"It's almost time, Ted."
Speaking was one of Ted's trusted confidants, the Perez family was like all other gangs, from the bottom rung, to the Battle Captain, to the Officer.
But here, above the Officer, there are two more classes: collateral family members and immediate family members.
An ordinary person, an "outsider" not bearing the Perez surname, their final destination is that of a collateral family member.
They need to marry a girl from the Perez family and become part of the family; only then can they move up another level.
As for wanting to become immediate family?
For them, it's unattainable, but their children have a chance, if they're willing to let their children bear the Perez surname, then their children might, with years of effort, they or their children might just become immediate family members.
Becoming an immediate family member doesn't necessarily mean being glamorous or powerful; everything must be earned through personal effort.
