The Third Brother
Anthony, the youngest of the three Regino brothers entered the warehouse of the Bella Vino Wine Company, which served as a front for various criminal enterprises run by the Regino family. Recent hostilities with the DeLuccas had come to an end, and the Reginos were now the undisputed lords of the city. As he listened to the sound of a fire siren wailing in the distance, Anthony reflected on the recent victory.
"At last, the war with the DeLuccas is over, and we are richer and more powerful than ever. Now is the time for the family to expand its interests, yet my brother, Don Vincenzo, who should be looking to get a piece of the growing drug trade, spends his time in the comfort of his suburban home with his wife, Rosalie, and their three children. But with the war and the killing behind us, what have I got? Who do I turn to for comfort? I look in the mirror and see a monster staring back at me. My body deformed since birth, I'm looked upon by women with either disgust or pity but never desire or love. My childhood was filled with pain and loneliness, for I was always mocked and bullied by those who were 'normal.' In the absence of affection, I embraced hate. If I could not make people love me, I swore I would instead make them fear and revile me. I have taken the first step. Thanks to the clever lies I've secretly spread, my brother Vinnie now believes that our middle brother, Carlo, has been plotting against him, intending to betray him and take over the family. And here comes Carlo now," Anthony said with a malignant smile when he saw a familiar car pull into the parking lot.
Several minutes later Carlo Regino was dragged into the warehouse by two armed thugs.
"What the hell is going on?" Anthony asked, pretending to be deeply concerned.
"I don't know," Carlo replied fearfully. "I gather one of the cops on the family payroll told Vinnie that I put a contract out on him, so he ordered these goons to pick me up and keep an eye on me."
"I'll bet Vinnie's wife and her no-good brothers had something to do with this. They're all a pack of traitors just like their old man was. I still say they were the ones who tried to turn Vinnie against Dominic Carlino. You and I both better be careful, Carlo. Vinnie is blinded by a pretty face and shapely form, and don't think that Rosalie doesn't know it. She uses her influence with him to help her brothers rise in the organization. But don't worry, I'll go see the don myself and clear up this mess. I doubt even his conniving wife could convince Vinnie that I would have a hand in any scheme to murder him."
Carlo embraced Anthony cried, "I knew I could count on you, Tony."
The thugs then took Carlo into the back room where they would keep watch over him until Vinnie determined his guilt or innocence. Once Carlo and the two thugs were gone, Anthony poured himself a drink and offered a toast to his own evil genius.
"Poor, stupid Carlo. I'll speak to the don, but it will be on my own behalf, not his. For the sooner he's out of the picture, the sooner I'll control the family."
A car door slammed in the warehouse parking lot, and in walked Dominic Carlino, a lieutenant in the Regino family. Until recently, he had been forced into hiding for his own protection since many in the family believed he was in league with the DeLuccas. Thus, Dominic had to lay low until he could convince Don Vincenzo of his loyalty.
"Glad to have you back, Dom," Anthony said, shaking Carlino's hand.
"Glad to be back. The only thing that could make me happier is to find the rat who tried to frame me."
"It appears you're not the only one with an enemy. Someone's put it into Vinnie's head that Carlo put a contract out on him."
"Damn! With Vinnie in the hospital, things could get ugly again. As the next oldest son, he'll be expected to take over the family should Vinnie die."
"Vinnie's in the hospital?" Anthony asked with genuine surprise.
"You didn't know? He had a heart attack this afternoon. He's in intensive care at St. Michael's. Rosalie called me from the hospital. I'm going there now if you want a ride."
"Thanks, but I've got something to take care of first. I'll meet you at St. Mike's later tonight."
After Dominic left, Anthony poured himself another drink.
"You can't die, Vinnie," he cried. "Not yet. First, you must give the order to eliminate Carlo. Then, my dear brother, you can die and rot in hell, for all I care. And once my two older brothers are out of the way, I'll be the don."
* * *
The youngest Regino sibling stood in the lobby of LaRosa's Funeral Home, the finest of a select number patronized by the city's organized crime families. In the large viewing room to the right of the lobby, surrounded by dozens of floral arrangements, lay the body of Don Carmine DeLucca. The room was empty but for a lone mourner. Anthony removed his hat and went inside.
