Joseph Bonpensiero was taking his new 1950 Cadillac Series 62 for a spin up and down the Strip. He took a turnoff down a side street to make a U-turn when he noticed a young kid, about 18 or 19 laying in an alleyway curled up in a ball with cuts and bruises all over his face. It was obvious the kid had been beaten to a pulp. This goes against everything Joey and his family stand for, attacking the innocent and kids. He decided to go and check out what was going on for himself.

Joey pulled the car over and shut off the engine. He exited quickly and darted across the road to go and check on the kid, laying in a pool of his own blood. He kneels down and rolls the kid over onto his back to inspect the damage and to see if he’s still alive.

“Hey, kid! Are you alive pal?” Joey exclaims

The boy just begins coughing up more blood and wipes off his face

“G-g-get out of here mister! They’ll mess you up if they see you trying to help me!” The kid shrieks in pain

“Who did this to you? And why did they do it? My crew runs things here, they’d wanna have good fucking reason, whoever they are for doing what they did to you or they’re gonna have some problems I don’t think they wanna deal with! Come on kid, come with me, I’ll get you fixed up and you can tell me more about what happened to you and how you got here. My place ain’t far from here, you can take a shower and get yourself fixed up.”

Joey helps the boy up and carries him over to his car, helping him inside then entering himself.

“I’ll tell you something kid, you’re lucky I got an identical fur coat to this back at the penthouse otherwise you’d owe me one hell of a dry cleaning bill!”

Joey laughs

“I’m only kidding pal, if I was the one that made you bleed, THEN I’d be pissed! You’re good buddy.”

He laughs again

“Did you say a penthouse mister? What do you do? You have this nice car, that coat, a penthouse and all that jewellery, are you a gangster mister?”

The boy asks anxiously 

“What’s with all the fucking questions? I could’ve left you there to die, but I didn’t. You should be thanking me asshole!”

There’s an awkward silence, the boy is obviously scared stiff

“I’m only busting your balls buddy, it’s all good. And enough of this mister shit! I’m old enough to be your father, NOT your grandfather. I’m Joseph, Joseph Bonpensiero.”

“I’ve heard of you! You’re the loanshark, you’re in the Circle-of-Fire crew right?” He asks

“I wouldn’t call myself a gangster, an opportunist definitely, maybe even a greasy, Italian Robin Hood!”

They both laugh

“Well I-I’m Johnny, Johnny McClain. Thank you for saving me back there Joseph. I don’t owe you anything do you? I don’t have much money but I’m sure I could scrape up some-“

Joey cuts him off

“You don’t owe me shit Johnny, me and the family, it’s our job to protect our citizens from assholes like whoever did this to you. The only thing you owe me is an explanation as to how the fuck you got in that alleyway and who the fuck did it to you! But for now, just focus all your energy on not messing up my new car with your blood and let me take you back to the penthouse.”

They arrive at Joey’s penthouse and he shows Johnny to the bathroom  and lends him a shirt and some pants and throws out his old clothes

“I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready to talk kid!”

About 10 minutes passes and Johnny exists the bathroom looking slightly better, still battered and bruised but at least not bloodied, his left eye almost closed over

“Take a seat Johnny, and start from the very beginning, I need to know everything so I can help you.”

Johnny takes a seat and begins to explain his story to Joey

“Well, I’m a singer, a crooner if you will. I’m originally from Atlanta but I moved out to Vegas last year to pursue my career as a singer after my Dad got life for killing my Mother. He was a real asshole, used to beat on me and Ma because he ‘worked his ass off to give us a good life and we weren’t thankful enough’. He always discouraged me becoming a singer and wanted me to become a truck driver like him, apparently that’s what makes you man, working a dead end job for fuck all pay and drinking what was left once the rent was paid. One day I was coming home from school and the cops were dragging him out of my apartment building and they told me he’d killed my Mother, beaten her to death. I don’t have any other family so I decided to take what little money I had and come out here to Vegas to pursue my dream.”

Joey saw a lot of his younger self in Johnny after what he’d just said. He wanted to become a boxer but got into crime to pay off his Father’s debt after he drunk himself to death to keep the gangsters from hurting his Mother. He felt sympathy for Johnny and wanted to help him

“So you came out here to Vegas thinking you were gonna make your dreams come true but it was a little tougher than you thought huh?”

