#shark al Capone

[catschimericalcreations]

Loan Shark, a Prohibition-era Landshark Frankenplush by Cat's Chimerical Creations

Like what I do? Please consider supporting me on https://ko-fi.com/catschimericalcreations and you'll help me keep creating cuddly Landshark stuffies with funny little Al Capone hats

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning!  I hope you slept well and feel rested?  Currently sitting in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day.  Merry Christmas though, for those of you working in the NHS or the emergency services, welcome to just another day.

If you want an alternative to Christmas cracker jokes … welcome to Too Much Information Tuesday … on a Monday!  Warning: one of these facts is not true!  Can you guess which one?

Agreeable people are more likely to use emojis.

In Switzerland, you can be denied citizenship for being too annoying.

Farting helps reduce high blood pressure and is good for your health.

Dog owners have a lower risk of dementia.  Cat ownership has no effect.

For a million years, the human population of the Earth was less than 26,000.

4.8 billion people own mobile phones whereas only 4.2 billion own a toothbrush.

Giraffes are about 30 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than humans.

Toothpaste removes ink from your clothes.  Apply it to the stain, let it dry and then wash.

Synesthesia is a neurological condition that can cause a person to see, smell and taste music.

Goats produce more milk if they're listening to Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.

Anger triggers the region of the brain associated with honesty, which is when the truth comes out.

In 2013, a British inventor sold ice cream that glowed when you licked it.  It cost £140 a scoop.

Until the founding of the Vegetarian Society in 1847, vegetarians were usually known as Pythagoreans.

In 2009, a 13-year old Chinese girl tried to commit suicide so that she could donate her liver to her dying father.

Diana Ross, who sang ‘Ain't No Mountain High Enough’, lost her ex-husband to a mountain climbing accident.

Astronauts lost track of a tomato inside the International Space Station for eight months but found it this month.

Researchers have found that the average person will form about 400 friendships during a lifetime, but only 33 will last.

Will Smith is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross more than $100 million at the domestic box office.

Intelligent people tend to care less about the opinions of others, they also enjoy being alone because of great sense of self.

In 1984, New Zealand's Prime Minister Robert Muldoon got drunk and spontaneously called for a general election.  He lost.

The earliest carol singers can be found on The Bayeux Tapestry and were soldiers from western France known as the Brittany Spears.

As time goes by, humans are becoming less and less empathetic. Today, we care about others 40% less than people in the 1980s did.

In Japan, you can hire a handsome man to show up at your office and watch sad videos with you until you cry, then wipe your tears for you.

People tend to sneeze three times because one loosens up an irritant, the second gets it to the front of the nose and the third gets it out.

Brazilian footballer Argélico Fuchs spent much of his life spelling his name ‘Argélico Fucks’, resulting in headlines such as "Fucks off to Benfica."

Drinking white or green tea every day will minimize the environmental damage done to your skin and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

There are roughly seven people in the world who look exactly like you and there is a nine per cent chance you will run into one of them in your lifetime.

‘Baby Shark Dance’, the most viewed YouTube video of all time, has over 5 billion more views than Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’, the second-most viewed YouTube video of all time.

In 2001, India began building plastic roads using recycled plastic waste.  The roads haven't developed any cracks or potholes despite years of usage and are much cheaper to build than traditional road surfaces.

Triboulet was a notorious court jester who was allowed to choose his own death after having insulted the queen of France.  He chose to die of old age, which made the king laugh so much, he was spared and banished instead.

During The Great Depression, Al Capone started one of the first soup kitchens called Free Soup Coffee & Doughnuts For The Unemployed.  Capone’s soup kitchen served breakfast, lunch and dinner to an average of 2200 Chicago residents every day.

‘Loving Day’ is an annual national celebration held on June 12th, the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, the day that Richard and Mildred Loving finally won their case, legalizing interracial marriage in the U.S.

On the day of South Korea's university entrance exams, the entire country goes quiet.  Shops close, construction stops, and planes are grounded so that students can focus on their exams.  Students that are late can even get a police escort to make sure they make it in time.

Bill Haast began extracting snake venom aged 15.  He founded the Miami Serpentarium and injected himself with venom more than 60 times.  His blood was used to save 21 snakebite victims.  He created a venom serum to cure polio.  He was bitten over 170 times and lived to be 100.

Ozzy Osbourne gave up taking acid during the recording of Black Sabbath's ‘Volume 4’.  He said, “I took 10 tabs of acid, then went for a walk in a field. I ended up standing there talking to this horse for about an hour.  In the end, the horse turned round and told me to fuck off.  That was it for me.”

Okay, that’s enough information for one day.  Merry Christmas and have a mouthwatering Monday!  I love you all.

[laresearchette]

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES? FBI TRUE (Paramount+)

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT HOMESTEAD RESCUE (TBD - Discovery Canada)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

NETFLIX CANADA A WHOLE LIFETIME WITH JAMIE DEMETRIOU TOO HOT TO HANDLE GERMANY

MLB BASEBALL (SN) 1:00pm: Tigers vs. Jays (TSN/TSN3) 1:00pm: Astros vs. Mets

NHL HOCKEY   (SNOntario/SNEast) 7:00pm: Panthers vs. Lightning (TSN5) 7:00pm: Red Wings vs. Sens (TSN3) 8:00pm: Kings vs. Jets (SN1/SNPacific/SNWest) 9:00pm: Bruins vs. Flames (TSN2) 10:30pm: Habs vs. Sharks

NBA BASKETBALL (TSN/TSN4) 7:30pm: Bulls vs. Raptors (SN Now) 7:30pm: Bucks vs. Nets (SN Now) 7:30pm: Lakers vs. Grizzlies (TSN/TSN4) 10:00pm: Timberwolves vs. Clippers

CHUCK AND THE FIRST PEOPLES' KITCHEN (APTN) 7:30pm: Mistissini, QC - Fishing Trip - Chuck travels to Mistissini, where an extraordinary fishing experience awaits him on the largest natural lake in Quebec; he meets Conrad Mianscum, Mistissini's tourism planner, who tells him all about this growing community of close to 4,000 people.

22 MINUTES (CBC) 8:00pm: "22 Minutes" takes on Trump's latest rant in an all-new episode.

MARY MAKES IT EASY (CTV Life) 8:00pm: Mary teaches you all about everyone’s favorite -  comfort cooking.

KARENA AND KASEY'S FOREIGN FLAVOURS (APTN) 8:00pm: Karena and Kasey travel to Arizona to meet Nephi Craig, a groundbreaking Apache and Diné chef; Nephi cooks not only for the food, but also as a way to connect with cultural traditions and fortify the local community.

SON OF A CRITCH (CBC) 8:30pm:  Mark tries to win back Fox during a school trip; Pop uses the trip to revisit his past life as a bootlegger with Al Capone.

WORKIN' MOMS (CBC) 9:00pm:  Kate is torn when she receives conflicting information about her client, as she's also roped into a group project with Jenny; Anne guides Sloane on a mission to rediscover their old selves.

WONG & WINCHESTER (City TV) 9:00pm (SEASON FINALE):  A cop and old drinking buddy of Marissa's hires her to find his missing police-issued sidearm before it hits the streets.

CASUAL (CBC) 9:30pm:  Valerie decides to move out of Alex's house but is blindsided by the financial repercussions of divorce; Alex adopts a dog; Laura fantasizes about her photography teacher.

MEAN MUMS (APTN) 9:30pm: It's the last fundraiser of the year and Jess, Heather and Hine are desperate to recruit more volunteers for next year, but when the 1980s-themed parent prom takes a surprising turn, secrets are revealed and their world is changed forever.

THE FOOD THAT BUILT AMERICA (History Canada) 10:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Two heavy-hitting cereal rivals duke it out for breakfast dominance; competition heats up when an idea is stolen; the ensuing battle transforms the breakfast landscape from a labor intensive meal at the table, to a meal of convenience on the go.

[rebeleden]

‘Deranged rant’: Trump rambled about sharks and Al Capone at ‘particular...

CC KKKARMA

[truck-fump]

'Deranged rant': <b>Trump</b> rambled about sharks and Al Capone at 'particularly unhinged' rally

New Post has been published on https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DB909TFoVN4g&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjUzM2UwMTY5ZmFhZTIwMGQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw0Qr3c272d9yzlipyuY-W-t

'Deranged rant': Trump rambled about sharks and Al Capone at 'particularly unhinged' rally

Donald Trump’s recent, unhinged rally highlights the sad state of the GOP, critics say. Trump ranting and raving at his Wisconsin rally about the …

[prelawland]

The Law Of RICO

By Elizabeth Wolnik, George Mason University Class of 2024

February 10, 2024

In August 2023, Rudy Giuliani and 18 others, including Donald Trump, faced charges under Georgia's RICO law for an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani, a former U.S. attorney and proponent of the RICO Act, claimed credit for its use against the mafia, but its drafting was attributed to Notre Dame law professor G. Robert Blakey.

