by "mailto:scullysboy@yahoo.com"

Sonny and the boys had a full night ahead of them. There were a lot of collections to be made. They always worked in teams of three; it was much more intimidating. Sonny, being the natural leader that he was, and being that he lived with the boss and was obviously his favorite, usually did the talking while his two buddies did the punching. This night, Sonny was working with Paulie Kelleher and Frankie Connolly; two no-necked bruisers who were content to let Sonny take control. They pulled away from the Broadway Men's Club; another car with three other guys right behind them. They were all headed in the same direction to start. A dozen blocks away, both cars stopped at a light. Sonny, who was sitting in the passenger seat in front, gazed out the side window. What he saw made his blood run cold. He was overcome with the familiar sensation of his chest constricting his breathing. He jumped out of the car just as the light changed, but made it to the curb unscathed. "What the fuck?" Paulie exclaimed pulling the car over at the next corner. The second car followed suit, and all five men got out in case Sonny needed any help. Sonny approached a man and a woman arguing up against a building. Actually, they were fighting. The man was holding the woman by both arms and shaking her. Just before Sonny reached them, the man slapped her across the face. The woman screamed and began crying. "Either you're not spreading your legs enough, or you're holding out on me!" the man yelled. "I'm doing the best I can!" the woman yelled back. The next thing the pimp knew, he was on the ground, being punched in the face. Sonny recognized the woman as Marlene, a hooker that lived at the Excalibur, who he'd met on his first day in Manhattan. After that, he wasn't conscious of what he was doing. Paulie and Frankie watched him beat the pimp for a few more minutes before they pulled him off. "Get your hands off me!" Sonny yelled, and they let him go. He stepped back over and kicked the man in the ribs several times for good measure. Then, he bent down and spoke to the bloodied face. "You touch her again, I'll kill you. You understand me?" "Who the fuck are you?" the man asked, spitting out two teeth and a lot of blood at the same time. Paulie decided to put in his two cents, "he's Sonny Corinthos. You better remember the name buddy!" All five men were impressed with Sonny's bravado, and frankly intimidated by his temper, which they'd never seen before. He was always a quiet and polite young man, who conveyed anger in a very restrained way. They had no idea he was capable of such aggression, but it made them respect him even more. Sonny had stepped over the pimp and was talking to Marlene. "Are you OK?" She nodded her head, "yeah, thanks Sonny." Sonny touched her cheek where she'd been slapped, "that's gonna bruise," he stated sadly, knowing how a bruise looked before took on its recognizable form. "I'll put some ice on it," Marlene told him. Sonny nodded his head. "I've gotta go." He started to walk away, then stopped and turned back. "If you need any help, you can call me." He took a small notebook and a pen from his breast pocket. It was the notebook where he kept track of what money was owed and what was paid. He tore a blank page from the back and wrote his phone number on it, followed by "Sonny." He handed it to Marlene. She looked at it, then looked up at him. The man before her had come a long way from the timid kid she'd met more than three years earlier. He was a well-groomed, stylish, and extremely handsome man. And, it was obvious from the way the men with him acted, he was a respected man. She couldn't help but smile and whisper to him. "Excuse me?" Sonny said, and stepped closer, putting his head down near her face. "I said, you've come a long way...I'm proud of you." Sonny smiled and leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Thanks."

It wasn't long after the incident with the pimp that Sonny got a strange order from Joe. He pulled Sonny into his den at home and closed the door. "Be ready at 11 PM tonight, and put on your best suit." Sonny wondered, but didn't ask, why. "OK." Joe smiled, and put his hand on Sonny's shoulder; "after tonight Sonnyboy, your life will never be the same." Joe dismissed him, and Sonny left the room. He looked at his watch; he had some collections to make first, then he'd come back and shower, shave and get dressed. He left the house and got into a waiting car.

