Kates walks slowly down the street. Her eyes are sparking, not with their usual vibrancy, but with a darker shine. She forces herself to step carefully and wills her blood pressure to lower, mindful of her huge stomach protruding before her. The baby was almost due, but some things were too important to wait. As Naomi and Swayzak arrange a small set of stairs leading up to a soapbox, Kates climbs and clears her throat.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I come before you today quite disturbed, specifically about a practice that has become far, far too common. I would especially ask that anyone new or ignorant to our business pay attention.

When a person becomes a Made Man they totally, completely devote themselves to that family. For the rest of their lives that bond and oath will persist. The only way a Made Man, Capo, Boss, or Consigliere leaves a family is in a box.

I had thought that this was universally understood and respected, but over the past week or so the city of Detroit has seen at least 5 attempts from other cities to add a Made Man+ member of the Detroit organization to their crews. This is such a blatant violation of this thing that we're involved in that it's fairly stupefying that a Made Man or, inconceivably, a freaking crewleader, would think that this is a remotely acceptable practice.

I speak for both Godmother Marietta and myself when I say that Detroit will no longer be patient with these ridiculous requests. If the oath of a Made Man is worth so little, then what the fuck do we have left?

Recro listens to Kates speech, thinks to him self intently utterly disgusted by what he is hearing

"Made men of Detroit wishing to transfer, or for that matter any made man of any family. should not be able to do such an insulting thing purely for any reason highly unacceptable for even mentioning such blasphemy should be punishable by death!"

Recro shakes his head in disgust awaits for more discussion

This practice of head hunting members like we are a share company is completely unacceptable. Please let me know if there is anything i can do to help in stopping this.

coldblood listens quitely to kates speech thinking how ungratefull these mademen most be he clears his throat and sugest putting a bullet of a 38 between the next such action to accure make an example i mean you cant protect that person making them who they r and the switch and go and make the other side better if they want to switch send there bloodlines

Tommy lights a cigarette and begins to speak ...

My opinions on this ... Any made man willing to leave his family for whatever reason,let it be 10 Million dollars cash,a stronger family,whatever,is not worthy enough of being a made man,I will stick with my family till the death ... No matter what happens.I'll be there with them.

Johnny smiles while smoking his cigarette.

I agree it is a shame to even have to discuss this topic. However, if someone wishes to break an oath and leave the family, the least we could do is put them into a wooden box for their safe journey!

Johnny laughs at his own joke. He stops to put out his smoke and continues on:

Seriously though, theres not too many things you could do that would be more disrespectful in my opinion than to try and leave the family that gave you a home. People say it all the time on these streets, and maybe its true, there seems to be a lack of honor and respect these days.

I agree, once you reach that certain level of trust and bond in a family then you should not be able to just drop that and go to another family.

You are always susppose to stay true and loyal to your one and only family, no matter what.

Made Man or not my loyalities are with Marietta, Pedro and the great city of Detroit!

Michael steps on a few cigarette butts as he walks in, hearing the discussion.

"'Made man'....that's a title most of us aspire to. It's also a position we're given, that we'ree appointed. Why? Because our boss, our leaders, our higher-ups, can trust us with that level of power," he sighs, looking around the room. "If you got Made, it's because your people want you there. That's how it goes. If I got made, the only way I'd walk from my family's operations is to expand elsewhere, and even then, only with the blessing of my Crew Leader. To jump ships after being given so much from your family is a rat move--and rats get poisoned." 

He sighs again. "And those of you who would expect such an offer to be well-recieved, you're crazier than the rest. Remember the old saying, 'A man who betrays his own should not be trusted, even when he betrays them to you.' We're not mercenaries, we're family. That's that." Michael then shrugs, leaving a few pressed dandelions on the soap-box by Kates. "Best of luck with your little one, Ma'am. You ever need a doctor, I do make house calls."

Absolutely right , made men should have loyalty too the family .

shakes his head

made men! expects alot more im still gangster but would never leave my familt they looked after me when i was a thug on the streets

I agree, a man of honor in a family is in that family for life

MP applauds as Kates steps down from the stand. Afterward with friends at a bar he speaks out on the subject

Family is blood! To become Made is, literally, to be forged of the trust and power of the family. You become an extension of those who placed their faith in you. And to sever that tie is an offense to those who believed in you, and a slap in the face to your city. Not to mention a horrible example for those you lead, those thugs and gangsters who might see you as a role model. Let us raise a toast in honor to Miss Kates, for speaking out on the matter- desertions are a subject that have always gotten under my skin.

Stevemp carries on a night with those in the family he knows now he can trust, sharing a bond that runs deep with blood, sweat, tears and scotch.