The historical backdrop reveals organized crime's roots during Prohibition, evolving from small-scale extortion to lucrative illegal alcohol operations led by figures like Al Capone. Post-Prohibition, criminal enterprises shifted to drug trafficking, loan-sharking, and infiltrating businesses. The government's awareness of these activities didn't translate into effective counteraction due to corruption and intimidation.

The irony of Giuliani, a RICO endorser, facing 13 related charges is evident. The RICO Act, enacted in 1970, was groundbreaking for tying seemingly unrelated crimes into racketeering patterns, providing harsh penalties, and addressing organized crime's infiltration into labor unions.

Before RICO, prosecutors could only address mob-related crimes individually. Now, it is applied broadly to combat various forms of organized crime, including street gangs, corrupt police, and politicians. Civil parties can also use RICO against illegal enterprises, seeking compensation if successful.

In criminal RICO cases, prosecutors must follow strict guidelines, requiring a pattern of racketeering activity connected to an enterprise with at least two predicate offenses within ten years. The law allows for prison terms of up to 20 years, severe financial penalties, and asset freezes.

As Giuliani's legal proceedings unfold, the case serves as a reminder of RICO's adaptability in addressing complex challenges posed by organized criminal activities, showcasing its evolution from targeting the mafia to broader applications in contemporary legal contexts.

For full article please visit

The RICO Act and Organized Crime

at

Virginia PreLaw Land

[virginiaprelawland]

The RICO Act and Organized Crime

By Elizabeth Wolnik, George Mason University Class of 2024

February 9, 2024

In August 2023, Rudy Guiliani and 18 other codefendants were charged with organized crime under Georgia’s RICO law for allegedly having been a part of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election [3]. The grand jury indicted the 19 codefendants, which includes Donald Trump, and alleges that they acted together as a “criminal organization” and engaged in illegal activities such as forgery, filing false documents, and conspiracy to defraud the state. Guiliani was appointed United States attorney for the southern district of New York in 1983 and was a big proponent of ensuring that the RICO Act came about. He used it in his most powerful case that targeted eight defendants who were at the top of New York’s most powerful mafia families [3]. While Guiliani claims that he came up with the idea of using RICO to target mafia families, a New York Times article from 1989 says differently [4]. He is quoted as saying, “Using it (RICO) against the mafia commission, that was an idea that no one had until I developed it and went down to Washington and started talking about it.” In reality, University of Notre Dame law professor G. Robert Blakey was the one who drafted the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, which RICO was eventually included in [4].

Organized crime didn’t become an issue in the United States until Prohibition [6]. Criminal gangs had been active in America since the late 19th century, but they mostly consisted of street criminals running small-time extortion schemes. Not long after the nationwide ban on alcohol came into play did mob members begin running the operation of illegal breweries and speakeasies. Lawyers and accountants were hired to help launder millions of dollars. Syndicated crime, or the cooperation between criminal groups, became frequent, and organized crime as we know it today was formed. The demand for illegal alcohol was so high that kingpins like Al Capone were making as much as $100 million a year in the mid-1920s. It is estimated that these operations spent half a million dollars each month in order to bribe police, politicians, and federal investigators to keep them away from prosecuting the illegal activity [6].

After Prohibition was repealed, organized crime moved from the sale of illegal alcohol to drug trafficking, loan-sharking, and infiltrating labor unions [7]. By the mid-20th century there were 24 known crime families operating in the United States which included around 5,000 inducted members. America’s capital of organized crime was New York City, which contained five major mafia families. Their illegal activities were known to the government, but they were not effective at stopping them since mob members still paid off public officials and bribed or intimidated witnesses and juries. In the early 1950s, Tennessee senator Estes Kefauver launched an investigation into organized crime and held televised hearings about the subject. Congress and the FBI failed to take any action due to a lack of substantial evidence. However, in 1957 police raided a gathering of more than 60 mobsters in upstate New York. After this, the government could no longer ignore the impact and extent of organized crime [7].

The irony that a well-known endorser of RICO is now being prosecuted on 13 charges related to RICO is not lost on the public. RICO, or The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970 “seeks to strengthen the legal tools in evidence gathering by establishing new penal prohibitions and providing enhanced sanctions and new remedies for dealing with unlawful activities of those engaged in organized crime” [1]. RICO was revolutionary in the fact that it allowed for the tying together of seemingly unrelated crimes with a common objective into a punishable pattern of racketeering and provides for harsher penalties. RICO also provides an effective method for establishing the existence of organized crime’s penetration into labor unions and for removing corrupt union officials from leadership positions [1].

Before RICO was enacted, prosecutors could only try mob-related crimes individually, instead of shutting down an entire criminal organization [2]. Even though it was originally aimed at the mafia, prosecutors now use RICO to target other forms of organized crime like street gangs, corrupt police departments, and even politicians. Because the law is so broad, civil parties can also use RICO against illegal enterprises. Anyone can bring a civil suit if they have been injured by a RICO violation. To succeed in this type of suit, a plaintiff must show a pattern of criminal activity within the four-year statute of limitations [2]. If the plaintiff is successful in a civil RICO case, they have the right to seek compensation for three times their actual amount lost [8].

In criminal RICO cases, there are strict guidelines to follow before a prosecutor can seek charges against someone. To be found in violation of RICO, a person must engage in a pattern of racketeering activity connected to an enterprise [2]. The law identifies 35 offenses as racketeering, such as gambling, murder, kidnapping, and drug dealing. These crimes are known as predicate offenses. To charge someone under RICO, at least two predicate crimes occurring within ten years must have been committed through an enterprise. Operating under a discreet enterprise is a required aspect of a RICO violation. The criminal RICO statute provides for prison terms of 20 years as well as severe financial penalties [2]. Prison time can also increase up to a life sentence depending on the underlying crime that was committed. RICO rules of procedure also allow the government to freeze the assets of the defendant prior to the case going to trial [5].

As Rudy Guiliani’s legal proceedings unfold, the case serves as a reminder of RICO's adaptability in addressing complex challenges posed by organized criminal activities.

______________________________________________________________

[1] https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/rico-racketeer-influenced-and-corrupt-organizations-act-statute

[2] https://www.justia.com/criminal/docs/rico/#:~:text=Criminal%20RICO,are%20included%20on%20the%20list.

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/16/rudy-giuliani-rico-racketeering-georgia-indictment

[4] https://www.npr.org/2023/08/29/1195552571/rudy-giuliani-rico-origin-storyv

[5] https://rhlawfl.com/white-collar-crime/what-is-covered-by-the-racketeer-influenced-and-corrupt-organizations-rico-act/

[6] https://www.history.com/news/prohibition-organized-crime-al-capone

[7] https://www.history.com/topics/crime/the-demise-of-the-mafia

[8] https://www.turnpikelaw.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-criminal-rico-case-and-civil-rico-case/

[ambrial-blog]

Vampire Heart: Skit.

Strykarious Valentine once worked from Crimson years ago as a versatile and skilled marksmen.  His accuracy impressed the mob boss.  That was years ago recently he has undergone some life-altering changes since his departure from the Maffiso.  Time moved differently here within Blitzillion Castle. It had been decades since he last interacted  with Crimson’s gang.  Strykarious was mildly surprised to find a summons from the Godfather asking him to return to Greed. post haste and to bring his family along. Crimson was a family man- money was tight and he wanted his best hitman at his side. . He had indoctorated  Chazwick Thurman: A  shark demon into the family, the ceremony was to be held  the following weakened. He considered the snake imp family: and family supported each other in times of crisis.

And Chazwick was a crisis.  

 In the letter,  Crimson spoke highly of him, wanting to meet his sons and daughters. But most importantly  he wanted to meet Stryker’s fledgling. oddly enough a vampire and hitman were two different things entirely. But with a little coaxing. Strykarious was hoping to alleviate the tension. 

