to let us know. There's a rumor he might run for governor next year. With a politician like that under your thumb the sky is the limit. Who knows, maybe you can even talk him into running for President."

Before the two women left, the Godfather pulled Almonette off to the side and whispered some things in her ear. As she walked away, the Godfather added, "Just wait until your someplace safe to discuss this."

"Of course sir." The mobster said with a bow. She wasn't sure WHY he didn't want this discussed in the car, but she would follow his orders and wait until they were at the shop. "C'mon Silky" the sponor ushered her associate. She could see a worried expression on Silk's face, to which she said, "Don't worry its good news, I just can't talk until we're at the shop, boss man's orders."

The drive back was silent, but her assoicate rolled a nice joint, lit up and the two women just got buzzed on the way back to HotIce Family Suits.

When they got back to the shop, Almonette could tell her assoicate wanted to just yell "SPIT IT OUT ALREADY!" Almonette just laughed and took off her fancy shoes, and let her hair down, cursing having to dress up "all proper like."

Silk looked like she was going to bounce off the walls, when Almonette finally said, "Alright kid. You impressed SpaceCowboy. A lot. Apparently, we both did. He's moving me to be the LeftHand of a new family starting up. So I won't be with the Grimes family. No worries, I still have the shop, nothing really changes, I'm just part of a different family. He thinks my leadership skills can help Mudkip grow his family into a strong one." Almonette jokes, "When the hell did I become, responsible leadership material?" After a short pause, the mobster continued. "He was also so impressed with you, that he's not giving you another sponsor. He believes you can handle this thing of ours on your own. Congrats little lady, you are well on your way to getting your button."

Almonette saw a smile light up on Silk's face, and mobster replied, "Lets celebrate!" As Silk was finishing rolling a joint, a thought entered into Almonettes head. She walked over to her ex associate, took the joint from her hand and said, "I was thinking something more like this" and she pulled Silk into her and kissed her.

The California girl's head was spinning. She barely had time to grasp her new place in The Family when Almonette kissed her. Finally, Silk thought and happily followed the older woman's lead to the bedroom in the apartment next door.

Six hours later

Completely wore out and satisfied Silk slowly got out of bed and looked around the room for her jacket. The bedroom looked like a tornado went through it. Clothes were everywhere, a lamp was on the floor and there was a hole in the wall Silk was certain wasn't there before. Did I do that? She wondered and picked up her jacket. In one of the pockets she found her pack of cigarettes and lighter.

Before going back to bed Silk looked out the window and stood there a moment thinking. If someone would've told her a year ago she'd be in Detroit working for the mafia, making more more money than she knew what to do with and have an incredible woman in her bed she would've told them they were crazy. The California girl was glad things were looking up for a change after the downward spiral her life was taking in LA.

Silk lit a cigarette and returned to bed. When Almonette sat up and reached for the pack of cigarettes Silk wondered, what now? I'll save her the time of telling me this was a one time thing, the young mobster thought and asked, "So, was I as good as the whores and Martina?"

"Holy shit that was fucking incredible" Almonette thought to herself as she rolled over on her back. "The place is a fucking disaster though. Can I do this with out making such a mess. Just recently there was that New York hotel, then The Hotel California, and now now the apartment. C'est la vie."  The mobster thought as she sat up and ran her hand over her head to get the hair out of her face.  Almonette rolled her neck and reached for a pack of cigarettes, before she could light up Silk asked her, "So, was I as good as the whores and Martina?"

Immediately upon hearing that Almonette jumped out of bed and pinned Silk to the wall and smacked her face so hard the sound echoed in the apartment.  Looking her in the eyes Almonette said with clenched teeth, "YOU. FUCKING. BITCH." The mobster let go and with out saying a word, slid on her underwear and put on the first shirt she could find, she didn't even know or care if it was hers.  She unconsciously slammed the door as she walked out to the counter, and grabbed her bottle of Vodka.  

"Well Mr. Vodka, lets chalk another in the mistakes category."  Almonette said before taking a long hard drink from the bottle.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" Silk yelled after Almonette smacked her and stormed out of the room.

The young mobster's blood was boiling. She paced around the room and kicking clothes out of her way. After several minutes her temper still wasn't cooled. She went to the closet, got dressed and stormed into the suit shop where Almonette was chugging a bottle of vodka.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Silk demanded and stood in the middle of the room. "Does the truth hurt, baby? Since I got here you told me you had feelings for my cousin, you fucked not one, but two whores and you jumped in the sack with me. I'm sure you'll forget about me tomorrow and fuck someone else!" The young mobster was so mad she didn't care how harsh her words were. "I'm out of here! Fuck you, fuck the apartment and fuck the car. I don't want anything from you. You don't give a fuck, anyway. I was just a notch on your bed post. Congratulations, you fucked the California girl!"

