I awoke and looked at the clock, 6 am. I climbed out of bed and walked over to the window, lighting up a cigarette as I pulled aside the curtain. it was still dark out, with a hint of light on the horizon. There were a few people moving around across the street, but quickly ran into a building nearby as a car sped by. I watched for a few more minutes, before moving back over to the closet to grab some fresh clothes from my suitcase. As I pulled out a shirt something fell to the floor. I ignored it for the moment, and finished gathering my clothing, then bent over to pick it up, another Envelope..

This time however he recognized the smooth cursive handwriting of his mother, he opened the envelope and read the note within..

"Son, I know things happen for a reason, but I still wish you could have stayed. I know you're too proud to take money from your dear old mother, so i decided to sneak it into your suitcase while you were sleeping. Please take care of yourself, and try not to get yourself killed.

With Love,
Mom

I fought back a tear as I re-read the letter, and looked inside the envelope to find what seemed to be five grand. I placed the letter and the money inside my jacket pocket, and placed my jacket on the bed, as I went into the bathroom to shower.

When I came out however i was surprised to see a man and two other men standing in my room, I hindered a guess that the two other men was Body guards, and the third was a boss of some sort, judging fromt he nicely kempt suit he was wearing.

"How.."

"I told you we would meet in the morning, did I not ?" The man cut him off, pulling a chair up from the small table, next to the door."Yes, I had the letter placed here, and paid the Attendent to give you this room." He added, apparently noticing the dumbstruck expression upon my face. I moved over to the bed and sat down, keeping my eyes on the man.

"I see you are a very cautious man, that is a rare trait in most people, but a very valuable one, i might add."He gestured to one of the body guards, and whispered in the goons ear. The two men left the room, leaving them alone.

"Now you shouldn't be so nervous, its apparent I am not here to hurt you"He said, lighting a cigarette and offering one to me, I took it, and he lit his then mine. I was still unsure of what this man wanted, I didn't have to think much on the fact as the man continued speaking.

"I know why you are here, why you left your family behind, Tragedy strikes us all from time to time in one way or the other. I understand why you want to start over, but I need to be assured that this is the way of life you wish to live, because once you're in, the only way out is in a wooden box."

The man sat and looked at me for a moment, i took it as he was waiting on me to say something.

"I understand, and ye..yes I want to do this, I want to make something out of my life. If you can help me do that, Ill do whatever it takes." I said, putting my cigarette on the table and brushing it into a trash can once I realised what I'd done. The man watched and I could have sworn I seen a slight smile cross his face.

"Keep in mind son, that I am not the only one you will be answering to, joining a family, you will have a number of different people you must take orders from, not only myself, you will work hard, prove your loyalty, and do your part to help the family, if you let me down, then I look bad, and well..." He pulled back one side of his jacket to reveal a revolver."I'll leave the rest to imagination., what do you say ?"

I looked at the man, and the revolver , before looking him in the eye again. Here it is, my new chance at life, may not be the life I had in mind a year ago, but it was still a chance to become someone.

"Yes Sir, it would be an honor to be a part of your organization."I said, and the man did smile this time, as he stood and held his hand out, which I took as he spoke once more.

"Welcome to the Family Denozo, grab your stuff, I've arranged for you a small apartment not far from Headquarters. I'll take you there. Then...the real work begins.

I grabbed my suitcase, and my jacket, and followed the man out the door, to find a car waiting outside. As I got inside, the man handed me a rather thick envelope, opening it I found some cash, too much to count, so I stowed it in my jacket, and looked at the man.

"To get you started, Im sure it will be more than enough."

I nodded and looked out the window as we drove away, this was it, I was part of something, a small part, but it was still something...

I know that everyone will say exactly the same but I really like it.It was quite touching...for a gangster story