Make (One's) Bones v.

                   To kill a person as requirement for membership in a criminal gang, especially if it is one's first murder; to become a made man; (hence) to earn a reputation.

Seven Years Ago...

Mac Forrelli was a peoples person, a ladies man and known throughout the underworld as a decent, respectable and reliable associate. He was independent, working with various organisations for maximum profits. Nobody bothered him for protection money, because they knew he could afford it, and that's why he made a better partner than an asset to be collected from. Forrelli was, for all intents and purposes, a made guy. Though his Irish blood kept him from being a part of the mob, he was considered by a lot of families to be one of their own.

His temper was never seen, his jolly, oversized figure giving him a harmless and playful demeanour and anyone who dealt with him was always at ease. Mac owned most of Rivertown, a stretch of clubs, bars and restaurants that formed a district of Detroit. He had gladly done the Godmother a favour when she lost one of her capo's to war, and looked after the territory for her. Managing the businesses and kicking up the profits, he was the perfect partner.

What he had also done though, was take the Godmother for a fool. Siphoning off millions for himself as his business front attracted more attention, all the while leaving her in the dark as to his operations. It would have been perfect and lead to any early retirement, had one mobster, Kathryne MacLeod, sussed out his ill doings. How dare she confront such a man as himself and give him orders! Well, Mac knew how to deal with her, people die in the mob all the time, and who would miss one nosey little girl?

See, Mac didn't want to spend all his time dealing with goomba's and making shady arrangements, one day he intended on retiring out in Spain or Sicily, using what may contacts he had made to tie up all his loose ends and leave America for good. He would take his beautiful wife, his eldest daughter and her husband and his other 3 children out into a life of peace and contentment.

This was Mac Forrelli's dream, it was on his mind all the time, it was his happy place. He thought of it when he woke up, and when he fell asleep, it picked him up out of bad times and kept him humble when things were good. This woman would not keep him from it.

Now, it was what was on his mind while his fingers tried in desperate vain to get between his throat and his assailants arm, while the life was slowly choked out of him. He thought of it as he caught sight of his white saloon and the two corpses of his bodyguards, bleeding profusely over the trunk. As his face turned purple and his killers knee struck his chunky back over and over, Mac Forrelli pictured his daughters, his wife and his dream of retirement. As blood began forming in his throat and his head felt like it was going to burst right off his shoulders, he pictured the calm lapping waves that would one day send him to sleep on a sunset beach.

As his thoughts slipped away from him, he found himself looking into the pleased eyes of Gabriel Mancini, watching intently as he was gradually robbed of his life. The Mafioso simply lit a smoke and turned away, cleaning his blade on a corpse's jacket and placing it back into its sheath.

"Macintyre, so naïve, so foolish..."

Mac Forrelli would one day light up a smoke, a thick Cuban, surrounded by his family and friends, he would relax into well earned paradise after a life of risk and deceit.

His attackers arm tugged firmly a few times around the large mans throat as his body began to fall limp, the man soon soiled himself and his bloodshot eyes vanished into the back of his head. He fell slumped onto the alley floor and his skull cracked as it met the concrete.

And there, Macintyre Forelli lay dead.

Earlier that day...

It could almost be mesmerizing, a morbidly tranquil image that the young man may quite happily watch with interest, and curiosity, on a carefree weekend evening while nursing a glass of scotch. The blood that was slowly pooling at the bottom of the chair leg had began to seep down the creases in-between each carefully laid tile. It ran with ease through the readily made canals, separating into three new paths at each join it leaked into. The scene was far from tranquil or carefree however, and Samuel Gato was not in any state of mind to even pass thought to enjoying the situation in the slightest.

All he could consciously recall at the time was the red and white blotches that started to descend before his eyes. A sheet of seething anger which blocked his senses. He could no longer see the blood as it curdled around the soles of his shoes, gradually clotting as it thinned out. Nor could he feel the sting of his own nails biting into his palm as his knuckles turned white. It was only another heart rendering cry of agony from Kathryne MacLeod that snapped him back into focus, and for just a split second, he became aware of the scene before him.

