Through the fine dinning and stress of running the ambitious project of keeping every guest of the Elegance hotel - panting can be heard from the entrance. From someone who stumbles and sways off of the red carpet that coat in a line from the double doors, bruised and creased jacket goomba from the same crew this very establishment looks towards the restaurant section of the building instantly, flying past the waitresses and the chefs and diving into Scratchy's office. Two women look at Scratchy;

"It'll be another fifty if he's going to watch.." in a very unsatisfied tone, only dressed in undergarments - placing her hand on Scratchy's thigh,

With a cough scratchy begins to "That wont be necessary doll," pausing, looking towards a familiar face, "Alright, you two - out. Business venture here," with both women dressing in their skimpy clothing and leaving his office, the kid shuts the door behind him, and after close inspection, his left side of his faced is bruised, with his hands in his pockets he speaks up, telling Scratchy of his ordeal with a gangster with a thick irish accent, pushing on his turf where he usually sells Grain alcohol. With a few minutes of talking, Scratchy takes out his piece from his office draw and slides into his back trouser waist line - charging out of the office, exiting out the three doorways into the reception. 

Asking Lilly, who's Head maid at this time where KL is, with a overlording sense of superiority she replies, "His in his office, why?" ending with - scratchy Charges up the stairs and following through the corridors and crevasses of the large building as he finally makes it to KL's office. Barging into the shut door - "The fucking irish."

"Come in Scratch and make yourself comfortable".

I say sarcastically as he barges through my door like the feds. "Jesus Christ Scratch what about the fucking Irish?... sit down and calm down!. Tell me what's going on?."

I knew this wasn't going to be good as the Irish had been stepping on my toes since my incident with Dub.

Standing besides the chair facing towards Kl, behind the desk - Scratchy's face tightens as he knows time is passing without anything being done. With a few breaths he begins to speak;

"One of our boys just got beat up by someone with a thick Irish accent," Scratchy pauses, doing a patrolling motion back and forth, expressive hand movements wave as he speaks, "Can you guess who it is, trying to get hang on the north side?" Grabbing an empty glass at the far left of the desk, and pouring it to the tip with whiskey without regard - he takes a gulp, putting his hand on the back of the chair closest to him, facing towards KL, clenching the flame, "We can make a deal with them, with a bit of punishment - I know how to play these farmers by my pinky," Scratchy too impatient with a mind full of ideas to idly sit by starts to light up a cigarette, looking at Kl for his input.

I stand up from my chair and place both hands on the desk leaning forward slightly. I put my head down and think for a second before grabbing my pistol and putting it in the waistline of my pants.

"Way I see it Scratch is that these fucking micks have been trying to walk all over me ever since the whole incident with Dub!... it ends now!. They want a war, they got one!... let's show these fucks what dangerous really means."

I swing around from behind my desk and walk towards the door. "Lets take your car Scratch... time to go hunting. We need the kid who got roughed up to point him out so it looks like he's coming for the ride."

Moving towards the reception - people too busy to recognise the two as they head towards the double doors, grabbing the kid by the collar as he stands idly into the car with him. As soon as Scratchy hits the pavement - a valet seems to have his car already usable. Throwing Scratchy the keys - KL, the kid and himself get into the car. Starting the engine, a ferocious roar can be heard as the familiar smell of gas spreads into the air - giving Scratchy a taste of ecstasy. Going instantaneously to 30mph, reaching the highest of 80mph down the rural streets of Chicago. With no information, the back of Chicago's streets was Scratchy's to enjoy as he know this place like a visual map is written in his brain. With a sly and bumpy ride - not looking back scratchy exclaims through the gas and velocity towards the new guy;

"Whats your name kid, and where can we find those farmers?" With a swift turn to the right - KL has a certain expression on his face - as Scratchy drives waiting for the kid to reply.

"speak up kid!... where can we ring these guys?."

As he speaks up he replies "names Vincenzo, the guy who roughed me up was out back of a dinner called Lucky green... it seems to be a frequent hangout for this Irish group. Its about 2 more miles down the road".