The woman kneeling beside Don Carmine's coffin was Angelina DeLucca, the beautiful young widow of Don Carmine's only son, Enzo. Angelina was also the sister-in-law of Anthony's brother, Carlo. Organized crime families were similar to the royal houses of Europe in that alliances between rivals, in the form of marriages, were common. Many women born a Regino married a DeLucca and vice versa to keep the peace as well as to consolidate business interests.
When Angelina realized she was no longer alone, she turned and saw Anthony standing behind her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her words dripping with anger and hatred.
"I've come to pay my respects," he replied.
In truth, he had not come to see Don Carmine, his former enemy; he had come to see Angelina, the woman he hoped to marry, the same woman whose husband's death he had ordered in the recent war.
"You dare come here! I always knew you had no heart. Don't you have any shame either? Isn't there one ounce of decency in that black soul of yours?"
"Despite what you think, I do have a heart, and it breaks with unrequited love every time I see you."
"Don't speak to me of love! You're the man who murdered my husband and his father."
"Enzo and Don Carmine would have murdered me if they had gotten the chance, but I was smarter."
Angelina rose and slapped him across the face.
"Our families were at war. Your husband put a bomb in my car. Had I decided to drive that day, I'd be the one buried in Holy Cross Cemetery instead of him."
"God, how I wish that you were!"
"Stop it, Angelina," he said, grabbing her by the wrist. "The war is over. It's time now for the Reginos and the DeLuccas to make peace."
"I'll never make peace with you, you murderer!"
"No. I suppose not. Even if I were innocent of your husband's death, I would still disgust you. After all, you're a very beautiful and desirable woman. What would you want with a freak like me?"
Angelina was taken aback by his words. This was a side of Anthony she had never seen before.
"When I first saw you at my brother's wedding, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever met. I fell in love with you, even though I knew it was hopeless. You talk about the pain you felt when your husband was killed. Do you know the agony I endured the day you married him? It was as though God was not content to have cursed me with this face and this body. He had to rip out my heart, as well."
"I don't want you to love me. You destroyed my life."
"If you gave me the chance, I could give you a new and better life. Angelina, I'm Don Vincenzo Regino's brother, and as such I'm not sorry that I killed your husband because it was a matter of survival. But I'm sorry that by killing him, I made you so unhappy."
"If you do care for me, then I beg you to leave now and let me mourn in peace."
Anthony nodded solemnly.
"I'll go. I have urgent family matters to attend to myself."
As he left LaRosa's Funeral Home, Anthony smiled with satisfaction. It was only a matter of time before Angelina would be his, and with her would come the bulk of Carmine DeLucca's estate.
* * *
Rosalie Regino was sitting in St. Michael's waiting room when two of her brothers, Salvatore and Louie Marzetti, arrived at the hospital.
"The doctors don't think he's gonna make it," she tearfully informed them.
"Doctors have been wrong before," Salvatore said, trying to give her hope.
"Don't worry about Vinnie," Louie advised. "He's a tough guy. I'm sure he'll pull through."
"It's not just Vinnie I'm worried about. What will happen to me and the children if he dies?"
Frank Romano and Mario Ferraro entered the waiting room. They had been with Don Vincenzo earlier in the day.
"A heart attack," Frank said with disbelief. "I can't believe it. He looked great this morning."
"Yeah," Mario concurred. "He was talking about how glad he was that this business with the DeLuccas is behind us."
Frank added, "He said now that the war is over, he wants to end the squabbles within the family."
"What squabbles did he mean?" Rosalie asked.
"He wants you and your brothers to try harder to get along with Tony."
"That's too much to ask," Rosalie declared with disgust.
Her brother Salvatore agreed.
"Tony has shown nothing but contempt for us from the day our sister married Vinnie."
"Rosalie," Mario said, taking her hand. "Your husband is the don, and as such he has a lot of responsibility. How can he concentrate on business when he has to worry about these arguments within his own family?"
"Don't blame the Marzettis, Frank," she insisted. "It's that brother of his that causes all the trouble. I wouldn't trust Tony as far as I could throw him."
Rosalie's third brother, Nick Marzetti, arrived with Dominic Carlino. Behind them was Anthony Regino.