Blitzillion, watched his beautiful husband bask in the moonlight of an open window. Stryker could really steal his breath away at times. Blitzillion cold auburn eyes held a faint glow to them. his ivory hair: glistened as his serptine yellow eyes glowered. “He’ll cut us out of the family if he finds out, he’s a greedy son of a bitch who would make Al Capone flinch in his grave.  “Let him, we don’t need him we don’t have to go if you don’t want to and if he tries anything: I’ll drain him of his lifeforce. he’d be nothing but a shriveled-bone white husk.  “What about Chibi?. Stryker argued. “Crimson wants to see him, he thinks I’ve ascended becoming a rich Maffiso boss.  In reality- “you a battle hungry Vampire Queen who is wealthy beyond his wildest imagination. not only, do you have a dashingly handsome king by your side. But a child who depends on you- who wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t found him.  “We sort of saved each other”  Stryker says.  “We will bring Chibi with us, leaving Keiser, Kier,  Harlow, and Harvester to look after the castle. I’ll even allow the Baron back into the castle for a few days.  “You’d do that for me?” Stryker says.  “Love,  I’d do anything for you considering everything I put you through”  “that is in the past”  Blitzillion draws his queen in dipping Strykarious. Stryker could feel Blitzillion’s warm breath as the ancient vampire  watches the moonlight glisten of his  skin.  but before Strykarious could say anything he seals all future disputes with a Vampire’s kiss. 

Chibi Blitzo,  had a rough life:  he detested the taste of blood. and he was forever trapped in the body of an eight year old. Chibi Blitzo, first met Moxxie, Millie and Chaz that following evening.  During a tense family dinner. Blitzo was nested in Strykarious lap. And Crimson was staring at his maker and openly bulking at his sudden appearance. Crimson was quick to compose himself.  “Your a dame!”  “A hermaphidte” “What’s the difference?”  “Is he yours?”  “Yes, this is Chibi Blitzo, but we just call him Chibi”  “Your still apt  at shooting, being a woman and all?.   Chibi Blitzo continued to play with  his felt horsey: the one his Uncle Ryder gave to him.   “You are the one who summoned us crimson”  Blitzillion interrupted staring through Chaz. as  the shark slightly whimpered.  “Now why did you call us,  I’m not going to sit back and watch you idly rip into Strykarious”  “Chaz knelt down next to Strykarious to get a better look at him”  “We think someone is planning to crash a family wedding, and-  we need the best men to  see that my son and Chaz ties the knot”  To be honest Stryker your new appearance, though me off-  what happened to you?.   “I ascended I became a creature of the night” Chibi pauses feeling pressure on his jaw as Strykarious worked it open revealing small rows of jagged teeth.  “I want you three to spend the night”  “can I hold him” Moxxie asks. as Stryker narrows his eyes.  “Do you value your hands” Strykarious growls.  “I was just asking-  what type of blood does he drink?”  “Negative 0″  Blitzillion informs.   ______ 

 Blitzo felt uneased under the glare of the mafia boss. as neither Strykarious nor Blitzillion partook in the meal. “would it be alright If I get to know your little tyke”  asks the Mafia boss. take him out to the shooting rage. treat him like the son I never had. Moxxie flinched. “Heck, your the best marksmen I have. I consider you part of the family Strykarious- not matter what”  “You’ve never let me down- and you’ve seemed to found yourself a good man”  “I want to be a part of Chibi’s life. if you need anything, anything at all. let me know. “why the change of heart sir?” Moxxie asks.  gritting his teeth. because after this weekend I won’t have a son. but a, pixie, at least Stryker can shoot”   “and It will give me time to get to know my new son in law”  smirks Crim glancing over at Blitzillion.  “Consider me in the line up, for this one’s godfather”  And Blitzillion,  you seem rich-  I’m not a man to beat around the bush.  purple looks good on you.   “At least I can say, that my fairy son, looks good in a dress, I know this is going to be a sissy wedding.  but I’m glad your here,  and hey what if we indoctorate chibi: you said he was your fledgling we could make it official.   Crimson, is silently as will as secretly yearning for Blitzillion’s infinite powers.  He keeps testing the ancient vampire. the Bob boss has grown extremely attached to Chibi. 

[barbwritesstuff]

farro has hani playing for him??? everyone pack up, we have no chance to win this game, we’re all bankrupt and we dont even know it yet

her only weakness is while shes extorting you she has no idea how much money youve actually given her which is so valid, maths is hard

Hani is such a good little loan shark.

She wears an eyepatch for no reason and puts on a bad Al Capone accent.

Hani: "Look here, see, times are tough, I understand. But my old man needs the moolah. And you're going to give it to him."

Marco: "But... he landed on my property."

Hani, rolling up her sleeves: "A wise guy, huh? Well, he'll soon find himself sleeping with the fishes!"

[simsadventures]

Gilded: Chapter 1: To Bride or Not to Bride

Mob! Steve x Reader

Summary: Your life is a mess and you need a little help from time to time. But, when somebody proposes a plan to rid you of all your problems all the way to the far future, you’re suddenly not so sure it is worth it. Especially since the plan is proposed to you by the most notorious gangster America has seen since Al Capone: Steve fucking Rogers. 

Warnings: mafia AU, swearing (like, a lot this time), angst, struggles with money, loan-shark, sleazy men, harassing

Word Count: 7969

A/N: It’s finally here! It only took me around 6 months to bring it, and I apologise for the delay, but I hope I will make up for it with introductory this chapter :) Share your thoughts, let me know what you thought and what do you think will happen next :) xx

Series Masterlist __ Masterlist 

“Just, wait a second,” you said, your brows knitting together as you tried to piece together all the information the man in front of you had just given you. He was gorgeous, there was no question about that, but that wasn’t the issue here. There were many gorgeous people in New York, and you didn’t marry any of them. Yet, that was. 

“You want to marry me. But you still haven’t told me why, so?” You asked for what felt like the hundredth time that evening, and the man just smirked again, playing with his cuffs, never answering to your satisfaction. 

“I told you, honey, what I want, I get, and I decided that I wanted you, so, what is going to be? Are you gonna be a good girl for me or am I gonna have to force you, hm?” He smiled sweetly, but even you knew better. Behind that oh-very-sweet smile, there was venom and a ton of it. You rubbed your temples and plopped down on the nice-looking couch, thinking about what he was proposing. 

2 weeks ago

“Coming!” You yelled through the loud music at the guests seated by the table number 5 where a group of guys was seated, hollering at you every two seconds as if you didn’t hear them the first time. You rolled your eyes at your colleague, who just laughed under her breath as you strode towards the clients. You put on your best fake smile as you approached them, and from the whistles, you assumed they appreciated it. 

“Thank God you came, sweets. We thought you were getting tired of us,” the loudest of them laughed, and the group followed his suit, making your clench your jaw even more. Oh, how you hated this type of men, who had nothing better to do than calling a woman pet-names, making her feel uncomfortable just so his friends could have a laugh and a story to tell. 

“What can I get you, gentleman? Another round of the same?” You asked as sweetly as you could, but it was getting harder by the second as they all eyed you like a piece of raw meat, ready to be devoured. 

“I mean, that would be nice, and could you serve us a piece of that sweet ass of course as well? We’d really appreciate it, pretty face,” the loud guy smirked sleazily, and you fought the urge to vomit in your face. One of the guys made the mistake of actually making a move to swat you across your butt, but your reflexes were quicker. 

You took a step back and breathed in, trying to calm your beating heart. This was, however, nothing new in your line of work, and you just learned to ignore it, or, at best, politely turn them down. Because, as you learned very early on, the manager didn’t appreciate if his “girls” were nasty to his customers. He almost made it sound like you were to provide your bodies with the beers, but you told him straightforwardly that that wouldn’t happen, and if his pub was one of these, you wanted to have nothing to do with it. All you were there to do was to work the evening and night shift to get some extra money on top of your regular job, and that was it. He even made a few remarks how he wanted you all to himself, but you politely declined every time and just tried to ignore it altogether.

“This ass is not for sale, I’m sorry, boys. But, the vodka shots are coming right up,” you tried to give them your best wink but didn’t wait long enough to see if they accepted their loss or not. You genuinely didn’t care. 

The night continued in a similar manner, some people being inappropriate and you just ignoring their behaviour, and some people actually nice, even leaving you a few tips which always made you smile. You were beat when it was 11, and your shift ended, and you were thrilled today wasn’t one of those days when you had to stay there till 4 AM. It was then that people got really disgusting and you even had to resolve to hit a guy this one time because otherwise, you were pretty sure he’d manage to rape you. You sighed at the memory as you continued on your way home, just now remembering you left the tips meant for you in your locker.

Sighing you turned around and walked back towards the bar, and when you were in, you noticed three men in black suits talking to your coworker, who looked stunned and scared at the same time. You cocked a brow at her, and she discreetly shook her head, telling you that you shouldn’t come nearer. 