Looking at Scratchy I give a slight smirk.

"Ok Scratch you heard the man were going to lucky green... don't worry Vincenzo the party will get going once we show up".

I light a smoke and enjoy my remaining moments of relaxation.

Taking a swift left, taking through the streets as horns and angry drivers that don't know the real thrill of driving pass by in a mere second compared to Scratchy's speed. Flying into the nearby alley that lead to the 'Lucky Green', somewhat new diner - made from the mayor as a step forward for the irish and the american citizens to get along. Many think the Mayor got paid off and they use it as a drug front operation, but that's just speculation on the common folk of Chicago - and where's the harm in that?

Slowing down to stopping speed inside the alley way, all three get out of the car, KL throws his lit cigarette out at the side, pumping his fists together as the kid points towards the dumpster, where he got roughed up - seems the guy moved since then, they were obviously just sending a message. With that in mind, they approach the back door of the Lucky Diner - slouching on the walls acting casual, with all KL, the kid and Scratchy in that order,  as people walk through. The kid would be keeping an eye on the passing by people who walked in and out the establishment and would give a tap on KL's right arm - as Scratchy isn't the best at fighting. 

A quite bulky figure walks out, drunk with the smell of alcohol from a mile away - with tattoo's of knives and the isle of Ireland plasted over his body. Only wearing a wife beaters T-shirt with one other friend walks out - they start to blabber about their operations as Scratchy looks towards KL to see how he reacts to this, the Kid seems' like he could take on the other one - Scratchy on the other hand would only be able to help with his piece. Not wanting to attract attention - he kept still.

As the 2 men pass by us Vincenzo taps me on the arm and says quietly "That's him! The one on the right. I tell Scratch and the kid to follow behind me but to act natural. After following the men for a few minutes I noticed they wandered kind of far from the diner which was good because it wouldn't alert the others.

I closely approach the two as I let out a loud whistle and shout "HEY".

The two men turn around and ask "Fuck you want!". Instead of answering I grab Vincenzo and pull him forward so the men could get a look at him. One of the Irishmen starts laughing immediately "Oh its you again!... come back for another ass kicking?".

I push the kid behind me and reply "No he didn't but now me and you are gonna have a fight!... just me and you, I want to see how you do against someone who hits back!." I roll up the sleeves of the white dress shirt I had on. "Lets go tough guy!". The Irishmen's friend immediately walks up to me and tries the whole speech "you got to go through me f-". Guy gets a swift kick to the groin putting him down and keeping him down. I look to Scratchy "keep this guy covered".

Scratch pulls out his piece and keeps the guy on the ground. The other Irishmen finally agrees to fight as he takes off his jacket and squares off. He lunges at me and starts swinging hard and fast as he actually connects with a right hand making me stumble back. Wiping the blood from my lip I take the man to the ground and start pounding his head into the ground while connecting with multiple punches. I stand up and give the Irishmen a chance to get to his feet and son of a bitch did... he was a tough bastard. After exchanging a few more blows I decide that the fun was over. I grab the man and connect with two big left punches. As he falls to the floor I stomp down on his face and body until he's out cold.

Bruised and bloody I look at Vincenzo and tell him to go home. After he takes off I tell Scratch we had one thing left to do. 

We arrive at the diner a few minutes later as Scratch gets the car ready to go I take the Irishmen I had just finished off and throw him threw the front window of the place as I watch his body roll across the wooden table and to the floor, screams fill the place as civilians scatter. Only men who didn't flinch were the Irish gangsters whom I looked eyes with before taking off with scratch.

There was a note I left on the guy that read "Roughed up the wrong guy... you started a war and were going to finish it!."

Lucky green

A nasal croke was let out by the beaten up brute as he collapsed on the dusty, gritted floor. Covered in dirt, bruised and blood falling through the wooden slits, the Irish crew gather up what's left of the limp lump beaten flesh, throwing him into a pick up truck - orchestrated by the small crew over the phone, gathering up the small amount of people into the back room, it seems like they were the bosses put in as a checkpoint for their main hub.