Sonny was dressed and ready at 10:45. He made a point never to be late, so he was usually early. He sat in the living room, waiting for Joe to show up. He never did. Instead, his bodyguard Vince came to the house to retrieve Sonny. He looked Sonny over, since Joe told him to make sure he was dressed appropriately. Of course, by now Sonny had become somewhat of a fashion plate, and was fastidious about how he looked. "Where are we going?" Sonny asked Vince. He wasn't the least bit intimidated by the large man. The only person he edited his speech with was Joe. Vince smiled, "you're getting your button my friend." Sonny froze; his heart almost burst out of his chest. "What?" he whispered. Vince replied, "you heard me. Come on, we can't be late." Sonny followed him out, feeling like he was having an out-of-body experience. It never occurred to him that he would ever become a made man. All he'd hoped for was some power, respect and enough money to live a comfortable life.

Vince blindfolded him, "just a precaution, since you haven't taken the oath yet," and drove him to the secret location. There, he was led into a dark room and his blindfold was removed. Joe walked over to greet him; kissing him on both cheeks. "This is a very proud day for me son." Sonny looked into his eyes, "for me too. But...how?" "Shhh," Joe admonished, "don't ask. Just know I made it happen for you because you deserve it. You've come a long way from Bensonhurst kid." "Thanks to you. Thank you Joe." Joe embraced him. Someone else cleared their throat, "let's begin." Joe led Sonny over to a table, which several men stood around. He recognized a couple of them; they were other New York bosses like Joe. Joe began to speak, "Sonny Corinthos, you're about to undertake a serious oath...an oath the binds you to this thing of ours, for life."

by "mailto:RKteach@en.com"

Sonny Corinthos, just barely twenty-one years old, but looking older with his hair slicked back on the sides and only a few curls escaping on top, wearing a five hundred dollar dark gray suit, a black silk shirt, and perfectly shined black shoes was at the track. He was there with a group of other young wiseguys, all of them in the same business as Sonny, but none of them as well connected as him. They were all laughing and talking about the last race, the one where all of them had bet on the horse Sonny chose, and all of them had come out big winners. None had won as much as Sonny, holding a large roll of bills in his hand, and smiling widely showing his dimples. "Boy, were you ever right on that one, Sonny!" said Sean with a big grin. "How much did you win on that one race?"

"I won a grand, and with what I won earlier, I'm really ahead, and I'm staying that way. Always quit while you're ahead, my man. That's the only way to go." Sonny knew the others wouldn't take his advice, but he figured he'd give it anyway.

"With the odds on that horse, how could you bet so much on it, Sonny, and how in hell did you get us to bet on it too?" said Frankie laughing again "The jockey is a good one, just young, and besides I liked the horse's name," said Sonny. During the whole conversation, an older man had been watching, staring at Sonny from pale blue eyes. He stepped closer to the group of young men, trying to hear their voices and conversation, still staring at Sonny. "Michael?" the man said with a question in his voice. No one looked his way, and their conversation continued. "Spanish Eyes, who ever heard of a horse named Spanish Eyes, but she sure could run, couldn't she?" said a curly haired red head, named Teddy Kelly, and referred to by the others as Teddy K. "That's what all the girls call Sonny," said Sean, "that and Mr. Bedroom eyes. That's why he bet on her." All of them laughed together, except for Sonny. "Sometimes the name is a good reason as any," he said, still not seeming to notice the man watching the group.

But now the man moved in even closer and the question was gone from his voice as he said once again, "Michael," looking directly at Sonny. He said it one more time, and this time Teddy noticed him. "Hey Sonny," he said, "that guy over there," motioning to the fortyish man in the flannel shirt and worn jeans, "seems to be talking to you, but he keeps saying Michael." "There's no Michael here, buddy," said Frankie. Sonny looked over at the man Teddy indicated with a puzzled look. There was no recognition in his deep black eyes, only suspicion along with a little confusion.

