The Vinci family couldn't be called the biggest family but they had a lot of assets. It was what made them unique to the other families, as they provided most of the muscle, the Vinci family brought with them the brains and the money.

Racketeering was all fair and good but business, back-room and credible, were a whole different ball game. You couldn't weasel your way into something like that, you needed charm that not a lot of people can meet. You needed the smooth talk to get yourself a signed contract even to the highest bidder, and a right hook to match. That was what made the Vinni family the power that it was, and why the Russo family never liked them. For good reason, of course.

There were three big families in The City.

The Russo family, headed by Bruno Napitaniole, The Vinni family, headed by Vic Federico, and The Azzurro family, headed by Joe Longo.

They were the Big Three. The Russo never liked any of the other families, hated them with a passion, and the Azzurro were willing to do business with anyone that had the cash. The Vinni were in the middle. They were the neutral zone.

Church liked that. The middle zone, the safe zone. He sat quietly at the desk, his mind lost in thought as he scribbled notes into his notebook. Petty things, like vulnerable storefronts he could spy from where he sat, equal number of girls loitering nearby with purses ripped for the taking and so many more delicate jewellery stores.

He nursed the cup of scotch nearby, rubbing the tips of his fingers around the the cup before a presence broke his silent musings. "Hey Church," Vic Jr said as he sat down on the bench.

Church made a face in his head but managed a polite smile at the Vinni family's 'Little Federico'. "Hey Vic," Church greeted, carefully closing his notebook and slipping it into his suit pocket. Vic grinned at him and Church was thankful he had italian blood in him, if not, Vic would not nearly be as hospitable as he was now.

"What you got there?" Vic asked curiously. The 'made man' looked over the table to catch a fleeting glance of the notebook but Church was too fast and had already slipped it into his pocket.

"Nothing to worry about," Church said dismissively, downing his cup of scotch. It flushed down his throat, swishing in his gut before settling itself. Church pulled his lips back, fighting against the whiplash that appeared afterwards, and then sighed in content. "You need me for a job?"

Church could be considered a 'made-man' if you looked at how deep of a relationship he had with the current head Vic Federico Snr. But in all actuality he had never taken the ceremony of loyalty to Vic but he had taken the Omertà, the oath of silence, and paid tribute for working with him for so long. It made him an honorary member, with a few privileges.

That was what Church liked the best out of the Vinni's, they were good to their friends. Vic smiled at Church as he linked his fingers together, all business-like for another round. "You got them fire in those eyes! I like that," Vic reached his hand into his vest and pulled out an envelope, "See here alright. The Vinni's were trying to do a deal with some...ehhh ruffians in the west end of The City. It was supposed to be a clean deal but, uh, you see they weren't on the same page as we were."

Vic made a face, a sort of cross between the type of face you see when you caught some doing something really bad and the face you'd make when you know that someone was about to receive a very, very, heavy punishment. "That's not good. No, no, no, that is not very good of them. Juliano got shot in the leg and Lui lost an eye. Now you know the Blood-for-Blood rule right?"

Church nodded his head as he leaned in close, his eyes sparking dangerously. They were his friends too, and if it's one thing the Vinni's told him, it was that family meant everything. "You can't take revenge on another member of the family without the Boss's permission." He heard that rule, it was strict, breaking it was grounds for death and the no family worth their salt dealt with those who broke the rules with mercy.

"These ruffians, the Backdoor Snakes, aren't part of our family and have been stirring trouble for all of the Big Three," Vic leaned in close, "Burning down houses, unchecked homicide, rapings, arsenic," Vic leaned in, his lips pursed as he made a face, "killing cops." The color drained from Church's face. That was a very bad thing, if the cops suddenly took interest on them, who's to say they wouldn't just decide to get rid of the families too.

"This isn't just a problem for the Vinni's, The Russo's and Azzurro's are calling for blood. Snakes blood," Vic punctuated this by passing the envelope over. Church picked up and opened it to see a stack of dollar bills inside. "You'll get more after everything is said and done."

Church contemplated a little more but something had been gnawing at him since a while ago, "You said that this is a problem for all the families. What did you mean by that?" Church asked.

Vic smiled knowingly, leaning back as he brought a cup of whiskey, seemingly from nowhere, up to his lips. "The Azzurro's and Russo's will be joining us in this little business. I'm sure you understand." Church made a face, looking at the stack of bills as he did.

He didn't mind the Azzurros but the Russos always got on his nerves. Vic, seeing the hesitation, quickly lashed his hand out in front of church face. His smile was ever present as he stared at Church, "No one fucks with Costa Nostra right?"

Church stared at the hand, fighting his inner demons, before nodding his head. "Ok," he said finally. Vic smiled and they shook hands.

Church stood up from his seat and made his way out but before he stepped through the door Vic grabbed his hand, stalling him. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said, "here, when you find that weasel of a leader use this to kill him."

