Almonette sat down and was thoroughly enjoying the meal Silk had made.  As she was eating she thought, "My god, how did I get so fucking lucky?  I'm moving ahead in the family, my business isn't doing too bad, and I her.  I don't deserve her, but she's here with me."

The mobster sat and listened to the young woman boldly and honestly speak her mind; if she hadn't been so confused and angry Almonette would have taken her right then and there.  Instead she just sat in silence, finally speaking.  "What. The. Hell.  YOU FUCKING WORK THERE?! And YOU are telling ME, that I cannot go to YOUR place of employment because one of YOUR little tricks can't get over how well she got laid by me?  My GOD, it was ONE fucking time before I had ANY idea I stood a chance with you, and for the love of of all things good... I told the trick TODAY that shit wasn't happening again, that I had YOU!   Another thing! why are you yelling at me over this?!  What I have I done, at least since you know, us?"  Almonette threw her arms up in sheer frustration.

Almonette paced around the room for a minute and paused rubbing her temples, "While I"m fucking at it.  NO I wouldn't go slicing the throat if your previous screws came calmering back for more, fuck I wouldn't blame them.... well if they started feeling you up I would.  For the most part, I would sit back and get turned on by it, seeing those women wanting something, I knew I had.  Come on, you have to admit that's sexy?"  Almonette added at the end, she knew her temper was very quickly rising and she was trying to cool things off, but she could tell from the look in Silk's eyes her playful joke did NOT go over well.

Soprano was in Detroit heading towards the airport but got messed up in traffic jam.. left his taxi then he lost his way in the middle of.. the city.. walking towards some bars and shops that were still openend..

His plane departs in 5 hours so he has the luck he has some time to do shopping suddenly he was walking by a suit store.. thats seems to be nice.. so he turned around. looking in to the shop windows he sees its crowded. he doesnt like to crowded places which he doesn't know but there were nice clothes and stylish suits so he opens the front door of the store and walks in..

He walks towards the counter and asks: Can someone can help me with a tailored suit i needs for the occassions.

 

"Hell no!" Silk argued and stood up. "I don't get turned on when that whore is all over you. I fucking hate it!" The young mobster threw her fork on the table and ranted, "Good God,woman! It's not sexy. You're crazier than I thought you were."

The California girl didn't know whether she met her match with the woman in the room with her or if they were both too crazy for each other.

"You're right, I do fucking work at the brothel, but I've never been with any of those women because I've been chasing you since day one." Silk knew she was about to say things she might regret later, but she was too blinded by anger and jealousy to stop. "Maybe you would've noticed if you weren't thinking about Martina all the time. That's all I have fucking heard about since I got here... Martina this and Martina that, from you, Mary Jane and even my mother!"

The young mobster picked up her plate of food and threw it against a wall.

"I'M SICK OF HEARING ABOUT MARTINA!" She yelled then looked at the mess she made and cursed, "FUCK!"

After a few seconds to calm down Silk said, "I understand you cared about her, but I thought what you had with her was just a fling. Was it more?" The answer was evident when Almonette looked away. Her silence was loud and clear. Silk turned around and took a few steps away because at that moment she was so frustrated she wanted to shake some sense into her friend. "I can't believe this! You're pining for a woman who didn't give a fuck about you or anyone else. You know I never met her but by how everyone describes her I know she couldn't have returned whatever you felt. I don't understand why you can't let go of something that didn't even exist."

The California girl finally realized she better shut up before she completely lost her cool and caused more damage with her mouth. She picked up her coat and went to the door. Without turning around to look at Almonette she said, "We shouldn't be together until you're over my cousin."

With her head full of more she wanted to say Silk rushed out the door before she opened her mouth again.

"I'm not the one who needs to get over Martina!"  Almonette yelled after Silk.   "FUCK!" She screamed as she took her knife out and threw it into the door. "When the hell did things get so fucked up?"  She said as she cleaned up what was left of the mess on the floor.   She laughed to herself when she looked at how messy Angel and Killer had gotten themselves eating whatever had fallen to the floor when she heard someone come into the shop area.

Almonette cleaned herself up quickly and walked out, greeting Soporano with a smile.  "Greetings sir, welcome to my humble shop."  The shopkeeper listened to the man's request for a tailored all occassions suit.  "I will be happy to create a suit for you sir.  I will just need to take some measurements."  She said as she garbs the measuring tape, paper and pencil and starts taking then writing down Soporano's measurements.  "Please sir, feel free to pick out the fabrics you would like," Almonette says and walks Soporano to the fabrics she has on hand.  Nice selections sir, I will get right on your suit.  If you are able to come back in a few days, I will have your suit ready for you then."

By the time Soporano left, Almonette had calmed down quite a bit.  She decided to roll a joint herself to relax a bit and sat on the couch with Angel.  After a few too many joints Almonette realized she didn't have her knife on her. "Oooh yeah, I threw it at the door." She said as she opened the door to the apartment and tried to get her knife out of the door.  She pulled as hard as she could, but her grip was weak and she feel flat on her butt.  She sat on the floor and laughed for a long while.  She had totally forgotten about the arguement that morning, and called Silk up at work... "Siiiiiiiilky, baby.  You missed the funniest fucking thing." Almonette laughed between every sentence she was saying. "See when you left, I was mad. I don't remember why, but I was soooo mad I threw my knife in the door and it got stuck.  When I went to pull it out, I fell flat on my ass! It was the funniest thing."  After a long pause, Almonette just asked "Silky?"

In her associate's new car Silk lit a cigarette and opened the window. Although she was already drunk she asked, "You have a flask, Billy?"

