Chapter 1: A New Friend

The sun shone brightly over Striker's Island, prison. Inside were the scumbags and criminal master minds of Liberty City. Benny Russo sat inside his broken down jail cell contemplating his crimes that got him convicted. The FBI had built a R.I.C.O case against him and threatened to put him away in prison as long as fifty years unless he ratted out his friends and family. He refused and ended up with five years due to Don Leone's connections with the local judges. "This is what I get for not going against the family." Benny muttered to himself. He had served most of his time already and only had a month left to serve. He was waiting for the arrival of his new cell mate. He had killed his last cell mate as a favor to Don Leone.

"Rise and shine. You have a new cell mate scum bag." The guard said as he escorted the new prisoner into Benny's cell. The guard unchained the new prisoner and left the cell. Benny looked his new cell mate over and asked, "What's your name kid?"

"Nino Verdetto." The prisoner replied.

"How long are you in for?" Benny asked curiously.

"A few months." Nino replied.

"I got a month left in here. Then I'm back on the outside." Benny answered back.

"Who are you and what did you do?" Nino asked with an inquisitive look on his face.

"Benny Russolini or Benny Russo for short. I did a bunch of things to get in here, but the thing that really made me a wanted man was whacking the mayor. That's what really seemed to piss people off. Everyone talked about what an asshole he was, yet when he died they sang his praises." Benny replied.

"Well I made a few mistakes and got caught. Is there anyone I should watch out for while I'm here?" Nino asked.

"Everyone, especially me." Benny answered back. "Aren't you kind of young to be in here?"

"No I'm twenty years old. I heard you work for the Leones. If that's true then I want to join." Nino responded.

"Well we'll see what you can do. For now stay close to me and watch how a Leone soldier handles business."

"Alright, when do we get yard time?" Nino questioned.

"In a few minutes, but remember this one thing though. Loyalty, Respect, and Family are all that matter in this world. Not money, power, or anything else. Remember that code and live your life by it." Benny answered.

Then a guard's voice rang through the cell block, "Yard time assholes!"