What makes an organized crime family so systematic? What brings them to a simplistic yet beneficial conversation by hearing out a representative of each respective crime group? The answer is their actions themselves. It speaks for them, nonetheless. But this one... It's all matters of the family.
The Manzo and Marina Family still have quite a strong bond throughout a decade of their coalition and with Dino Manzo and Antonella Marina being such good friends since their days of childhood, both families are always up for mutual collaboration. With their genealogies conserved, it wasn't much of a surprise that they remained pure.
On the other hand, the Leone Family, have become a weakened collective after they switched lanes from the strict continuation of the family traditions to narcotics. It was something that the two other families doesn't agree with, that is the Leone being astray further from them. And now, there might have been a reunion with the three families due to the alleged wedding of Giorgi and Lucia in which some members of the Marina and Manzo family disagree with.
Dino, the head of the Manzo family, has issued a table meeting with each family's delegate and their trusted consigliere or their adviser. Unfortunately, Don Manzo doesn't have one. The underboss of the family and his brother Sal is taking care of his son Fabio back in the penthouse but on second thought, he might not need one. He will do the advising and decision-making on behalf of his clan.
After calling an urgent gathering with the representatives of each family, Dino expected to see Don Martin Marina and Giorgi's father, Don Agostino Leone. The meeting will be held at Villa Marina, and Martin seems to be the one who arrived earlier than expected. While stepping down from the vehicle, the consigliere of the family, Eddie Franco.
"Don Manzo is waiting for us, Don Marina. I hope he has been patient enough for us and our arrival." Said Eddie who assisted Marty to get out of the car.
"What's with the rush, Eddie? We have time all day." Don Marina came out with his cane, gripping it firmly as he uses it to walk cautiously.
Eddie grooms himself retouching his necktie, entering Villa Marina before Martin. "I'm just saying, Don Marina. Now we have to wait for Don Leone and his son to come by."
"This is also my home, you don't have to rush things out." Don Marina was then welcomed by his niece.
"Buona sera, zio." Antonella immediately took her uncle's hand, paying respects to him.
"Oh, buona sera, buona sera. How is my ravishing niece doing?" Don Marina was refreshed to see Antonella in person.
"Better than ever since you called earlier, uncle Marty." Antonella didn't make the small accident evident, showing that she is okay.
"Good. Now, where is my brother's godson?" Martin searches for Don Manzo.
"Over here, Don Marina." Dino was rather holding a glass of wine while Vincent and Grant remain in their position.
Marty smiled even more from the presence of Don Manzo. "Oh, look at you now. All grown up, I see. So, how's Firenze? Did you have fun reading Magnifico?"
"Magnifico is a good book, Don Marina. Yes, I had fun reading the exploitation of the House of Medici back when I was a kid." Dino admits that he loved the book about the Medici Family.
"Oh, lucky you... I only get to read Mario Puzo's The Godfather." Don Marina walked towards Dino to get a better view of him.
"You are starting to look like Don Vito Corleone." Don Manzo said jokingly after kissing Don Marina's hand.
"And you are starting to sound like the superior one over here." Martin came up with a rebuttal that had them bursting in laughter.
"You old chap... Come here and take a seat. Feels good to be back home, isn't it? Coming by here to spend time with Antonella feels like yesterday." Dino guided the head of the Marina family to his seat.
"You know that I am, Dino... If you could only take back the time, my brother Niccolo would be here instead of me. Ah, my brother..." Martin sat near the round desk.
"Are you in need of anything, uncle?" Antonella asked.
"Oh, don't mind me, Antonella. Perhaps it is time to take care of yourself. I haven't seen you crack a smile ever since your father died." Martin couldn't help but notice her pouting.
"Being Don Niccolo's only child is quite a pressure on me, uncle." She confided.
"As I said, don't put too much weight on yourself, dear." Don Marina consoled the young Antonella.
She nodded, taking it from him. "Grazie, uncle Marty."
"You don't have to thank me." Martin still tries to cheer her up.
"So, when will they get here?" Don Manzo changes the subject, clearing his throat to get their attention.
"Who?" Don Marina asked.
"Leone Family." He made it clear to them.
"It's almost 8 o'clock and the dinner's been ready." Antonella crossed her arms, sighing in impatience.
Soon they heard a car pulling over in front of the gate, and Antonella rushed outside to open it immediately. She couldn't achieve to look at Don Agostino Leone but instead, her sights are focused on his son, Giorgi. The young man was assisted by his father as they pass through the gate before their consigliere, Rocco Pietra.
Dino placed his glass of wine on the table, telling Vincent and Grant to behave themselves and stand right by his side. "Get in here, boys. Time to straighten up for the night."
They both did as he said, keeping a straight posture during the entrance of the Leone Family. There's Giorgi who is quite hesitant to enter, so his father reminded him they don't have much time. "What on Earth are you waiting for? Lucia? She ain't here on NY."
Don Leone had a grim look on Don Manzo, but the tension was soon gone when they shook each other's hands. This brought to Dino offering the head of the Leone Family a chair to sit on and as their advisers standing beside the Don of the families present, Grant and Vicente were quite intimidated and jealous of how they look like compared to them.