Behind the wheel of the car Billy reached in his pocket and pulled out a flask. "Thanks!" Silk said happily and took it. She guzzled down half the whiskey in the flask and thought about the argument she had with Almonette that morning. The argument Almonette didn't remember. Silk laughed and thought, okay let's forget it, like it never happened and everything will be A-FUCKING-OK! Just like my father forgot about his mother and sister. The mobster took another drink from the flask and slurred, "Fuck you, Dad."

"What?" Billy asked and glanced at the drunk woman next to him.

"Nothing." Silk replied and laughed, "Life is fucking grand, Billy! I got it all, man.... family, friends, business, money and the hottest fucking woman in the city at home waiting for me."

When Billy stopped his car in front of HotIce Family Suits the California girl quickly got out and and rushed into the shop.

“HEY ALMONETTE!" Silk yelled and walked through the shop. The door from the store to the young mobster's apartment was open. As soon as Silk got to the doorway she smelled several things at once - marijuana, cookies and bacon. One of these things clearly didn't belong with the others, but Silk was too drunk to notice.

In the kitchen the young mobster found Almonette smoking a joint, baking cookies and frying bacon. It was the most adorable sight in the world to the drunk California girl.

"Daaaaaaaaam baby! You look hot in the kitchen." Silk said and kissed her friend. "Let me hit that joint pleeeeeeeeeeze!" The California girl hit the joint then picked up Almonette by her waist and put her on the counter, "Let's get it hotter in here!"

Six hours later....

As Almonette drifted off to sleep Silk wandered into the kitchen for a cookie. Happily munching on the sweet treat she thought, when Almon remembers the argument the make up sex will definitely rock. 

Almonette woke up in Silk's bed for the second morning in a row, she felt an odd sense of deja vu when the smell of the bacon she cooked the night before still lingered in the air. She remembered everything of the day before, the good and bad, and she wondered if it had all just been a dream. When the mobster got out of bed she found the place clean, her clothes hanging on the door. Did we actually manage to NOT make a mess this time? Alomonette wondered. As she started getting dressed, she realized her clothes were hung on her knife.

"Fuck," she mumbled to herself, "the day was real." The things said between them were real. She smiled though, as she said to herself, "that also means that amazing sex was real too."

The mobster walked into her shop and found Silk sitting on the couch with Killer and Angel. Unsure of where to begin she joked, "So, I see my knife makes a good coat hanger." but she could see her friend was not amused.

Almonette took a deep breath and started speaking, "I know what was said and everything isn't a joking matter.  I should have never forgot about what happened. For that I am sorry. Everything else I cannot apologize for. Not for Martina, or even the hookers."  She paused for a brief moment, then started again, "And About being blind to you; WHY would I have thought you wanted anything with me? My god, I freaking terrified you when you first got here. Not to mention the ugliness of my past dumped in front of you. It had to be clear then that I am fucking broken. So, why the hell would I even think I stood a chance?"

The mobster thought for a moment. "Now, about her. Yes, Martina was just a fling. One crazy drunken tumble in a New York hotel. I dont know why I felt the way I did. I knew she didnt care, but still the feelings were there. Hell one day, when I was trying to figure out how to tell her I, mindlessly, wrote her name a million times in my book; but before I could tell her myself, she found the page in the book, then freaked out and took off running. She died, and I never got to actually tell her. Doesnt matter now though, she is DEAD. I overheard you tell your mom that it's hard to compete against the deceased. Showing you the orphanage was my way of telling you, there is no competition... there is only you."

Almonette sighed, and stared at her friend. "Look, Silk. I fucked up when I got high. FBN came around asking about your car I got pissed and attacked. I was too fucked up to hit anything.  They weren't ours, and now they're after me... They have failed to wack me three times already. I dont know when or if they plan to strike again... but I will be damned if I don't tell you myself how I feel. Mom died with out me saying it, Martina died with out me saying it... and while I think my stupid, clumsy actions speak for themselves, I wont risk it." Almonette paused for a moment to light a cigarette and take a long drag. "Its always been you, since the day I first saw you, and spoke to you. I knew I had to find a way to make you see past me. So yeah I gave you my studio apartment and my sports car. Hell Im fairly certain the hookers were just a way to try and open your eyes to the fact that, I could be desirable. My logic is flawed and my general being is broken... but I love you."

"Jesus God, did I just say that... for real?" The older woman asked as she lit up another cigarette.

In the back of HotIce Family Suits sitting on the couch with her cat named Killer, dog named Angel and a joint in her hand Silk watched cartoons and wondered if Almonette was going to sleep all day. When she grabbed a handful of popcorn out of a bowl on the coffee table Angel whined. "Sorry, girl." Silk said to the dog. "No bacon for breakfast this morning. Almonette cooked it all last night. Don't you remember you ate most of it off the floor when it fell off the counter?"

Earlier when Silk woke up she couldn't believe the tornado through a trailer park mess that was usually in the bedroom was also in the kitchen. The California girl loved making the mess, but hated cleaning it. After all the cleaning she could still smell bacon, but it was long gone thanks to Angel. Silk was convinced the dog had it stashed somewhere for a rainy day.

Maybe I should wake up Almonette, the young mobster thought when she noticed it was almost noon. She was about to get up but then remembered the knife stuck in the door. Not sure if Almonette would wake up, remember their argument and be pissed off about it Silk stayed on the couch and rolled another perfect joint. As she fired it up Almonette walked into the shop and made a joke about the knife. Silk didn't know if she should laugh or run so she just sat there and kept her mouth shut for a change.

As Almonette started talking about Martina, the prostitutes and everything else Silk listened and thought, who is this sweet angel and what happened to the she-devil who spewed the f bomb at me 24 hours ago? After putting everything out there Almonette looked nervous. Silk stood up and said, "I've been waiting to hear you say that for a long time." She walked towards her friend and added, "I wasn't sure if if it counted when you said it after screaming my name when I was doing that thing I do." The California girl winked then hugged her friend. "I'm crazy about you and love you too. I'm surprised you couldn't see it. I wasn't trying to hide it."

