It was reaching mid day at L.P Check Cashing, the street collections were flowing into the building one after another dropping their bags and suitcases full of cash for the Don Luis when Sonny realized, one man was missing again..  Lipiton.... Sonny quickly picked up the phone on the desk and dialed over to his residence, reaching only the voicemail each time.. he slammed the phone down on the receiver before yelling out 'FUCK!' loudly, startling the other men in the room

"Has anybody seen Lipiton? The guy is late on his payments..." Sonny said as he picked up the phone again and started dialing out

"Boss, I don't think he came buy with payments last week either..." Vito Rigazzo said with a low voice

"HE"S BEHIND ON PAYMENTS? WHERE IS THE GUY??" Sonny exclaimed slamming the phone down again

"Nobody has seen him, or anyone from his crew.." Vito replied

"Fuck... Luis is going to have my ass if we don't collect those payments.. Go down to his house and check on him will ya? Take Mike with you.. he can kick in the door if you need..." Sonny said angrily as he lit up a cigarette and exhaled a large cloud of smoke and glaring at Vito

"WELL, what the fuck are you waiting for? SCRAM!" 

Vito quickly gathered himself and motioned for Mike to follow behind him.. The two men quickly left the establishment and made their way down the block.. Lipiton's house wasn't too far from the office and they soon arrived at the front door where they began knocking furiously, there was no answer at the door so Mike kicked it in and they searched the place.. Everything was neat and tidy, and no clothes were missing... Oddly the radio was left on in the kitchen and there was a half drank beer on the counter, quite warm and stale but the countertops were gathering dust..

"Looks like he's not here... where the fuck did he go... Mexico??" Vito said sarcastically

"I don't know... but he's got a fridge full of beer!" Mike said excitedly as he took one and cracked it open

"Yea sure Mike.. just make yourself at fucking home.." Vito said shaking his head as Mike plopped himself down on the couch and kicked his feet up

"Well, you said it.. guy probably went to Mexico... why waste good beer.." he replied with a belch

"Your an idiot you know that? Guy is probably just out doing shit.." Vito said with a sigh

"Best get back and report to the boss, he's going to have to pass this up to Luis..."

The two men nodded at each other before leaving the house and quickly heading back to L.P Check Cashing to report to Sonny... By the time they had arrived, they noticed Luis' cadillac parked out front.. They quickly entered the building and made their way to the back where they found Luis sitting at the head of the desk, with Joe Delorenzi next to him..

"Where the fuck have you two been?" Sonny said turning his head to them as they walked into the back room.. he quickly stood up and approached them.. smelling the liquor on Mike's breath

"Have you been drinking?" Sonny said angrily before smacking him upside the head

"I told you no getting boozed on the job.. you fucking numbnuts.. Did you atleast find Lipiton?"

"No boss.. his place was empty.. I mean.. furniture was still there but no sign of the guy, dust was gathering on the countertops..." Vito said as he stepped forward and brushed Mike back

"Fuck!!" Sonny exclaimed before turning back to Luis who look displeased

"The guy was here when you left for New York boss.. I don't know what happened.." Sonny said with a low tone..

"You fucked up Sonny! The first week he didn't drop off his envelope you should have knew something was up..." Luis said standing up yelling at him

"Now I gotta send Joe to go pickup all his rounds, because you were an incompetent boss..." he said as he snatched his pack of smokes off the desk and stuck one in his mouth

"Sorry boss...." Sonny said holding out a lighter and lighting up the cigarette hanging from his boss' mouth

"Just find a new replacement... Until I can figure out what the fuck is going on..." Luis said exhaling a large cloud of smoke and making his way out the door..

Sonny took his seat at the head of the desk again and sat down, blurting out FUCK! at the top of his lungs.. He quickly picked up the phone on his desk and began calling around...

A few days later, Luis returned to L.P Check Cashing to meet with Sonny about a new street captain, after the disappearance of Lipiton.. Radha quickly moved to open the door for her former boss before smiling at him and leading him to the back, where Sonny was pouring himself a drink..