Silk walked towards the door where she stopped suddenly and turned around to spew more venom. "Another thing, if you ever fucking touch me again I will fuck you up, woman!"

A minute later standing outside on the street Silk realized she forgot her shoes and yelled, "FUCK!"

Almonette was furious.  The young ganster didn't know shit about what was going on her head, and Silk's ignorant accusations just pissed her off even further.  She didn't say a word as Silk ranted; she just stewed, every word making her want to boil over. When she left Almonette laughed and said "Stupid bitch forgot her shoes."

The mobster grabbed everything of Silks she could carry and threw them at the gangster.  "HEY BITCH YOU FORGOT THESE!"  Almonette said as she threw, clothes, shoes, and even the damned lamp at the young mobster.  "Seems like you're the one who is more upset at the truth!  Can't stand being flavor of the day can you?! I think I could go for some of that Italian love tomorrow!"  The Mobster yellled at Silk without even a second thought at what her words meant.  At the last moment she added "I'm keeping the cat!!!"

Almonette locked both doors to the shop.  "Fuck her, and that damned sexy body."  The mobster said to no one as she continued to drink, and then laughed to herself and slurred out, "Oh yeah, I did that already...  Damned Bitch."   Was the last thing she said as she passed out on the floor of the shop.

After introducing Billy to friends of hers Silk left Hotel California and drove her hot rod to her apartment next to HotIce Family Suits. Glad to see the light still on the young mobster unlocked the front door to the shop.

“HEY ALMONETTE!" Silk yelled when she walked inside. She put a small red bag on the counter then walked to the back where she found her friend on the couch with a drink in one hand and a blade in the other. On the floor Angel and Killer appeared to be in a coma.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes.” Silk said and winked at Almonette as she sat down on the couch next to her. “What a day!” The California girl took off her shoes and took a bag of weed out of her jacket pocket. As she rolled a joint she said, “I found Billy The Kid and he isn’t a bad ass little punk like I expected. He called me Miss. Can you believe that?” Silk shook her head and lit the joint. “I told The Kid he had to face the music for what he did during the bank job. He claimed there was a hit on the mayor’s daughter.” The young mobster gave the joint to  Almonette and continued, “You know I don’t believe shit unless I hear it from a reliable source. After I picked up Billy I made a few calls to verify the info about the hit. The Kid is right, two million dollars was put on her head.”

“The fucked up thing for Billy, he did the hit and never got paid.” Silk sighed and shook her head again. “Poor kid. What’s the world coming to when a trigger man does a job and doesn’t get paid? It’s a damn shame!” The young mobster leaned over and picked up the cat then the puppy. After getting the comatose pets settled on the couch she went on, “I brought Billy to Detroit to tell Carl and Zero about the hit. After we find out who put it up I might keep Billy around. Maybe offer him a job.”

“So, what did you do today?” Silk asked Almonette and put her feet up on the coffee table. “I heard you and my Mom chatted at the brothel. Don’t believe anything she says about when I was a kid. I think I had an evil twin who did all that dumb shit. Oh, by the way, I called a couple people for full background checks on my father before and after he changed his last name. I want to know why he kept his past a secret all these years. When I find out I’m going to confront him and maybe pop him in the fucking face like he did to my Mom.”

The California girl finally shut up and let Almonette talk about her day. Over the next hour they smoked another joint and had a few drinks.

“I almost forgot something!” Silk said suddenly and sat up quickly. “I got a present for you in Philly.” The excited young mobster stood up and ran through the shop. She grabbed the red bag she put on the counter earlier then returned to the back of the shop. Holding the bag up to show Almonette the California girl said, “Something silky for you to wear.” With a nod to the door that lead to her apartment she added, “Come on.”

Almonette rolled out of bed int he morning and looked around. "Heh, still making a mess, but at least there aren't any new holes in the walls."  She laughed quietly to herself while Silk slept.  She picked up her gift off the floor, and thought Damn she's got fine taste.  She continued finding her clothes and got dressed. She woke up Silk just long enough to tell her she was going to her place for a shower and fresh clothes, but Almonette has no idea if what she said sank in.

Almonette was gone a little over an hour, when she walked in the shop she yelled out, "Hey Silk! You up yet?"  then laughed when the young ganster came stumbling out. "Get dressed, I'm taking you somewhere.  Some place, special."  Almontette had no idea how long it took Silk to get around, and she didn't care. She just sat on the couch with cup of coffee and waited.  When Silk came out, Almonette grabbed her hand and said "Come on!  We have to go buy out the grocery store first."