The mobsters sat down on the couch together. Silk out the bowl of popcorn on Almonette's lap and said, "Breakfast." She was glad to hear Almonette laugh. "What you said about your past doesn't matter to me. My God, look at how crazy my family is. My father changed his name and hides his past, my aunt was a nut case and you know how cold Martina was. Don't even get me started about the rumors about my grandmother. I spilled it all out to you the day after we met so you knew we both aren't from families in fairy tale books."

"Another thing, you aren't broken. Don't put yourself down like that. Look at all you've accomplished working in Detroit and what you do for the kids downtown makes you a saint. They have food and a warm place to sleep at night because of you. Most people just throw change at street kids and don't give a fuck if the kids have to sleep outside in the rain or snow...."  

A loud knock on the shop door interrupted Silk's rambling. Almonette nervously mentioned The FBN again. Silk looked at the door and said, "Fuck 'em, I'll see if I can do something about it." She picked up the phone and called a young corrupt agent she recently met. After the call she turned towards Almonette and said, "The rookie agent is going to pull some strings with his old man who's an agent a little further up the chain of command. They'll call off the dogs knocking on the door. He said ignore them and stay in the shop until he gets it taken care of. It might take a few hours." The young mobster winked at her friend and said, "Maybe 6 hours."

After two hours into storm rolling through Silks apartment, Almonette  stepped away from the beautiful California girl and frustratingly said, "They've been knocking for two hours straight, when I didn't answer you would THINK they would take it as I'm not here."  Almonette looked around at all the clothes and such scattered around young mobster's apartment, and blushed as a thought hit her, Yeah, we aren't exactly... quiet.  "Well, okay, they know there are at least two people in here."  Almonette said while smiling.

The mobster walked around the apartment now half dressed and finally said, "Where the hell is my shirt?!"  Silk half pouted and just shrugged.  "Well then, I'll just wear yours!"  Almonette laugh and spun around, "So, does California style suit me?"  She could tell her friend was still a bit uneasy. "Look I'm just going to have a little chat, I'll be back before you know it." She said as she pulled her knife out of the door, then walked over to her coat.  "I owe you a new coat hanger too it seems."  The mobster said with a wink to Silk before clenching the blade between her teeth and slipping on her coat.

Almonette walked out to her shop and opened the door, when she saw the man before her she just yelled, "YOU?!"  The rookie FBN agent from the raid on Hotel Calfornia was standing in the doorway to her shop.  "So, are you here for me or the car?"  Almonette asked, clearly frustrated.

"Both Ma'am."  The cop said, clearly frightened.  In his head he's thinking, GOD of all people, it had to be THIS crazy bitch.

"The issue with car was cleared up with the Mayor, he has the people in charge of his daughters murder, not to mention I thought we," the mobster made a motion between them, "had an arangement."  The mobster calmly answered.

"Well then there's always YOU!"  The rookie agent said boldly lifting his gun toward Almonette.

Before the young agent even had his gun fully raised, the mobster had his back to the floor and his shot gun in hand.  She took a look at the piece then yelled back, "HEY SILKY, YOU WANT A SHOTGUN?!?  IT'S KINDA SEXY?!"  Then slid the gun into her shop, and looked back down at the young agent in front of her and said while running the tip of the blade up his neck, "Now what was it I told you about the car?"

"Oh fuck no, please ma'am.  No.   I've seen you outside of here with that pretty out of town girl, this isn't you!"  The rookie agent pleaded.

"OH, but that's where you're wrong, this IS me.  There's just two VERY important differences here.  The first is, that pretty out of town girl, hasn't pissed me off.  YOU however, you had to go an intrupt a beautiful evening  AND had the gaul to come here about that car!  The second, and most important differnece is I actually care about Silk,  You however... I couldn't give two shits about your piggy ass."  Almonette said with a cruel grin, and in one single motion sliced his right ear off.

"BITCH!" the cop screamed!  Almonette let him up and he took off running.

The mobster left his ear on the steps in front of the shop and made a sign for the door.

LOOK DOWN
This is what happened to the last man who ignored my CLOSED sign.
PISS OFF, and come back when we're open

Almonette walked back into the apartment, washed her hands clean, then put her arms around Silk. "That should keep them from incessantly knocking on the door." the woman said, but the young mobster just stood in silence. "Oh baby don't be upset, what if I did...." Almonette then leaned in and whispered things into the California's girls ear, and in a moment the older woman was pinned against the wall.  She grinned at her friend and thought, Looks like the eye of the storm has passed, winds are picking up again.

After cleaning her apartment again, doing laundry and making dinner Silk called Hotel California.

"Hey Billy." The mobster greeted her associate in charge of the hotel. "How's things going?"

"Business is great, Boss." Billy answered. "Only problem was a pig snooping around asking questions about your car. I thought Mayor Gordon was going to call off the dogs."

"They must be looking for the car for another reason." Silk said. "The hot rod has probably been involved in more crimes than I have. I'll check into it tomorrow. How's James?"

"The boy is working out fine." Billy answered. "A couple of the tricks asked why you hired a kid and they think he's weird because he's quiet."

"Tell them if they don't like it they can leave." The mobster replied and shook her head over the petty complaints. "If anyone fucks with James..." She paused for a moment to think of a threat. "Almonette will slice up their faces so bad their own mothers won't recognize them."

They talked about the hotel for a few more minutes then Silk said, "Do me a favor, Billy. Bring me the briefcase on my desk."

While waiting for her associate to arrive with the briefcase Silk walked into the suit shop where Almonette was working.