With the back room of the Lucky Green filling up with cigar smoke, the enforcers gather around a table. Metal pipes and rusty weapons on the table - the grunts and debate of what to do go back and forth. Throwing the arrogant against the intellectuals of the group, an all out frenzy was the determination - outweighing the stratagem of war. Two calls from inside the Lucky green and three busted looking cars appear outside with fifteen thuggish crew members, angry and looking to lynch. With horns honking and angry bereavement - they sought out the stench of Scratchy and KL.

Scratchy's Car

"I-I don't know how they're g-going to react," Scratchy pauses, taking a swift right, watching out for traffic, "H-how many fuckers w-want our head now?" Going down an assortment of roads - thinking on where to go around the North side of Chicago, his mind thinks of somewhere he knows that's secluded. With Anton gone, he knows he can use the building as cover, driving down the straight road, parking his car into Anton's Warehouse.

Anton's Warehouse

With both stepping out of the car - KL Puts his bruised hands over his forehead, looking at everything but nothing at the same time, as Scratchy starts whistling some of the workers over, "Make sure this car is never found," taking out a cigarette out his breast pocket hastily - as the workers look at him with a blank expression, smacking one across the head and shoving them towards his car - he throws them the keys as Scratchy takes out a match, swiping it and lighting his cigarette, "Fucking idiots," Turning towards KL, "What now, huh?"

I lean against the building and light a smoke. Taking a calm inhale and hard exhale I look to Scratchy "There going to retaliate... no doubt about it, but we can't back down from them. We can hide out until we plan our next attack... we strike hard and fast until there are none left. Start with taking out whoever we can within their family and then get to the leader as fast as possible. Kill the leader and they have no leg to stand on."

Still leaning against the wall I wait on Scratchy's response on where to lay low.

Taking the last inhale of his cigarette - Scratchy throws it onto the floor, with the engines of the car heard in the background being transported to another destination, Scratchy vacillates between KL and the floor as he tries to think on his next move. Straightening out his suit - exhaling in a deep sigh he takes out his piece out of his waist, cocks as the one in the chamber flies out - he catches it as putting it in his breast pocket;

"You lead the way, I don't think there's any use for words at this point." 

As me and Scratchy are driving trying to figure out our next move I lean back and think for a bit before looing to Scratch and saying "Diagonal from the diner is a vacant building. Its about 100 feet from Lucky's, I'm thinking we go through the back and camp out there. We have to tread light but will know their every move. We wait for the right time then pick off another one of them. Meanwhile they will still be searching for us."

Pulling out my pistol I check my bullet count and wait for Scratchy's answer.

Driving towards the back-ends, trying to find a good dumping area, Scratchy finds one just a few blocks towards the building.In the humming vehicle, sitting quietly - though no one is around - they whisper there plans just in case the shadows hear;

"Sounds like a plan," Scratchy, turns off the engine - putting it in break as he sits back on his chair, looking forward towards the diner. Hearing sirens and car tires squeaking on the streets - they see through a slit of the alley ways shadowy coverage cars throw themselves past them.with a few more blaring with noise. A couple of minutes go by as they both sit in content, three cars full of men jump out like a clown car, all casually entering the diner;

"Alright, you go in - I need to make a call." Scratchy blares - breaking the dead silence they both created for themselves. The noise of shuffling as the leather seats crunch together with both trench coats rustling causes an unnerved feeling with Scratchy. Shutting the doors of the car, they walk into the building. KL nods towards Scratchy, as Scratchy begins to go towards the phone booth, ringing Tom Shelby's docks - as an assistant picks up;

"You gotta be kidding me, I'm just about to get off work," More rambling is heard from the phone as it responds,

"I don't give a single fuck what time it is, I need you to get me some stuff - if you do, few bucks your way it's all profit for you," Scratchy replies, with a serious tone added, they conversation goes on as KL walks into the abandoned hotel.