"Don't you recognize me, Michael?" the man said, and he seemed upset. "Why are you calling me that?" said Sonny, and his tone was cold, but inside he felt a strange shiver, because the guy's voice was familiar for some reason. He was trying to place it when the man answered, "because that's what your mother and I named you. Michael Corinthos Jr. I guess you don't recognize your old man, and that's my fault, but I would recognize you anywhere. You look exactly like your mother, and then you smiled and I saw…" he stopped at the angry look in his son's eyes. "It's amazing that you would recognize me, Mike. It's been, what, ten, eleven years since you saw me?" Sonny's voice stayed calm, but his lower lip trembled. Then he controlled himself completely and even that sign of emotion was gone.

"Like I said, kid, you look just like Adella did when I first met her. How is she, by the way?" Mike sounded like he'd just seen his son the day before. "She died last year, Mike," said Sonny, still keeping the calm tone. Mike's face paled and he stammered a bit as he said, "oh uh, I'm sorry. She was so young." Then he tried again to keep the conversation going. "How about your stepfather?" "He died about two years before," Sonny said, "what do you really want, Mike? Did you see my bankroll and think maybe I'd lend you a stake?" His voice was colder than before, and harsher too, as harsh as his words. But without looking at his bankroll or his father, he peeled off a C note from the money in his pocket, and handed it to Mike.

"No Michael, nothing like that," Mike said, but he took the hundred dollar bill and pocketed it. "I won on Spanish Eyes too; loved the name. I didn't win as much as you, just a couple hundred, but it gave me a stake, and I'm ready to win a lot more today. I appreciate your sharing your winnings though. Maybe my luck has changed, winning on Spanish Eyes, running into you, it's a sign that maybe things are turning my way." Mike smiled and the three other young men saw the one thing that the older man had passed down to his son, a pair of deep dimples.

Sonny didn't smile back. "Hey guys," he said, turning away from his father and back towards his friends, "if you're betting on the next race, you'd better get in there before the window closes." The other three men turned to go, but Sonny wasn't finished. "If he's in your line," he said, indicating Mike, "watch what horse he bets on, and then bet on someone else, because he's gonna lose that three hundred bucks today and probably any other money he has too." He turned and looked back at his father with the contempt he obviously felt for the man, "that's the one last bet I'd make today, and guys," there was a pause, and then he continued, "that's betting a sure thing." With that he turned and walked away in the opposite direction, "I'll meet you guys in the Club Grill. I'll stand you all a round of drinks, so hurry up."

Sonny strutted away in the direction of the exclusive bar, and Mike stood there for a minute frozen by the iciness of his son's glance and words. He shook his head, and walked off in the other direction to the nearest window to make the bet that would lose him all the money, because unlike his son, Mike never knew how to quit while he was ahead.

by "mailto:scullysboy@yahoo.com"

"I'm back," Sonny stated, sticking his head into Joe's office at the Broadway Men's Club. "How'd it go?" Joe inquired. Sonny gave him a broad, dimpled smile; "just as you'd expect." Joe smiled back. Whenever he sent Sonny out on business, it always got handled to his satisfaction. "Have a seat Sonny," Joe told him, motioning to the chair across the desk. Sonny sat down. "I got a call earlier from Harry Silver," Joe began. Sonny shrugged and asked, "am I supposed to know that name?" Joe shook his head, "no. I don't think I ever told you, but I own a club upstate." Sonny knew Joe had interests outside of Manhattan, but had never asked about them. "It's called the Paradise Lounge. Any guesses on what kind of club it is?" Joe asked with a twinkle in his eye. "Sounds like a strip club," Sonny confidently replied. "Very good my boy, very good. That's exactly what it is, although it's been a mediocre strip club for a while now." "Who runs it, this Silver guy?" "That's right. Don't get me wrong, it brings in money. Otherwise, I would have sent Harry out to pasture, if you get my drift." Sonny nodded his head; he got it all right.