"Is that the suit for the new leader in Chicago?" The young mobster asked and pointed at the suit coat that was almost finished. Almonette answered with a nod. "Very nice." Silk commented. It was almost hard to believe the same woman who was delicately sewing fabric cut off a man's ear just a few hours earlier. Poor dumb bastard, Silk thought. "Billy is bringing me the reports about my relatives. I'm going to read it all tonight so I can deal with my father tomorrow."

~ Pandora's Box ~

Once again Silk stared at the briefcase with dread, but this time she was at the desk in her apartment. The young mobster thought about the few things she knew already about her relatives. Her father was born Alex Decima, the son of a mafia Godfather. At some point in his life he changed his last name to Martin and claimed his mother died in a car accident. That along with other things about him was a lie. So many lies, Silk thought and finally opened the briefcase.

Hours later Silk was still reading. She barely noticed when Almonette put a cup of coffee on the desk for her and said something about going out for a drug run to Black Bottom. When Silk was finished reading she stacked all the papers neatly together and put them back in the briefcase then closed it and stared at it again. Most of her questions about her father were answered. The only question she had left was for him to answer, why?

The California girl quickly wrote a note, picked up her jacket and walked into the suit shop to leave the note on the counter.

Sweetheart,

I'm going to LA to deal with my father. Be back in a few days.

xoxo
Silky

PS - please feed Killer and Angel.

Walking from Hotel California to HotIce Family Suits in the middle of a warm spring afternoon Silk told Almonette about her father and other relatives.

“My father was a rat.” Silk said with contempt in her voice. “Mr. Russell had to dig deep and grease a lot of palms to find out he....” The California girl paused to control her temper. When she read the reports about what her father did she was disgusted and ashamed to be his daughter.

“After my grandmother’s organized crime syndicate was taken out no one set up in LA, but the mafia still had a lot of control over the city. They also controlled Vegas, even though no families were set up there. We’ve all heard both cities are off limits for us doing business. In the reports Mr. Russell gave me there’s information about how The FBN cracked down on crime in LA and Vegas. They had help from informants. My father was one of the rats.”
 

When Silk arrived in LA she didn’t waste time checking into a hotel. She drove straight to the house where she grew up. The young mobster picked the lock on the back door and went inside. Sitting on her mother’s favorite chair in the living room Silk waited for her father to get home. When the front door opened Alex Decima was so shocked to see his daughter he dropped his briefcase.

“So, this is it?” He asked and looked around the room as if he was taking it all in, the home and normal life he lived for years. “They sent my daughter job to do it?”

Silk quickly stood up and yelled, “YOUR DAUGHTER?” The other words her father said didn’t make sense to her, but she forgot them as she lost her temper. “You disowned me, remember? Just like you disowned YOUR SISTER and spit on YOUR MOTHER’S grave when you helped The FBN.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Alex replied and turned away from his daughter. “Just get it over with, do what you came here to do.”

“What I came here to do is ask you WHY?” The young mobster snapped. “Why did you disgrace your mother’s hard work and turn your back on your sister? How could you do that to them?”

“I DIDN’T DO IT TO THEM!” Alex shouted. “I DID IT FOR THEM!”

Silk was surprised to hear her father yell and confused by his loud statement, but didn’t ask him to explain. Instead she was quiet as he walked across the room to the fireplace. He stood there silent for a full minute as if he was collecting his thoughts.

“The business killed my mother.” Alex Decima weakly explained. “I didn’t want the same thing to happen to my sister and I, but I knew she would never quit. She was infatuated with the business since we were kids. It didn’t even scare her when we were kidnapped by a man who ran the city before our mother did.” He paused then quietly added, “Brandy was always tougher than me.”

“How did you help The FBN?” Silk asked. “What did you tell them? You couldn’t have known much. You weren’t in a familia.”

“I told them everything I saw growing up as the son of the most powerful woman in Los Angeles.” Alex answered with a far off look in his eyes. “The people she did business with, the places she took us where she had meetings and the things we overheard her talk about. It took me weeks to tell them everything I remembered. They had other informants who told them about...”

“Wait a minute!” Silk interrupted. “You mourned your mother so much you honored her by telling The Feds everything about her business?” The young mobster asked with disbelief. She was so livid she couldn’t control her temper. “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, DAD? DID YOU EVEN CONSIDER HER FEELINGS? SHE WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED THAT!”

Alex Decima had no response.

“Did Brandy find you?” Silk asked.

“No.” Her father answered and looked down.

For the first time since the conversation started Alex looked ashamed. Silk didn’t know what to think of him and the answers he gave her. As she tried to make sense of it Alex walked across the room to a table next to the front door.

“You should’ve never dug into my past.” Alex finally spoke again. “The man you hired to get information about me was relentless. He raised a lot of red flags. Very powerful people want me and the other informants dead. If I run they’ll find me.” He angrily pushed everything off the table and yelled, “"This is your fault, Silk!"

"No Dad, it's YOUR fault." Silk spewed back at him. “You should’ve never betrayed our familia.”

“Familia.” Alex repeated and opened a drawer on the side of the table. “You talk like her.”

“Who?” Silk asked.

“No matter how you feel about what I did to my mother and sister I always loved you, Silk.” Alex Decima said and lifted a gun to his head.
 

“He shot himself.” Silk quietly told Almonette.

Almonette silently walked with Silk, just listening to the California girl tell her story.  In her eyes and voice, the mobster saw a whirlwind of emotions, none of them positive and she reached down and grabbed the young woman's hand.  The women continued walking a while, when they reached the shop.  When Silk got to the end of her story, Almonette couldn't believe the words she heard.  

“He shot himself.” Silk quietly told Almonette.

