She watched from across the street as she pretended to be window shopping, but she could see him in the reflection.  Remo was the smoothest pick pocketer she had ever laid eyes on.  Sofia wished she could master that technique, and one day she vowed she would.  Valentino coughed softly to get her attention just as Remo was zeroing in on his target.  The new lands here were vast and abundant in the flow of currency.  Pickings to be had at every corner it seemed.  

Sofia had tried valiantly to snag a wallet earlier that afternoon when she bumped into a gentleman exiting a diner, but she wasn’t quick enough. The man almost called for the coppers, but she used every bit of her charm she could muster, that and lying through her teeth.  Claiming how she was all alone, and new to the Americas, arriving only that morning, the gentleman took pity on her seemingly innocent blue eyes and red curls then gave her a few dollars to get a room and hot meal.  When he dug through his wallet, Sofia noticed he had plenty to share, and discreetly signaled Remo to follow him.  

“Mio Dio Tino.  How does Remo make it look so effortless and easy as pie?”

“He’s had plenty of practice kid.  Keep at it, you’ll get there.”

Sofia frowned at being called ‘kid’, but she didn’t have the desire to counter him on it at the moment since she was starving.  The gang did in fact land on these shores that very morning, and hadn’t found a place to settle down in and relax, or even grab a quick meal.  She knew her blue eyes and red curls gave her an appearance of innocence, especially when she smiled, but these guys have known her for three years now.  They don’t succumb to her charms as much as they did when she first met them.

Sofia crossed her arms loosely against her slender frame, and despite being 5’10”, as she stood next to Tino and Raimondo, these guys both made her look short.  It made her chuckle at times because back home she was eye to eye with all her cousins, and they all hated that.  The moment she met Drago, Sofia had a surprised look on her face as he greeted her one morning at the local bakery.  She was busy cleaning the counter for her mother, and had to actually look up a bit to meet his gaze.  

As tough as Drago was and put off, that man was every bit as soft when it came to visiting the bakery.  He loved her mother’s brownies.  Drago took a liking to Sofia, and after a few weeks introduced her to the rest of the gang.  Fabrizio was the craftsman when it came to almost anything, picking locks, cracking safes, you name it. Antonio was the jokester, always trying to make Sofia smile.  Marcello was more a guns blazing knock you out hands on kinda guy, whereas Raimondo seemed to take on the job of being Sofia’s personal bodyguard.  Remo’s skills at lifting wallets, or disappearing from a scene was an extreme gift.  Valentino was all muscle, but a big teddy bear where Sofia was concerned.  Tacito was the quiet one.

Tino shook her arm snagging her attention back to the present.  He arched an eyebrow in curiosity, but said nothing.  As they began walking off to meet up with Remo, Drago and everyone, Sofia thought quietly about the gentleman’s kind eyes as he took pity on her.  She felt a twinge of guilt it seemed, but tried shrugging it off.  She tried to put him out of her mind to focus on finding food and shelter.

Kappatsu had been on his way to a meeting when the red haired girl had tried to grab his wallet. She was as tall as him but had a subtle way about her, fortunately for his wallet not subtle enough. His first reaction was to have her roughed up a bit to teach her a lesson but he saw something in her eyes that took him back. Back to a place he hadn't been in a long time, because of that he took pity on her. Taking out his wallet he gave her enough of a bed and some warm food and went on his way.

Later that day Kappatsu was looking through his ledger when a thought came to him. "Ralph! Come in here, I have a job for you." Ralph was a short man with nothing particularly special in the looks department, but he was a good errand boy and always did as he was told. "There's this girl, five foot ten, red hair steals pockets down by the docks. I want you to take her to Silvio's restaurant and have her wait for me." Ralph never asked questions he turned around and left the office as quick as he had come in. Kappatsu continued writing in his ledger, and smiled to himself.

"C'mon Drago why do I have to be the one to go?"

"Zeelee don't start with me."