After the two women bought enough groceries to feed what Silk thought would be a small army they pulled up to the Downtown Youth Shelter. Almonette spoke,  "I started this up relatively soon after I started up here in Detroit.  I saw too many kids on the street, totally unoticed by the general public.  At first I would just trade them food and clothes for information.  However I couldn't let them sleep without a roof over their head.  They can come and go as they please, but here they have roof, and food, clothes.  I never told Martina about this place,  I didn't want to hear her tell me not waste money on street rats.  Anyway, come meet my kids."

Each woman grabbed as much as they could and brought it into the shelter.  "Just set them on the table and someone will be by to grab them. Now come on." Almonette smiled as she grabbed Silks hand.  And led her through the a door and into a room with about half a dozen kids running around.  Almonette lets out a laugh and whistles.  

"AUNTIE ALMA!"  All the kids yell out as they ran up to her. "Who's the pretty lady?"

"She's a friend C'mon now, introduce yourselves." The mobster said to the kids.

"Hey, I'm Star!"  A small old little girl in pigtails.

"Jellybean, I'm six!"  Said a bright red haird girl flashing six fingers towards Silk.

"They call me Babe"  Said blonde haired boy in a Yankees cap.

"Candy"  Says a brown haired girl with lollipop in her hand.

"I'm Scooter"  Said a brown haired boy with freckles.

The last boy, with jet black hair but steely blue eyes, stood and said, "Did she do that to you?" as he pointed at the older woman's face.

Almonette ruffled the boys hair and laughed,  "No, I did something bad.  This is what happens when you do something bad.  So be good okay."  She looked toward Silk, "This here is James.  He's my oldest, and too old for nicknames.  He's 12, and a little protective of me."  She added with a laugh.

After a few a hours, the women left. On the drive home, Almonette said to Silk, "You're mom needs a place and job right?  The shelter needs help, and the main caregiver lives at home and commutes but so the caregiver's quarters are empty.  I'll pay her.  What do you think?"

Leaving the parking lot of The Corktown Supermarket with her hot rod full of groceries Silk put the pedal to the metal as she drove towards Downtown, Detroit. Next to her Almonette gave directions. When they arrived at the youth shelter and the older mafioso explained what it was Silk smiled. She was happy Almonette was sharing something about herself she didn't tell Martina. The young mobster respected her deceased cousin's work ethic, but lately all of her relatives were driving her crazy.

As the mobsters carried bags of groceries into the youth shelter Silk said, "It's nice of you to look out for these kids. Whoever threw them away like garbage should be fed to the fishes."

One by one the kids introduced themselves to Silk. The young mobster knelt down to be at eye level with them. As she talked to them Silk made eye contact to show them the respect they deserve, but were probably rarely given.

"Hello, Star." Silk said and smiled. "I'm going to call you Estrella, the Spanish word for Star. Do you want to know another word in Spanish?" The little girl with pig tails nodded and smiled. "This one is easy, the word for angels is angeles, like the city of Los Angeles."

"Jellybean, it's an honor to meet you." Silk said to the girl with red hair. "You look like a friend of mine from school. She was the smartest girl in class. I bet you're smart too." The girl nodded shyly. Silk winked at her and said, "Smart girls are always remembered."  

"Babe!" Silk greeted the blonde boy wearing a New York Yankees cap. "Have you heard of The House That Ruth Built?" The little boy shook his head. "It's the The Yankees new stadium." Silk explained. "In honor of Babe Ruth being the greatest ball player to ever play the game people call the new stadium The House That Ruth Built." The mobster leaned closer to the young Yankees fan and quietly said, "If you and your friends are good for Miss Almonette we'll take you guys and gals to a game in New York this summer."

"Hi Candy." Silk said to the little girl with a lollipop. "You and Jellybean look like a sweet pair. Do you like banana splits?" The little girl nodded. "Me too." Silk replied. "Next time I stop by I'll bring bananas, ice cream, pineapples, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and cherries. We'll make the best banana split in the entire history of banana splits!"

"Hello Scooter, nice to meet you." Silk said to the little boy with freckles. "It looks like the angels love you." The boy looked confused by the woman's comment. Silk explained, "My Mom told me freckles are kisses from angels. What do you think?" The boy had a serious look on his face as he contemplated the question. After some thought he shrugged. Silk smiled and said, "I don't know either, but I bet angels are the best kind of friends to have."