"My dear sister-in-law, did I just hear you say that you don't trust me?" Tony asked. "Why? What have I ever done to you?"
"You have never kept your dislike of me and my family a secret."
"True," Tony agreed, enjoying the confrontation. "I always come out and say what I mean. I don't smile in people's faces and then stab them in the back. I'm not, thank God, a Marzetti."
"Who do you think you're talking to?" Salvatore asked angrily.
"To you, Salvatore, and to your two-faced brothers. Everyone knows that your father ratted out Guido Palmieri. That's why not one of the families would give you or your brothers a job—except for Vinnie, and that's only because he married your sister."
"My father may have been an informant," Rosalie said defensively, "but you have no right to question my brothers' honor."
"Don't I?" Anthony argued. "Who was it that turned Vinnie against Dominic? And even now spreads lies about my brother, Carlo?"
"It certainly wasn't me, and it wasn't Sal, Nick or Louie, either."
"And I'm to believe you, Rosalie—the daughter of a common flesh peddler like Albert Marzetti?"
"Why, you ...!"
Salvatore took a threatening step forward, but he stopped short when he saw Francesca DeLucca, widow of the recently deceased Don Carmine, standing in the doorway.
"So, here are the victorious Reginos, arguing like a group of unruly school children while Don Vincenzo lies on his deathbed a few yards away."
"What are you doing here?" Rosalie asked.
"Where else am I to go? I have no husband and no son to go home to."
"I'm sorry," the younger woman said.
"Don't waste your pity on me. Save it for yourself. For, like me, you will be cursed to live long after those you love have gone."
"Why are you so cruel to me? What have I ever done to deserve your hatred?"
"You're a Regino by marriage. Your husband's family made me a widow and, worse, they murdered my son. For this I curse you. May you all die before your time, just as my husband and son did."
"Please, don't upset yourself," Anthony cautioned.
"Don't pretend you care how an old woman suffers, you hypocrite. You're the worst of the whole murderous lot. I curse you above all others. May you never live to know one hour of happiness."
"My heart breaks for you, Mrs. DeLucca. It's always the women who must suffer, but that is the life we live. Violence and murder are part of our business."
"It's part of your business. You're the murderer," the old woman said, breaking down in tears.
Frank Romano felt genuine pity for her.
"Let me take you home, Mrs. DeLucca. Tomorrow is your husband's funeral. You'll need your strength for that."
"Frank, you're a good man. I know you're the only one in this room who doesn't have the blood of my son or my husband on his hands. Hear me. Don't trust any of the Reginos, least of all Anthony. He's a monster!" she spat and then left.
"That poor woman," Anthony said, feigning compassion he did not feel, "May God comfort her."
"How can you feel sorry for her after what she said about you?" Mario asked.
"How can I help it? Her son wasn't even cold in his grave when her husband was taken from her."
"You would have made a fine priest, Tony," Mario said with a laugh.
A nurse came into the room to announce that Don Vincenzo was awake and could receive guests. Everyone, except for Anthony, hurried to his bedside. The younger brother, amused by Mario's last comment, picked up a bible that had been lying on the coffee table.
"Let those fools think I'm weak and soft-hearted. I'd rather have them think that than guess the truth. For only if I work in secret can I turn my enemies against each other and eliminate them all."
Anthony walked down the hall to a phone booth. He looked around to make sure no one was near and then called one of the two men guarding his brother Carlo.
"It's me," he said in a low voice. "We have to move quickly. Carlo must die before Vinnie does."
"Don't worry. We'll take of it."
"Neither of you will regret this. When I'm head of the family, you'll both be my trusted lieutenants."
* * *
Several weeks later, the doctors pronounced Don Vincenzo out of danger and moved him out of intensive care. He sat up in his hospital bed with his wife, her brothers, Frank Romano and Dominic Carlino gathered around him.
"I can't tell you what it means to me to have you all here together," the don said. "There's been so much bloodshed. Now that my life is drawing to an end ...."
"No," Rosalie said quickly.
"My dear, I can't live forever, nor would I want to if I could. But before I die, I want all of you to promise me that you'll put aside all bitterness and work together for the good of the family."
They all agreed.
"And you must follow Tony's advice, for he's as wise as he is loyal."
