Joe sat in the back of the unforgiving taxi, he had not gotten used to this. The unforgiving cold weather of Detroit, it was a nice relaxing sensation that he wanted and needed in the new world that he found himself in. He wanted to be more than this; He wanted to be more than the brother of a mobster. He wanted to be more than the uncle of a mobster, he wanted to be a businessman. Was this his destined fate? Was he meant to be another one of his family that had the family life? Maybe, he did not like that fate for himself. 

"Aye man, where we going?"

The taxi driver had asked him, turning around his seat as he eyed the man in the expensive suit, people who looked that usually worked for the F.B.I or worse. He did not need any trouble and so, he quickly diverted his eyes to the back of the taxi window, watching as people crossed the streets and never noticing his nervous eyes as a bead of sweat ran down his forehead. 

"City Hall, you can take some time if needed, I am in no rush."

Joe eyed the driver, he could see the noticeable fear in his eyes as he tried to not look into his eyes; he did not want anything to do with him. Joe did not know what to do and he simply reached into his inner coat pocket, in his hand was a silver case of smokes, a personal favorite of his as he took a single cigarette out and placed it between his lips. 

"S-Sir, there is no smok-"

Joe lifted tilted his head to the side, wondering how this man was going to finish now. He could see that he cut himself off before he said too much and it would be too much, then too late before a fist was in his face and he was in the seat, begging for mercy. He knew there were some benefits to being seen this way, yet he did not want the driver to look at him as if he was a murderer. He was more than that. 

The driver did not say anything else on the matter as he heard the matchstick catch light, all too soon the car filled with the cancerous smoke as if Joe himself could not get enough of the smoke, as if it was a whore and he was the simple common man thirsting for more of her divine beauty. 

"Eh, my apologies, I'll roll down the windows if that helps. I do mean to pollute your car with such a smell."

Joe had in fact done just that, rolling down the windows, making sure that nothing was out of the ordinary for the driver. He knew others would have taken certain liberties, knowing that their reputation was a feared one. He leaned back into the seat as the driver made his way to City Hall, finally bringing about their journey. 

As Joe smoked, he could hear the honking of cars, people going about their daily lives. He wondered what it was like to be one of them, to live life like them. He did not imagine that it was all that hard, maybe it was and maybe it was not. He could see the struggle in their eyes, the way they craved for more in the fashion that they wanted, yet it was denied by the people above them. People in much higher positions that had the ways to make a change for them, yet it was continually taken away.

He noticed that some of them eyed the taxi with clear disdain, yet it was not towards him or his smoking habits, it was towards the driver himself. He wondered if the driver had a history with these common people, only he did give them a second thought as he continued his drive towards City Hall. It was clear to Joe that the driver had gotten used to this, it did not make him uneasy and that spoke of someone who had a tolerance for this type of business. 

"You know, you can avoid their looks all you want. It does not change anything. They believe you are better than them, yet I have a feeling that you have suffered just as much like them to get where you are today. It does not change you, I can see it. You're an honest man, most likely providing for your family. Is that correct?"

The driver looked in his rear-view mirror before nodding his head with a wary look in his eyes before focusing on the road again. Joe had hummed in the back before turning his head to gaze at the less privileged Italian neighborhood, they looked back at him with small smiles before he let a sigh escape him. 

"You are doing what you believe is right my friend, you should not let others get the better of you for providing and protecting your family. In this life, family comes first, even in the face of grave danger. I will always protect my family."

Not even noticing that he was talking to himself, the driver had nodded in the belief that Joe was talking the truth. He found himself agreeing with the businessman or mobster, he did not know his profession and it seemed to be in the middle. He had seen the young man leaving the offices of Kenny Russo, a boss in the Corktown Famillies. 

"What about these people, what should I do about them?"

Laughter was all that the driver heard come from Joe, it was clear that he thought he was being mocked. What was this man's game? What did he want from these questions? He got his answer soon enough as Joe had sobered up and looked at him with a solid steel stare. 

"You forget them, these people are not worth your time or the reason you do what you do my friend. I believe that you should forget these stubborn fools and do what is best for you, if you stick with that, you'll be alright."

Joe never noticed that the driver had nodded in thanks, instead, he chose to look out the window, never once looking at the Italian population who stared back at him. He could see they were a hopeful sort, for what? He could only wish to see soon enough.

The taxi had arrived outside City Hall, people of high society walked in and out like they owned the walkway. He could only smile for a while before he looked back at the driver with a lazy smile, he could see that he was a bit tired or maybe out of it was the better wording. He gave the driver a fifty for his trouble, he had to make sure that the man was paid well for his service. He had a mischievous thought before he leaned forward, Joe made sure that the driver could him clearly. 

"After I enter here, I don't want you to drive off or even get another customer. Wait a few moments, if you do, I shall pay you more than ever before. Understood?"