This time, you really frowned and looked around, but the rest of the pub looked exactly the way you left it, even with the assholes by the fifth table. But you listened to her and took a step back to one of the dark corners, watching what was going on by the bar. It didn’t take long, definitely not longer than 5 minutes before the men turned around and left the building. 

Your coworker looked positively alarmed by now, and you almost ran to her to ask what the fuck did just happen. 

“I have no idea, Y/N. I noticed them by table 10 like an hour ago, but I didn’t pay them any attention because that was Christy’s sector tonight and I had the veranda. And when you left they just came here asking about you,” she breathed out, and it was your turn to look alarmed. 

“The fuck? Why would they ask about me when it was Christy who took care of them?” You screeched, your brain not really comprehending the situation. 

“I have no fucking idea, Y/N. But, like, they asked your name and stuff, and like, if you were a regular waitress here or what. I didn’t want to tell them anything, I swear, but they didn’t take no for an answer. So I just told them your first name, I wouldn’t budge on your last, I promise, and told them that you sometimes worked here but that I didn’t know when was your next shift,” she finished, a little scared of your reaction now, but from the look of those guys, you knew they were bad news and that Anja did the best she could.

“Nah, it’s ok, An. I would do the same. I’m really grateful that you didn’t give them my last name, though, that was really thoughtful of you,” you smiled at her, and it obviously put her at ease as she hugged and hurried back to the veranda, where you both saw a few guests waving that they needed a refill. 

The hell did just happen, and why would three mysterious men ask about you? 

It couldn’t be that they found out, right? No… you made sure all the traces were hidden, forever, so, that wasn’t an option. 

No, you told yourself, there must be another reason for them to ask about you. But you didn’t want to find out. It was a one-time thing, these men were just confused, or one of them liked you or something like that, and you would never see them again. This actually calmed you down enough to start functioning again, and you remembered that you came for something specific, took the money and went straight home. 

“This can’t be happening,” you muttered as you looked over your bills. There was so much to pay and so little money on your account that you actually started to sweat. You worked two jobs and still wasn’t able to afford to live a life where you didn’t have to worry about money. What was more, with the high taxes, your rent, subway card and food you went into red numbers, and that was something you definitely didn’t want. Nobody told you that as an Arts Major, you could still be struggling to stay alive in the city of New York. 

You went over the bills again even though you knew your math was correct and that you didn’t have enough to pay your landlord this month. 

Fuck, you muttered again and considered your options. You could ask your friends, but you didn’t want to bother them since you knew they were struggling as much as you were. You shared your apartment with two of your best friends who you considered a family by now, Caroline and Aidan. And while you knew they would do anything to help you, neither of their jobs paid enough to be able to help you as much as you needed this month. 

Your other option was asking your landlord to give you some more time before more money arrived, but just imagining the conversation gave you goosebumps because you could picture the kind of service he’d want from you, and you’d literally rather go and beg on the street than to sleep with that middle-aged pig. 

So, as you summarised it, the only option remained the loan shark. Tony was actually a nice guy, once you got to know him, and he was nice to you because you always paid precisely what he told you to when he told you to, and never asked too many questions or begged for more time. You were smarter than that, and, besides, you’ve seen too many movies with loan sharks to know what could happen to you. 

The first time you went to him was probably 2 years ago, straight from university when you still thought you could make it big in New York. Well, safe to say that you didn’t make it, and while you remained hopeful, you had bigger problems than becoming a renown painter, like not starving to death and other fun stuff like that. 

You were awfully scared to go to Tony, he had a reputation of being kind of an ass, but people also said that, compared to the other guys in the business, he actually had the fairest demands, and as you had no other choice, you just went to him. And because life was a bitch, you ended up going there on more occasions. Tony was kind enough always to lend even small amounts of money because you really didn’t need 100K. No, you always need like 1 or 2 thousand, and while the other loan sharks turned people like you down, Tony didn’t, and he never wanted more than like 400$ as a return, which seemed quite fair as the other guys always wanted 100% or more. 

Well, Tony, it was, as you sighed looking around your room, thinking how you even got where you were. But there was no time to waste pitying yourself, and so you shot Tony a quick message, as you always did, and to no surprise, he was very quick to respond that you should come by later that afternoon. 

You were just getting ready when Aidan burst through your door. He stopped mid-step, looking at you confusedly because you didn’t tell him you were going somewhere. 

“Got a date or what? You never go out on Saturday afternoon, not if you can help it,” he said sceptically, looking around the room as his eyes landed on the fumbled papers on your table, and the look of realisation hit him. 

“You going to Tony again? Y/N, we told you, we can help you, babe! Let us help just this once, please?” He pleaded with you even though he knew it was useless. 

“C’mon, babe, you know you and Caroline are not making much either, and you’re both glad to get by another month. Tony is like an old friend by now, really. I don’t mind it that much, and it’s definitely a better option than burying you two with me under this pile of shit,” you huffed as you finished applying mascara, but you didn’t even check yourself in the mirror, really not caring that much how you looked. You went to Manhattan just to meet Tony and would go straight back, quick mission, in and out. 

“You need to find a better job, Y/N,” Aidan smirked at you, and you just laughed because you both knew it was pretty much impossible, especially since you loved your day job with the only issue that it paid like shit. 

“You know this is my chance to be close to art and I really want it. I mean, it could happen that they promote me from being a receptionist to like, I dunno, being a secretary to one of the curators of the gallery, right?” 

He just huffed and kissed the top of your head, striding towards the door. It was only then that you noticed he was dressed to go out as well. 

“And where are you going, mister?” You asked with a mother-like tone, and he just laughed, turning around as if he was caught in the act. 

“So, you remember John?” He asked, sitting on your bed, and you actually laughed out loud at him. 

“Which one? I mean, there has been so many Johns and Peters that I swear to God I’m starting to think there are only men called John and Peter in the whole fucking New York. So, more info, babe, please,” you scooted to him and listened to which John it actually was he was meeting and was pretty excited about this. This was John the Ballet dancer, and he looked really nice, so far. 

John the Fake Mobster was a lying bastard, John the Hairdresser wanted Aidan for just that one thing but would never admit it, and then you didn’t even have John-the for the guys because they were all just idiots who didn’t see your best friend for what he was: an amazing, although a little extra person with a very good heart, great sense of humour and amazing hair. 

“Alright, well, you know the drill. Keep your phone on data so we can use Find your Friend if needed, keep your eyes open for anything sketchy going on, but, most importantly, enjoy yourself, babe. I’ll see you tonight,” you hugged him tightly and walked out of the apartment and into the busy streets. 

If it were all up to you, you’d live in a secluded place, somewhere in the north probably, like outside Seattle, where you’d have a lovely little house, maybe by a river or by the ocean or something, where you’d have enough inspiration for your art and where you wouldn’t be annoyed by the little things, like the car horns blaring all the way to the night, people shouting underneath your bedroom’s window, and little things like that. 

But life was not a factory for fulfilled wishes, and you had to endure another day trying to make it in New York. You thought about all of this as you walked down the street to where you knew you could find Tony. You weren’t happy that you had to go to him, again, but you also knew that you didn’t need to worry anymore. You would have the money for your landlord by the end of the week, and when the gallery paid you, you would pay Tony back. Again. 

“If it isn’t my favourite girl!” You heard a familiar voice hollering from the shop, and you laughed lightly as you walked into the pawnshop Tony had set up in the lower Manhattan. 

“Hello to you too, Tony. Today a yellow day, or what?” You greeted him as you looked at his outfit, which was just a canary yellow tracksuit and a matching hat. He looked like a character from a bad movie, but you knew better than to say anything like that. 

“Yellow is very classy and trendy, thank you very much! Yesterday I wore this really nice green velvet tracksuit, and you should have seen some ladies walking by, they almost ate me with their eyes! I swear!” He added as he saw you stifling a laugh, but you just nodded in fake understanding, and both of you shared a relaxed laugh. 

“So, what can I do for you today, sweetheart?” He drawled, and you shuffled on the spot, always feeling slightly uncomfortable when it came to this part. 

“I need a thousand this week. Ton. I’ve been working my ass off, but the bills keep building up, and every time I think I’m out of it and I can live normally, there is always something holding me back,” you sighed, scratching your arms which was a nervous habit of yours that Tony grew quite fond of. 

He was almost sorry for saying the next thing, but this was way above his pay grade, and while he really did take some liking to you, and he would always give you enough time to pay him off, he knew who he couldn’t piss off. 

“Listen, Y/N, I have a proposal for you,” Tony started, and you frowned, not really knowing where this was going, but from the look on Tony’s face, you could tell it was nothing good. 