Sofia grabbed her clutch off the table and headed out the door.  Sometimes she thought they would never see her as an adult.  Twenty years old and still called 'kid' most of the time. Because she had the face of innocence, Sofia had to work twice as hard as the guys to be taken seriously. Now she was out on the sidewalk in front of the hotel glancing up with a slight frown in her brows.  They managed to get settled into a hotel that afternoon, and enjoyed a decent meal thanks to the unbeknownst generosity of the gentleman outside the diner.  

Now here she was being sent to scout out more unsuspecting victims.  Her black Oxfords clicked on the sidewalk as she set off in search of more pockets, and to get a feel of the city they were in.  Her pace slowed as her previous anger subsided, and Sofia was enjoying the beautiful scenery when she stopped at a particular store window.  She glanced down to the attire she was wearing then wondered when she'd be able to afford something new.  She bit her lower lip as she peered into the store spotting the many racks of clothing, and was startled instantly a she received a tap on her shoulder.

"Che diavolo.  Don't you know better than to scare someone like that?  Can I help you?"

The gentleman arched his eyebrow at her words as if he was surprised by how fiery she was.

"My boss wants to meet you.  He will be at Silvio's restaurant shortly, and I'm to bring you and wait for him."

He waved his hand out in a gesture for Sofia to accompany him, and to be honest she was indeed most curious what the hell this was about. Surely there was some mistake, and this gentleman had the wrong person.  He seemed harmless enough, so Sofia turned towards the direction he waved in then smiled softly.  She noticed how he gulped quietly then she tucked a curl behind her ear smiling as she turned her head and began walking.

Kappatsu had always liked Silvio he was a good family man and was kind to his friends. He still remembered how Silvio would lay a table out the back for him when he was nothing but a poor urchin. Maybe that kindness is what drove him to meet with this thief, who could say. As usual, Silvio had given him his regular booth by the corner of the restaurant and as always Kappatsu had shaken his hand and slipped a few bills into it. The restaurant was busy tonight almost every table was occupied and the room was full of chatter and the clatter of cutlery against dinner plates.

He didn't need to look at the menu because he always ordered the same thing, the spaghetti puttanesca. It was glorious and the smell was to die for. Silvio had asked him if he wanted the usual and of course, Kappatsu had nodded his head in agreement. Just as the meal had arrived at the table Ralph entered the restaurant followed by the girl. 

The first thing he saw was that red hair and how she almost towered over Ralph. when she saw him she frowned slightly, maybe she was expecting never to see him again. They were now at the table and both stood awkwardly waiting for Kappatsu to say something.

"Ralph, thank you for bringing her to see me, you may go now" Ralph nodded and quickly headed off back towards the door. 

"And you, what's your name?" He said looking at her questioningly, he had made a point of not telling her to sit. He was watching her very closely to see how she would react. 

The restaurant was barely an eight minute walk from where the gentleman had found Sofia.  He held the door open waving her inside, and as soon as she entered the delicious aromas overwhelmed her senses.  He led her to a table where a man who was wearing a suit had just finished placing his order it seemed.  As he turned his attention in their direction, Sofia paused briefly then frowned slightly.  Was this a set up?  Did this man follow her and change his mind about turning her over to the coppers?  The mysterious gentleman spoke to his associate thus breaking her thoughts as the shorter man was waved off to be on his way.

His intense gaze seemed to pierce through her defenses as Sofia stood there while he queried about her name.  Her name?  Really?  Would she make it that easy to be put in jail?  Then he smiled.  She let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she was holding in.  Sofia smiled softly in return.

"Sofia."

Her nerves seemed to disappear, so Sofia asked if he minded if she joined him.  Receiving a slight nod, Sofia sat down opposite him, but her curiosity couldn't be contained another second longer.

"Why did you want to meet me Signore?"

"Put very simply, I have an offer for you." Kappatsu paused to eat some of his spaghetti and then wipe his mouth with his napkin. She looked at him with what seemed to be confusion and he would have been lying if he said it didn't make him feel good to have the upper hand in situations such as these. 

"You are currently picking pockets, yes?" He didn't give her any time to answer. "I would instead have you work for me, I think you will find it will pay much more than your current line of employment". With this, he waved a waiter over "what would you like to eat, Sofia?".