“Yeah, more or less. I was staying at a homeless shelter when I met Frank Russo, the guy who owns the club you picked me up from. He’s a small time crook with a crew of young hoods that he pays in Cocaine and a place to stay to do his muscle and dirty work for him. He’s got a serious blow problem and thinks he’s some sort of Godfather. He’s not with any major crew or has any tie to anyone, he runs his own show, or at least thinks he does. He asked me what I did and where I was from and I told him my story and he told me he owns the Russo Lounge and that if I performed there he’d pay me and let me stay there til I got on my feet. It was good for a few months, he let me live in the basement and gave me three square meals in a day but I was lucky to see twenty bucks a month, but times were tough and it was better than nothing. His addiction got too much for him to handle and the business started to suffer from it so he took it out on all of us who worked for him. Myself, the club staff and just about anybody that crossed his path would become victims to his violent rages. I got sick of him pushing me around so I clocked him and him and his goons beat me within an inch of my life and told me if I didn’t leave Vegas by tomorrow he’d kill me. I was planning on packing up and going some place else but then you showed up and here we are.”

Joey became infuriated by what he was hearing. He’d buried plenty of guys like Frank, wannabe gangsters and tough guys who prey on the weak to feed their own egos.

“Don’t worry about this Frank guy Johnny, and you don’t have to go anywhere. You’ve got heart, I can tell. You’ve been through a lot of shit but no matter what happens you still have your heart and your balls and mio figlio, I admire that. I’m gonna make a call to a buddy of mine over at Vegas Realty and get you set up in a little apartment and I’ll bring your story to my people and decide what we can do about this Frank asshole. And if all goes well, how would you like yourself a job? A real job that pays real money? More than enough to get you your three square meals and a roof over your head? Capisce?”

Johnny’s face lights up, this is the best news he’s heard in a LONG, long time.

“Really? You’d do that? Thank you Joseph, I-I don’t know how to thank you! I’m truly speechless!”

“Don’t thank me kid, you’ve had a rough time and you deserve a chance to get on your feet, that’s all I’m giving you. And my friends call me Joey, you can call me Joey. I’ve done a lot of horrible shit so if by helping a young kid like you get on track is my one way to heaven then you figlio di puttana you best believe I’m fucking taking it!”

They both laugh

“It’s getting late, I’m gonna have my pal Enzo here make that call then he’s gonna take you to get settled into your new place. My ‘friend’ over at the real estate owes me a very expensive favour and by doing this he’ll lose a chunk of his debt. He won’t decline the offer because I’m not asking. It pays to have connections in this city kid, I can teach you a thing or two.”

Joey signals for Enzo to leave the room

“Enzo, help our friend Johnny out and go make that call.”

“Right away boss.” Enzo says and leaves the room

“While we wait for Enzo to come back, why don’t we have a drink to seal this new friendship? You like Scotch?”

The two enjoy a few glasses of Scotch awaiting Enzo’s return. About half an hour passes. Enzo re-enters the room and gets Joey’s attention with a nod.

“The keys are ready to be picked up boss, I can take Johnny here and help him get settled in.”

“GOOD! Sounds like a done deal to me. Johnny, go with Enzo, he’s gonna take care of you and I’ll swing by in the morning and pick you up for your first day on the job.”

Joey reaches into his coat and pulls out a wad of cash. He counts five thousand dollars and hands it to Johnny.

“You’re gonna need this to get yourself some food and furniture, and don’t worry too much about making rent for a while, that guy owes me a LOT more favours. Go and get some rest, you need your beauty sleep, you look like fucking Frankenstein at the moment!”

They laugh

“Now get out of here kid! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Enzo and Johnny leave and Joey heads out to HQ to sit down with the uppers to discuss what to do about Frank Russo.

……….

The next morning, Joey arrives at Johnny’s new apartment building. He sends Enzo inside to go and get him. A few minutes pass and they both get into the car.

“Morning kid, like the new place?”

“Morning Joey, Enzo. It’s great, better than anything I’ve ever seen! Well besides your place of course.”

