It was still “the hard old days” in Sicily.
The rugged country villages and harsh ghetto streets of the urban centers where Onorata Società—the Mafia—was born could provide virtually bottomless pools of malacarni manpower; new blood which was still immersed in the old ways, subject to disciplines of omertà—honored silence—and unquestioning loyalty to the chief.
There had been a time, and not too long ago, when foreign-born lower-echelon Mafiosi had been treated contemptuously by the native Americans. They’d been referred to as “greasers” and “mustache Petes” and other uncomplimentary tags.
Not now.
The new immigrants were being accorded considerable respect, even from those whom they had come to replace. Augie Marinello, the New York superboss, had started the trend toward imported hoods, bringing over an occasional one or two for specific tasks at hand, then retaining and absorbing them into the established ranks.
They had proven to be nerveless assassins as well as loyal servants of the brotherhood.
So old man Angeletti had gone Marinello one better. He was bringing in entire gradigghia, or gangs, in an awesome buildup of muscle such as had not been attempted since the old Castellammarese wars.
According to Bolan’s intelligence, Don Stefano intended to use the new cadre not only for his own security but as an eventual base of power for his son, Frank Angeletti, who would soon be succeeding the old man as boss of Philadelphia.
It was, to Bolan, an ominous development in his war. Until recently there had been a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel; he had begun to see the possibility of victory in this impossible damn war. But if the Capi could draw upon an unlimited reserve of manpower, then, yeah, the whole thing was beginning to look hopeless again.
So Bolan had come to Philadelphia to face this new enemy, to test them, and—if possible—to turn them back.
He had to discourage the whole idea of imported gunners. If he could not convince the American Capi that they’d placed their chips on the wrong numbers, then he at least had to put the fear of something else into the Sicilians.
Those guys had come from withered pastures to what must have seemed like lush new fields. They’d had everything to gain and very little to lose by venturing into the U.S.
Bolan would have to give them something to lose.
It was precisely why he had come to Philadelphia—to bring war, death, fear, panic. Especially death.
The Executioner had come to Philly to rout the foreign armies.
So maybe he could and maybe he couldn’t.
Maybe Leo was right and he didn’t stand a chance against the Philadelphia defenses. But he had to try. He had to.
Following the brief telephone contact with Leo Turrin, Bolan returned directly to his latest version of the warwagon.
It was a late-model Chevy panel truck, closely resembling a telephone company service vehicle. Actually the Chevy was a mobile combat command post and arsenal. In there was everything he would need to wage war against the Brotherly Love Outfit and its outriders.
Over his black combat outfit he had donned loose-fitting coveralls similar to those worn by telephone linemen.
He had located the main enemy force. He had served notice of his presence and had delivered his declaration of war.
Two days of painstaking recon and combat planning had shown him the most likely approach to this new enemy.
Nothing remained now but to do it.
It was time. It was time to tell the gradigghia that they had ventured into hell’s pastures.
It was time for the first big Philly hit.
Buy Panic in Philly Now!
About the Author
Don Pendleton (1927–1995) was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He served in the US Navy during World War II and the Korean War. His first short story was published in 1957, but it was not until 1967, at the age of forty, that he left his career as an aerospace engineer and turned to writing full time. After producing a number of science fiction and mystery novels, in 1969 Pendleton launched his first book in the Executioner saga: War Against the Mafia. The series, starring Vietnam veteran Mack Bolan, was so successful that it inspired a new American literary genre, and Pendleton became known as the father of action-adventure.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1972 by Pinnacle Books
Cover design by Mauricio Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-4976-8567-3
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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