Almonette hugged Silk tightly and just whispered, "I am SO sorry love."  Her heart was breaking for the young woman, but she didn't know what else to say or do.  So she walked with Silk into her apartment. Silk sat on the couch with Killer and Angel, while Almonette rolled a few joints.  The mobster lit one and handed it to Silk, and while Silk sat and smoked Almonette went to her shop and grabbed the bottles of liquor she kept under the counter and two glasses.

"Let me introduce you to my two friends.  This here is Mr. Vodka, and this lovely piece here is Miss Gin.  Don't let her sweet looks fool you, she hits hard."  Almonette smiled and poured some Gin into a glass, handing it to Silk.  Before they got too wasted, Almonette figured they should eat and ordered pizza.  After she paid the delivery guy she sat with Silk on the couch, listening to the California girl tell stories.

Man, I have to do something to cheer her up.  Almonette thought to herself.  The mobster did the first thing that popped in her head and that was to kiss Silk. 

Six hours later, it was Silk sleeping in bed, while Almonette cleaned up the apartment.  Almonette sat down to smoke a cigarette before she would join the young woman in bed. She sat and scratched Angel, thinking about how strong a person Silk was and how she would have never handled the situation as well as the young woman had.  "Just another thing to love about her,"  Almonette said to Angel.

The next day Silk headed back to Hotel California, and the mobster stayed at her shop to finish up some suits she had orders for.  But still a little hungover from the night before she decided to take a nap.  As the she was about to head to bed, there was a quiet knock on the door to the apartment.  Expecting to see Billy or possibly even James.  Almonette opened the door with out even looking to see who it was.

"Alma." a man Almonette's age said. He was tall, with wavy mousy brown hair, and dark brown eyes.  The kind of guy most girls, women, even some men drool over.

Almonette, dropped the glass she had in her hand and stared at Jeff Montoya's brother, and her old lover, from a lifetime ago.  There were only, two reasons he would be at the doorstep.  She was certain it was about his brother, not about what happened when they were 17.  After what felt like an eternity, but was only a few seconds Almonette just said, "Johnny."

After a long busy day Silk left her brothel, Hotel California and looked forward to spending the evening with Almonette. The mobster was glad to see her associate Billy outside in front of the hotel. The California girl had an important question to ask him.

"Hey Billy, have you ever bought flowers for a woman?" Silk asked the young man.

"All the time." Billy answered and winked. "You ladies love flowers, right?"

"I guess so." Silk answered even though she wasn't exactly the type of woman who liked flowers. She preferred surprises she could smoke, drink and slowly take off her sweetheart.

Looking up and down the street to make sure no one was close enough to hear Silk took a step closer to Billy and asked, "What kind of flowers do you buy?"

"It depends on what you want to say, Boss." The young associate answered.

"What I want to say?" Silk questioned with confusion. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"What you want the flowers to say." Billy answered again and lit a cigarette.

Silk stared at her associate as if he lost his mind. "What I want to say or what I want the flowers to say? How do flowers say anything? They're just flowers!"

"Let me try this a different way, are you buying flowers for your mother?" Billy asked.

"No." Silk answered then smiled as she remembered the night before. "For Almonette."

"Then back to what I was saying before, every flower means something. Whatever it means is what you want to say." Billy paused. "Understand now?"

Silk's answer was a blank stare.

Once again Billy tried a different approach. "You love her?" He asked.

"Of course." Silk answered. "What does that have to do with flowers?"

"Red roses." Billy said then explained further so his boss wouldn't have to go through this conversation again at the flower shop, "Tell the florist you want one dozen long stem red roses."

Twenty minutes later Silk parked at the corner near HotIce Family Suits and got out of her car with one dozen red roses from The Corktown Flower Shop. The nosy old lady who lived on the corner was outside on the stoop in front of her apartment building.

"Nice roses." The old woman commented. "Are they for your lady friend?"

"Yes ma'am." Silk answered and smiled.

"Your lady friend's ex boyfriend is over there." The old woman said and pointed at the suit shop. "Been there about thirty minutes."

"Ex boyfriend?" Silk asked and looked down the block at HotIce Family Suits.

"Johnny Montoya. They dated back in... "

"I know." Silk said before the old lady finished. When the mobster tracked down Billy The Kid she found out Almonette was involved with Johnny Montoya years ago. Silk assumed Johnny was long gone or swimming with the fishes like his brother, Jeff, a get away driver Almonette wacked long before Silk moved to Detroit.

By the time Silk walked into the suit shop she was fuming about the presence of Almonette's ex boyfriend.  The motherfucker better not have his hands on my woman, the California girl thought as she put the roses on the counter. The mobster took out her gun and walked to the back of the shop where she found Almonette sitting on a chair and Johnny on the couch with Angel and Killer. Traitors, Silk thought about her pets.

"Well, isn't this is a cozy fucking scene!" The California girl said sarcastically and pointed her gun at Johnny.

Almonette stood up and approached the young mobster. Silk coldly looked at her and said, "I'll deal with you later." With her eyes back on Johnny she warned, "You have five seconds to get the fuck out of here."

It didn't take another warning for Johnny. He quickly stood up and ran out of the shop. Silk holstered her gun and turned to Almonette.

"What the fuck?" The crazy jealous California girl dramatically raised her arms up and repeated louder, "WHAT THE FUCK?"

"Why are you so fucking pissed off?  I need to know why Johnny is here!"  Almonette stormed the shop.  "Did you fucking forget I sliced his brother up?"

Before Silk has any chance of responding, Johnny bursts back in the shop, pistol at hand and points it directly at Silk.  Almonette quickly stands between Johnny and Silk and as calmly as she can says "Johnny calm down."

"Move Alma, this bitch has no right busting into your place like this and pulling a gun!"  Johnny angrily stated.

"This bitch," Almonette said in an angry sarcastic tone, "fucking lives here."

