by Tony Bertot
“Thanks, Theo, for today’s lesson,” he thought to himself as he climbed over the fence separating this building with the other as he made his way south. A few minutes later, he was on East Roosevelt Road heading upstairs to his apartment.
Davino Falls in Love
Little Italy/Chicago
Davino had been patrolling for almost two weeks when he met Miss Gena Rufino, who had recently moved into the neighborhood.
“It was meant to be,” thought Davino.
From the moment he met her, she showed an interest in him and he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She had purchased some groceries at his uncle’s butcher store. He was standing around, she asked him to help her with the groceries, and Davino obliged with a huge smile on his face. When they reached her apartment, she asked if he could bring the groceries inside. When they were alone, she made it clear that she appreciated his help by bringing herself close to him. Her perfume was intoxicating and her posture alluring. He excused himself and stumbled out of the apartment almost falling down the stairs when he left.
“Wow! What a woman,” Davino thought to himself.
The next day, Gena came over to the butcher shop to thank Davino for helping her. She invited him to have coffee with her at a nearby restaurant, an invitation he gladly accepted. Over the course of the next few days they saw each other more and more. She cooked a meal for him at her apartment but was quick to excuse herself with a terrible headache when Davino hinted on staying the night.
“I’m sorry, honey, but I have a terrible headache and it wouldn’t be proper. I hope you understand.”
“Of course I understand,” he replied.
In his eyes she could do no wrong. To him she was an angel sent from above.
What Davino did not know was that her name was not Gina Rufino and that they did not meet by accident. No, Gina Rufino worked for the Sabrisio family and her new assignment was to meet Davino.
Davino was head over heels and was sure Gina loved him too. Blinded by a passion he did not understand, he lost his vision and sealed his fate.
Bolnaldo Headquarters
New York City
Bolnaldo, an always-paranoid man, moved his headquarters from above the pizzeria to another location in Little Italy. In his first few days as head of what was left of the Sambrasio Agostino gang, he determined that though they were not too big, they had a strong presence in boot-legging, the numbers racket, and prostitution. Sambrasio had almost fifty men working for him in Manhattan. With the help of Clemente Marino, they introduced themselves to the other members of his new organization. Most went along without a hitch and those that did not met with a fatal head wound in front of the others. This method of persuasion worked well.
In a short time, Bolnaldo’s reputation as a ruthless son-of-a-bitch was established. The only real problem Bolnaldo faced was a lack of loyalty. Except for Clemente, he did not have anyone he trusted and as a result, he called on his friends in Chicago for some muscle. The Sabrisio family promised him four men; two would be sent immediately and two others at a later date. Therefore, when Clemente announced that the two men were here, Bolnaldo was pleased.
“Gentlemen, I have been expecting you. Please, please come in and sit down. I hope the trip in from Chicago was not too tiring. I have a few things that need taking care of right away,” Bolnaldo said.
The two men walked in, sat, and said nothing.
“How are the Sabrisio brothers? Did they give you any message?” Bolnaldo inquired.
“They send their regards. No further message was sent,” the older of the two said.
After a short introduction, Bolnaldo explained his plans on expanding his business.
The two men listened carefully as Bolnaldo explained. First, he wanted them to start recruiting men that can be trusted and he wanted to interview each one who passed their scrutiny. Next, he wanted to replace anyone in the organization not bringing in his or her share of the profits.
“This should deter any dishonesty among our crooks,” Bolnaldo said laughing. Finally, he shared his vision for expanding the business to the other boroughs.
First they would have to know who his competition is, second how strong they were and finally, the location of their headquarters and businesses.
Before Bolnaldo, Clemente and the two men parted ways they had dined together at a local restaurant called La Ristorante. Bolnaldo was pleased with their mannerism and conduct, although they were men of few words. One of the two suggested that those that skim should have their right hand cut off as a warning to the others. Bolnaldo loved the idea and made a joke that half the Italians in New York City would be walking around without their right hand. They burst out laughing causing other restaurant guests to glance their way.
After their departure, Clemente drove Bolnaldo home where his wife, Carmen, would be waiting up for him.
“Bolnaldo, is that you?” she asked as she heard the door unlock.
“Who else would it be?” he responded.
At the kitchen table sat ten-year-old Bolnaldo junior.
“What are you doing up?” he asked his son.
“Got to finish this project for school, Pop,” he answered.
“Did you eat?” Carmen asked him
“Yeah, Clemente and I had dinner,” he told her.
“You never take me out, anymore,” she said to him.
“Don’t start with me,” he said in a loud voice.
Bolnaldo junior closed his book, gathered his papers, and left the kitchen abruptly expecting them to get into a fight. However, they did not fight. Carmen threw a utensil into the sink and walked out of the kitchen. Bolnaldo stared after her and smiled, reached into the nearby cupboard, grabbed a glass, and from another cupboard pulled out a bottle of scotch. He sat at the kitchen table and poured himself a shot. Three shots later, he went to bed.