Rosalie and her brothers held their tongues. They had long known that Don Vincenzo was blind to Anthony's cunning treachery.
"Where is my brother, anyway? Surely, he's back from his honeymoon by now."
As if on cue, Anthony Regino walked into the hospital room.
"Tony! Come and celebrate with us. Frank and Dominic have agreed to work with my wife's brothers in running the family. After all, why should we hold it against them just because Al Marzetti couldn't be trusted?"
"I agree with you, brother," Anthony said smiling falsely. "I, for one, hold no grudge against the Marzettis. Your lovely wife and her brothers are all part of our family now."
Rosalie, who feared and detested her husband's youngest brother, prayed that if Vinnie died, Carlo would become the new don.
"Dear husband," she said, "since we all agree that unity is the best hope for the Regino family, wouldn't it be best for Carlo to be included in our new pact?"
"Yes! I don't believe there is any truth to those lies that he put a contract out on me. Dominic, have Carlo brought here."
"Vinnie, haven't you heard?" Anthony asked with shocked surprise.
"Heard what?"
"Carlo's body was pulled out of the river last night."
"It can't be true! I left instructions that he was to be held under guard."
"Don't worry, Vinnie, I'll get to the bottom of this. I promise you. After all," he said with pretended grief, "he was my brother, too."
Don Vincenzo hugged Tony and shed tears over the death of their sibling.
Later that night, Anthony and Frank Romano stopped at a bar on the way home from the hospital.
"Strange, that the don didn't know about Carlo," Frank said suspiciously.
"It was stranger yet the way Rosalie and her brothers acted so nervous when he did find out.," Anthony added, successfully shifting suspicion to his enemies.
"Did, they? I didn't notice. I was looking at the don."
"Now that I think about it, neither Nick nor Salvatore seemed surprised to hear of Carlo's death. But if the don himself didn't know, how could they have known?"
* * *
Maria Regino was sitting in her son Vincenzo's house watching Carlo's two children talking quietly to each other. They had just left LaRosa's Funeral Home, where their father was laid out amidst a room full of flowers and mourners.
"Grandma, will you take us to Uncle Tony's house now?" the little girl asked.
"No, we are going to stay here and wait for your Aunt Rosalie."
"We don't want to see her," the little boy insisted. "She was the one who made Uncle Vinnie send our father away."
"Where did you ever get such an idea?" Maria asked, horrified.
"Uncle Tony told us. He also said he loved us and would protect us from the people who hurt our father."
"We all love you. Your Uncle Vinnie, your Aunt Rosalie and I will all protect you."
The front door opened and in walked Rosalie, weeping profusely, followed by her brothers.
"What is all this?" Maria asked.
"It's Vinnie," Rosalie cried. "He had another heart attack. He's dead!"
Maria's tears and cries of anguish joined those of her daughter-in-law.
"Rosalie, you must pull yourself together," Salvatore instructed his sister. "Your husband's dead, but you have your children to think of now."
"You're right, Sal," Rosalie agreed, fighting to regain her composure. "I thank God I still have my children."
"Yes," Maria cried. "You at least have the comfort of your babies. What have I got? Vinnie and Carlo are both gone. All I have left is Anthony, and what comfort is he?"
News of the don's death spread quickly, and soon people began arriving at the house. Dominic Carlino, Mario Ferraro and Frank Romano, as high-ranking members of the Regino family, came to pay their respects. Angelina Regino, the former Mrs. Enzo DeLucca, arrived with her new husband, Anthony, who played the grieving brother to perfection. He tried to comfort both Rosalie and his mother, but neither woman was fooled by his pretense.
"Excuse me," Rosalie said coolly as she pulled away from his embrace. "I need my children right now. I want to call Carla at school, and then I have to phone my mother and arrange to have the boys sent home."
"Johnny and Joey are at your mother's?"
"Yes, I sent them there when Vinnie went into the hospital, and I want them home with me now."
* * *
The next day Salvatore Marzetti drove his sister to the train station to pick up her two teenage sons; her daughter was in college and would return home at the end of the week. When the train arrived, Rosalie watched anxiously as the passengers got off and headed for the exits. Her sons were not among them.
Fear stabbed at Rosalie's heart.