"Hello Sir." Silk greeted the twelve year old, James and put her hand out for him to shake. The boy seemed surprised and unsure what to do until Almonette whispered something to him and gave him a little nudge. He shook Silk's hand then quickly put his hands back in his pockets. "I've been looking for an errand boy to help my hotel manager. I'll pay a good wage plus customers tip for things like shining shoes and washing cars. Are you interested?" The boy seemed skeptical. After a taking a moment to consider it he nodded. "Good, go to Hotel California tomorrow after school and ask for Mary Jane."

Later as they drove back to Corktown Silk agreed with Almonette's suggestion for the young mobster's mother to work in the youth shelter. "Good idea, I don't like her being in the brothel. A lady like her doesn't belong in a place like that." Neither do you, Silk wanted to say to her friend, but she had a feeling Almonette wasn't the type of woman who liked to be told what to do. An argument for another day, The California girl thought and turned up the radio in her hot rod as a song by Louis Armstrong began to play.

Behind the wheel of her hot rod Silk drove away from Hotel California distracted by her jealousy over Mary Jane talking and flirting with Almonette. The young mobster barely pay attention to the conversation in the car between her friend and her mother.

Vincent's Fine Italian Dining
Downtown, Detroit

"A bottle of your best wine." Silk requested after a waiter lead them to a table.

"This is a nice place." Vivian Martin commented and smiled at her daughter.

"Nothing but the best for my two favorite people." Silk replied and added, "After dinner I'm going to check you into The Hilton nearby here. You can come here anytime for lunch or dinner. The owner knows a friend of mine. He'll treat you like royalty."

"The Hilton?" Vivian questioned. "Your hotel is fine. I enjoyed talking to the girls and Billy."

"Mom, you know what kind of business it is." Silk quietly said so people at nearby tables couldn't hear. "I don't want you in a place like that."

"Okay, if you insist." The mobster's mother agreed and opened the menu in front of her on the table.

Hopefully it'll go that well with Almonette, Silk thought and opened her menu.

When they ordered coffee and dessert after dinner Vivian Martin surprised her daughter with a question, "Do you know anything about your father's sister?"

"Ah, no not much." Silk answered truthfully. "Just a few things from the rumor mill, but you know I don't believe everything I hear." She didn't like giving her mother such a vague answer, but wanted to spare her anymore pain and confusion about Alex Martin's secret past.

"An attorney called your father a few months after you were born." Vivian said. "He said there was a little girl in a Chicago orphanage who was your father's niece, the daughter of his sister. Your father told the attorney he didn't have any siblings, but I always thought it was odd because our last name is Martin and whoever the girl's mother was named her Martina."

The table was silent for a few seconds. Silk didn't know what Almonette was thinking after the mention of Martina. Her own mind was cluttered with questions about how Brandy Decima knew her brother changed his last name to Martin and why she named her daughter a version of that name.

"Sometimes I wonder what happened to that girl." Vivian finally spoke again.

When Almonette started to talk Silk shook her head and gave her a pleading look. The young mobster didn't want to give her mother the few confusing details she knew. Instead she would tell her in a few days when she got the background checks she requested from a friend in Chicago. Thankfully Almonette picked up on her silent hint and didn't say anything. Silk nodded as a thanks to her.

HotIce Family Suits

Later after Vivian Martin was settled in at The Hilton Silk and Almonette went to the young mobster's apartment next to her friend's suit shop.

"Thanks for not saying anything to my mother about Martina." Silk said as they sat down on the couch with the pets, Angel and Killer. "It would've lead to more questions about my father and his sister I don't know the answers to yet." The California girl was tired of thinking about her crazy mixed up family. She lit a joint and asked, "Do you know anything about the man who put a hit on the mayor's daughter?"

Almonette could tell her friend was distracted while driving, but she had something important she wanted to discuss with Silk's mom.  "Hey Vivian.  I don't know if Silk told you, but I own a youth shelter in Downtown, I pull in kids off the street and give them food, clothes and a safe place to sleep.  They come and go as they like, but they always come back.  Something about a hot meal and warm beds I guess.  Anyways, the manager down at the shelter could really use an extra set of hands.  Wether it's cooking, cleaning, tutoring the kids with their homework.  Since Silky tells me you were looking for a job, I thought you would be a great fit."

"Why thank you dear, I don't know what to say."  Vivian Martian said.

Almonette smiled and said, "You don't have to reply right now, feel free to sleep on it for a few days. If you do decide, Silk or myself would be happy to take you down to the shelter and meet the kids."