Sofia's blue eyes held much caution in them as he mentioned an offer.  As he wiped away any remnants of sauce from his mouth, she had to acknowledge he had impeccable manners.  The way he sat straight, he held her gaze without looking off, and didn't lazily keep his arms on the table. Sofia was becoming more and more impressed with this stranger.

She started to open her mouth as he queried her pitiful attempt at pilfering his pockets, but he pushed right onto his offer.  Needless to say she was indeed surprised at being offered work.  Sofia thought she would be scrounging for a while to procure any kind of employment here in the new lands. She briefly wondered what Drago and the guys would say, but decided she needed to prove to them she was in fact an adult.  Maybe this would enlighten them to the fact.  The stranger waved a waiter to the table, and he waited patiently there with his little notepad and pencil.

"Fettuccine Alfredo, Thank you."

Sofia turned her gaze back to her companion, his eyes full of interest at her answer to his offer.  An impish smile adorned her face as she spoke.

"On one condition Signore will I work for you."

"A brilliant choice Sofia." Kappatsu turned to the waiter, "and bring another glass for this wine".

He picked up his glass and took a sip of the red wine whilst taking in its rich aroma. It stained his lips slightly and he poured some more into the glass. The restaurant was slowly emptying out now and because of this, he lowered his voice a little.

"hmm I do not usually negotiate, but this time I am willing to hear your condition, please go on."

"Grazie."

Sofia thanked him for the wine once the waiter placed another glass on the table.  She slowly took a sip of the wine as she strummed her delicate fingers on her lap underneath the table.  She was biding her time thinking of a way that would embrace her impish side without causing any kind of confliction to get herself in hot water with this stranger.  Employment sounded divine, especially the thought of a regular paycheck.  She thought of her wardrobe and knew what she would be spending the money on first.

She set the glass of wine down then Sofia leaned forward slightly.  Her impish smile returned as she spoke softly.

"Well I would at least like to know my boss' name per favore."

Before he could speak, the waiter appeared suddenly with her Fettuccine Alfredo, steam rolling off the plate filling her senses with the delicious aromas.  Sofia waited for his reply before taking a bite.

When the pasta arrived it looked so inviting Kappatsu almost asked for another dish for himself, but it was probably better not to show his glutinous side. His own dish was finished now and he had asked the waiter for a cigar. 

He chuckled slightly at her question "Of course, my name is Kappatsu - it is quite an exotic name around these parts and to be honest with you I am not quite sure what my mother was thinking. Nonetheless, it is what it is, and it's my pleasure." 

The waiter arrived with the prepared cigar which he promptly placed in between his lips, the waiter kindly lit it for him and he took a deep breath and released a puff of smoke into the air.

Sofia extended a gentle hand across the table, waiting until he shook it briefly before replacing her hand on her lap.  She nodded in agreement.

"Indeed it is exotic and a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance Signore Kappatsu."

She couldn't wait another minute longer to indulge in the delicious food before her as her companion, and new boss, enjoyed a cigar.  In between bites, she made small talk asking about the various types of responsibilities she would be taking on.  After a several minutes passed, Sofia laid the fork down beside the plate having nearly eaten the entire entree.  She dabbed at her mouth in between bites, but once she was done Sofia made sure nothing was lingering then placed the napkin on the table.  Her curls bounced off her shoulder as she tilted her head to the side.

"Signore Kappatsu, it would be a privilege to work for you.  When would I begin?"

Sofia took another sip of her wine as she awaited his reply.

Kappatsu enjoyed his cigar whilst filling Sofia in on her various responsibilities. She was certainly enjoying the meal, he would have to cook for her some time he thought to himself. 

"I'm glad you asked, the moment you walk out of that door, your new life begins. We will, of course, be in touch regularly and you must make your tributes on time. The HQ address is enclosed in this envelope along with the password, memorise it and then burn it." He smiled at her to make her feel a little more comfortable as he passed her the envelope and then gestured for the bill.

After finishing his wine he looked up at the clock on the wall, "Well the time is certainly getting on, again it is a pleasure to have you working for us and I look forward to seeing how you get on".