Johnny looked confused, "My info said this was your place, you owned the apartment and the shop."

"Dumbass!  I own the place, and this bitch, as you like to called her, is my FUCKING woman! So, DO NOT call her a bitch again.  You will show her the respect she deserves!"  Almonette said with fire burning in her eyes. 

"Just move, no one pulls a gun on me for no reason"  Johnny said still angry, "You deserve better than this tramp anyway!"

The moment "tramp" hit Almonette's ears, she balled her fingers in a fist and punched the cocky man right in the face, sending him to the ground.  The angry mobster reached for her knife, but felt the hand of the younger woman stop her.  When she turned and looked, Silk just shook her head, and the mobster knew slicing Johnny up wouldn't solve anything.

"Look Johnny, just tell us why the hell you came back after what 10 fucking years?"  Almonette said staring down at the man on the floor.

Johnny stood up, wiping blood from his nose.  "God damn, they weren't kidding about you being crazy now.  Look I came here for him, I know you did something with him."

'Oh shit.  He does know about Jeff.  I'll still play dumb, maybe he'll believe me since his previous info was wrong.'  The mobster thought hopefully to herself.  "Who the fuck are you talking about?  He, that doesn't narrow down the amount of people I've dealt with."

"You know who the the fuck I am talking about Alma!"  Johnny's temper was rising again.

The mobster responded, "If I knew who the hell you are talking about I could actually answer your question. HE, doesn't narrow it down genius!"

The moment Johnny started yelling "YOU KNOW DAMN FUCKING WELL WHO THE HELL I AM TALKING ABOUT WOMAN, WHERE IS MY FUCKING SON!"  

Almonette started yelling at the same time, "I FUCKING SLIT HIS, FUCKING THROAT OKAY!" 

For a few minutes the whole shop was completely silent.  Johnny spoke quietly, "You killed, a baby, our baby...."  He was stunned.

"Fuck," was all Almonette could say.  "I thought you were here about Jeff."

Almonette nearly fell over laughing out of relief and shock, "Son?" the mobster laughed,  "Where DO you get your information?  That mechanical gypsy at the circus?!  The baby was a girl." She laughed despite knowing she had a LOT of explaining to do to the woman she was now sharing her life with.

"I don't give a fuck, where is my kid?!"  Johnny said.

"You have no fucking right to her!  You fucking walked out before she was fucking born, so just go and do what you do best and walk out again!"  Almonette grabbed Silk's pistol out of Silks hand and placed it to Johnny's head.  "You come into MY shop, pull a gun on and INSULT my woman, then have the fucking nerve to ask about a child you haven't given a shit about in 10 fucking years.  Go piss off and leave me, my woman, and that child ALONE!" She emphasized the last word by pushing the barrel of the gun into the man's temple.

Johnny spit at Almonette's feet and quietly walked out the door.  The mobster turned and looked at Silk, placing the gun back in California girl's hands, she quietly said, "I guess I have more explaining to do, don't I?"

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Silk repeated her earlier words, but not to Almonette this time. They were yelled out loud in frustration and anger.

The California girl stormed to the door and looked outside. With a glance back at Almonette she said, "That motherfucker knocked you up then left you? I should've let you slice him up. He has some fucking nerve to come here asking about the kid." The young mobster was so pissed off about Almonette's ex and the scene that just happened it didn't sink in yet the woman she was involved with had a child.

"If he shows up here again I might just put him in the fucking ground." Silk vented and paced around the shop. "Fucking bastard." After several minutes of pacing and calling Johnny every name in the book Silk realized Almonette looked upset, but not angry. Silk wasn't sure what was going through her woman's mind at that moment.

"I'm sorry about barging in here and yelling at you." Silk said and walked towards the shelf of fabric Almonette was leaning against. "You know how crazy I get when people look at you. Your ex being here made me snap." Attempting to lighten the mood with a joking remark Silk said, "Baby, you make me so crazy I should be locked up in a looney bin."

Almonette didn't respond or even smile at Silk's comment. She stood there with a far off look in her eyes as if she was miles away. Silk looked around and tried to think of what else to say. Just as she was about to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness she spotted the roses she brought in earlier.

"Look, sweetheart." The California girl said and pointed at the the counter. "I got red roses for you." After a chat with the florist Silk understood what her associate tried to explain to her about the meaning of flowers. She considered herself an expert on the subject now. "You know what red roses say, right?"

For some reason unknown to the young mobster Almonette suddenly broke down and cried. Silk was stunned and didn't know what to say or do. Instead of continuing to run her mouth she cautiously put her arms around her friend. Almonette put her head against the younger woman's shoulder and cried harder.

After several minutes of comforting her friend it suddenly occurred to Silk why Almonette was so upset. It was about the daughter she had ten years ago.

"Let's sit down and talk." Silk suggested and kept an arm around Almonette as they went to the couch in the back of the shop. As usual Angel, the dog and Killer, the cat were sitting there like they owned the place. Silk moved the lazy pets and gestured for Almonette to sit down. "I'll be right back." Silk said, but Almonette didn't seem to hear her. She still had a lost look in her eyes. Silk put a hand on Almonette's face and made eye contact with her. "Whatever happened before and whatever happens from now on I'm here for you, okay?" Almonette nodded.

A minute later Silk returned to the couch with two bottles and two glasses. "Your friends, Mr. Vodka and Miss Gin." She said then took a joint out of her cigarette pack. "My friend and yours make a perfect threesome." 

Over the next few hours as they drank and smoked Silk listened as Almonette talked about what happened ten years ago after Johhny abandoned her when she was pregnant. Silk couldn't imagine going through what her friend did at the age of seventeen. When the California girl was the same age she was living on the streets after being disowned by her parents.

Six hours later...

