Road to Respect ~ Sopranos

Chapter 16

Joseph

"Mr. LaRocca?" Joey looked up from his usual spot at the booth in the corner of the bar to see Agent Harris looking down at him. "Nice place."

Joey snorted and glanced around at the bar he now owned. It was an Irish Pub, a quiet place Joey bought so he could think and get some extra cash. "Thank you."

"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Harris asked. Joey gestured to the booth in front of him.

"You want something to drink?" Joey asked.

"I'll take some water." Harris said as he pulled out some papers.

Joey nodded and flicked on the switch that was on the wall. A green light turned on and a waitress came over. "Hey Lian, could you please get Agent Harris here a water." She nodded and went into the back. "What's your questions?"

Harris pulled out a piece of paper with a picture of Junior Soprano. "We have reason to believe your friend Junior was the man behind your attack last year. And I believe you know that as well."

"Do I?" Joey asked lazily while looking down at the liquor he still had in stock. "Tell me, is the Vodka around here any good or should I import it?"

"I hear the Russians are doing well." Harris said. "I usually prefer Malt Whisky."

Joey nodded and made a note of that. "Thanks." Lian came and dropped off the water at the table. "Thank you, Lian." She smiled sweetly at him and left. "Why are you here?"

"If Junior was behind your attack, I don't see why you wouldn't want to put him away." Harris said. "You seem like a good kid." He gestured to Joey's scar on the right side of his head. "I would hate for the next bullet to move a few inches over."

"Well, I'm sure the great and noble police officers of New Jersey will keep me safe." Joey snarked. The loud roar of an engine made the agent's glass of water shake a little. "Is there anything else, Harris? If not, could you check the liquor license, last thing I want to deal with now is a surprise visit from Norman again."

"Norman?" Harris asked.

"The prick who comes to check the license, makes my girls very uncomfortable." Joey said. He got up to get the license when the back door opened to reveal Joey's cousins, Alexander and Bruno carrying a dead body. Joey gave them a look and they slowly backed out and silently shut the door without Harris noticing. Joey went into his office and pulled out the license, he went back and showed it to Harris who looked it over.

"Seems right, I'll send this 'Norman' a call." Harris said. "See how easy it is for the two of us to work together?"

Joey gave him a mock smile and walked the man to the door and locked it once the man was gone. Joey then ran to the back door. "Hey Lian, I need you to go upstairs for a few minutes." Joey paused and heard her go up the stairs, allowing him to open the back door. "You two are idiots."

Alexander huffed and he dragged the guy in by his shoulders while Bruno was smiling like an idiot. "Here's the payments." Joey took the envelopes from Bruno and made a quick check to make sure it was all there. Joey's two cousins were working for him now, and ever since Pussy went missing, Joey was in charge of his routes. Bruno was good at collecting; he was the charming one of the three and able to talk himself out of any situation. He was only sixteen and a valuable member of Joey's crew.

"Can we please hurry up?" Alexander asked. The older of the two, Alexander, was much like his father, muscle. He was Joey's big guy, there to look and act intimidating and get shit done when needed. No doubt he was the one who killed the man they were dragging down to the basement. "Who was this guy again?"