Out of frustration at the measly amount of Marco Vendetti fan fiction I could find to help quell my Marco feels, I decided to create a story for myself (and of course any other Velvets/Marco girls out there). For reference, this takes place before the film. Marco has just become the leader of the Vipers and is, of course, ruthless and demanding with just the right amount of redeeming qualities.

Thanks in advance for reviews, follows, and favorites! I'd love to get feedback from you all and I hope you enjoy!

It was the summer of 1955 and it was just starting to get warm out in Sunset Park. Our story begins in the west side of Brooklyn in a small pizzeria called Emilio's where a drug peddling gang known as the Vipers are set to have a meeting.

Marco Vendetti walks in the family owned business, puffing on a cigarette with his hair slicked back. The top buttons on his shirt are opened to show off his black wife beater. He finds his men at their usual table in the back corner and makes a beeline in that direction. He takes his spot at the end of the booth in a single chair, motioning for Gino to send their usual, four beers and a Brooklyn-style Sicilian pizza.

Around the table sat Philly on one side and Jimmy and Vinnie shared a booth. They stopped their conversation but remained staring at something on the other side of the establishment.

"Hey, boss." Philly said absent-mindedly.

"What are you moron's staring at?" Marco barked, putting out his cigarette and following their line of sight. His eyes opened wider, wondering exactly how he hadn't laid eyes on her before.

By the register was what had to be the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was tiny, with smooth curves. Marco imagined she was luscious beneath her full skirt and loose blouse. Her skin was light with golden undertones that were only accented by her dark chocolate locks that she had tied on the top of her head in a pink ribbon. She had slight, olive-shaped eyes that were dark beneath full lashes, set above her angular cheekbones. To top it all off, she had a set of full pouty lips that were the most delicious shade of pink. "Who's the dame?" He asked, running his tongue along his bottom lip.

"Nino's niece." Jimmy explained. "Heard she moved here from the city. They've been staying with Nino all week."

"Well, we might have to start coming here more often." He scoffed.

"Jimmy here has called dibs." Vinnie laughed, slapping Jimmy's shoulder.

"Oh no. Not this time, Pockets. No one lays so much as one finger on the broad." Marco muttered. "She's mine."

The girl took a sip from a cherry soda, giggling with a girl he recognized as being Annette Bucculo, that bitch who was dating that goody two-shoes Leon Anthony. She stopped, wiping her hands on her apron before Nino handed her a pie and a tray of cold beers, nodding in the direction of Marco's table. She balanced the two trays delicately, gracefully gliding over to the men.

Uncharacteristically, Marco leaned out of the way, if only to get a better look at this doll-like creature placed before him. As she placed the trays down, she leaned over him and he could smell her, clean and somewhat spicy. He smirked to himself. She was innocent. She was vulnerable. She was perfect. "I've never seen you here before. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Veronica." She smiled, almost ashamedly. "Veronica Marietti."

"And what are you doing tomorrow, Veronica?" He almost purred her name.

"I'm here till we close."

"Come on, doll. It's Saturday night. I'm gonna take you out."

"I don't think so." She said smoothly.

"You misunderstood. That wasn't a question."

The young girl was taken aback. Marco took her silence as an opportunity to yell to the kitchen. "NINO!"

The old Italian man peeked out of the kitchen and replied.

"Let the girl off early tomorrow. She needs to get ready to go out with me." He instructed, smiling this devious grin.

"She'll have the day off, Marco." He said, almost too easily.

"Even better." He smirked triumphantly.

"Uncle Nino. A word, please?" Veronica bit her lower lip, marching to the kitchen with her uncle and shutting the door, leaning her small curves into the door frame. "What the hell?"

"Just go along with it, Ronnie. There's nothing I can do. Do you even know who that is?" He said in a hushed yell. The girl merely shrugged. "That's Marco Vendetti. I know the name doesn't mean much to you, but here it means the world. He practically owns Sunset Park and everyone in it. He could have me shut down and on the street with a snap of his fingers!" He sighed, rubbing the back of his balding head. "Just go out with him, make him happy. You don't have to sell the whole farm, just let him sow the field a little bit." He said, turning his mind back to his work and rolling out some of his signature dough.

"Sow the field..." She repeated again, biting her lush lower lip. She sighed heavily and spun against the door frame, pushing the door open. The men now seemed to be in deep conversation as she floated her way back to the table. "I assume you know where Nino lives." She said, interrupting the men. Marco paused, between bites and looked back up at her, not answering, only staring as he swallowed. "Be there at 8. Don't be late." She said, asserting herself against her better judgment and sashaying her way out of the front door.

"Boss, she kind of, uh -" Jimmy began.

"Shut it. Let's get this shit done."