"Quite the speech you've got there, Kid."

Matteo chortles in response, remembering the same spiel he put together on the boat all those years ago. He remembers vividly how desperate the times were. Immigrants were treated like trash and the only way to make a real name out of yourself was to do a little dirty work. He looks the boy over, giving him a good size-up.

"Look, you can't just walk up to people like us on the street looking for work. You gotta do some things to make yourself stand out. But don't step on any toes or you might end up with a wire strung along your neck and cement on your feet."

With a swift motion, Matteo removes a small crunched up pack of Lucky Strikes out of his breast pocket. There's a slight burp of a lighter striking to life as the end of the cigarette roars to life, burning a deep orange-red hue as the tobacco takes on its new form.

"Here. Take this.."

Matteo hands the boy a slip of paper.

"I'm not big on favors.. but I know what it's like to see the sun after weeks at the bottom of a barrel. If you need something, you call that number and I'll help you out. Other than that, I've got business to take care of and I don't have time to sit around and build your life for you. This is the land of opportunities, boy. Make of it what you will."

As he growls out the last statement, Matteo pivots on his back foot and heads back the way he came, smoke trailing him like an ethereal cloak that grasps fleetingly at his shoulders before being lost in the light.




 

Nefertari smiles sweet and wave to Paddy_Mcguire 

welcome hope you and your friend can to find out good gangsters to keep around.

gl