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Chapter one here! --- http://mafiareturns.com/comm/thread/77124
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Shattered American Dream Chapter 2: A Life Altering Choice
The next few years crossed over, each held numerous misdemeanors our
gang scraped together to survive. But as the years aged so did our
level of crime. We went from stealing fruits to robbing the elderly and
even worse fighting other small time gangs for what we saw as our turf.
Three years came and went, now it was the year 1919; this year marked
an even further trail down the line which I would never recover, no
matter how silver the lining was.
One ill-fated day Jason called the crew together to inform us what he
called "good news." We all gather around the burn spot and Jason began
to speak;
"Alright boys, this is what we've been striving for our whole lives! A
chance to make some of the big bucks! Some of the bigger names in the
street have been giving us some recognition and they want us to do some
work. And we get a nice cut."
"So, who's the guy we're working for, Jason?" asked one of our members.
"Don Lenardi!" he answered.
My eyes spooked on mention of that name. Don Lenardi; the man who had
my parents killed. He dominates this city and his influence has spread
across Italy. He was a powerful man, only a damned fool would turn down
his offer.
"What does he want us to do?" I inquired.
A voice came from behind saying; "I can answer that." I turned and saw
a clean cut Sicilian man walking toward us. "You rookie's ever held a
gun before? Don't answer that, rhetorical question." He handed us each
a pistol. "What you're getting is the Leone 1910 model; a
semi-automatic that takes 7 feeds. Now we want you remove some
uncooperative people who refuse to pay the protection they so rightly
owe. Don Lenardi wants them to remember why protection payment is
needed. Think you can handle this?"
"Of course," Jason blurted, "My crew was born ready for this kind of an assignment!"
"I do hope so ... there are plenty of petty groups trying to get on the
Don's good side who wind up failing and ... well, let's just say that
fishes do sleep. Here's the address, Jason." The representative on
Lenardi's behalf handed him a piece of paper. "It will be a lonely log
cabin by the trees. Be sure not to fail Lenardi." With that he vanished
into crowded sidewalks.
"You heard the man, boys. We got work to do. Ron, Joshua, you're coming with me!" Jason stated.
Ron rose to his feet. I delayed, really wanting not to do work for scum
like Lenardi, but what choice did I have? I too rose and we went on our
mission.
A half hour of walking past and there, like the man said, was a sleeping log cabin circled by many trees.
"Right, boys, let's go take care of business!" Jason said and we ran
for the house, kicked the door in and looked around. No one was in
there. I looked out the window and saw a cloaked figure running in the
woods, it appeared to be carrying something close to it - snuggling it
closely.
"There they are!" I shouted and ran after them into the woods, the crew
followed. The cloaked finally tripped over a branch and fell its side,
keeping the item from getting crush. I ran up to the figure and pulled
the gun on it. The figure turned its head and looked at me with its
hood down ... a woman in her mid twenties, crying. My eyes widen, the
item moved around and knocked its blanket off ... a baby. I stopped
frozen in time. My crew ran up to me;
"Alright, Dontonio, let 'er have it!" Jason commanded.
I had a choice; let the mother and her child go and make an enemy out
of Lenardi or sink lower than dirt and do the deed, but make money.
"Dontonio? Fucking pull the trigger!" He repeated.
"Damn it!" Ron shouted, "I'll do it!"
He pulled out his gun and began walking to her. I made my decision! I
turned to run Ron; ducking, I pulled the trigger on him releasing three
bullets into his chest. A confused Jason froze and I pulled the trigger
on him and he dropped like a fly. I knew at that moment that I would be
become a target. Teeth clenched and eyes bulged I turned to the woman
and her kid, "Run!" They did.
Now it was my turn to escape, I had only one place that I could go, my
cousin, Alphonse Dontonio. Upon arriving I busted in, nearly ripping
the door off its hinges.
"Joshua? What the hell?" he shouted.
"Cousin! I need a place to stay! Lenardi, he's after me!" I answered hastily.
"Wait, what? Don Lenardi? No, if you got him after you, you can get the hell out!" he replied with authority.
I looked at the wall the right, and noticed a few suitcases.
"What's with the suitcases, Alphonse?" I asked, pointing at them.
"I'm leaving, cousin! I'm leaving this whole damn country; I can't take the crime and despair!"
"Where are you going?" I asked, again.
"America! The United States! The Land Of Opportunity! I've been saving
for a while now, saving for clothes and food when I get there."
"Let me go with you, cousin!"I suggested.
"What? Joshua, I barely got enough as it is, I can't support to take you too!"
"You, won't have to ...I got some saved up fro-"
"From working with that pack of delinquents!" He finished.
"... Yeah."
"Fine." He agreed with a sigh, "But, when we get there, you stay out of
that life. We're in a new country, a new life. Stay out of crime!"
"Of course!" I answered, wanting to stay true to my word.
"Alright. Cousin, get your money and anything you may need. You can
stay here for the next few days. The boat should be here next
Wednesday."
"Thank you, Al. Thank you!"
This was a sign. A sign for a new life. A new life in America! |
