Just for the record, I was an average height man, with an average build. I had short black hair, and a half-shaven beard. I was wearing a red shirt, undone by the collar, and wasn't tucked in as well. I had some black trousers and black shoes on. Needless to say, I didn't look threatening. Like I'd ever be able to intimidate anyone.
The guy who saved me, James, on the other hand, was every bit intimidating. He was no cuddly teddy bear, I'll tell you that. He was a big build dude, very muscled. He was wearing a grey suit and trousers. He had black shoes and a tie on. He had a white shirt on, and a grey, short-brimmed Federa hat sitting on his head. This guy truly looked like a mobster. He could probably break your legs in half. I sure didn't look like on, which is a bit of a problem.
He gave me loads of guns, so I was pretty much kitted out. I had a Pistol, a Magnum, a Tommy Gun, and a Shotgun, on top of the .38 Snub Nose Pistol. He taught me the basics of being a mobster, and other stuff as well. He showed me about precision shooting, covering your body, and how to make a guy suffer as well. I was a great learner, if I say so myself, and picked it all up quickly. I was soon ready, or so I believed.
'Kid, what you need to remember is, it's not all about shooting people' James told me, 'you have to act stealthily as well. Now, kid, it's time to go for a walk.'
We walked out of the Compound, and instead of driving, we made our way down the street. Some people knew my new friend, if you could call him that, and they tipped their caps to him, or bowed. Others just walked past him. At that point, I had a glimpse of the extent of mafia power.
'I work for the Benatzi. You do what the family wants, what it asks of you, and they reward you. You get money, as well as places to lay low, if you get the heat on you' he told me, 'Okay, you have to give a cut of your money to the family, but that pays for weapons, ammo, and stuff like that for other family members. So, you interested, kid?'
'Sure' I answered quickly. I don't know why, but the mafia was starting to seem appealing to me. James pointed to a shop, and then looked back at me.
'That baker over there, he hasn't been paying us for our protection' James explained, 'It's your job to go in, and extort as much money as you can, out of him. Intimidate him any way you see fit.'
I walked across the street, and made my way into the bakery. The baker came from the back room, and looked at me.
'Anything I can do sir?' he asked.
'Yeah, there is.' I told him, as menacingly as possible, 'you can pay your share to the Benatzi, that's what. We're protecting you, so you give us money, got it?'
'Hell no, I don't need your damn protection' he replied.
'Is that so?' I replied, pulling out a baseball bat.
I walked over to the nearest of the counters, and whacked it over it, causing a dent in the counter. I whacked it over each of the counters in turn, and the baker ran into the back room. I followed him, and put it away. I then grabbed him, and forced his head over the oven.
'If you don't pay up, they'll be a new type of bread' I told him.
'Fine, I'll pay… just let me go, leave as well' he pleaded.
I pulled his head from over the oven, and let go of him. He gave me $721, and I pocketed it. Right then, I felt a sense of achievement and power over me. I finally managed to intimidate someone. It felt good… So, I began to walk out the door, and well, a copper was in the way.
'Trying to be a big man, are we?' he asked arrogantly, 'I can help you. For a little… something.'
He held out his hand in front of me.
'All right, I don't want any trouble' I replied, stuffing $200 into his hand.
The officer nodded his cap to me, and I left the bakery, as he walked off in another direction. I ran back to James, and gave him the $521. He smiled at me, and nodded his head in approval.
'The baker folded then' he said simply.
I nodded in reply, and looked around for the copper.
'Good work, kid' he said, 'now listen to me. I have some work that I desperately need to do, but there are two people who I've recommended you to. They want to see you, tomorrow. Go to Brooklyn, you know, East of Little Italy, where we are now, and meet with Bryan DiMaggio, and Jake Falici.'
With that, he nodded his head to me, and tipped his cap slightly. He walked off down the street, and got in a speeding car that pulled up. He jumped in the back of it, pulled the window down, and drew a Tommy Gun. I watched as two police cars chased them, as they drove off down the street. I looked at what I'd got myself into. I shook my head, as I found a car down an empty street.