Her expression grew serious as she listened to the specific instructions issued by her new boss.  Sofia took the envelop then waited until he left to open it.  She sat there at the table now alone reading over the address and password for entry then tucked the paper back inside the envelop.  She had an excellent set of memory skills which was why Drago sent her out scouting for business all the time.  The waiter passed by the table to collect the dishes off the table, and Sofia smiled brightly asking if she could please borrow his lighter.  She twirled a curl loosely around a finger as she tilted her head to the side.  He was reaching in his pocket before she had time to blink.

Excusing herself a moment, Sofia went outside then around the corner towards the empty alleyway.  Clicking the lighter, she watched as the flame hit the paper creating a bright orange glow.  As the flame grew, Sofia let go of the envelop, watching as it fell to the ground, engulfed in the growing flames.  Within seconds the ashes were floating off into the air.  Once there was nothing left, Sofia returned inside the restaurant returning the lighter with a thank you.

Sofia exited the restaurant once more, but this time she felt different.  First she stopped by the hotel to let Drago and the guys about her new job offer, receiving congrats and hugs from each.  She wasn't sure where the road would lead, but she was determined to make her mark.  Once she left the hotel, Sofia headed towards the address engrained in her memory.

Genco stood at the third floor window of his HQ overlooking the street. He sipped his scotch as he waited patiently for his right hand Kappatsu to come to him, having watched him arrive downstairs moments ago. As he hears the footsteps on the floor outside Genco moves to recline in the large leather chair behind his desk. 

The knock on the door signals Kappatsu's arrival and as normal he lets himself in after a moment. Genco observes Kappatsu as he enters the office and sits down across from Genco. 

"So you have found yourself a protégé? I know you will have, but I still need to ask is she going to make us money? Is she reliable and does she have potential?"

Genco leans forward and offers a cigar to Kappatsu from the ivory cigar case on his desk, before taking one and lighting it himself. He than sits back and waits for Kappatsu to respond.

Kappatsu sat down opposite Genco in the large room his friend and boss had his office. Kappatsu had known Genco for a long time, they had met when they were just kids. Even back then Genco was the mastermind, he remembered a time Genco had set up a protection racket in their school. Kappatsu was the grifter, with a wink and a smile he could con you out of your last dime and that's how the friendship had blossomed. 

Now Genco was running his own crew and Kappatsu was his right hand - it felt right. He took the cigar that had been offered, cut off the end and lit it. 

"So you heard, heh, I have no doubt she had potential and will make us a lot of money. Whether she is reliable remains to be seen but I will be keeping an eye on her." Kappatsu was convinced Sofia would be an asset to the crew, he put his fingers through his hair and waited to see what his friend would say.

Genco relaxed and puffed on his cigar, enjoying the earthy taste as he exhaled and listened to Kappatsu's answers. After Kappatsu finished, they both sat for a while in companionable silence, enjoying their cigars. Genco rested his cigar in the ashtray on his desk and steepled his fingers under his chin as he sat forward to respond.

"Ok, lets give her a nice welcome and set her to work, we will see how she does. Now what do you say to drink, I'm assuming you've already given her the address and she's on her way here?"

Genco stood and walked to the cabinet on the far wall and poured scotch into a glass for each of them, before offering one to Kappatsu.

She wasn't in too big a rush since her new boss hadn't declared any specific time she had to be there at the given address, but Sofia was somewhat anxious to get started working.  She wasn't sure what would happen once she arrived, or even who would be there.  Thinking about all of the possibilities caused Sofia to bite her lower lip in nervousness as her pace slowed to a stroll.  She glanced up to the store window noticing the racks of clothing that caught her eye earlier.

Sofia turned away from the crowd of passersby then peeked into her clutch to count how much cash she had left from her share of the profits from earlier in the day.  Satisfied she had enough to purchase a couple new items of clothing for her new job, Sofia snapped the clutch closed, tucked it under her arm securely then entered into the establishment.  She was instantly greeted by the sales lady who directed to the section with the black Chanel suit she had been admiring.