"Johnny and Joey aren't here," she cried.
"Maybe they're coming on a later train," Salvatore suggested. "I'll go call Mother and check."
Rosalie did not need to hear the confirmation from her mother. She'd already surmised that her boys were missing. Unbeknownst to her, at that moment young Johnny and Joey Regino were in the Bella Vino warehouse with their Uncle Tony and Frank Romano.
"Why'd you bring us here?" Joey, the older son, asked. "I thought we were going to see our mother."
"You'll be safer here. With your father and Uncle Carlo dead, someone might try to take over the Regino family," their uncle explained.
"If that were the case, then you would have more need of protection than we do," the boy said somewhat disrespectfully.
"I'm an adult. I can take care of myself, but you two are only children."
"I think we'd be safer with our mother than we are here with you."
"Why do you say that? You're my nephews. I would protect you with my life."
"You're a cripple. I don't think you'd even be able to save yourself."
Anthony's anger flared, but he kept it well hidden.
"It's the family's wish that you stay here temporarily, so make yourselves comfortable as best you can."
The scheming uncle locked the boys in the room, and then he and Frank went into the warehouse office.
"Young Joey's got quite a mouth on him, doesn't he?" Frank asked.
"He's a good kid, probably just going through a phase."
"I'll bet your sister-in-law has been filling his head with lies about you."
"I have no doubt you're right."
Waiting in Anthony's office was Vito Torrenzano, one of Dominic Carlino's men.
"You wanted to see me, Tony?" Vito asked.
"Now that both my brothers are dead, I'm head of the Regino family."
Vito nodded.
"I assumed as much. You're the only remaining brother."
Although the leadership of a criminal organization was not like a royal line of succession and power did not always pass to the next male in line, in more cases than not, it did.
"When I'm officially declared the don, I'm going to go after the Marzettis."
"Why? They're a part of your family," Vito said with shock.
"For years, the Marzettis have been plotting to take over the business. Why do you think Rosalie married my brother in the first place? Once she became a Regino, she convinced Vinnie to give her brothers jobs in the organization. They started out as nothing but numbers runners, and now they handle all the family's gambling operations. The Marzettis have amassed money and power on their own, and they're getting stronger. It's just a matter of time before they come after us."
"They don't have enough muscle. We outnumber them twenty to one."
"The kids are the key. Rosalie parades them before the family as Reginos—the heirs apparent to Vinnie's empire. Many in our family will feel loyalty to them because of Vinnie, but those boys are Marzettis through and through, regardless of their name."
"Tony, you have my loyalty. I'll swear allegiance to you before I'd ever serve a Marzetti."
Anthony smiled.
"I knew I could count on you. You're a man of honor, one to be treated with respect. However, I'm not so certain about your boss."
"You think Dominic would side with the Marzettis?"
"I don't know. He might wish to remain neutral, and a man in his position can't afford to be neutral. Either he's with us or against us. I want you to talk to Dominic and sound him out. If the Reginos should declare war on the Marzettis, will he fight with us?"
Vito Torrenzano looked proud as if he had been greatly honored by Anthony's trust.
"I'll go see Dominic right now, Don Anthony."
When Vito left, Frank Romano turned to Tony and asked, "And if Dominic refuses to go along with you on this?"
"Then we kill him."
* * *
Again, the Regino family met outside LaRosa's Funeral Home. This time it was to pay their respects to Don Vincenzo. Outside, in the parking lot, Vito Torrenzano stood beside his boss, Dominic Carlino.
"I can't believe it," Dominic said. "First Carlo and now Vinnie."
Vito realized this was the perfect opportunity to talk to him about the Marzettis.
"I wonder what the Marzettis will do when Tony officially becomes the don."
"I doubt they'll do anything. Vinnie was very generous to his wife's family. They'll be loyal to the Reginos, especially since Vinnie's two sons will probably command the family someday."
"But Tony is Vinnie's brother and, as such, he'll be the new don."
"For now. But I think eventually young Joey will step into his father's shoes."
"And how do you feel about that?" Vito asked, appearing calm yet anxiously awaiting the reply.
"Vinnie was one of my best friends. I swore to him before he died that I would keep the peace with the Marzettis."
"What if Tony decides to go to war against them?"