"But it seems that Mr. Silver wants to retire. He's been working for me for over twenty five years." Sonny thought about how long he'd been working for Joe; it was going on thirteen years. He redirected his attention back to Joe, "so, you need a new manager?" "It's a little more complicated than that," Joe answered. "Harry also takes care of some business for me there...numbers mostly; some loan sharking." "I see." Joe smiled again; "that's what I love about you son. Any other guy would be trying to talk me into sending them up there to run things; but not you." "Well Joe; I think you've already made a decision about the situation. And it is your decision to make, not mine. If you have the confidence in me, you'll suggest it. If you don't, you won't. It's not really my place to try to talk you into it." Joe laughed heartily; "I'm really going to miss you." Sonny stared at him, "you're sure about this?" "Hey, what happened to Mr. Confidence kid? Of course I'm sure. Mostly you'll be running the club, and you can run it as you see fit. But you'll also be establishing yourself in Port Charles; there are lots of opportunities there, besides the games I'm already running." "Port Charles? Where the hell is that?" Sonny asked before he could stop himself. "It's in the boondocks kid, on the Lake. How do you feel about snow?" Sonny shuddered slightly; he hated snow. It always reminded him of the times he worked at Mr. Meyers' newspaper stand in Bensonhurst, and stood for hours in the dirty snow and slush just to make some money to help his mother out. His father was long gone, but his mother hadn't yet made the colossal mistake of letting Deke into their lives. But, he wasn't going to blow this chance to go out on his own by sharing his weather-aversion with Joe. This was what he had been working towards his whole life. "Snow doesn't bother me at all," he finally responded. "I'll have to find someone to take over my apartment," Sonny commented. He had moved out of Joe's house and into his own place several years earlier. "Why don't we keep it open for you, just for a little while," Joe replied. Sonny raised his eyebrows, "you think I'll fail and come back here with my tail between my legs?" Joe didn't answer directly, but said, "you know, I'm really glad this opportunity has presented itself. I was starting to get a little worried about you." "Me? Why?" Sonny asked with concern. "Because, you've gone as far as you can here. The only thing left would be for you to take over." Joe punctuated his statement with a smile, letting Sonny know he wasn't really concerned about it. Sonny good-naturedly replied, "well, this is a better solution." Joe stood up and put out his hand, "go upstate, young man...and make me proud."

Harry Silver paced nervously inside the Paradise Lounge. He was waiting for the new boss to arrive. Harry had never been a boss; only a loyal soldier. Because Harry was originally from Port Charles, Joe thought it a good idea to send him back there. Together, Harry and Joe set up the Paradise, and the numbers and lending action. Then, Joe left Harry behind to run things, with a small contingent of men. When Harry called Joe about retiring, Joe was not pleased. But then, he called Harry back and told him everything was all taken care of. A new man would be coming to town; a made man who would be running things. A man Harry was to respect as he did Joe, and help until the transition was complete. Harry knew this meant that organized crime in Port Charles would be expanding. There was no way this new guy would be content running a mid-level strip joint and the few other small operations they had. One of the girls showed up to rehearse. "Hey Harry!" "Jules, what are you doing here?" "Uh, I was going to practice a new routine; why?" "Not now; I've got business to take care of," Harry snapped at her.

A strange voice came out of the dimly lit room. "Don't you know practice makes perfect?" Harry and Jules both turned towards it. Jules bit at her lower lip; she didn't know who the guy walking towards them was, but she liked what she saw. Harry sized him up, "Sonny Corinthos?" "That's right," Sonny replied, coming to a stop in front of him. Harry put out his hand, "Harry Silver. Welcome...sir." Sonny nodded his head at him and shook his hand, "thanks. It's good to be here." He looked at Jules, "I thought you were going to practice?" Something in his tone told Jules she'd better go do just that. She hurried off to the dressing room to change into her costume. "Can I get you a drink?" Harry asked, walking over to the bar. "Scotch rocks," Sonny replied. Harry went behind the bar to pour the drink. Sonny surveyed the place, "this place needs work." Harry smiled, "that's why you're here." Sonny took the drink from him and took a healthy swig. Then, he looked Harry in the eyes. "Actually, why I'm here is to act as Mr. Scully's representative and to take charge of this town." Harry gulped, "right...I only meant..." Sonny put up his hand to stop him from going on, "I know, I know. I want a meeting, tonight, with all the men we've got. I want to introduce myself." Harry nodded, "I'll set it up. Where would you like to meet?" "I'll leave that up to you; you know the lay of the land better than I do. And, before the meeting, I'll take in a few dancers, see how the talent is." "Uh, you want to meet the girls in private?" Harry suggested, knowing that was a common practice in the business. Sonny shook his head, "no, I don't. I'm concerned with how they dance, nothing else." He took his glass and walked toward the back of the club, "what's back here?" Harry scurried after him, thinking this wasn't your ordinary wiseguy; not by a long shot.

