Scenes From a Group of Wannabes

From an early age Notch knew what he wanted in life; money and power, contacts in high places, fear and respect, and above all, loyalty from those closest to him. He was shrewd, he knew his way around the ring and the streets, and he knew just how to use his talents to get what he wanted. By his early twenties he had put together The Group, eight men including him. In just a few years they controlled a sizeable but insignificant area on the outskirts of London; they were the local untouchables, lawmakers, judges and jury, landlords, they were the kings of their turf. Despite their relative success though, Notch thought that The Group would sooner or later have to move up the criminal underworld or otherwise be pushed out by a more powerful firm. That thought, coupled with a lack of recent excitement, prompted a life changing decision from Notch, a decision that would answer the question: are they real gangsters or are they just wannabes?