“There is somebody who would like to get to know you, and he has a proposal for you that he believes you can’t refuse. I don’t know any specifics, I just know he is willing to pay you a lot of money, and I’m talking thousands and thousands, Y/N. He said that nothing sexual would be involved because I told him that if he was looking for a one night stand, you weren’t his girl, but he assured me that this wasn’t it. He would like to meet with you and tell you all the details if you let him. And before you say no, Y/N, think about it. All you gotta do now is to meet him and listen to him, and he is one of those guys who don’t take no for an answer,” Tony finished, and while you saw it pained him to give you the message, you were too stunned to care. 

“What the hell are you talking about, Tony? Is this some kind of a sick joke? Like, did this guy tell you he wanted to talk to me specifically or just a girl desperate enough to come here?” You blurted, still not getting what he was about. 

“He asked for you, sweetie. I don’t know how, but he knew you’d come and told me when you did to give you the message and give you his address. Which is here,” he said, handing you a piece of paper with an address and a date with the time written on it, “and he told me that if you came and agreed to his plan, you wouldn’t have to worry about money this week or any other week. It could be your chance, Y/N. Look, the guy is extremely powerful, so, please, just go and meet him, and you’ll see, ok?” He was scared, and it made you scoff out loud. 

Great, so a loan shark was giving you a message to meet some mysterious, powerful asshole who wouldn’t take no for an answer and who probably stalked you as he knew you would be coming to Tony sooner or later. Just great, really. 

“It seems I don’t really have a choice, do I? Sheesh, Tony, at least tell me who this guy is and like how scared I should be. You gotta give me something because I can’t just go to some random house and be totally ok with it. Nobody can’t expect me to do so,” you pointed out, and Tony nodded in understanding. 

“Totally, yeah. I even asked if I should come with you, but I was told you should be alone. You should be alert, let’s put it that way. If I were you, I’d really think before I speak, because this guy doesn’t take anything lightly. And I think it would be best if you didn’t know his name, Y/N. Just… he doesn’t want to hurt you, all he wants to do is speak to you, so please, just do it,” Tony finished just as some customer came into the shop. 

You waited patiently because the conversation was far from over, but you knew better than to start shit in front of some stranger. Tony was evidently scared shitless of the guy, and it only fuelled your already growing anxiety. Tony was determined not to share too much information with you, but you didn’t understand why. Why could you not at least know the guy’s name? Who could it be? 

Your brain took a detour to a few nights ago back at the pub where you saw the men asking about you, and a cold sweat broke on your skin. It must have been connected, there was no doubt in your mind about that, and it filled you with so much dread you actually had to catch your right hand with your left to stop yourself from shaking violently. 

The doorbell rang signalling the customer left, and your eyes gazed at Tony, who was already staring at you apologetically. 

“And what about the money, Tony? It’s Saturday, and I need to pay my rent by Friday next week. Nice of the guy, whoever the fuck he is, that he wants to see me, but he won’t if I’m on a fucking street next weekend,” you seethed, and Tony was quick to walk around the counter behind which he was standing this whole time and walked closer to you. 

“He wants to see you on Wednesday, Y/N, and he specifically told me not to lend you any money, that he would take care of it. Whatever the fuck it means.”

“The fuck? I don’t even know his fucking name, and he will stop me from getting money to survive? What the actual hell, Tony? You can’t be serious right now,” you cried out in utter desperation because none of this was supposed to happen. You were supposed to come, chat a little with the goatee man, get the money and walk back home, where you’d watch some stupid TV show and drink shitty wine. 

But no, of all the people living in New York this shit must be happening to you. As you didn’t have enough on your fucking plate as was, some mysterious fucker had to be interested in you for whatever reason, and he wouldn’t let you live without talking to him first. 

“Can’t you just call him and tell him that I want to have nothing to do with him?” You asked when you felt calm enough to talk again. You didn’t even know whether you were scared or desperate or angry, but at best, you were feeling a mix of all these and some more, that was for sure. 

“No can do, sweetie, but I promise it will be alright, ok? You’re a strong one, I know that and whatever he wants from you, you can either give or can talk to him,” Tony smiled sweetly, and while you knew he was full of bullshit you let it slide because you just didn’t have it in you to fight with him when he was clearly just the messenger. Whoever wanted to speak to you, however, he would hear it from you because where were we that a guy just asks for a girl and the whole of New York delivers her to him on a silver platter?

Wednesday 

“You gotta be kidding me, Y/N. Are you seriously considering going there? For all you know it might be some elaborate trap and somebody’s gonna jump you and kill you in some dark alley,” Caroline screeched at you as she saw you getting ready after you came home from work. 

You had to ask for a night off from the pub since mister nobody wanted to meet you on your night of work. But you knew you couldn’t say no. Whoever it was, Tony was afraid of him, and Tony was a tough guy. And not that you wouldn’t be brave, but your bravery was mostly concentrated on being able to throw a spider out of the apartment or walk the corridor with the lights out, not really crossing some powerful guy who could do God-knows-what to you if you didn’t come. 

“C’mon, guys. You know I gotta do it. And I honestly think if they wanted to kill me, they would have already done it,” you muttered, trying to pick something to wear, that wasn’t too revealing, but you also didn’t want to go wherever you were going in a pair of baggy sweatpants you were currently rocking. 

“But like, what if they want to make a personal slave out of you, huh? Like, cuff you to a ceiling and serve them with your body, like a personal kind of slave, you know what I mean? You were not made to be strapped to a ceiling, babe,” Aidan panicked, and you actually had to laugh. 

“Your imagination never ceases to astonish me, Aid. Or are you speaking from personal experience?” You smirked as both you and Caroline laughed out loud at Aidan’s expression of utter disgust. 

“You two are disgusting, and I hate you, but that doesn’t change the fact you still don’t know where the fuck you’re going,” Aidan countered and you rolled your eyes at him. 

“I’ll keep my data on so you can see me this whole time, and if I don’t call you by 9 PM you can send the cops there, deal?” 

They both nodded in agreement, knowing this was the best they were getting. You were glad you had them in your life and that you had people caring enough to try and stop you from doing something stupid, but something in your told you that your life would be even worse if you didn’t go. At least this way you’d know the whole story, and you would be able to make an educated decision based on all the variables. 

“A’ight, but if anything sketchy happens, you run, ok? We can figure out the money, but we can’t figure out shit if you’re not here with us,” Caroline reminded you, and you nodded solemnly. 

God, you just hoped you weren’t making a mistake by listening to Tony. He even shot you a message in the afternoon, reminding you to go there because if you didn’t, it could end up badly for both of you. And it was actually one of the decisive arguments in the whole thing, surprisingly. You didn’t want anything happening to Tony, especially not because of you and your decisions, and so you just told yourself to suck it and prepared for the evening. 

You really couldn’t afford the cab, so you had to leave super early to be at the given address at precisely 7 PM. You also grabbed the book you were currently reading, Kim Stanley Robinson’s New York 2140, so that the ride to Manhattan wouldn’t be as dull and dreadful. You could think of the utopian future he depicts rather than thinking of your journey to the lion’s den, and that was the most promising image you created in your head about the place where you were headed. 

Not that you didn’t try to find the place on Google maps, but all the buildings on the address looked the same, and, actually, quite nice, so you had no idea what you were getting yourself into. 

Meanwhile, Tony texted you again since you didn’t reply to his previous text, and this time you took the time to craft a message telling him that yes, you were indeed headed to the manor and he didn’t need to worry about his own neck because you wouldn’t let others be hurt because of your incompetence or your cowardice. 

You knew you were getting off on Chambers St station and you actually took the time to think how many people living in Tribeca had to take the subway. The answer was, very obviously, zero, as the majority of the people in the subway were either passing or were clothed in a way you knew they worked in either one of the restaurants there or as a help. And you felt like one of them, because you too didn’t live in the wealthiest village in New York, and you too were going there mainly for business. Well, at least you hope you did. 

Checking every house number when you got to the street you were supposed to meet the mysterious guy at, you tried to find where exactly was the bat cave, and when you saw the number 112, you knew you found it. 

Your breath came in ragged huffs as you tried to gather the last remnants of your bravery as you walked up the stairs and buzzed on the door. Your head was spinning lightly, and you actually had to lean against the wall beside you to regain your composure. 

The door soon revealed a massive man dressed in a black turtleneck and a pair of black jeans, and you were actually quite surprised not to see him with sunglasses and an earpiece. If the situation weren’t so tense, you’d probably joke about it, but as it was, you just followed his lead as he beckoned you inside. 

“Miss Y/L/N, I presume? I need to see your phone and your belongings, ma’am,” he stated, and you raised a brow at him. 