Vincent's Fine Italian Dining
Downtown, Detroit

Almonette sat and listened to the conversation between Silk and her mother.  She was in total shock when found out Martina was a Chicago orphan.  She was about to say "She was an orphan" Just out of plain shock, when she saw a pleading look on Silk's face to just keep quite.   So she did, and she sat quitely, thought.  "I dont know why this surprises me, Martina never talked about herself, outside of her love for making cash, that bakery in New York, and her unusual love for my skill with a blade. So she was an orphan, that does explains a lot.  It doesn't matter though, Martina's dead  if she cared or not I'll never know and it doesn't matter.... I have her."  She smiled as she looked up toward Silk speaking with her mom.

HotIce Family Suits

Almonette sat down next to Silk and wrapped her arm around her.  "No problem, I could tell from the look on your face that I shouldn't say anything.  To  be honest though, I was just in sheer shock over finding out she was an orphan girl.  Explains a lot about her being such a cold hearted bitch."  The mobster saw Silk lighting up as she asked about the the man who put a hit on the mayor's daughter.   She took the joint from Silks hand before she could take a hit herself, then turned and shotgunned a hit to Silk.

A'monette took a hit herself and said passing the joint back to her friend, "Sorry, I've always wanted to do that."  She quit laughing, and said "Yeah, I can tell you some things about Michael Sullivan.  At the moment he's mayor of small nothing city, like Lansing, however. My sources tell me he plans on running for the upcoming Senate seat, under some 'average Joe, all American, family man'  bull shit.  The guy is the lowest of low.  He has more mistresses than an Arabic king as concubines. If they ever get knocked up, he either gets rid of the women or the kids.  Sometimes both."

The Mobster stopped for a second to take another hit the joint Silk was smoking, she could see a bit of questioning in the young mobster's eyes.  She started talking again. "I only know this because, that man is Jame's father.  James came into my life several years ago after his mother passed away, and he ran away from his abusive foster family.  He gave me his mother's name, and I did what searching I could find.  Turns out his mother worked Mr. Sullivan's campaign to become mayor, and he 'thanked' her in his special little way.  Only She got knocked up, Sullivan denied it of course.  When you see the man, you will know without a doubt, James is his son, from the black hair, right down to those blue eyes.  The police report says that Jame's mother got into drugs once Sullivan dumped her in the street, and she died because she couldn't pay the drugs off.  I don't buy it, I think he had her killed but I can't prove it."

The bedroom was a mess again Silk noticed as she got out of bed. Despite being thoroughly rocked the young mobster couldn't sleep. She put on her robe and made a pot of coffee. At the table she looked at the piece of paper with Michael Sullivan's name on it and started planning how to capture him and take him to the mayor's mansion. Later when she noticed light in the windows Silk decided to start the day with a good breakfast. The California girl took a shower, got dressed and drove to The Corktown Supermarket. Returning home to her apartment the mobster cooked a small feast of bacon, eggs and pancakes. The finishing touch of the magnificent breakfast was freshly squeezed orange juice with a splash of vodka in it.

When Almonette woke up and sat down at the table Silk gave her a cup of coffee, glass of orange juice and plate of the best damn breakfast in the world. After her friend took a few bites Silk decided it was time for THE TALK.

SILK LAYS DOWN THE LAW!

"How's the orange juice, sweetheart?" Silk innocently asked.

Almonette's response was a satisfying moan almost as loud as a few hours earlier.

"I've been thinking about something I want to talk to you about." Silk began. On the other side of the table her friend looked at her and listened. "I don't want you to go to the brothel anymore." There I said it, the young mobster thought proudly.

Almonette put her fork down, crossed her arms and waited to hear an explanation.

"I don't like how Mary Jane flirts with you." Silk said and took a drink of her coffee. "It pisses me off how often she says your name. The only reason she knows it is because she hears me say it a dozen times a day." The young mobster waved her hands dramatically and impersonated the prostitute Mary Jane, "Oh Almonette! I want to do you again, Almonette. There should be a maid service named for that thing you do, Almonette. Let's do it in the office, Almonette. I can do you better than the California girl, Almonette." Silk shook her head in disgust and added, "Blah blah blah, I'm fucking sick of it!" She pounded her fist on the table because it made her blood boil just thinking about the prostitute flirting with her woman. "How would you feel if we were hanging out on a beach in Cali and all the chics I did before hung around us begging me to do them again? You would slice the bitches up. Don't even deny it, baby."

Instead of ending her explanation there The California girl continued running her mouth.

"You're mine!" She boldly said. "I forbid you to go to the brothel anymore."