"Morning Boss.." he said as he quickly stood up and embraced Luis with a hug

"Still no sign of that fucking guy.. it's been weeks, nobody has seen him.. even before you left for New York.." 

Luis shook his head before sitting down and lighting up a cigarette

"Nothing to do now but move on, make sure his family is taken care of in his absence.." Luis said exhaling a large cloud of cigarette smoke

"But down to business, you have anybody in mind to take over his collections?"

"I think that should be your call boss, I don't have anybody that comes to mind..." Sonny said with a sigh as he poured a drink now for his boss and pushed it across the desk to him

"How about that guy, Franky, he's been a solid earner for months now.. I think he's due for a bump up in the ladder.." Luis said taking a drag off his cigarette

"Franky!?! Don't you think one of the other guys deserve the promotion more boss? Kid hasn't even been around that long.. some people might get upset with that decision.." Sonny exclaimed

"Like who.. you Sonny?" Luis said exhaling his cigarette smoke and leaning forward in his seat

"No boss, happy where I am.. but you know how these things go.. people get jealous.." 

"You don't worry about that, it's all taken care of.." Luis said with a grin before taking his shot and slamming the glass down on the desk

"Franky it is then.."

Luis stood up and motioned for Joe Delorenzi to get the door as he turned to walk out the room...

"I'll be back on Wednesday for collections Sonny, all the cash better be there this week.." Luis barked at him as he put his coat on

"You got it boss, It'll all be there.. including the points you charged me for being late on the missed collections from Lipiton..." Sonny scoffed

"Good... See to it that all the Captains, including our newest addition pay on time from here on out.. or perhaps I'll have to get my daughter Valencia in here to run things..." 

Luis tipped his hat before leaving the room, Joe stopped and smirked at Sonny before quickly pulling the door shut behind him.. Sonny waited a few seconds before abruptly standing up and throwing the contents on the top of his desk aside to the floor in a rage.. he quickly paced back and forth before yelling FUCK!!.. He knew he was in deep shit, Luis' daughter was going to come in here and take over?? He pretty much just heard his death sentence...

Following the departure of Luis, and with Joe Delorenzi in charge.. Sonny was left to fend for himself.. Never had he felt so far on the outside of Luis circle than now.. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but in this life, you can get wacked over the smallest of things... He knew now was the time to recruit some more mend under him.. Quickly picking up the phone off his desk, he dialed his RHM, Mike "The Bat" Lebowski and ordered him to bring in some fresh faces...

"See you in a hour Mike, and bring a piece.. I've got a job for you." Sonny slammed the phone down on the ringer before pulling a bottle of scotch from his desk and poured himself a shot...

"Ahhh" he said with a relief as he slammed the shot back down on the table.. the phone on his desk abruptly rung and startled him..

"L.P Check Cashing, this is Sonny..." he said coughing as he picked up the phone

"Sonny, it's Joe. Did you take care of that thing we talked about this morning?" Joe said angrily

"I've got Mike taking care of it Skip, no worries.. I'll make sure it get's done.." 

"You better pull through on this.. The Don is counting on it..."

Before Sonny could reply, Joe had already hung up.. He slammed the phone down on the receiver and poured another shot in anger, quickly taking it and slamming it down on the desk so hard it knocked over the bottle...

"Motherfucker!" he exclaimed as he fiddled with the bottle turnt over on his desk before it rolled off and shattered on the floor, Radha had walked in at that moment

"Oh! Mr. Strazzi! Let me get that for you.." she said running over and starting to clean up the mess

"You are under alot of stress lately sir, you should take a vacation!" she said cheerfully with a smile at him

"I'm gonna be taking a LONG vacation if I don't get this job done for Luis..." he muttered under his breath

"What you say!?!?!" she said loudly at him as she continued cleaning

"Nothing.. Thanks for cleaning that.. I'm going to take a walk down to the corner store and get another bottle and pack of cigarettes.. you need something.." he said as he stood up and put his suit jacket on

"No, I bring my own lunch today!" 

