It was a beautiful day on the lower east side. Uncle Joe was making his weekly rounds collecting the vig on some loans he had out around the city when he decided to stop for some coffee with his driver and confidant KennyRusso at Gino's cafe. Upon entering, the two made their way to a private booth in the back of the coffee shop where they could go over some business. Uncle Joe and Kenny were discussing their next stop for the day when Jackie D'Amico entered the shop. Uncle Joe peered around from the booth he shared with Kenny and couldn't believe his eyes. Jackie D'Amico had owed Uncle Joe a hefty sum of money for some time now and had fallen behind with his weekly vig payments, making no effort to talk to Joe or let him know he hadn't forgot his financial obligation. Uncle Joe motioned to Kenny to go out back and get the car started. Kenny quietly slipped out of the booth and out the back door to get the car started, he had no idea what Uncle Joe was going to do.

Watching Jackie speak with a fellow patron at the shop Uncle Joe got up from his booth and made his way toward Jackie, like a lion stalking his prey, Uncle Joe crept right up beside Jackie and pulled his .38 special out and stuck it in Jackie's ribs.

"Hey Jackie nice to see you" Joe said.

Jackie D'Amico was in shock, he had done everything he could to stay out of Uncle Joe's way and was avoiding him all costs trying to buy himself time to get out of the hole he had put himself in.

Uncle Joe leaned in and whispered in Jackie's ear.

"Come with me cocksucker, don't make a scene" As Uncle Joe started making his way toward the exit with Jackie. 

"Get in the car you motherfucker" Joe said angerly.

Jackie entered the car with Kenny and Joe, shaking like a leaf, trying his hardest not to piss himself.

Uncle Joe closed the door and told Kenny to take off before smacking Jackie in the face with his .38.

As Kenny calmy drove down the street Uncle Joe pistol whipped Jackie again before addressing him.

"Where's my money you dodgy cocksucker. You owe fifty thousand fucking dollars, and you make no effort to contact me?" Joe asked before pistol whipping Jackie yet again.

Bleeding and beside himself, Jackie D'Amico begged Uncle Joe not to hit him anymore, that he was sorry he hadn't been keeping up with his vig payments. Jackie went on to explain that he had been trying to get the money together, but he had made a few bad bets with his bookie and now he was even further in the hole. 

Listening to Jackie, Uncle Joe responded.

"I understand shit happens Jackie. We're men though and men honor their debts. I've known you all your life, at the very least you could've come to me and said look Uncle Joe, I made some mistakes, I haven't forgot you. Instead, you make me drag you in this car and hurt you, and for what, money?" Joe exclaimed.

Hearing Uncle Joe's words, Jackie nodded his bloody head, explaining he understood what Joe was saying and was sorry that he didn't come to him right away. He knew what happened to men in debt with Uncle Joe that fell out of favor and didn't want to be added to the long list of disappeared debtors. In that moment Uncle Joe felt bad for Jackie D'Amico and the situation he had put himself in. Uncle Joe thought for a second and responded.

"Look Jackie, I'm going to give you some more time to come up with the money. I'm going to tack the vig onto the principal though. That's money I can't let go. You knew what you were getting into when you borrowed money from me."

Relieved, Jackie promised Joe that he would get his money together one way or another. Uncle Joe wanted his money and knew that the alternative to being paid would cost him. Uncle Joe motioned to Kenny to pull the car over before leaving Jackie with a few words and his life.

"This is a dog eat dog world Jackie, and some of us are already out for seconds. I expect you'll have something for me by weeks end. I better not have to come find you again, I would hate to leave you where I find you." Joe said before motioning to Kenny to pull off. 

Driving down the street with Jackie in the rearview Kenny told Joe that he was getting soft, that twenty years ago they would of found Jackie with a pool stick up his ass. Joe chuckled at Kennys statement, knowing he wasn't far off with his assumption. Uncle Joe and Kenny continued on with Joe's collections.