[ WP ] You are starting to realise that yhe friends that you hang around with might be a part of mafia gang and that you might be the boss .

It was the usual day for me, hanging with the ratpack. We were up at my lodge in Nevada, discussing all manner of things, from new music to gambling law, and how to finance our performances. Eventually my God Papa showed up, and tailing him were Bug, Lucky, and Sam. I noticed some of my more musical pals faces quickly display disgust and maybe even fear, but they hurriedly replaced it with a waxy facsimile of a smile, their lips thin, but drawn to broadly, so they looked like grimacing reptiles. I don ’ t think my William, my grandpops, even noticed them. They all crashed down next to me on armchairs. A palpable, awkward staleness had entered the room. 
 
 Willie broke the silence “ How ’ s tricks Franky? ” 
 
 “ Fine, just rehearsing and writing some, I think- ”, but he interjected, “ hey, that ’ s great! ”, with a smile that showed off his many, gleaming teeth. I think a lot of people were put off by Willie, they thought he was a menace. But I ’ d known him all my life, he was sweet guy. Immigrant, hard working, just like my parents had been. Wouldn ’ t hurt a fly. 
 I felt a need to play host and said, “ So Sammy, want to hit the green today? ” 
 
 Sam ’ s riposte “ not today, Frank. We got ta take care of business first. ” 
 
 “ Oh, alright, well then you won ’ t be here for long? ” I asked detachedly, wanting to return to my music. They exchanged knowing glances, and Willie said, “ Well i think we can handle it all up here. I mean, hell you ’ ve become quite a mogul, haven ’ t you? 
 “ Yeah, I suppose I have, you guys know how it is. Once you ’ ve lived the life of luxury, you can ’ t return to poverty. You just can ’ t. ” I supplied. 
 
 At that, they all grinned, laughing and nodding in agreement. But somehow I felt discluded, as if my sentence was only the Set-up, and they were laughing at a punchline only they knew. Then, they started asking me questions, how did I run this place, what was I gon na do in the future to expand, how did I keep my finances out of the way of those greasy pigs. Immigrants and cops are like water and oil. Actually, more like lit fuses and dynamite. Hey, that sounds good, I should write a song about that. I basically explained to them how to run efficient casinos. All very boring, when compared to the ensconcement that music had on me. 
 “ Well, it ’ s getting late, we shouldn ’ t take up any more of your time Franky, ” Lucky proffered hours later. “ We will be back soon, for now this sounds like a plan, boss. ” 
 With that, they stood up and departed, as quickly and as confusingly as they had arrived. Leaving me alone, pondering the strange conversation, especially the last sentence. Why had he called me boss? 
 In the days to come, we would have many more conversations like that one. They were all vaguely business related, I supposed. On one such day, they came to me, out of breath, blustering about this and that. “ We got problems Frank, and big ones. What do you do if someone is threatening your livelihood? ” 
 They looked at me expectantly, like overgrown children who had made a mistake, pissed off a bully, and wanted daddy ’ s protection. “ Well, come on, guys. You got ta protect what you ’ ve rightfully earned. You worked long and hard for what you got. Protect it. By. Any. Means. Necessary. Right? ” I replied, my brow furrowed with worry. I mean, these guys were like my brothers. Hell, Willie was my Godfather. 
 
 The next day, I was reading the Times, enjoying my coffee and my Camel ’ s. I flipped a page. My heart froze, my cig fell from my mouth, right into my coffee. Bugsy had been indicted in a murder, against an FBI agent. What the hell were they doing? I rang for Willie. He wasn ’ t in. I waited, nervous all day, chain smoking cigarettes and drinking Jack Daniels to calm my nerves. When the phone finally rang, I picked it up after just one chime. 
 
 
 “ Willie? ” I asked agitated. 
 
 “ I know, boss, this looks messy, but don ’ t worry. He ’ s no rat, like you, haha. ” Said Willie. 
 
 “ Why do you guys always call me boss? What the hell was Bugsy doing killing a law enforcement officer? ” I was confused, and my confusion made me angry. I was also afraid. But that wasn ’ t from my confusion. No, that was from my conclusion. I just needed it confirmed. 
 
 “ Don ’ t worry, There's no way it ’ ll ever be traced back to you, you're safe. You expertly navigated us through these waters, I am sure you will continue to lead us with all the same aplomb and grace. Don. ” He said that last word carefully, knowing the full weight its impact would have. 
 
 “ I ’ ve got ta go Franky. I ’ ll be in touch once this has all died down, and we can get back to business. ” Then the line went dead, and I was alone, in my lodge, stuck with the knowledge that I was part of the Genovese crime family. Not a true leader, with control of his destiny. No, just someone with skills, who could be used like a tool, a pawn to the bigger fish. I just happened to know the moves to keep us one step ahead. And now, I had no choice. My ass was on the line, if they caught us, I would be going down for a long time. That wasn ’ t even an option. As I finished my second, or fifth glass of whiskey, I contemplated the fact that the brains of an organized crime family had probably never had as little power within that family as I did. But i was culpable, all the same. How did this happen? I only ever wanted to sing, and spread love through musical ability. But my investment ’ s versatility held me under a guillotine. I wondered how long until the Italian immigrant communities that I had wanted to support who were now being extorted, the oppressed Blacks that I wanted to help, and especially the Jews who so many held prejudices against, who were now being robbed blind by my own mafia, would take to turn on me, and see me as the villain, not the immigrant who rose above, despite challenges. A man who couldn ’ t make it legally, and needed to steal from others to make it. A deep, melancholic ennui swept over me, as I poured myself another glass of that amber poison.