by "mailto:scullysboy@yahoo.com"

"Just great!" Sonny muttered as he wiped a glass off the bar onto the floor where it shattered. "Whoa! What's going on?" Harry asked. Sonny glared at him, "nice town. I leave my car outside for an hour and the radio gets stolen." Harry shook his head, "damn kids. I've talked to them before about staying away from here." "Well, obviously they didn't listen," Sonny curtly replied. "But they'll listen to me; you know who they are?" "Yeah, they hang out under the highway overpass," Harry told him. Sonny's anger was replaced by sadness; more kids on the streets like he had been. He quietly told Harry, "let's go." Harry followed him out and got into Sonny's car. He directed Sonny where to drive, and sure enough, they found a group of kids under the highway, warming themselves on an oil drum fire. Sonny parked out of sight, which wasn't too difficult because it was dark. He and Harry got out and walked quietly towards the group. One of the older boys saw them coming, "shit!" "Hold it right there kid!" Harry warned, taking his gun out of the holster. Sonny whipped around and looked at him, "put that away Harry, what's the matter with you?" Harry was embarrassed, but didn't dare speak back. He knew full well not to mess with Sonny; Joe Scully's chosen one. He put the gun away, and hung back as Sonny approached the kids. He addressed the one that Harry had spoken to. "Are you in charge here?" Michael Cates was surprised by the question, and scared as hell by the man asking it. He'd never seen him before, but if Harry Silver was obeying his orders, he must be someone important. Mike looked around at the other kids; none of them volunteered to be the one in charge, so he responded, "I guess." Sonny studied his face and saw himself there. "What's your name?" " Mike...Michael Cates." Sonny smiled, "another Michael. That was my name too." "Was?" "Yeah, I changed it to Sonny; Sonny Corinthos." Sonny extended his hand, and Mike nervously shook it. "I'm sure you haven't heard of me...yet," Sonny added. Mike gulped and nodded his head. He didn't know how, but he knew that this dark man in front of him was going to change his life. Sonny continued speaking, "so, Mike, what'd you do with my car radio?" Mike started to panic, "uh, what? I...I don't know what you..." Sonny put up his hand, "yeah, yeah, I know; you know nothing about it." He looked around at the other kids, a mix of one girl and three other boys, "anyone else?" They all remained silent, knowing full well that Mike had stolen the radio and fenced it for $20.00. It wasn't much, but it would buy them all something to eat later.