It was around three in the morning when the phone rang, rousing Bolnaldo from a deep sleep.
“What the... Hello. Hello who is this?” Bolnaldo growled into the phone.
“Clemente, is that you? What’s going on?” he inquired.
“What? What are you saying? Who the…” Bolnaldo listened as Clemente went on.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” Bolnaldo almost shouted into the phone.
“I’ll meet you there,” Bolnaldo told Clemente referring to their headquarters.
Bolnaldo was dressed and in his rush almost stumbled down the steps. Grabbing his keys and rushing through the front door, he was in his blue Lincoln Continental racing towards his office.
As he sped along his thoughts were on what Clemente told him - the two men they entertained, the two men with whom they shared their plans, the two men they thought to be Sabrisio’s men were not them at all. The men sent by the Sabrisio family had just arrived into town.
So who were the men they confided all their plans to? This is what went through Bolnaldo’s mind, as he raced across town.
First Communion
New York City/Queens
The choir filled Our Lady of Hope Church in Queens with beautiful music as friends and families of the children receiving their First Holy Communion listened. Eighty-year-old Anzio Giordano and his wife, Ella, watched as their five-year-old great granddaughter, Felicia, made her Communion. Next to him stood his grandson, thirty seven year old Fazio Giordano father of Felicia and next to him sitting on the bench sat three-year-old Fabiano Giordano.
“She looks like an angel,” Anzio commented to Fazio.
“Yes, she does, Pop,” Fazio, answered his grandfather while holding back tears thinking of how proud Angie, his wife, would have been to see their daughter. Fazio had been plagued by tragedy his whole life. He lost his mother and father in a boating accident when he was a child and just recently his wife to cancer.
Raised by his grandparents he became close to them and over the years even closer to his grandfather, and as he watched him age, Fazio found himself more and more
by his side.
Fazio owned a store in lower Manhattan that sold all types of electronic equipment. A graduate of City College he majored in Electronics. Before going to college, he joined the military where he became a marksman for the third Army Brigade. He was fortunate not having to perform any combat duty during his honorable tour in the military. It was his grandfather’s insistence that he better himself by going on to college. Though reluctant, he did it out of respect.
As they exited the church, Ella held Felicia’s hand while Fazio, walking alongside his grandfather, carried Fabiano often referred to by his grandfather as Fabio.
His grandparents arrived at the church in a car driven by a good friend of the family who was waiting by the curb.
Fazio took Fabio from his grandfather and started towards his car parked down the block on 71st Street.
“Daddy, may I ride with grandma and grandpa?” Felicia asked her father.
“Sure sweetheart,” responded Fazio smiling down at his beautiful daughter.
A decision he would later regret, a decision that would change his life’s course.
Loss of Innocence
Little Italy/Chicago
It was Friday, July 3rd, and the Wabash Avenue storeowners were preparing for the July 4th crowds that would line the streets for the parade celebrating Independence Day. The war in Europe was on everyone’s mind. This was the opportunity to show support for the troops and for what they were fighting.
Sergio Gresco was busy in his store cleaning up and dusting all of the shelves. It had been over a week since young Nick worked at the store and with his commitment fulfilled, he had no reason to come back, but he did.
Theo, who had been at his father’s shop earlier, had been allowed to go and enjoy the rest of the day with his camera. Nick showed up and they took off on their own adventure. Nick liked hanging around Sergio’s shop, even though his father had forbidden it.
Theo was showing Nick how to use the camera and how to take pictures without the prospective target ever knowing that he had taken a picture. They made a game of it. Nick would point to someone and Theo would stalk the person or persons until he got his picture. At times Theo, just a few feet away from his target, would snap the picture and quickly turn and act as if he was looking in another direction with his camera hidden in front of him. They were about three quarters of the way down the block when they saw Davino walking past them arm in arm with that same girl he had been chatting with over a week ago. Nick nodded to Theo who quickly darted between the cars hoping to get ahead of Davino and the girl so that he could snap their picture. Moving south on Wabash he ran about four cars ahead and then back onto the sidewalk heading north towards the two. They seemed consumed in their conversation and never noticed Theo take their picture, twice. As they passed, Theo heard Gina pleading with him to take her somewhere with Davino agreeing. They continued their trek south with Nick and Theo a few feet behind them. When Davino and Gina got to the corner of South Wabash and Roosevelt Road, Theo and Nick saw them hail a cab and head east. What they did not notice was a parked black Dodge D8, with a driver and two occupants in the back seat, pull out heading north on Wabash.
Reaching the end of the block both boys turned around and were now headed north back up Wabash. The camera still had two more pictures left in it and Theo said that once they used up all of the film he would show Nick how to develop it. As they were heading toward the store, they heard a whistle. It was coming from up the block but they could not pinpoint the location. A few feet from the corner, Nick pointed to two men exiting his father’s store.
“Take their picture,” said Nick pointing to the two men as they headed to the black Dodge D8 standing alongside the corner.