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a standard procedure, ma’am. Everybody here to see the boss needs to be checked, just in case,” he stated, leaving no room for discussion, and while you sighed exasperatedly, you still handed him your bag and made a point by fishing out the phone and shoving it in his outstretched hand. He took a quick look through your belongings, pushing it against what you assumed was some kind of a metal detector before he pulled out another device. This looked like a big phone, and he scanned your bag once again. 

“What is that?” You asked, unable to stop your curiosity. 

“Checking if you’re not bugged,” he answered matter-of-factly as he continued before he put the device down, clearly not finding anything. Where would you even get a bug, and why would you do it? You rolled your eyes inwardly but kept a straight face in front of the man, just in case he was watching. Which he was, as you found out by him waving in front of your face and showing you to follow him. 

You braced yourself for whatever was awaiting upstairs and obediently walked behind him. 

As you walked through the house, you got the impression that whoever lived there was wealthy, but that kind that didn’t really put on a flashy show. There were no chandeliers, no heavy curtains and stuff you pretty much imagined this place would look like and that image had nothing to do with the Beast and the Beauty dance room, nothing at all. 

But this was… modest. Everything was very contemporary, some prominent brick here and there with mostly grey floors and the furniture was most definitely customary but, again, it was plain yet luxurious. You assumed that’s how the really rich people lived. They knew they had the money, and the people around them knew it as well, so there was no need for diamond stairs and a golden toilet. 

A few names surged from memory as you heard your coworkers discuss the wealthy New Yorkers, but you didn’t want to assume anything before you actually saw the person, so you just walked by the halls before the man stopped in front one of the rooms and quietly knocked. 

It was not surprising when another man dressed exactly like the guy leading you appeared from the room and took a quick look at you before he said something to whoever was behind him. When the affirmative came that you could indeed go in there, they shoved the door open and what you assumed was a living room appeared in front of you. It corresponded with the whole house, but your attention was caught by one specific thing. Your brain had its own world, and when you saw one of Tunji Adeniyi-Jones’s paintings from his last year’s exhibit, you almost fainted. He was your favourite contemporary artist. And seeing his work outside of the gallery was practically an otherworldly feeling. You gaped at the beautiful play of colours, and your heart swooned at the perfection of the brush strokes. 

“Ehm,” you heard somebody cough beside you, and it startled you so much you actually jumped to the side, your hand flying to your chest in a feeble attempt to will your heart to stay calm. 

You took the intruder in and found out that unlike every other man in the room (and there were a few, as you noticed) this guy wasn’t wearing all-black attire. He was in a comfortable-looking creme sweater and a pair of dark blue jeans, everything fitting him as if the clothes were sawn to his body. 

Which, as far as you could tell, was the body of a Greek God. 

“See something you like, honey?” The man interrupted thoughts, and it just crossed your mind that he was really rude, not letting you breathe even for a second before he had to make his presence known. 

“Yes, actually. I’m quite a big fan of the artist whose painting you have there, so I admired that. And you are?” You trailed at the end, signalling that while he was very handsome, you had no idea who he was and why it was that you needed to come to him this evening. 

“Straight to business, huh? I like that. I’m quite surprised Tony didn’t tell you who I was. Was he scared you wouldn’t have come if you knew?” He didn’t wait for your answer, however. “Well, honey, I’m Steve Rogers, and I am very pleased to meet you,” he smirked at your stomach dropped. 

Steve Rogers? That Steve Rogers? It wasn’t possible. 

“You gotta be kidding me,” you muttered as you scratched your arms nervously. 

“Oh no, on the contrary. I’m all too real, Miss Y/L/N, and from the looks of it, I’m glad Tony didn’t tell you, you look like you might faint. Are you feeling alright?” He asked like the smug asshole he was, and you just turned away from him, taking a deep breath before you finally turned back around to face him with a pokerface. 

“I’m alright, thank you. So now, can I know what it is you want from me so much you stalked me and made me come here, pretty much by force?” 

He scoffed but showed you to follow him to the sofa. When you didn’t budge, he simply took you by your elbow and pretty much shoved you down to the plump sofa. 

“Force, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I simply asked you to come visit me, is it so wrong? But yes, you are right, we should talk about why I invited you here. You see, Y/N, I’m in need of a wife, and after long calculations, I came to the conclusion you would be perfect for the job,” he said straightforwardly, and it was now that you felt like you’d faint. 

“Marry me? Are you fucking insane?” You couldn’t hold it in any longer. Form the pissed off expression on his face, you could see it was not the right move, but he couldn’t expect any other reaction, really. 

“Easy, honey or I might have to use the said force to shut that smart mouth of yours,” Steve mumbled dangerously, and you swallowed harshly. 

“Right, you’re a notorious mobster, and I’m literally nobody, and if you killed me, nobody would miss me. Good, now that’s out of the table, why do you want to marry me? And what does it mean you are in need of a wife? I mean… you are notorious for dating a different girl every week, can’t you just marry one of them if you’re in such a great hurry?” 

“No, honey, I can’t. All you need to know right now is my proposal. So, here it is. You will marry me, we will stay married for a year and then get a divorce. You will have everything every girl ever wanted: loads of clothes, all the time in the world to do whatever the fuck you want, you won’t have to work, and I will pay for everything and more. You will live here so you won’t have to worry about your rent money, and I will also pay your student loan, on top of which you will be paid 20.000$ every month for playing your role. And when the year is over, you will walk away rich, without any debts slowing you down and you will be able to do anything you want. How does that sound?” 

“It sounds like it’s not a proposal but a directive,” you smiled sweetly and stood up, pacing the room and scratching your hands like crazy. This was not happening, no, no, no!

You needed the money, you really did, and getting rid of the debt from your student loan that would have been sweet too, but at what price? On the other hand, you thought, how bad could it be to just be somebody’s wife for a year? He did make it sound pretty easy. 

“What would be expected of me?” 

“Well, you would go with me to every event and pretty much listen to everything I say,” he shrugged as if it was the most natural thing to say to another human being. 

“Like, you’d ask me to spread my legs for you here, and I would do it?” You asked, suddenly very angry that the man just assumed what kind of a person you were. You were desperate, but not that desperate. 

“Oh, no, honey. That is one of the reasons why I chose you: I’m not attracted to you, so no, I wouldn’t ask you for any sexual favours. We could even put that to our contract if you’d feel better, but, really, you have nothing to worry from me,” he again said with ease, and you didn’t know if you were glad he just told you this or really pissed and ashamed.

Not that you thought you were some kind of a beauty, far from it, but he also didn’t have to be so upfront about it. And now you understood it even less why the hell he chose you.

“Just, wait a second,” you said, your brows knitting together as you tried to piece together all the information the man in front of you had just given you. He was gorgeous, there was no question about that, but that wasn’t the issue here. There were many gorgeous people in New York, and you didn’t marry any of them. Yet, that was. 

“You want to marry me. But you still haven’t told me why, so?” You asked for like the hundredth time that evening, and the man just smirked again, playing with his cuffs, never answering to your satisfaction. 

“Honey, what I want, I get, and I decided that I wanted you, so, what is going to be? Are you gonna be a good girl for me or am I gonna have to force you, hm?” He smiled sweetly, but even you knew better. Behind that oh-very-sweet smile, there was venom and a ton of it. You rubbed your temples and plopped down on the nice-looking couch, thinking about what he was proposing.

“Then why choosing me if you don’t find me attractive? Not that it’s an issue, I’m just really trying to understand the situation here,” you said, totally ignoring the threat in his voice as you needed some much valuable answers. 

“Right, well, first of all, as I already mentioned, what I want, I get, honey, and you should always remember that. Secondly, it was your ability to keep a straight face, even though I can see the ability is not endless. I need somebody who will be sickly sweet to both my friends and enemies alike, who won’t mind a few sleazy comments from the old fuckers, and who will look like an obedient wife. I need somebody who will blend in and who will look trustworthy, and not like she was to stay only for a week. And when I saw you in that pub where you used to work, I could see you had what it took to be in this life, even if only for a year,” he finished, and you were glad you were right at least about the guy, Steve, also sending the people to sniff around your workplace. But then it hit you. 

“Where I used to work? I still work there,” you said dumbfounded, and Steve chuckled humorously. 

“Oh no, you don’t. You see, I need my wife free all the time and I need her here with me. Look, Y/N, this is getting tiring, and I really need an answer now. What is it gonna be, huh?”

“Like I even have a choice. You just said you would use force if I said no, so, what am I supposed to say, huh? I don’t want to get married, but I don’t have any money and your snoopy ass is getting in the way of my life, and you ended one of my jobs, and before you say you terminated my contract in the gallery, please think about it again. That job is very important to me, it has always been my dream to be in a gallery surrounded by beautiful art, and, by chance, having my art there as well. 