Naturally the booze, drugs and chemistry between the crazy women lead to the bedroom in the apartment next to the shop. After their little escape to paradise it was back to reality. Neither of them could sleep so they left the messy bedroom and went to the kitchen. Almonette sat down at the table and lit a cigarette and Silk made a pot of coffee.   

"I wonder why Johnny showed up all of a sudden asking about the kid." Silk said and put two cups of coffee on the table. She shook her head and added, "He didn't even know you had a girl." The young mobster went to the refrigerator and took out eggs and bacon. "There must be a reason. Whatever it is I don't trust him." As she started cooking breakfast Silk glanced over at her sweetheart and said, "Maybe we should go check on the girl later?"

Almonette embraced her friend and cried for several minutes into her shoulder before Silk suggested they sit down and talk. As Almonette sat lost in her own thoughts the California girl went and grabbed a couple of glasses and the bottles of alcohol.  The young woman came back and before she even had her first joint lit, the mobster had downed a shot vodka already.

"Ugh, where do I even start Silky?" the older woman sighed. Silk handed her a joint, to which Almonette just said, "that's a good place" and took a long drag. "Damn Silky, I am sorry you had to find out this way.  Nothing like drama?"  Almonette half heartily joked.

The older woman took a deep breath, "This started about 6 months after my mother got me back from the hospital. After all the stuff with my dad.  I had finally healed, and was back in school.  I knew all the rumors within the week,  people always think their quiet when they are so not. To be fair, I kinda was a prostitute, only you know, against my will.  Everyone kept their distance, thinking they'd catch something if they got too close.  It was fine with me, didn't need 'friends' like them anyway, but, it was still lonely.  Before Johnny there was this girl, Nina.  She was new, and you know how hard it can be for the new kid.  Well, we became friends and one night one thing lead to another.  However, she was freaked out by my scar which was still kinda.... raw.  When I told her about what happened to me, what my father did to me, and how I got it.  She took off, claiming I was some kind of monster.  Next day at school there were more rumors, all of which completely bogus.  My favorite one was that I got my scar from getting pregnant and cutting the baby out myself."  Almonette paused to laugh for a moment, then continued.

"Enter Johnny.  He was the only one not whispering things about me as I walked the halls.  He was cute and charming, and I was lonely.  He didn't treat me like I was different, neither my past or my scar bothered him.  He seemed too good to be true, which of course meant he was.  He took me out, treated me like a lady.  Then it came time for our Junior prom, and it was amazing.  The night was winding down, and Johnny and I left to some quiet cabin his family used for hunting on the weekends.  Yes, things got hot and heavy.  I should have been more responsible and cautious, but the doctors told me that there was no way I would ever have children... so I let myself get caught up in the moment.  I woke up, and Johnny had left.  He did pin a note to the headboard, it just said, "Thanks number 37." Below the note, scratch marks.  I literally was nothing more than just a notch on a headboard to him."  Amonette paused for a moment. 

"So yeah, when mom found out I was pregnant she moved us back here to Detroit.  She didn't want my father to know, and I think she wanted to make sure Johnny didn't know either. She looked up her family's past, and got in with the Detroit family.  We now had the money and power to protect ourselves.  Mom started home schooling me, only she taught me the ways of the family.  She then found a good doctor, and he took good care of me.  Just an old guy with a cheery smile and personality.  When I told him I didn't want the child to grow up in this type of scenario, he introduced me to a lovely young couple who couldn't get pregnant.  When the child was born, I gave her to the couple, outside of any kind of law or paperwork.  The birth certificate even has them as her parents.  The only thing I can tell you about the child is her name, they let me name her.  Her name is Aisha.  They thought it odd, but I liked it.  It means life and hope.  Which is exactly what she was to that couple, hope and life."  Almonette stopped and took a long drag off the joint Silk handed her. Half drunk, half stoned off her ass the older woman looked the California girl straight in the eyes and just said, "You,  are so amazing. I am thee luckiest bitch."

Six hours later...

As Silk made coffee, Almonette sat at the table smoking a cigarette thinking to herself, 'between the coffee and alcohol, I wonder if there even is any blood running through these veins.'  The older woman laughed out loud which caused Silk to turn and look, "OH nothing love, just thinking to myself."  Almonette said.

The mobster agreed with the California girl that Johnny shouldn't be trusted, and that it would be a good idea to check up on the child later.  After breakfast, Almonette watched Silk walk out the door to leave for Hotel Calfornia and said to Angel and Killer, "I hate seeing her go, but DAMN the view is nice."

"Oh shit" Almonette whispered as she saw Mr. Gray laying on his back, shot point blank as soon as he opened the door no doubt.  The two gangsters crept around the body, trying to not make a sound.  Almonette fought every urge in her body to yell for her daughter, not knowing if Johnny was still in the house.  It didn't take long to find Mrs. Gray at the bottom of the stairs with a bullet in the back of her head. "The sick fuck."  Almonette said to the California girl after seeing the body.  "You check downstairs, I'll check upstairs.  Lets make sure Johnny is gone, then hopefully the girl is hidden somewhere."

After a few minutes of clearing out each of the rooms up stairs, Almonette and Silk met at the top of the stairs and Johnny was no where to be found in the house.  Which immediately caused a panicked reaction in Almonette.  "AISHA!"  the mobster yelled as she took off, looking under beds, and in closets that were already open and had obviously been checked by Johnny's search for the girl.  "Silk we have to find her, we have to!" The mobster disparately said.  As the two women were searching the house, Almonette held up her hand and quietly said, "Do you hear that? a faint  knocking."

