Paige woke up slumped on the sofa again, a three quarters empty bottle of moonshine still in her hand, still fully dressed. She still wore the checked shirt, vest top and tight black trousers she'd gone out in the night before. Her long black hair poured over her shoulders and her eye makeup was slightly smudged with sleep. Suddenly, a sick feeling swirled in her stomach, making her sit bolt upright and drop the bottle of moonshine to the floor, where it smashed into pieces, the remaining liquid spreading out across the polished wooden floor, seeping into the edges of the fluffy rug she set before the fireplace. Paige, however, barely had time to murmurer "Fuck!" before the drinks she'd drunk the night before threatened to make an appearance, forcing her to the bathroom. 

This was nothing new for Paige. This was just daily life. Drink. Sleep. Chuck up. Repeat. Her life barely had meaning to it anymore. She'd left England a few months earlier to chase a promising career in the art of professional wrestling, and had enjoyed a few weeks of success when she'd first arrived in the states. It all crashed down far too soon, however, when a bad bump damaged her neck, threatening paralysis if she kept going. The world felt like it was ending for Paige. She couldn't bring herself to go home, and her life had no purpose anymore. And so, it had become almost too easy to slip into this regular pattern. Drink. Sleep. Chuck up. Repeat. 

Last night had been no better than the rest - maybe even a little worse. Vodka had been followed by tequila as she hung out with some of the Mexican gangster wives downtown. The tequila had been followed by the moonshine when she got home, to help her sleep - or at least that was what she'd told herself as she slowly drank her way to passing out on the couch. 

Today would be different, though. Today had to be different. Because if today wasn't different, why would tomorrow be, or the day after? And what would be different about the day after that? No, Paige had to make a change. Extracting herself from her bathroom, Paige grabbed a rag and began to mop up the spilled moonshine, carefully gathering up the smashed glass and throwing it into the trashcan. Then she enjoyed a long, hot luxurious shower, letting the water and the steam combine to help clear out the evils of the hangover she was nursing. Hopping out of the shower, she dried her hair and let it flow back beyond her shoulders. She got herself dressed in her usual tight trousers and vest top, and lined her eyes with the usual layers of black liner. She added a pair of sunglasses, took a deep breath and walked out of her front door, feeling the sunlight on her pale skin for the first time in a while.

Paige knew where she had to go. It wasn't going to be an easy trip to make - since her injury, she'd been helped out and kept off the streets by a Mafia boss who'd known her mother when she walked these shores. He'd done her nothing but kindness and she'd managed to repay him with nothing but spilling moonshine on the floor of the apartment he'd helped her rent. So today, it was time to go to him and ask him for a chance to prove her worth. As she reached the HQ of his family, she hesitated for only a second before knocking on the door of his office three times. Pushing it open, she noticed she was trembling. Humility was often a weakness for Paige and her bloodline. Walking into the room, she took a deep breath, and spoke the words she struggled so much to speak.

"Thank you for all you have done for me, Sovereign. I know my mother would be most grateful, were she here. And now, I ask for a chance to repay that kindness. I ask for a chance to join your family, to work for you, to serve you."

Many people suspected Sovereign had ties to organized crime, but that was never confirmed. To the unsuspecting citizens Sovereign maintained the image of a successful entrepreneur and landlord. Little did they know that he gained his real estate empire through mostly illegal means. Despite this, Sovereign still had some morals and values left. He made sure to attend Mass, and share part of his ill-gotten gains with the unfortunate schlubs of society.

He had taken a particular interest in a promising young woman who had recently come to America all the way from England. Her tale was quite tragic and even Sovereign was moved (however little) by it. He got in touch with the woman and provided her with some money and a place to stay. She had potential, that Sovereign knew.

He had just written his signature on a legal document and took a final drag of his cigarette when he heard three knocks on his door. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and put it out in his ashtray, where it remained, smoldering. He was taken by surprise as a trembling young woman entered his office. He watched her intently, with a stern but kind look on his face. He saw that she was struggling with speaking but when she finally spoke he listened with earnest interest.

''My dear Paige, anyone would have helped a lovely young lady like you in her time of need. Your mother was a great woman frankly and she would be rolling in her grave if she knew I didn't help her daughter out.'' He took a final hard look at Paige. She was a woman, granted, but she had the guts to come to his office and she was determined to change her life. He took a cigarette out of his pack, lit it and inhaled.

''Welcome home, Paige.'' He said, while smoothly exhaling the smoke. 

Paige was shaking so hard as she choked our her words that she almost thought that an unexpected earthquake may be ripping through the city.  She could feel her heartbeat all the way to the tips of her fingers and the ends of her toes. When Sovereign began to speak, the air in her lungs caught somewhere in her throat, not quite making it far enough out to exhale. By the time he finished speaking, Paige had worked herself into near enough a nervous wreck, and the relief that washed over her face and into her smile was immense. She reached into her purse, pulling out a full bottle of the moonshine she'd been drinking the night before - good stuff, by all accounts, and her very last bottle of alcohol. Still shaking a little, she put the bottle on Sovereign's desk.

"Thank you, Sovereign. I'll do my best to not let you down and repay your faith in me, and your respect for my mother. For the time being, please enjoy the drink. I won't be needing it any more - I'll be needing to work hard and keep focused.