I sat at the bar of the Gypsy Queen, a known hangout for Kenobi Syndicate associates. A man in a tuxedo walked in, and called my name. My hand gripped the butt of the Browning Hi-Power as I turned, only to see Warsteiner. He approached me and pulled me close, holding an envelope in his hand.

"The Boss wanted me to give this to you. Said that he thought you could handle it, and to call him when you leave," said Warsteiner, handing me the envelope.

I thanked him and ordered a scotch as I tore open the envelope. It read:

Alex,

Show up at HQ. We need to talk.

It was unsigned. That was just like Grin, to not leave his signature. With my heart pounding with nerves, I downed my drink and got a taxi to HQ.

I paid the taxi driver a hundred for my trip and left the man to his shock and awe. With the hopes that one family would eat better, I entered the oak door to the compound that served as our headquarters.

Don Grin sat on a couch, a martini glass on the table before him. He noticed me, and nodded. I immediately felt the cold steel of a pistol to the side of my head.

"Ah, Alex, glad to know you are still punctual," said Grin, as he stood and walked towards me.

"What the hell is this?" I demanded.

"There is a rat in the family, Alex. I am sorry, but it is either you or Mike Contadino. One of you turned over evidence to the FBI, and Godfather Kenobi is getting some pressure down here. This man is going to escort you to a room, where I will keep you locked up until I can get more on Mike. You are lucky there is a second possibility, or your brains would already be on this carpet. It is Godfather Kenobi's orders that are keeping me from ordering someone take a tire iron to your face as it is," said Grin. Although his voice sounded angry, he carried himself as if he was having a friendly conversation over a cup of coffee.

The man who would serve as my guard took me upstairs to a small room with a bathroom and took my gun, before locking me inside. I wasn't guilty, of course, but I was worried that there'd be some forged evidence or something against me.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Warsteiner rubs his beard and snuffs out his cigarette.

I feel as if I'm always the middle man on such endeavors. Nonetheless I enjoyed the read and am looking forward to the follow up.

Warsteiner makes note to have his accountant transfer $50,000 to Alexander.

I sat on the bed in my room, my pocket flask sitting on the end table, next to the one book they gave me. Three times a day, a man with an armed guard would bring me a meal and a glass of water. At lunch, my flask would be refilled with cheap booze. The door was kept locked and the phone was removed. The HQ was starting to feel like a prison, like my own little section of Hell, although I knew I'd have it better than the actual rat.

One time, late at night, I was awoken by the sound of the doorknob turning, but nobody entered. Suddenly, I could hear voices outside.

"Johnny's been given more charges, somebody told the fuzz about that truck robbery a couple of weeks ago," said a man. I instantly recognized his voice as TesleR, the RHM to the family.

"Who snitched? Only six people knew about it. Godfather Kenobi, yourself, or I, would not snitch. We know Warsteiner couldn't do it, because he's in St. Louis checking up on Mike's info. Then, there are his partners," said Grin angrily.

"His partners were Alex and Mike. It had to have been one of them that snitched, there's no other explanation!" said TesleR.

I immediately turned over and pretended to be asleep when the door started to unlock. Footsteps echoed across the floor, and I was shaken roughly.

"Alex, come with me," said Grin, before turning.

I stood, got on my coat, and we went to his office. He bade me to sit down in one of the comfortable leather chairs before his desk, and offered me a cigarette. I took it, and lit it quickly. The tobacco tasted great and I loved having nicotine again. I took a drink from my flask, which I had grabbed on my way out, and Tes looked at me.

"Alex, you were put in that room because we suspected you were a rat. We have evidence now that was wrong, and that the man you did the truck job with Johnny is the snitch. Mikey almost cost you your life, and we want you to get revenge. He is taking a train with FBI guards from New Orleans to St. Louis. The train is leaving tomorrow. We want him dead, at all costs," said TesleR.

I took a hit off the cigarette and looked back at him, a grin on my face.

"Got any Nobel 808?" I asked.

TO BE CONTINUED.

I hope Johhny isnt me... i dont recall any truck job... nor do i recall being a snitch

Warsteiner softly claps.

It only continues to get better and better. When do I get to murk some bitches though Alex?