Marietta Rossi was furiously barking orders to the various soldato's that had gathered, upon hearing the young woman's pain. Her right hand was clutching paper towel as she desperately attempted to plug the gushing hole in her capo's abdomen, her left hand was being grasped tightly by the bleeding woman and Marietta was gladly squeezing in response.  The Detroit HQ kitchen was bustling with frantic activity. Some of the senior members of the Godmothers regime were on phones, to unknown recipients, making calls and enquiries, and amidst the chaos, Naomi was sat tearfully at her bosses side, trying to keep the woman conscious.

Sammy Gato took all this in but paid it no attention, because soon enough there was only one thing on his mind. James saw it coming, but was too late to stop the man. He lunged toward Gato, his fingertips just gracing the back of the young mans vest as he passed out through the door. His movements were too sudden, and in his efforts to stall his friend, the sole of his shoe found Miss MacLeod's pooling blood and he slipped forwards. Another man helped James Terranova to his feet and looked straight to Marietta for her orders.

"Go, quickly"

That was all she said, solemnly, while still tending to her fallen capo. Gabriel Mancini hesitated, raising his brow while picking up his hat.

"Go after him, or go with him?"

There was a pause, before the Godmother decided upon a reply to her left hand.

"With"

Gabriel left the HQ with natural efficiency, Sammy was only just starting the engine when he and Terranova simultaneously entered the car. Nothing was said, an understandable and required silence. Samuel pulled the car out of the drive, the tires scorching the sidewalk with black rubber stains as he swerved into the road. The noise turned heads, but nobody cared, right now there were more important things to tend to. He began the journey of which little he would remember, Rivertown was only a few blocks away, so he had time to clear his head. Sammy understood the situation, someone had made a hit, and by way of information, he knew who. He knew what he was going to do, too, only it wouldn't occur to him what had happened until after the deed was done.

It wasn't Sammy's character to spill blood, to take lives and get his hands dirty. At least that's what he had thought, he would never have predicted his reaction to Kates being gunned down though. However, if he was going to ever do it, now was when it was going to happen. His thoughts were becoming clearer now, beads of sweat began forming on his brow and he choked back a tear as he accepted the situation.

Gabriel watched with an experienced understanding of what the young man was going through. Sammy was wearing his vest, which was unbuttoned and his shirt sleeves were rolled up. Mancini however was composed, calm and respectably dressed. Lighting a smoke, he simply watched as the car skidded around corner after corner, swerving around parked cars and forcing others off the road. He trusted Sammy's driving, after all, there was no way Gato would let the car crash now, while the man who had his boss shot down was still breathing.

"You don't have to do this Sammy, we can take care of it if you want"

He smiled as he watched his young friend consider the option for only a second, then as the car got faster, knew he wasn't getting a response.

When they finally came to a halt, Sammy was already out the door. Adrenaline still flowed through his veins, which made the man all that more determined to see this through. Gabriel was soon behind him, he opened his mouth to speak, but Sammy was already there.

"James, head inside. Forrelli Knows you're with Kathryne, but he'll have someone pamper you. He won't want a fuss in this place. Just stay around people, he'll probably have his bodyguards keep you busy."

Raising a finger towards the alley, Gato pointed at a white saloon car out back.

"That's his car, he'll come out back, probably in a rush so he won't be with anyone except the driver."

Gabriel Mancini smiled, and nodded to Terranova who was awaiting the mans approval. James straightened himself out and crossed the road, towards the clubs entrance. He was warmly greeted, and after a short exchange of words, soon disappeared inside. Smoke drifted out into the street as the doors were opened for him, live music was being played and for a moment, that too softly echoed out into the evening, before the doors shut and there was silence once more.

Gabriel Mancini and Samuel Gato looked the place up and down, a thousand thoughts racing through Sammy's mind as he tried to judge what was about to happen.

"Needs doing, my friend"

Gato smiled and nodded.

"Lets go then"

The pair wandered into the alley, soon eclipsed by the shadows within, the only clue to their presence being the burning cigarette butt that slowly smouldered into ash, before extinguishing completely.

Great story, my good man.  Only because I am in it.

Well done Sir.  Nice story

Paulie

Wow. My friend you have simply outdone yourself. This tale is beyond the realms of normalcy, and made chills go down my spine. Such detailed explanations and absolutely saturated with vivid images. Truly stunning mate, glad to see you out here, and I am looking forward to the next time you grace us with your presence.

Great story sammy