Not sure what kind of business she would be doing, Sofia took a bit of time looking around the various racks.  She kept an eye on the time off and on as she tried on various items.  She wanted to make a better impression than she did before, and it all started with appearances.  Now Sofia had natural style and fashion, but money was a struggle since they landed on these new shores.  Onto bigger and better things she thought now as she stood before the mirror twirling slowly in the Chanel suit.  Soon Sofia settled up the purchases, asking for the rest of the items to be delivered to the hotel then was on her way to see what awaited her at the address.

Kappatsu took the scotch with a nod to Genco. The clear brown liquid gave off an intoxicating aroma and he took a sip. 

"Yeah, I gave her the address she will probably be here soon." He sat back down and stared into the glass swirling it around. 

The two of them spoke about business and the good old time for quite a while before Kappatsu spotted a familiar figure out of the window. "That's her!" he said point towards the window. She was pacing towards the HQ at quite some speed, he smiled to himself and thought it was all about to get quite interesting.

Sofia slowed her pace as she realized the address was just up ahead.  She tucked a curl behind her ear then blew out a deep breath, wondering why she was so nervous.  Deep down she knew why, but still she had to acknowledge her boss had requested to meet her in the first place.  All based on the set of events from her lackluster skills in picking pockets.  Sofia adjusted the strap of her clutch on her shoulder then rested her hand at her side, and glanced towards the place up ahead.  Within a few minutes she would find out where her life would be heading, and whether good or bad, Sofia was ready.

Once she rounded the hedges, Sofia increased her pace feeling a bit of excitement in the unknown before her.  The building was needing a paint job in a few places, but was still quite enchanting.  The grounds were well kept it seemed Sofia noticed as she walked up the stoned pathway to the door.  She gave three solid knocks then clasped her hands tightly together as she awaited entry.

She waited patiently for the door to open for what seemed like hours, but moreso just minutes passed by and attributed to her nerves.  Sofia clasped her hands into tight fists then wiggled her fingers freely at her side.  She forced herself to relax and remember HE summoned her in the first place. Sofia adjusted her clutch then patted her curls, knocking a few off her shoulder then reached a gentle hand up to knock once more.

Before her knuckles hit the door, gunfire echoed from inside.  Sofia froze for a second wondering what the fuck was going on then started to move away from the front door when it opened suddenly.  Kappatsu flew out the door, placing his gun back inside his jacket, nearly running right into her.  He paused to inform her 'there was a slight change of plans'.  Her boss grabbed her by the arm, ushered her to his car then sped off without another look back.

"What's going on?"

Sofia's voice was soft, yet inside the confined deathly quiet vehicle, her voice seemed to echo in waves.  His cold eyes glanced over to her then back to the street as his foot pressed down on the gas, accelerating the car to terrifying speeds.  She found a bit of courage because her curiosity was getting to her.

"What in the blazing hell happened?  Talk to me.  Tell me something."

Kappatsu's hands gripped the steering wheel tighter then eased up on the gas a bit.  He pulled the car over once he slowed to a crawling speed then put the car in park, but left the engine going.  His voice was rough as he began speaking.  Her eyes widened a bit to discover he shot his boss because during the short meeting they were having, Genco laid out his retirement plans.  Kappatsu found it unacceptable Sofia gathered from the flow of words still coming forth.

"So what happens now?"

Kappatsu visibly relaxed for the first time she noticed since he exited out the front door, and smirked.  He told her about Corktown, and how he was planning to start his own 'family'.  Kappa said it was far enough away from Downtown, and less feds pilfering around suspecting linking anything to him the better.  She mumbled softly when he paused.

"Corktown?  What's in Corktown?"

Sofia was growing familiar with his smirk then he simply stated, 'We are!'  Well she had no ties in Detroit yet, so she shrugged then nodded in agreement knowing this was still her fresh start.  She smiled softly realizing it was Kappa's fresh start as well.

"Well.  I'm with you.  Let's do this then."

With what seemed like a satisfied smile, Kappatsu put the car in gear then began off down the road once more beginning a brand new adventure for them both.  Her blue glanced out at the passing scenery wondering how the future would go from there.  Sofia sighed softly, yet with a smile. Something new and exciting, just how she wanted to live life.