Click.
Whirr.
Click.
Whirr.
“That’s it. There’s no more film,” said Theo to Nick.
He got both men looking in their direction and one as they got into the awaiting car.
Both Nick and Theo stared at the Dodge as it pulled out in a big hurry, screeching its tires as it fled the area.
They turned towards the shop when suddenly they were flying through the air, slammed against a nearby-parked car as debris and smoke surrounded them.
Though his hearing had become muffled, Theo could hear and see people screaming. He saw Nick on the ground beside him and wondered why Nick would decide to go to sleep in the middle of the sidewalk. Everything was moving in slow motion. Suddenly someone lifted him up. It was his mother.
“Oh my God, Theo, baby. Are you alright?” she screamed at him.
“No! No! Nooooo...”
Theo heard his mother sobbing as she looked up at the front of their store.
“Sergio… Oh God, please. No,” she went on as she held Theo tightly.
Theo turned and noticed Nick was now sitting up.
“What? What happened?” he asked still dazed from the explosion.
Theo pushed himself away from his mother and turned around to see people with buckets of water, trying to extinguish the fire that engulfed his father’s shop.
“Papa! Mama, where’s Papa?” he asked her as he stared into her eyes.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. I don’t know,” was her anguished response as tears streamed down her face.
A few seconds later Benito Randazzo and his wife joined her and Theo. Others came to their side as they watched people desperately trying to put out the fire. A few minutes later the sound of sirens filled the air as they became louder and louder.
An hour later, it was over.
The fire was out.
One of the local police officers walked over to Theo and his mother, stared into her eyes and shook his head. He could not find the words not with Theo looking up at him.
Theo knew. He felt it in his mother’s grip as it tightened. He felt it as his mother’s knees weakened and when Benito’s wife openly sobbed. He felt it in the air.
Theo looked around and saw Nick staring back at him. Both stared at one another for a few seconds, no tears in either of their eyes as Nick turned and walked away.
It was the end of innocence and the beginning of a new life.
A Quick Departure
Chicago
The driver raced the Dodge D8 north on South Wabash Avenue heading straight to East 9th Street where he made a right turn, drove two blocks and turned south. Slowing down to normal traffic speed, the Dodge continued south for a few miles to an abandoned area close to Lake Michigan, where another vehicle awaited their arrival. Before deserting the Dodge D8, it was doused in gasoline and set afire. Five minutes later, they were heading out of town.
These two men, Mario Pierina and Rico Vitalia, had been hired by the Sabrisio family to take care of the instigator of the rebellion of shopkeepers on South Wabash. They had agreed to leave Chicago for New York after they took care of Sergio Gresco. A permanent job was waiting for them, working for Bolnaldo Costellino.
They would remain gainfully employed by the Bolnaldo Costellino family for the next ten and a half years.
Somewhere in Queens
Queens New York
The two men, John Battanio and Ray Spandoza, sat across Ricardo Gallo and Sal Manetti hysterically laughing and wiping tears from their eyes.
“Then after they laid out their plans on how they were going to expand their business, they took us out to dinner. Would you believe that?” Ray, the older of the two men continued.
The room, filled with about six men and two women, laughed even louder. No one could contain themselves as the story came to life.
Finally, Ricardo spoke.
“So, this is what the new boss is like, huh?” he asked the men.
“This guy comes in new, knocks off Sambrasio, takes over his organization and invites you guys, two total strangers, to dinner? Did he offer to tuck you in at night, too?”
Once more the crowd laughed.
“Do you think we can talk him into letting us take over his busin
ess? What’s this stupido’s name?” Ricardo went on.
“Costellino, Bolnaldo Costellino,” replied John Battanio.
“Bolnaldo Costellino, from Chicago?” Sal asked, now standing up.
“Yeah, that’s what he said,” Ray replied.
“Holy shit, I thought he was dead or in prison,” said Ricardo.
“You know this guy?” John asked.
“Yeah, we know him. Don’t particularly like the guy, but we now have to go and pay him a visit. Just to keep things from escalating,” said Ricardo.
“He’s got muscle out of Chicago. Lots of muscle and we can’t afford to put him on our wrong side. I’m sure he’s going to try to expand his business into our territories, as he already told you. Nevertheless, that will take some time, maybe a year or two. He’ll slow down once he finds out who we, become cautious. Right now he could win an all out war between us, but he probably doesn’t know that yet. This is New York, not Chicago. He is out of his element. But knowing him, it will only be a matter of time,” Ricardo added.
After a few seconds, Sal Manetti spoke up.
“I don’t think we should pay him a visit. Why don’t we pretend we don’t know he’s in town. Attack him now, while he is still trying to get himself planted. We already know he called in people from Chicago. We also know he was only expecting two but I am sure more are coming. We need to attack him now and not reveal ourselves to him. Let him come to us. That’s what I think.” Ricardo said.
The men stared at one another for a short period, mulling it over.