A Week Later.

It had been a while but Gio had returned to New York and the underworld had been whispering about possible allegiances . The Lombardi's and Vegas, people never did anything better and this is the way it had to happen. How it always worked.

Paulie had spoken with the bosses, things were set and they were willing to open a few lines. It would be one of the biggest deals that happened in Vegas for a while, this was just the beginning, Vincent was ready and willing to assist, yet he never got assigned shit. He was passed over for this run. 

The associate sat in his apartment, drinking a cola and wondering what the fuck he had done to get benched by his capo. He had brought the idea up, no one had brought him on jobs either. It had been a week, nothing came down the pipeline and eventually, he knew that nothing would be coming to him. 

"Look at ya, like a hooker who can't even get laid in a men's prison...."

The odd sense of humor of his Irish companion never left though, she was having a blast. Not working for a while was something that had given her much needed family time, her siblings had often wondered what she did for work. Telling them that she was an associate in the Vegas underworld was not something that registered as quality family bonding time. 

"Fuck off Val, Paulie benched us, like what the fuck!? We negotiated this deal on behalf of the Syndicate! We should at least be ready to get on board with this but no, we were never fucking ready and this is how we were repaid. Benched, it really fucks us over but eh...I can think of something else that could help us."

Val knew that things like this always made Vin antsy, he wanted the good shit and never wished to be held back or kept away from the real shit because of how people viewed him. He would make sure they saw how valuable he could be, though where this would be was another matter entirely. 

The look in his eyes was somewhat bringing her to the conclusion that he was determined to make sure that he was valued. Though how he went about that remained to be seen, Vincent had many plans in the past and they never always worked. It had often led her to keeping him out of trouble, though they were no longer teens and he had smartened up, somewhat. 

"Oh do tell, don't leave me of all people out in the dark, Vinny-Poo. I need to be sure that I can protect you oh so much."

Raising an eyebrow, he flipped her off before standing up and pacing for a moment, he had to be smart about what was about to happen. This move could cost them a lot, whatever he wanted to happen would have to be small and it had to something that made him a ton of cash. 

"Do you know someone who is good at lock-picking Val? I think I have just the job in mind for them when we go out there and make our day with this new caper."

Val snorted but got on the telephone, she knew someone but that look still made her worried. Her friend was planning something to get noticed, whatever it was, she would be there to back up his scheme.

A few hours later, a knock was heard on the door, standing from her seat on the couch. Val made sure to check on Vin as he continued to listen to some pianist on the radio, along with a glass of bourbon in hand. He seemed relaxed but she knew that was about to change when her associate walked through the door. 

Standing inside the apartment of one man dubbed 'Vinny-Poo' by his Irish companion was Giovanni Salvador. Though he didn't look like it, he too was pissed with the way things were going now. He had also been cut out of the deal, he was a skilled lock-picker, by the looks of things though...he seemed better off. 

"Hey there Valerie, you called me. New York and Vegas are both busy with one another, it leaves us associates to do some business of our own. Considering we're not made yet, we're a bit limited but I have to wonder and I was in town. What's the job?"

Taking a stool from the kitchen, Gio sat down and watched the Las Vegas associates. They seemed like they had everything under control, though he could tell they were looking to score and unsurprisingly, he too was looking for something like that. He was not going to be missing out this time. 

Vincent, while not fully trusting the Lombardi family associate knew this man had some connections that could be used. Especially out here, deciding to be nice and get some business done, he shrugged his shoulders and turned up the pianist playing. Pouring his partners drinks of their own, while refilling his. 

"What do you know about Politician Christopher Hayes? Don't worry, he's big out here in Vegas, a key member of the zoning commission. He refuses to help us out, a little social club for the crews in Las Vegas and the state, also some of those out of state visiting. Of course, he doesn't want us to get a little comfortable in our town."

Gio motioned for the young man to continue, this was usually a business type thing. It always happened, it was never anything big and something that always happened in this way. 

Politicians and Politics were usually a consigliere's game but sometimes, there was the ambitious type and here was one sitting before him, planning one heck of a long game. 

"He has some incriminating evidence that could be used to sway people away from him. Allowing us a chance to bring about our club, I don't want that. He's a good man with a wife and two kids, I want you and a few others to get in there, get the evidence and bring it back to me. It should be located in his house, though I'll give you a few weeks, case the place and make sure everything that could go wrong, doesn't."

Gio nodded, he wondered for a moment what Vincent and Valerie would be doing. It seemed like he had suspected that because he was now looking at him with a smirk, Gio oddly enough liked that. He paid attention to his fellow partners, he was learning and fast, it would help him. 

"And what will you and Valerie be doing? Trying to get this club through zoning? I thought that guy, Insanity had some pull with the zoning commission. He should be able to assist with you guys, he's all for making Las Vegas a great city once again."

The room had grown quiet, it almost seemed like the news of Insanity dying had not reached New York. Though they were a fair few had known of it, passed it on but had not made it to the ears of a few associates, nevertheless, Gio caught on and simply let out a soft "hmm."

"We'll be talking to our bosses, it's time some warehouses opened up. I got a connection in the emerald city. I want to expand the family operations, if we can do it alone, it'll surely earn us some respect and get us noticed. Something that needs doing soon."

Gio did not know what else to say in that moment, it seemed like everyone had their own jobs. He had to say, the prospect of working with these two was something that made him a bit worried, while this little partnership had started off rocky. This had been something promising, a chance at taking down a Las Vegas politician, while it would not help out in the New York circles of the underworld. It would help here. 

Valerie though, she was less enthusiastic, she and Vincent usually spoke about the business they would be doing. Going to the bosses and trying to open up a few operations of their own, then trying to go to Seattle and make some deals. That was ballsy, it was not something that Vincent would do. 

Looking at him now, he was very determined to see his plans through. This was a different man, this Vincent alright but his eyes, they did not lie. He did indeed intend to do those things, only time would tell if it went through and he had to go about this a different way, either way, Valerie would back him. 

As for the head of this operation, he could tell that what he said surprised his partner. She had always been told of his plans but this was different, the fact he intended to go about this a respectful way, the way he had brought up to believe in was something hammered into him. This plan had to work, it could begin his new life as a man of honor.