He grinned at her and handed her a crisp 100$ bill before walking out the building and down the street to the liquor store on the corner...

Sonny entered the store, followed by his lone bodyguard, Andolini Madrazzo, he quickly approached the counter after another customer finished paying and took his bag of goods and left...

"Let me get a pack of smokes.. uh.. Camels.. and a handle of what whiskey?" he said glancing at Andy standing behind him as he started to count his money

"Do you have ID sir.." the clerk replied, not moving an inch

"ID.. What kind of bullshit is this.. just give me the fucking shit come on hurry up..." Sonny said angrily as he slammed 200$ down on the counter

"Sorry sir, I can't sell you that without an ID.. store policy..." the man said pointing at the sign behind him, it looked like it had just been put up..

"Do you hear this fucking guy?" Sonny said glancing back at Andy who shrugged

Sonny pulled out his pistol and shot it upwards into the ceiling, sending the clerk into shock as some drywall dust fell from the ceiling..

"Let me show you my policy my friend..." Sonny said angrily pointing the gun at the clerks face who was now in fear for his life

"IM SORRY SIR I'M NEW HERE..." he said sobbing as Sonny continued to point the gun in his face

"Smokes, and a bottle of fucking whiskey... hurry the FUCK UP!" he yelled at the shaking clerk who started to grab his things and throw them in a bag

"Oh and, give me a pack of gum too...." Andy said throwing a pack on the counter

"Sure......." the man snagged it off the counter and threw it in the bag and handed it to Sonny

"Thanks, and next time.. remember my fucking face... because ID doesn't fly with me...." he said snagging the money off the counter and kicking the front door open

Sonny stuck the gun in his back waistband and motioned for Andy to follow him back to L.P Check Cashing.. People who were standing outside watching, seemingly went back to their business like nothing had ever happened.. leaving the store clerk to stand there in a puddle of his own piss...

Sonny and his bodyguard, seamlessly strolled down the block back towards L.P Check Cashing in the midst of discussion, the sound of gunfire and the barrage of bullets was upon them, dropping the bottle of whiskey, Sonny ran for cover behind a nearby car while Andolini stood his ground and pulled a pistol from his suit coat and opened fire on the car driving by. He was clipped in the shoulder, but remained standing and fired off his gun until his clip was empty and the car fleeing the scene.. He quickly ran over to his boss who was hiding behind the nearby car and took cover alongside him...

"That looked like some boys from Seattle boss..." he said glancing over the car has he gripped his shoulder

"Fucker got a lucky shot...."

"Shit, I hope this doesn't mean what I think it means..." Sonny said with a sigh

"Lets get the fuck out of here Andy before they come back.. I need to get on the horn with Joe and see what the fuck is going on..."

The two of them took another look over the cars before they ran 3 blocks as fast as they could and ran inside L.P Check Cashing.. Mike had just returned with some associates and was waiting for them in the office..

"Sonny, Andy..." he said as he nodded at them and noticed Andy was bleeding

"What the fuck happened to you?"

Sonny looked up and glared at Mike who immediately knew to shut up as his boss picked up the phone on the desk and dialed out.. A few rings went by and Joe Delorenzi picked up

"Joe it's Sonny... Me and Andy just got shot at by-" Sonny stopped talking and starting listening as he poured himself a drink and took a shot

"I fucking knew it... Does Luis know?!?!" he said as he began pacing back and forth

"HE"S FLYING BACK IN? I thought he's got that murder beef going on-" Sonny said as he stopped pacing and sat down in his chair

"Constance... is dead??" Sonny shook his head and poured another drink

"You got it boss.. we will shelter here until Luis returns..." 

Sonny gently hung up the phone and let out a huge sigh before taking another shot and slamming it down on the table

"Well, looks like a shitstorm is surrounding us boys.. Orders are to buckle down and protect the business..." he stood up and walked over to the cabinet and unlocked it, flinging open the doors

"Everyone grab a gun and a window.. war is upon us..."