The driver nodded, wondering what this man wanted with him and he could feel within his bones that it was nothing good. If someone like him was desired by one of these heathens, it was going to be nothing good. Still, something told him that he should wait and see what the man had in store for him. It would be something important, otherwise, he would not have been told to wait. 

"Good man, I will but a moment. Here begins a new journey, you should feel a bit privileged friend, you are witnessing history in the making."

Joe stepped out of the car, his eyes roaming the building that was City Hall, he knew that the politician that was a friend of Kenny Russo's awaited him inside. Whether he knew that he was coming or not was not the business of Joseph, his plans were made clear to Russo. This fool would have to bend or break and he would make sure that it would be the latter. 

He made his ways up the steps as if he were making a trek up a mountain, his eyes narrowed before continuing on his way. He found that many of the high society had eyed with disdain, clearly, they thought that he was above his station and should be nowhere near such a place of refined honor. He would have laughed if the situation was not so dire. This bastard would have to bend. 

"Excuse me, sir, what business do you have here? Benjamin Renard is not seeing anyone else, he is rather busy."

He smirked at the guard before leaning forward, knowing that his words would do the best of frightening the shit stain before him, if this man was going to be in his way and try his best in stopping him, he would need to shore up his defenses. He would be nothing more than a foolish man who stood there in a suit when he truly belonged back with his mother. 

"I am here to see the friend of a Mr. Kenny Russo, I do believe that it would be in his best situation to come and greet me. Should you allow it, if not, I will come back and it will not be alone."

Joe allowed the threat to hang in the air before he was allowed into the building and he was guided towards the office of this Benjamin Renard, the very man that held the fate of his legitimate businesses in the palm of his hands.

He entered the office and watched as a woman left the private chamber office, it seemed that this place was a den of corruption, yet Joe had no problem. If it did not sully his business with the bastard politician, he would be sure to play some much-needed ball with the man. 

"Mr. Renard, I do believe that we have to discuss."

"Discuss what? I do not know you or know why you are here, Mr?"

Joe chuckled bitterly - completely uninterested in the man's need to know about him - instead, he sat down in a cool leather brown chair. It seemed that this man had great taste after all, then again, he was doing business with the likes of Kenny Russo. He wondered if this politician worked with Uncle Joe also, either way, it was none of his business. 

"You have no need to know of my name, I'm a simple business associate of Kenny Russo. I do believe you know him, I've no need of trouble if that is what you think I am after"

Renard watched the young man before him, while he did not like doing business with the type of crowd that this man obviously associated with. They brought in good money and press in general, sometimes. He was open to what this man wanted to open and would at least hear him out, he was not a man that could not see the benefits that these people possessed at the tip of their fingers. 

"Very well, sir, what is it you came here to discuss with me? It must be some kind of business that requires my stamp of approval, does it not?"

Joe nodded, finding no need to lie to the man that would be his door into the businesses of Detroit. He leaned forward, taking a bottle of the bourbon and a spare glass that was unused as he poured himself a nice glass. He eyed the politician as he did so, he did find that the man's eyebrow had twitched ever so slightly, clearly, he was not all that happy with sharing some alcohol with him. He would keep that to a minimum if needed. 

"It does, I am looking to open a Casino as some of my associates have pointed out, my brother had the same idea, only he did not come to you for approval and that is something I found a bit disrespectful on his part. I am not my brother and will never be. I am here to ask for a permit in building a Casino, a mutual friend of ours, Kenny Russo."

Renard and his eyes widened before realizing that this man knew of his arrangement with Mr. Russo, it would be the only reason to mention him in such a manner. He knew where this would be going, only this man seemed to be going legit and not doing anything illegal with the Casino, something that he wholly endorsed if it was needed. 

"Ah, that is what you came here for, Mr. Pavanno. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, even if you did not wish for me to know your name. I see that you are following in your brother's footsteps, opening a casino. Only you did it differently and came to me, you are asking for my go ahead and I can respect that. I will grant you the permit. In return, you must do a job for me."

As Renard leaned forward, whispering in Joe's ears, his hand had gripped his glass with such anger that he was sure it would be broken if he put any more force onto it that the glass would shatter within his hands.

"Understood, it will be done."

Joe stood up, rushing out of City Hall as fast as his feet could take him. He did not want to spend another moment with that bastard of a man, he was clearly using him and now he knew why, if this failed, he was sure that he would be in prison for the rest of his life. If it didn't, his dream would come true. 

He had made it outside, entering the taxi once again before noticing how the taxi driver looked at him with a little pity as if he knew what had happened. 

"To Russo's Bar and step on it, I am in no mood for pleasant conversation anymore, these fucking politicians and their games."

Joe was not going to tell anybody what he was tasked to do, this would be his job and his alone. He would have to kill a Police Chief, he would have to make it look like an accident or a gangland assassination, either way, the heat would be huge on this, all because this chief was looking into the corrupt politician.

No rest for the wicked and the good times aren't rolling yet...