"My loyalty to Vinnie and his sons would come before my loyalty to his brother."
The conversation ended as Frank Romano came out of the funeral home, walked toward them and announced, "The boss wants to hold a meeting."
"When and where?" Dominic asked.
"Tomorrow at eight in Cucci's car dealership."
The following day, when Dominic and Vito arrived at Cucci Motors—another Regino family front—everyone was present except Anthony, who arrived ten minutes later. The purpose of the meeting was to formally appoint the new head of the Regino family. None of the members present objected to Tony's ascension. Had Joey Regino been older than fourteen, though, the vote might have been different.
Anthony rose and thanked those assembled for their confidence and loyalty. Then he proceeded to tell them of his plans concerning the elimination of the Marzettis. Only Dominic Carlino protested. Anthony cast a withering stare at him.
"Your opposition to my plan is duly noted. However, your concern for those traitors is a bit late. There was an unfortunate explosion at Nick Marzetti's home earlier this afternoon. My poor sister-in-law is, at this minute, grieving the loss of her three brothers. Now, I'd like to invite you all to come and join Angelina and me for a celebration at the Carnivale."
Anthony's friends quickly rose and followed him. So, too, did those who feared rather than respected him. Dominic Carlino alone stayed seated at the table. When the other men left, Bruno Tirelli, Anthony's personal hit man, sneaked back inside the building and put three bullets in Carlino's head.
* * *
Anthony walked into his late brother's office in the Bella Vino warehouse. Frank Romano and Vito Torrenzano, who had moved up in rank to assume Dominic Carlino's position, arrived shortly after him.
"We got bad news. Nick Marzetti is still alive. He was in the garage when the bomb went off."
Anthony slammed his good arm on the desk and cursed his luck.
"Where is he now?"
"He's gone into hiding. We don't have any proof yet, but we believe he's under the protection of Don Giuseppe Farino."
That news upset Anthony even more. Don Giuseppe headed a criminal family as strong as, if not stronger than, the Reginos. As such, he could prove to be a formidable enemy.
"The Farinos have never been our allies," Tony announced, "but then they have never been our enemies either. Why would they protect Nick and risk war with the Reginos?"
"The don's son, Angelo, is in love with your niece, Carla," Vito explained. "They met in college, and Angelo has asked Rosalie for permission to marry her daughter."
"Damn those Marzettis! My sister-in-law and her family have been a thorn in my side for years."
"There's more," Frank said, "Rosalie doesn't believe that you're doing everything you can to locate her sons, so she's appealed to Don Giuseppe for help."
"She went outside the family?"
"Yes, and if the Farinos discover you've got the boys, they'll come after you."
Later, when Vito left to go to the men's room, Anthony turned to Frank.
"I have a job for you. I want my nephews to disappear—permanently."
Frank shook his head.
"I don't murder children, not even for you. If you want them dead, you're going to have to get someone else to do it."
"Frank," Anthony sighed. "I thought I could count on you, that you would be my second in command. I guess I was wrong."
After Anthony left the warehouse, he met in secret with Bruno Tirelli.
"I have four packages that need to be delivered," he said cryptically.
Bruno nodded his head in understanding.
"First, I have two nephews that must never be found. Second, I need to cement relations with the Farino family. If I were to marry the don's oldest daughter that would make them our allies."
"What about Angelina?" Bruno asked.
"My dear wife has developed quite a drinking habit since our marriage. I do believe an accident would solve her problem and mine."
"And the last package?"
"It seems Frank Romano is not the loyal friend we thought he was."
* * *
Francesca DeLucca sat on a bench in Holy Cross Cemetery staring at Angelina Regino's grave. Again, she cursed Anthony. He had not been content to merely kill her son; he also took his wife. And worse, he made the poor girl miserable. It was a blessing she died and thus escaped her unhappy marriage.
As Francesca mourned the loss of her former daughter-in-law, she saw Maria and Rosalie Regino emerge from Don Vincenzo's mausoleum. The grieving woman remembered that on the eve of her husband's funeral, she had cursed Rosalie and all those who were in the waiting room at St. Michael's. How foolish she had been to blame poor Rosalie for the crimes of her husband's family. Rosalie and Maria were no more responsible for the bloodshed that plagued them than she herself was.