I don’t know Steve, your offer is very generous, it really is, but I don’t think I’m the right one,” you sighed finally and looked around the room, ignoring the boring looks from Steve. Then you saw the clock and you almost panicked, it was two minutes before 9. 

“Oh my God, I need to call my friends, or they’re gonna call the cops,” you said quickly already dialling Caroline’s number. You told her you were fine and that no, you weren’t a personal slave yet, but that you’d tell them everything when you got home. When the call ended, the venom was back in Steve’s eyes. 

“If you think you can talk to people about anything I have just said, you are terribly wrong, doll,” he seethed, and you were taken aback, but you didn’t want him to think he intimidated you.

“Well, if you think I’m not gonna tell my family about this, then it’s you who is terribly wrong, Steve. We tell each other everything, and if I considered this proposal of yours, it would mean Aidan and Caroline would know about this, at least that I’m marrying you for more than my undying love for you,” you spat back, and Steve saw the determination in your eyes. He knew he had to compromise with you, even if only a little bit. 

He already found out everything about you, he knew your whole life, your past, everything his people could find on the internet. And what he got from the search was that you and the people you lived with were extremely close. He considered getting rid of them but realised it would only push you away from what he needed from you. And he needed a wife ASAP. 

The mafia was still very conservative, and as he was the only boss without a constant woman by his side, he was sometimes excluded from important meetings that happened on “family retreats.” And he needed all the info there was if he wanted to be the best of the best. Or, the worst of the worst, if we were being literal. 

“Fine, but they will need to sign a contract saying that they will keep their mouths shut,” Steve smiled back, and you nodded, your head already spinning. 

Were you really considering it? But was there any other option? You needed the money, and it would’ve be great if you didn’t have to care about your student loan for the rest of your life. You would see the world, just like you wanted, you would have time for your art, and you would be free after only a year. That didn’t sound that bad. Sure, you’d be affiliated with a known mafia boss, but that was nothing you couldn’t handle. But there was still a question Steve didn’t answer. 

“What about my job at the gallery? If you made them fire me and I’m gonna find out tomorrow, I can’t even begin to consider this. I want that job, I want to work at that gallery, Steve.” 

“Fucking hell, I could buy you the gallery if you agreed!” He shouted, exasperated that it was taking so long. He really didn’t get it. He was proposing a life in luxury, and he knew that the majority of women in New York would be more than happy to be seen by his side. But you? You had to be difficult and even demand stuff. Fucking hell…

“But whatever, you wanna work there, fine. Whatever, I don’t give a fuck. Do we have a deal or not? I have better things to do with my evening than just bargain with you, honey,” he accentuated the pet name that you already hated.

Well, this wasn’t how you imagined your proposal to go. Not that you were too keen on the whole idea of a marriage, but still, a girl could dream. Yet, here you were, actually considering getting tied up with a mobster for a year just because he offered you enough money and a life that you felt like could be interesting, if only for a year and with a man who blatantly told you he wasn’t interested in you in that way. This was the only reason you didn’t feel as dirty as you expected because you knew he would never touch you and never want you to do something sexual against your will. 

You were used to lying through your teeth ever since you were little, your parents made sure you knew how important it was to keep your secret, and dangerous life wasn’t something you only heard of on TV. All this made the decision slightly easier, as you finally made up your mind. 

“Fine, but we still have a lot to talk about, Mr Rogers,” you set your jaw and outstretched your hand to shake on it with him. 

“Whatever, Mrs Rogers. Consider your rent paid and I’ll see you on Friday when we discuss our matter in greater detail. Now, if you excuse me,” he kissed the top of your hand and walked away. 

Well, this would be fun, you told yourself as you watched the man you would soon call your husband walk away from you, and contemplated whether you made the right choice. But your life wasn’t great as was, as much as you tried to fill it with laughter and happiness, and, in a sense, Steve offered you an out, even if only for a little bit. 

Here was to nothing, you hollered at yourself in your mind and followed one of the turtleneck-guys out of the manor and into the chilly air of evening New York.

/ Next Chapter >

Tags will be in reblogs. Taglist for this series is open, all you have to do is send an ask or a message to me :) x Thank you for reading!

[elcinsultan]

John Donato Torrio  was an Italian-American mobster who helped build the Chicago Outfit in the 1920s. It was later inherited by his protégé Al Capone. Torrio proposed a National Crime Syndicate in the 1930s and later became an adviser to Lucky Luciano and his Luciano crime family.

Torrio had several nicknames, primarily "The Fox" for his cunning and finesse. Considered one of the most influential personalities in American organized crime, Torrio impressed authorities and chroniclers with his business acumen and diplomatic skills.

The US Treasury official Elmer Irey considered him "the biggest gangster in America" and wrote, "He was the smartest and, I dare say, the best of all the hoodlums. 'Best' referring to talent, not morals". Virgil W. Peterson of the Chicago Crime Commission stated that his "talents as an organizational genius were widely respected by the major gang bosses in the New York City area". Crime journalist Herbert Asbury affirmed: "As an organizer and administrator of underworld affairs Johnny Torrio is unsurpassed in the annals of American crime; he was probably the nearest thing to a real mastermind that this country has yet produced".

EARLY LIFE: Torrio was born in Irsina (then known as Montepeloso), Basilicata, in Southern Italy, to Tommaso Torrio and Maria Carluccio originally from Altamura, Apulia. When he was two his father, a railway employee, died in a work accident; shortly after, Torrio immigrated to James Street on the Lower East Side of New York City with his widowed mother in December 1884. She later remarried.

His first jobs were as a porter and bouncer in Manhattan. While he was a teenager, he joined a street gang together with fellow James Street resident Robert Vanella and became its leader; he eventually managed to save enough money and opened a billiards parlor for the group, and from there grew illegal activities such as gambling and loan sharking. Torrio's business sense caught the eye of Paul Kelly, the leader of the infamous Five Points Gang. Torrio's gang ran legitimate businesses, but its main concern was the numbers game, supplemented by incomes from bookmaking, loan sharking, hijacking, prostitution, and opium trafficking. Al Capone, who worked at Kelly's club, admired Torrio's quick mind and looked to him as his mentor.

Capone had belonged to the Junior Forty Thieves, the Bowery Boys and the Brooklyn Rippers; they soon moved up to the Five Points Gang. Torrio eventually hired Capone to bartend at the Harvard Inn, a bar in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn owned by Torrio's business associate, Frankie Yale.

MOVE TO CHICAGO: Torrio was the nephew of Victoria Moresco, the wife and business partner of "Big Jim" Colosimo, who had become the owner of more than 100 brothels in Chicago. According to Laurence Bergreen, "Torrio is [also] described as Colosimo’s nephew, but in the absence of any evidence to confirm the relationship, it is more likely their kinship was spiritual rather than familial".

In 1909, Colosimo invited Torrio to Chicago to deal with extortion demands from the Black Hand. Torrio eliminated the extortionists and stayed on; he ran Colosimo's operations and organized the criminal muscle needed to deal with threats to them.

In 1919, Capone also left New York for Chicago at the invitation of Torrio. Capone began in Chicago as a bouncer in a brothel.

COLOSIMO MURDER: When Prohibition went into effect in 1920, Torrio pushed for the gang to enter into bootlegging, but Colosimo stubbornly refused. In March 1920, Colosimo secured an uncontested divorce from Moresco. A month later, he and Dale Winter eloped to West Baden Springs, Indiana. Upon their return, he bought a home on the South Side. On May 11, 1920, Torrio called and told Colosimo that a shipment was about to arrive at his restaurant. Colosimo drove there to await it, but instead he was shot in an ambush and killed. Frankie Yale had allegedly traveled from New York to Chicago and personally killed longtime gang boss Colosimo at the behest of Chicago Outfit friends Torrio and Capone. Although suspected by Chicago police, Yale was never officially charged. Colosimo was allegedly murdered because he stood in the way of his gang making bootlegging profits, having "gone soft" after his marriage with Winter. Al Capone has also been suggested as the gunman. Colosimo's ex-wife, unhappy with the financial arrangements of the divorce, is also theorized having arranged the murder.

