Prohibition had hit America and New York City hard but it was soon figured out that the United states could only enforce laws that were being broken in their boarders or inside of the international waters or the imaginary line, three miles off shore.  Soon there were ships stocked with liquor forming a line just outside of the US boundary.  Rum from the islands, whiskey from Canada and other liquors were just waiting for the daring people that would risk breaking the law to pick up the booze and deliver them to shore.<br/><br/>The ones that failed could lose their boats and spend a long time in jail.  Those that were successful could make close to quarter million dollars a year when the average man out on the water trying to catch them was making less than $2000 a year.  The Coast Guard boats trying to catch them could make chase at close to 12 knots but those that knew how to build the right boat could easily outrun the law.<br/><br/>Walking out of the boat house and into his office, Tony was thinking about the boat.  He was the son and grandson of ship builders but he didn’t carry on the family tradition beyond the boats he built for himself.  Tony had a few of them that were tied up around the island of Manhattan.  Some were in the open, some in boat houses.  The one he had just finished had two V-12 motors that could push his fully loaded boat at close to twenty knots.<br/><br/>He slipped in behind his desk to check on his inventory and heard a knock at the door.  His hand went for the gun in the drawer until he saw Dominick’s head poke around the door.  Dominick worked for Lucky and placed orders for his boss and the clubs that he owned.  Dom smile when he saw Tony and said hello as he settled into the chair across from him.<br/><br/>“What can I do for you Dom?”<br/><br/>“Lucky wanted me to talk to you about working exclusively for us.  He doesn’t like the competition.”<br/><br/>“We’ve talked about this before.  I don’t work for anyone except the men on the greenbacks.  If I only work for you then the Irish or another family could hurt you by hurting me.  I always take care of you and you get priority but if I take a bullet then everyone is going to suffer.  Let’s talk about better things like the Champagne I just got in from France or some of those new girls over at the club on 23rd Street.”<br/><br/>“A couple of those are fine and Lucky would enjoy some of that fancy stuff for his girls.”<br/><br/>“I will send over a case on me.  I don’t want any hard feelings.  I need to protect myself.  My relationships with many of the families has also allowed me to smooth over some rough spots like that thing with your cousin, Lou last year.”<br/><br/>“I told Lucky that you would say just what you did but he hates to see others make money that could be his.”<br/><br/>“I’m a lover not a fighter but if you take over their clubs I will sell you what they are buying from me.  Speaking of, “Love” how is your sister?”<br/><br/>“One day you are going to say that to the wrong guy.  She is getting married to Carmine’s son.  It will help the family relations and she knows how the game is played.  I’ll tell her you asked about her.”<br/><br/>“Please do.  Tell me which club Lucky will be out tonight and after I make a couple runs, I will stop by and deliver the chilled Champagne personally.”<br/><br/>“I’ll let you know after I talk to him.”<br/><br/>“Thanks Dom.  Did you want to place an order while you were here?  I have all the usual in stock and the Champagne, some Irish whiskey but they seem to be buying it almost as fast as I get it in.  There’s also a few new ships.  One had some Tequila and another had some vodka from Poland or some place.  I can also get some rot gut out of North Carolina and apple wine out of Maine.”<br/><br/>“Send over the usual orders with and extra case of the vodka and tequila for all the clubs and three cases of the Champagne to each of the clubs uptown.”<br/><br/>As Tony wrote down the order in his special code, Dom rose and tossed a goodbye over his shoulder.  They were friends and both made the other a lot of money.