Almonette took off, back up stairs toward the sound of the knocking.  She ran to what was obviously the master bedroom, and the closet.  The knocking was coming from the closet, but behind the back wall.  Almonette pushed and pulled at the wall, until the hidden compartment in the back opened.  She hurried up and picked up Aisha, and hugged her close.  The young girl just sobbed in the mobster shoulder, "Mamma."   Almonette had no idea if the girl was speaking to her or not, but calmly told the girl that she would get her to safety.

ALmonette carried the girl down stairs, and covered her eyes, "Don't look sweetheart, you don't want to look."   In the kitchen she found Silk, "I've got Aisha lets get the hell out of here and back to the shop."  Almonette saw her love cautiously eye the briefcase the girl was clutching in her hand, and just said, "she wont let go of it, lets get out of here before cops show up and find us."

The women quickly got back to the car, and sped off to HotIce Family Suits, where they let Aisha play with Killer and Angel while they discussed what they should do next.

As they drove back to their turf in Corktown Silk occasionally glanced over at Almonette and Aisha. The girl didn't say a word. She just clung to Almonette and held on to the briefcase.

When they got to the apartment next to HotIce Family Suits Silk checked all the windows and doors to make sure they were locked. Almonette sat on the couch with Aisha and introduced the girl to the Killer and Angel. The 10 year old pet the animals, but still remained silent.

"I'm going to call Gio." Silk said to Almonette and went into the shop to use the phone. When she returned to the apartment a few minutes later she shook her head to let her friend know Johhny wasn't found yet. Instead of pacing around to show the child she was nervous about what was happening the California girl sat down and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Silk." She pointed to the cat and dog and asked, "Which one do you think is cuter?"

Aisha didn't answer. Instead she turned her head and hid her face against Almonette. "Has she said anything?" Silk quietly asked her friend. Almonette shook her head. "Reminds me of James." The young mobster commented. "Maybe he can get her to talk a little." Silk stood up. "I'll call my mother and ask her to pick him up at the shelter and bring him here."

Almonette held the child close, as Silk asked about her.  "She's only really sobbed for her mamma once after I got her out of the closet. That's been it.  Good idea about James, apologize to your mother for me about the time, it is getting kind of late."

She sat on the couch and looked at the child,  "Aisha, would you like some juice?"  At which the girl nodded.  When Almonette stood up, the girl continued to cling to her.  "Honey gotta let me go for a minute, I will be right back I promise."  The mobster said as she noticed Aisha look towards Silk, "Don't worry about Silk she's here to protect you like I am."  The girl still looked scared.

"You trust me right?" Amonette questioned, but got a blank stare.  "A little bit at least?" And the girl nodded. "Good, now sweetheart, I trust that woman over there with my life, and she would never hurt a hair on your head.  So give her a chance for me okay?"  The girl just quietly nodded again, and Almontte kissed the girl's forehead before standing up.  As Almonette got to the door of the apartment, she smiled seeing the Boston Terrier puppy jumping in Aisha's lap and licking the girl's face.

When she came back she placed the juice on the table.  "There's a boy I take care of, and I'm going to bring him over here to play with you, Angel and the kitty, is that okay with you?"  The girl looked at her and just said, "Yes ma'am."

Almonette walked over to Silk and wrapped an arm around her, saying with a laugh, "Ya know, I thought for a split second she was going to call me Mamma. But at least she said, something?"

Silk hugged her sweetheart and said, "I know the circumstances suck, but you're very good with her. My mom always put me at ease with a few soft spoken words and a cup of juice."

Shortly later there was a knock on the back door. Aisha looked worried. She immediately stood up and ran to Almonette. Silk knew it was her mother at the door. If it was Johnny Montoya he wouldn't knock. Looking at the girl Silk said, "Don't worry. You're safe here. My mom and James are at the door."

The California girl went to the door and smiled at her mother then shook hands with James. "Thanks for coming over." Silk quietly explained to them Aisha possibly witnessed her parents get shot. "Keep this part quiet until Almonette decides to tell her, Aisha is her daughter. Almonette is handling this good, but she's a nervous wreck. Maybe you can both spend some time with Aisha to give Almonette a little break."

Silk introduced Aisha to Vivian and James then pointed towards the kitchen. "Mom, do you mind working your magic? If you cook I'll clean."

"Of course, dear." Vivian answered and waved for James and Aisha. "Help me out, kids."

Almonette didn't seem to want to let Aisha out of her sight. "We can help too." Silk told her friend and took her hand to lead her into the kitchen. Shortly after they had a simple meal of grilled cheese sandwiches James pulled a deck of cards out of pocket and showed them to Aisha. "You know how to play poker?" Aisha shook her head. James took a handful of change out of his pocket and split it evenly on the table in front of him and the girl. "I'll teach you."

"I want to learn how to play too." Vivian commented and sat down at the table with the kids.

"That leaves the dishes for us." Silk said to Almonette. "Do you want to wash or dry?"

Almonette laughed, and said she'd wash.  While handing a plate to Silk she said, "Great idea to have your mom bring James over.  Just look at them, ya know I think she actually smiled once."  Almonette was calming down a little bit, and joked to her friend, "How funny is it that I'm passing you a clean plate instead of joint right now?"  Almonette got to the Aisha's plate and laughed, "Ya know I never ate my crusts as a kid either."  Then whistled for Angel, and fed the bread crusts to the puppy.

After handing Silk the last of the dishes to clean up, the older woman took a bit of the soap suds and placed them on Silks nose then laughed.  Causing the kids too look over at them, and both James and Aisha started to giggle.  Almonette smiled a big cheesey grin, "Now, now you can't be mad at THAT.  Seriously though, you may want your mom to be heading out shortly. I really don't want her around if Johnny shows up, I would never forgive myself if she got hurt because of that bastard.  I'd say take James too, but I think he's taken to Aisha."  Almonette nodded at the table where James was smiling over Aisha's shoulder obviously trying to show her what cards to play.