RIVALRY WITH NORT SIDE GANG: Torrio headed an essentially Italian organized crime group that was the biggest in the city, with Capone as his right-hand man. He was wary of being drawn into gang wars and tried to negotiate agreements over territory between rival crime groups. The smaller Nort Side Gang led by Dean O'Banion (also known as Dion O'Banion) was of mixed ethnicity, and it came under pressure from the Genna brothers who were allied with Torrio. O'Banion found that Torrio was unhelpful with the encroachment of the Gennas into the North Side, despite his pretensions to be a settler of disputes. In a fateful step, Torrio either arranged for or acquiesced to the murder of O'Banion at his flower shop on November 10, 1924. This placed Hymie Weiss at the head of the gang, backed by Vincent Drucci and Bugs Morgan. Weiss had been a close friend of O'Banion, and the North Siders made it a priority to get revenge on his killers.

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AND HANDOVER TO CAPONE: In January 1925, Capone was ambushed, leaving him shaken but unhurt. Twelve days later, on January 24, Torrio was returning from a shopping trip with his wife Anna, when he was shot several times. After recovering, he effectively resigned and handed control to Capone, age 26, who became the new boss of an organization that took in illegal breweries and a transportation network that reached Canada, with political and law-enforcement protection. In turn, he was able to use more violence to increase revenue. An establishment that refused to purchase liquor from him often got blown up, and as many as 100 people were killed in such bombings during the 1920s. Rivals saw Capone as responsible for the proliferation of brothels in the city.

In late 1925, Torrio moved to Italy, where he no longer dealt directly in mob business, with his wife and mother. He gave total control of the Outfit to Capone and said, "It's all yours, Al. Me? I'm quitting. It's Europe for me". Torrio left a criminal empire which grossed about $70,000,000 a year ($997,500,000 in 2018 dollars) from bootleg booze, gambling and prostitution.

LATER YEARS AND DEATH: In 1928, Torrio returned to the United States, as Benito Mussolini began putting pressure on the Mafia in Italy. He is credited with helping to organize a loose cartel of East Coast bootleggers, the Big Seven, in which a number of prominent gangsters, including Lucky Luciano, Longy Zwillman, Joe Adonis, Frank Costello, and Meyer Lansky played a part. Torrio also supported creation of a national body that would prevent the sort of all-out turf wars between gangs that had broken out in Chicago and New York. His idea was well received, and a conference was hosted in Atlantic City by Torrio, Lansky, Luciano and Costello in May 1929; the National Crime Syndicate was created.

Torrio was charged with income tax evasion in 1936, and after several failed appeals, Torrio was sent to prison in 1939, serving two years. In 1940, property that Torrio co-owned with Vanella, Jack Cusick and Capone was sold at auction to satisfy Capone's tax delinquencies. After his release, he lived quietly until his death.

On April 16, 1957, Torrio had a heart attack in Brooklyn while he was sitting in a barber's chair waiting for a haircut; he died several hours later in a nearby hospital.

The media did not learn about his death until three weeks after his burial.

John Torrio in 1930.

(January 20, 1882 – April 16, 1957)

[samkat10423]

A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.

A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A snail can sleep for three years.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six  inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left  (palindromes).

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."

There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.

 Now you all know everything, but still not as much as ME! And you’re all welcome.

[sohannabarberaesque]

Moth Mondays with the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera

Hokey Wolf “himself”

In winding up this “Sharing the Dive” theme of imagining the members of Peter Potamus’ Travelling SCUBA Par-tay relating stories in the stylee of The Moth on Peter Potamus’ having the Par-tay’s members encourage othes to take a look at diving as a leisure activity by way of acting as instructors, we have none other than Hokey Wolf relating his own approach to get others to Discover Diving.

“Here’s Hokey Wolf, live at The Moth ...”

So I’m often mistaken for a certain Sargeant Ernest Bilko, they say--right down to the vocals suggesting a certain charm offensive! Even if the charm for the sake of this trope is one of “Sharing the Dive,” as per the mantra of my diving group’s leader, a certain Peter Potamus; I suppose you enjoy those dive films of our company from time to time! But in my own case, as well as that of my compadre, Ding-a-Ling--otherwise known as “Ding” for sake of convenience--my “Sharing the Dive” call came by way of a dive boat at anchor off the Florida Keys close to a number of legendary Spanish treasure wrecks off the same, many of which went down in hurricane.

And though it’s well known that several of the wrecks’ treasures may have been recovered, it may easily be possible to find some stray Spanish treasure yet to be plundered--or is “plundered” the approriate word here? At any rate, I was invited to “share the dive” on this particular dive boat aimed at a few novices as were just starting to get their feet wet and their fins conditioned, so to speak--many of them close to high-school age and probably of the notion that I was somehow “square” to begin with, even to the point of laughing as I made myself known on deck!

“So let me introduce myself!” proclaimed I. “My name is Hokey Wolf, and this is my buddy, Ding-a-Ling!” To which Ding replied, inevitably, “Hokey is MY HERO! And do I loooooooove diving as much as Hokey!” And after asking Ding to step aside and let me finish, I explained my mission: “We are going to find some serious booty and discovery in our diving sessions here from this vessel ... and there can be no doubt that this particular vessel we’re about to dive into the wrack and ruin thereof could hold some serious treasure as may lie yet undiscovered!” (And so on and so on for several minutes, after which I opened the deck to questions.)

“How do we know there won’t be mermaids guarding the treasure?” one of the young divers asked. To which I responded, “Wherever did you get THAT idea, Weeki Wachee Springs?” (Laughter) “I can assure you, fellow budding divers, that there will be NO MERMAIDS encountered, and besides, even Scooby-Doo knows that for a fact, having had some experience with monsters, ghosts and other phantasmagoriae!”

Getting our gear on was certainly a game, what with many such just learning the diving experience in general and treasure wreck diving specifically ... and take it from an old pro like moi, you can never guess what could be discovered!

And what was discovered from that particular wreck, which was down in some 30 feet of water, was not so much about treasure as rotted and rotting wood from some 300 years’ submergence, piles of coral as built up over the years, a general dread of “what might happen next” among the divers I was in charge of--and, inevitably, the (imagined) prospect of mermaids jealously guarding wreck treasure. Only it was closer to some cousins of Jabberjaw as were more than likely posturing their threatening stance to the treasure chambers, where the chests were supposedly stored.

Even if I had Ding shining a light on the coral-encrusted hasp of one treasure chest, mindful of the prospect of the upper decks collapsing at any moment, we must have seemed anxious as to what that wreck’s treasure might hold ... which, after some ingenuous scraping off the padlock and using one of my claws to open the somewhat dated and coral-choked padlock, was opened to reveal--well, let’s just say that Al Capone’s Vault had nothing on what was revealed to be the ur-treasure, which was probably some low-value base-metal coinage, as would be assessed thus by a Key West coin dealer not long after.

Such was barely enough to fill about three poke sacks, in all honesty, and was quickly realised as it became evident that we needed to take our rest before going into serious surfacing. Yet when we went back on the vessel, our fellow divers couldn’t believe such cheap-looking coin was the “treasure” we ran into ... and to imagine some poseur sharks who were cousins of Jabberjaw “guarding” that “treasure”!

“Geez, Hokey,” Ding remarked, “what made you think treasure of substantial glory would ensue from that wreck?”

I answered rather smartly, “Ding, my boy, you can’t always get what you want, to borrow from The Rolling Stones there!”

Which had the campers, in a way, laughing. Thanks ....

“... and that’s the story from The Moth”

(The preceding is an independent fanfic feature having no official connexion or association with The Moth. For more information, please to visit their website ... and tune in to The Moth Radio Hour weekends on your local public radio station; check your local radio listings for the day and time.)

@warnerarchive @hanna-barbera-land @warnerbrosentertainment @cottoncandy-wannabe @dinobirdy @screamingtoosoftly @joey-gatorman @hanna-barberians @hanna-barbera-blog @themineralyoucrave @jg376 @wherearethememesonmyplate

[depplovers]

On Alcatraz Via @mattsorum • • • • • • #fbf On Alcatraz Island when on tour W Hollywood Vampires , Went to see Whitey Bulger’s cell that #JohnnyDepp played brilliantly in the film Black Mass Al Capone and many other criminals were housed there. Only 3 men ever escaped the island but they never did find them and were possibly eaten by the massive Great White Sharks in San Fransisco bay photo by @cerealkyler https://www.instagram.com/p/B1jfkTIAxo3/?igshid=1qtun2twybyyb

[tumsozluk]

Student loan forgiveness debate rarely includes college guilt

Student loan forgiveness debate rarely includes college guilt

Cynthia Stead | Journalist When Elliot Ness raided contraband establishments, did Al Capone keep the money? If we’re going to “forgive” college loan debt, can schools keep all the money they’ve raised through loan sharking? The arguments haven’t mentioned colleges at all so far. There is a great debate about the economics and ethics of erase student debt which was contracted freely by…