Joey laughs

“Yeah, you gotta take more than a beating off a couple of schmucks to get a place like mine. But if you work hard and you do right, you could have yourself ten penthouses! Now it’s time for business, I’ve spoken to my people and we all came to an agreement that what this Frank Russo asshole and his crew of dirtbags have been doing has gone on too long and mr Russo is gonna take a permanent vacation away from Vegas. It turns out that club is just a front for his brothels and his coke business. None of which he’s had permission to set up so me and Enzo here are gonna take care of things and you’re gonna help me find mr Russo.”

They arrive at the Russo Lounge and Joey parks across the street. They notice a guard at the door.

“Clubs like this are usually closed of a day, what’s this asshole protecting out here? Something he shouldn’t I gather! Let’s shoot over and introduce ourselves.”

The three exit the car and cross the street, heading towards the front door.

“Make sure you stick close to me Johnny, none of these guys are gonna hurt you while I’m here, I promise you that.”

Joey walks over to the guard and the guard notices Johnny.

“You and your greaseball buddies aren’t welcome here McClain! Get the fuck out of here if you know what’s good for ya-“

Before he can finish his sentence, Joey hooks the guard in the jaw, knocking him unconscious

“Is that any way to greet your new boss asshole?”

They step over here and enter the club

“Where can I find Frank kid?”

“He’s usually upstairs in his office, check up there.”

“To the office we go gentlemen”

They head upstairs and walk down a hallway, at the end is a sign that reads “Frank Russo: Manager”. At the door is another guard. He too notices Johnny and pulls out a knife and charges towards the three men. Enzo rushes him, tackling him to the floor and taking the knife off him. Enzo and Joey pick him up off the floor and Joey throws him through the door. Inside is Frank Russo and a prostitute, about to commit a disgusting act.

“Get out of here toots, me and Frankie boy have got something to settle!”

The prostitute exits the room and Frank stands up from behind his desk.

“What the fuck’s going on here?!” Frank yells “Who the hell are you?”

“I’m Joseph Bonpensiero of the Circle-of-Fire family, Johnny McClain’s new manager and your worst nightmare pal! We gotta have ourselves a little discussion, you’re not going anywhere.”

Enzo closes and locks the door

“You’ve been treating my client here like a piece of dirt under your cokehead boot and we’re both fed up! You think you can run hooch and coke out of this town without running it by us first? You’re dumber than I thought Frank!”

Joey grabs Frank and rips him over the desk, beating the shit out of him just like he did to Johnny. He picks Frank up after a few minutes and holds him upright

“Johnny! Settle your score with this piece of shit! Don’t hold back, he ain’t so tough!”

Johnny grabs a lamp off the desk and breaks it over Frank’s head, then continues to punch him repeatedly in the face and torso. After another few minutes Joey tells him to let off because he has business to discuss with Frank

“Mr Russo, you’re not allowed to operate here in Vegas no more. Here are your options, you’re gonna sign the property over into my name right now with this deed my friend here has in his hand or I’m gonna put a bullet in your head and torch the place to the fucking ground!”

“Alright alright! I’ll sign the place over and I-I’ll get out of here!”

“Smart choice Frank, probably the smartest thing you’ve ever done!”

Frank takes the deed off Enzo and signs the place over into Joey’s name, Joey’s signature is already on the paperwork.

“I guess you’ll be on your way then won’t you Frankie boy?”

“Y-y-y-yeah I’ll b-b-b-be on my w-way.”

“THAT MEANS NOW FRANK! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!”

Frank goes to walk out of the office but Joey pulls a pistol out and blows his brains out all over the office. Regardless of how it went, Frank was ordered to be killed, Joey just saw this as an opportunity to acquire some legal business and somewhere for Johnny to perform again. It was a win win in his eyes.

“Frank’s not gonna bother you anymore Johnny. And in a few weeks, you’ll be my headlining act once I get this place up and running! Enzo, go and pick up Knuckles and Paulie and get mr Russo out of here and clear out all of his shit, I gotta drop Johnny here off back home and catch a flight out to Philly. I’ll be in touch though Johnny, come on, let’s get out of here. You did good today kid, I’m proud of you, you and me are gonna go far!”

Joey drops Johnny back home, giving him another ten thousand dollars for helping him out today and heads off to the airport to catch his flight.