As I walk into the shithole I stare out the window carefully and observe. I notice that there is a clear shot at the main window from where we were. It gave me an idea.

As Scratch walks up I look to him and say "you were in the service right?... we need access to a sniper rifle, nothing fancy just something to pick off as many as we can from here before going out the back and taking off.

I can see in Scratches face he wants no part of it but at the same time likes the idea.

"We need the rifle... then were in business."

A couple of minutes past as a rotten - what looked like a half eaten chair - is used as a bench for KL and Scratchy. A car is heard taking corners and then slant in speed as it fully stops, humming of the vehicle as it is in standby as doors shutting is heard, Scratchy takes a look out of the window looking onto the alley way. 

A person slouching on his car door with a crate that rattles with metal and small pieces is on the roof of the vehicle. Exiting the dusty, rotten, unstable building into the alley way - Scratchy takes a couple of bills, shaking the man with his hands as Scratchy gets closer, "One more thing, and this is important," The person sighs, but another five hundred dollars flies out of Scratchy's pocket, strapped on a band - knowing what to get, the dealer set off, starting his car in the dark, abyss like alley way - lighting it up for a moment showing the aged cracks and slits of the side of the building. Scratchy turning his head see's the light of the car drift away, following into the streets as the area around him sunk back into darkness. 

With a large tug, Scratchy lifts up the heavy crate - with heavy breathing and adjustments to his positioning, going up to stairs was quite a task, for him at least. Finally releasing his grip at the side of the chair he was last sitting - with a heavy sigh, Scratchy cracks the crate open; A pair of binoculars, notebook and a couple of ink pens, magazine clips for their guns and a jar of rock candy. As the last item that came out of the box - Scratchy turns to KL, "W-what?" Scratchy pauses, opening the jar, "This stuff is great." 

"Yea Scratch but this building isn't!. We need that rifle so we can take out as many of them as we can before we leave."

After looking out the window slowly and scanning the lucky green diner I turn and sit on the floor pushing my back to the wall and letting out a deep breath.

"Ok lets get that gun... we can't waste time, we strike soon!."

A few minutes after those words I hear a creek at the door, so I quickly stand up and ready my pistol as I walk closer. The door opens slowly and a man emerges in the room slowly, however it was dark so I couldn't see much. Soon as I have the opportunity I grab the man and slam him into the wall placing my pistol under his chin.

"KL its me Frank!, don't shoot."

Taking a closer look I notice he's carrying a case and after identifying him a little more I lower my gun "Frank what the Fuck you doing here?."

He puts the case down to the ground "Now's not the time to talk KL, do what you have to do... your rifle is in the case. I'm going to keep a low profile and head back to the hotel, we can talk there later."

I grab the case "yea were going to talk, soon as this is over... now go."

After frank leaves, Scratch sets up the equipment and looks on with binoculars looking for high value targets. After scanning for a few minutes he tells me that there are 2 men at the table near the window doing most of the talking/planning. I look through the scope and align my shots accordingly as I only had one shot at this.

"Ok KL t-those h-have to be a f-f-few of the h-higher ups, t-take them d-d-down."

Looking down the sights I aim to the first man on the left focusing the shot to the forehead. One deep breath "BANG!" blood hits the table a few feet behind their table soaking the white table cloth. The other men flip their table over as cover while the other higher up runs to the phone. Before dialing I swing my sights to him and firing again catching him in the back. mans hands slide down the counter as he falls to his knees. Firing again I catch him in the back towards the left side piercing his heart.

The men who flipped the table scatter towards the cars they had parked on the side of the building. Looking to Scratch I. reply "Get the car... quick!." Scratch runs for the car as I aim down the sights one last time pointing at one of the cars. One final shot catches the driver in the right cheek making the others duck in the car in fear while the other car takes off.

I run out of the room and jump into Scratches car while yelling "GO GO GO".