Francesca picked up her cane and walked toward the two women.
"What do you want?" Rosalie cried when she spotted the older woman. "Your curses have already cost me a husband and quite possibly my sons. Isn't that enough? Or do you hope to deprive me of my daughter, too?"
"It's not my curses that took your sons away," Francesca said sadly. "If you want to know what happened to your boys, ask your brother-in-law."
"I've asked him. He's doing everything in his power to find them. I have also asked Don Giuseppe for his help."
Francesca shook her head sadly.
"No one will find them."
"Do you know something we don't?" Maria asked, anxious for any word of her grandsons.
"I have heard a rumor that one of Anthony's men was drunk out of his mind, crying that he had murdered two innocent children: smothered the older one and stabbed the younger."
"Can this be true?" Rosalie cried.
"Come, we'll go see Tony right now," Maria said.
Rosalie and her mother-in-law then drove to the Bella Vino warehouse. Anthony was surprised by the unexpected visit.
"Have you had my sons killed?" Rosalie demanded to know.
"Don't be ridiculous. I've been trying to find them for weeks. But right now, I'd rather discuss your daughter. You must tell her to break off her engagement to Angelo Farino. Do you think simply because you are women that you and Carla are safe from the family's enemies?"
"You murderer!" Rosalie screamed. "You killed my brothers and my sons and now you threaten my daughter. If I were a man, I'd kill you myself."
His mother stepped forward and struck Tony hard across the face.
"I curse the day I gave birth to you. I want nothing more to do with you, ever. As far as I'm concerned, you're not a Regino. I would rather see the family in the control of someone like Giuseppe Farino than in your blood-stained hands."
* * *
"There's more bad news, boss," Vito Torrenzano announced gravely. "Don Giuseppe has demanded you turn over your two nephews—or else."
"He's bluffing. He doesn't have any proof that I ever had those two kids," Anthony replied.
"He does now. Frank Romano has joined forces with Angelo Farino."
"That traitorous bastard! Well, Vito, I guess we go to war."
In the following weeks, Angelo Farino moved against the Regino family. Tony's men retaliated and succeeded in capturing Frank Romano. Don Anthony watched with satisfaction as his former lieutenant was savagely beaten by Bruno Tirelli.
"See what you get for your treachery, Frank?"
"You would have killed me anyway. Besides, I deserve to die for my disloyalty to Vinnie and his children."
That night, shortly before dawn, Tony was awakened by a terrifying nightmare in which he was haunted by those that he had murdered: his brother Carlo, his nephews Joey and Johnny, Enzo and Carmine DeLucca, Frank Romano, Salvatore and Louie Marzetti, Dominic Carlino and his own wife, Angelina. They all came to him in his sleep and cursed him for his foul deeds. The devious crime boss woke in a cold sweat, his heart beating rapidly.
That same night, Angelo Farino also dreamed of those same people, but he woke feeling jubilant, for the souls of those so cruelly murdered by Anthony Regino swore to fight on his side.
The following morning, Anthony drove to the Bella Vino warehouse where he was to meet Bruno Tirelli and Vito Torrenzano to plan an attack on one of the Farino family's strongholds. As his bodyguard opened the outer door to the office, an explosion rocked the ground. Anthony was thrown against the wall with a force that broke several of his ribs. Dazed and in great pain, he tried to stagger back to his car, but he never made it.
Angelo Farino and Nick Marzetti appeared from behind the warehouse. They showed no pity toward the injured man, for he deserved none. He had betrayed his honor and his family, and as such he deserved to die.
* * *
Carla Regino and Angelo Farino were married six months later. Rosalie and Maria looked on with pride as the remaining Marzetti family members formed an alliance with the Farinos. Nick Marzetti took hold of his sister's arm as they left the church.
"It's ironic," he said, "that despite all Tony's plotting and scheming, he couldn't destroy the Marzettis."
"No," Rosalie replied sadly. "All he succeeded in doing was eliminating the Reginos."
This story is the result of crossing Shakespeare's Richard III with Mario Puzo's The Godfather.
Salem and his two brothers once tried to take over my saltbox. Then I made him an offer he couldn't refuse: I put a mouse's head in his bed one night.