Church looked down at the silver handgun that he handed him. It glinted under the artificial light and Church looked questioningly at Vic. "It belongs to Luigi," Vic explained darkly, "he's dead now."

Church accepted it and nodded. He exited the shop without a glance back and entered his custom blue and black car. He twisted the ignition and drove the car towards the address that was in the envelope. He thought about the job, it felt like a cross between a personal vendetta and an actual mission.

He didn't know how he felt about that.

Thirty minutes of driving, fifty if he had obeyed traffic laws, were spent in silent contemplation as he fingered the silver weapon now holstered to his chest. It wasn't long later that he pulled up next to an apartment building, it's third floor overlooking the factory that the Backdoor Snakes frequent perfectly.

Church walked up to the door and banged his fist twice. There was a rustling sound and Church could see two shadows moving close to the door while one looked through the keyhole. It was military like, Church deduced it was the reds.

"Fratello," Church said. There was silence, then the door opened. An old looking man, eyes weathered and worn with a jagged scar going down his left side. He wore a deep red overcoat and matching hat, the only thing off putting about him was the shotgun in his hands.

"You're no brother of mine," he grumbled. He stepped back and gestured his head inside. Church nodded and entered, glancing at his sides to see two of the men that had taken positions to stop him.

One had shaggy, dirty blonde hair. His face was tanned, making Church believe that he wasn't italian. That made him an Associate, one that the Russo's apparently trusted. The other was light, the skin of an irishman, but he had the italian face and eyes that were slightly obscured behind glasses. They wore slightly matching suits, the tanned one didn't have an overcoat and the color of the vest he wore inside his jacket was orange. The rest of the suit was khaki with black dress shoes and a fedora with an orange lining finishing the look.

The other one was almost the same, except he didn't wear a vest and he also had an overcoat. The overcoat reached down to his knees and it hugged his figure tightly by the sides. He too wore a fedora, this one with a lining of maroon.

"The Azzurro's are over there," the tanned one said, jerking his thumb back at two men at a corner. "We have important things to do, so, skedaddle why don't you?" Church frowned, but nodded his head anyways.

He bumped shoulders with him though in silent contempt and the man returned it with an even glare. Their eyes stayed glued to each other for a second longer, before he broke off and headed to greet the Azzurros.

To his surprise there was a black man among them. The Azzurro's were known to be tolerant but he never knew they were willing to allow one of them into their ranks. Of course Church was being a little bit biased, the only coloured people he met were trying to kill him or caused far too much noise for the Vinni's liking.

The man was wearing an all gray suit, with an aqua vest and a fedora that rested snugly against his head. His suit looked expensive, liked it was bought at a very expensive shop, but the sleeves were a little bit past his wrists and the end of his pants pooled around his knee. He looked high-class but at the same time, he looked humble. "You the Vinni?" The black man asked as he brought his arm out for a shake.

Church hesitated, hovering his hands in the air, before taking it and giving a firm shake. "The name's Tucker, Lavernius Tucker." Church nodded, he acted like a big shot but he had a grip. Money called that he was a high Associate in the Azzurro's.

"Church," He greeted.

The next kid was definitely a 'made-man', just had those eyes. "Hello there! It's nice to meet you," the kid pulled at his hand to shake. The grip was monstrous, practically breaking his fingers just by touching it. "My name's Caboose, oh, I hope we can be really special friends!"

Church blinked at him before turning to Tucker, "Caboose? That doesn't sound like an italian name." Tucker snorted as he crossed his arms.

"That's because it's not," he said, "it's his nickname and he'd just too dumb to realise it." Caboose frown at Tucker before seemingly brightening and standing next to his friend. Church nodded his head hesitantly before turning to the window overlooking the factory.

"So, what's the plan?"

"The Reds have a some sort of car bomb rigged up on one of the motorcycles. The Snakes like to roll out of the factory on a marathon around the city causing as much damage as they can. When they try to do that now though..." Tucker made a face and Caboose started making explosion noises a little bit too energetically.

"Alright sounds like a plan," Church said. He glanced down at his clock and saw the clock strike four o'clock in the afternoon. "How long are waiting?"

"Until six," Tucker said and Church had to sigh.

"Goddamnit."

Unlike all the other stories that I said I won't do but then starting doing them without stop, I will not continue this. I remember writing this a little while back while writing The Voyage. And as far as I can remember of the plot I designed for this is that Church is connected to the Director as a brainwashed kid who was unknowingly providing crumbs for the CIA. Texas got him out of it. The Vinni family got destroyed, somehow, and then he joins the Azzurro family before becoming Boss. And then both the Russo and Azzurro went to war with the Freelancers.

IDK for sure if that was the original plan. And I don't think I care. I don't know what this story is and it will just be this. From me at least. If anyone wants to adopt it, I ask that you inform me as I would like to read it. So again, pls understand this. This just here to save up space and to spread the idea, because I really liked it.

Anyways, Trane7 Signing off.