Scratchy, running through the mouldy exterior of the old building, crashing down the stairs - breaking some of the pieces of the bannister, throwing himself through the exit. The door slams across the old bricked wall as nervous, scared Scratchy produces the keys from his front trouser pocket in his hand. Shaking, full of adrenaline - the key jumbling about from side to side, it finally reaches the key hole. Ejecting the door open and throwing himself in the car - leaving the car door open for KL - turning the key as the engine roars. Scratchy revs up the engine, seeing KL's figure fly into his car, lying down in the back seats with himself throwing his hat onto the seat next to him, Scratchy takes the car off the break, flooring it out of the dark alley. Taking a sudden break as he takes a right, a civilian takes a stroll out on the street, attempting to cross the road on a lone dark night - a curse is exclaimed from KL's mouth.

Scratchy looking to the left, he see's lights blaring - full of people in two cars are staring at the now flustered KL, as Scratchy reverses back into the alley - a wide alley with only a dumpster from the pizzeria palace behind the abandoned Hotel is placed in the middle of the dark, wet alleyway. The car now edging and swaying between the potholes and the objects - the two cars follow, bumper to bumper with no gap seen. Now emptying out onto the street, Scratchy swirls his car left, putting the car into drive, Scratchy puts his foot on the pedal - as do the two cars, now some of the goons shooting out their windows, with their drivers swaying left to right on the road.

With Scratchy's car being a somewhat newer model than the Irish's cars, the speed range has quite a margin - yet the custom built cars which the Irish take helm edge closer towards him, the bullet's course through the air, hitting the sides of the car and through the back windows. The irish still on their tail,  even with the rapid turns through the Chicago streets, not one car would let up. The sound of police sirens are heard as four lights blare behind the Irish's car - the last shot before it seems they ran out of ammo hit's Scratchy's back left tire - going eighty miles per hour, the car drifts to it's side, as the square structure of the car takes all the impact, the car turns over, flipping almost three times in the process.

What seems like a dream - Scratchy opens his eyes, with blood streaming from his face going up instead of down, he looks in front of him with half opened eyes, following the screen he see's the ground instead of the sky, as he looks to the back of him with a stiff neck towards where KL sat, the seat is empty as the now top of his car's back door has been torn off. Falling back into his seat, brushing the glass of him with his limp hands and buzzing from his ears causing him to sway. Scratchy kicks open the drivers seat door - climbing with exhausted effort - as Scratchy reaches the top of, dragging himself over the edge as he flops onto the ground with glass and loose concrete coating his face and body, with shreds of linen off his suit make a trail towards where he was sitting, Scratchy picks himself up. 

With a slouched figure and a half awake face, he looks forward - seeing a blurry image of KL with a gun, pointing, with a exhausted figure and blood running down his suit, with two of the Irish. Opposite to them, the lights blurring Scratchy's eyes even more as he can see two police officers on the ground - still breathing, but with blood from their mouths while one more officer is standing, fending off two other thugs, one wielding a tire iron. A couple of irish bodies lay on the floor with bullet holes in them - it seems like KL has gotten to them, or the officers have before running out of ammo. Scratchy, with stiff joints, reaches towards his back waist, taking out his pistol - with wavering hands, he tries to cover KL with his piece as if he did shoot the irish - there was definitely no ammo in his piece.

After the Irish killed the cops chasing them, I had taking advantage of the situation picking off a few more of the Irishmen who were focused on the cops. With everyone dead in the street except for me and Scratch we had no choice but to flea on foot until we were in the clear.

The next day... Elegance hotel.

After resting the day off in the hotel me and scratch made our way outside where 5 Irishmen were waiting. They looked unarmed but ready for a fight. I noticed that the boss of the Irish crew was standing in the middle with a rather pissed but defeated face. They all stood with confidence as me and Scratch remained still.

As one of the men start to walk towards us Koehler, Clover and just about every member of the family surround the men. No body says a word except the leader of the Irish crew. After being surrounded for a few seconds he looks me in the eyes and says "I think its time we we talked truce!."

Looking back at him I respond "That's a good idea. Your men stay here with my family me you and Scratchy will go to my office and talk."