Sonny looked back to Mike Cates. "Well, I'm sure if you hear anything about it, you'll let me know right?" Mike nodded his head, feeling worse and worse about lying to the man. But, he didn't feel bad enough to fess up either. He had no idea what kind of punishment he'd get for the theft. "You know the Paradise Lounge?" Sonny asked him. "Yeah. That's where he works," Mike answered, pointing at Harry over Sonny's shoulder. "He used to," Sonny replied, "I'm running the place now...among other things. Get my meaning?" Mike nodded his head again; as he suspected, this Sonny guy was connected, and in charge. "Come by tomorrow," Sonny said. "W...why?" "I could use you. You do want a job, don't you?" "Yeah, but...I'm only 16." Sonny smiled, "so?" The kids all laughed nervously, and Mike chided himself for saying something so dumb. Why would a mobster care about employing an under-aged kid at his club? Mike was sure that would be the least of the crimes Sonny committed on a daily basis. Sonny was getting impatient, "do you want the job or not?" "Yeah...yes! I do. I'll be there." Sonny nodded his head and turned to walk away. Then, he stopped and turned back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large wad of bills. Mike watched with his jaw open as Sonny peeled off a hundred. "Here," Sonny held the bill out. "Shit!" Mike exclaimed, taking it from his hand. "Not quite the response I had in mind," Sonny scolded. Mike looked away from the bill and back into Sonny's eyes. "Sorry. Thank you." "Thank you...." "Thank you, sir?" Sonny nodded, turned and walked off. When he and Harry almost reached the car, he turned back one more time and shouted, "we're going to work on your name kid. 'Mike' just doesn't cut it for me." Mike watched as the two men got into the car and drove off. "For a hundred bucks, he can call you sweetheart," one of the other boys joked. Mike ignored him, still watching the car, knowing that after tomorrow, his life would never be the same.

He showed up at the Paradise Lounge at eight in the morning, and had to wait an hour before he saw someone moving around inside. Peering through the window in the door, he knocked, and Sonny came over to let him in. "Bright and early, I like that," Sonny commented. "Uh, I've been here since eight," Mike replied. "I'll have to make you a key," Sonny stated, leading him inside. Mike looked around, in awe. The Paradise Lounge was no Taj Mahal, but to him, it was beautiful. "Are you listening to me?" Sonny snapped, jerking him out of his daze. "Sorry!" "A few ground rules kid. When I talk, you look me in the eye and listen to me. I hate repeating myself. Got it?" Mike looked him in the eyes, "yes sir." Sonny went into a litany of job duties he expected Mike to fulfill; mostly cleaning up, keeping the bar stocked, and running errands. "Errands? Like picking up supplies and stuff?" Mike asked. "Yeah, and whatever else I need," Sonny answered; "that's not going to be a problem, is it?" "No sir, Mr. Corinthos. I'll do whatever you need," Mike replied. Sonny gave him a brief smile, "good. Then we'll get along just fine. So, where do you live kid?" "Uh, here and there," Mike replied, looking down at the ground. "Look at me; you don't have to be embarrassed. I've been there," Sonny told him. Mike looked back up, his eyes wide, "you? But you're so...rich and important." "Well, I wasn't always. So, you need a place to live. I've got an extra room at my place, upstairs." "You live here?" "Didn't I just say that?" "Sorry." Mike thought about it, and wasn't sure how to ask the next question without getting smacked. "Uh, can I ask a question?" "Sure." "You just want me to live there, right, not anything else?" Sonny's mind flashed back to his first days in Manhattan, being propositioned by the older men at the YMCA. He shook his head, "don't worry kid, I'm 100% a ladies' man." Mike relaxed and smiled, "OK. Why are you being so nice to me though?" Sonny shrugged, "like I said, I've been there. So we've got a deal then?" "Yeah, thanks." "Oh, one more thing, about your name..." "Yeah, you said you don't like it?" "Well, like I told you, I was Michael, but I changed it." "How come?" "My old man's name is Michael, or was; who knows if he's still around." "He blew you off, huh?" Mike asked, knowing full well what that felt like. "Yeah. So I changed my name to Sonny. So, what about you? Anyone call you anything but Mike?" Mike shrugged, "I don't know. I've never really hung around one place long enough for people to call me anything." Sonny interjected, "like a rolling stone, right?" "Right." Sonny thought about it; "well, that's it. Stone; Stone Cates." The kid smiled, "that's cool, I like it." "Well then Stone it is. All right Stone, don't just stand there. There's a lot of work to do before we open tonight, get going!" Stone jumped to, and grabbed a broom that was waiting nearby. Sonny watched him attack the sweeping with youthful vigor and felt a strange peace come over him. Maybe something good could come out of his messed-up life. Maybe the existence of Sonny Corinthos on this earth mattered, after all.