"I think this is a bad idea, compadre. We should get out of here, we're gonna get out of place once they start to chatter." Vincent muttered, almost breaking a sweat when Don Agostino gazed at him.
"Fuck that, this sure is great," Grant replied by saying he is into it.
After Don Marina welcomed Don Leone, he tells Antonella to keep away from them, considering that what would they discuss would be sensitive. "Antonella, dear. Would you mind if you step out? We don't like you hear about the business. You said it's not your world, is it?"
"Will do, uncle. I'm in my room if you need me." She exits the scenery, heading to her room upstairs. After she closes her doors, Don Manzo did the honors to start it.
"Buona sera, gentlemen. Don Marina, welcome back to the villa. And Don Leone, thank you for agreeing with us to attend his rather surprise of a meeting. And the consiglieres... Eddie, Rocco. Good evening." Dino kicks everything off with an introduction so sleek, he has their attention immediately except for Giorgi.
"Greetings to you as well, Don Manzo," Agostino said after taking a seat.
"So, this isn't a common meeting. Tonight, I have decided to babble about this piece of news I heard from Marty here. Sadly, Lucia isn't around so her father would speak on behalf of her." Don Manzo focused on the conflict on Lucia.
"What should I talk about? Oh, the wedding? I know that she isn't ready yet, but we don't want the whole clan waiting for so long." Martin did speak to representing his daughter.
"It's just a rumor, alright. Okay, so I heard." Dino dismisses his speculations about it.
"I don't agree with the idea of Lucia being around my son over here. We all know that he became a made man recently, but tying the knot wouldn't be his thing yet. Ain't that right, Giorgi?" Don Leone looked at his son who wasn't paying attention.
Dino tilted his head slightly, resting his hands in his waist as he kept an eye on Giorgi. And after taking a sip of his wine, he called him by his name. "Look alive, Giorgi. You have the power to unite the three families who are trying to keep you kids immersing in privilege."
"You heard Don Manzo, Giorgi. Why can't you be like anybody else?" Don Leone was still glaring at his son.
"This is the boy that Lucia will marry? Oh, no. Her offer that I will not be refusing won't be worth it. Cat got your tongue, eh? My apologies, perhaps you both are right." Don Marina left a taunting chuckle, bringing his cards out to relieve himself from the tension.
"No, Don Marina." Giorgi finally spoke in front of the three Dons.
"Maybe we are giving the kid too much pressure, pardon me for that. I finally settled the score with the Hopkins Family this morning. And the only word that would describe their downfall? Mashed." Don Manzo was trying to swerve the whole meeting, testing if Giorgi would flinch.
"The Hopkins Family is out... Great. I always knew they were loose ends to take care of." Martin was glad that the Manzo Family has eliminated an opposition.
"Lucia is such a magnificent and talented girl, you know. She's great at music and arts, and now that she's about to enter adulthood. What could you offer, Sergio?" Agostino wasn't finished on teaching his son a lesson.
"Chasing broads and getting on their skirts on? You're a made guy, Giorgi. Not a registered fuck boy." Grant spoke before even thinking about it.
Giorgi heard what Dino's new kid said. "Excuse me? And who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who the fuck am I, dipshit. I-" Grant was about to give him a verbal beating when Vincent halted him.
Don Martin didn't like how Grant sounded like. "Are you serious, Dino? Where are you getting these guys?"
"This one? Oh, he just killed Eric Hopkins without being aware of who or what business he's in. But trust me, this kid's a straight killer. He's quite impulsive, but trust me, I'll get a hold of it." Dino introduced Grant to both Martin and Agostino.
"But still, you know what rules are, Dino. No outsiders." Don Marina reminded Don Manzo what their regulations are.
"He's still learning the ropes, Don Marina. At least give him a chance, he looks a little lost in the track." Don Manzo has his excuses for bringing Grant into the family.
"And what about this one over here? He looks experienced." Don Leone was asking about Vicente.
"Vicente Campana, Don Leone. I was supposed to work for Hopkins but I turned the tables myself. Hopkins was a scam from the very beginning. What a greedy asshole." Vincent introduces himself.
"I like your tone unlike the other one, boy. So what country are you from?" Agostino asked him again.
"No offense, but why do you people always ask where the hell did I come from? This mustache tells me I'm from Mexico, otherwise." Vicente replied.
"Mexico, hmmm?" The head of the Leone family peeked at Don Marina's reaction.
"We don't trust Mexicans here, my boy. But let's see if we could work things out. You seem like a great kid. What kind of work are you specialized in?" Martin gave yet another chance to deal with a Mexican despite what happened to his brother.
"Rolled with the cholos, received a degree, and I'm making a name for myself in the business by keeping it simple. I didn't even expect that I would work for the Italians in the first place, but thank you, anyway." He explains his working history.
"See? Why can't you be like Vicente over here?" Agostino was still scolding his son in front of them.
Suddenly, the consigliere for the Marina Family leaned to speak to Martin, suggesting something. "If I were you, Don Marina, I wouldn't be doing anything that involves people like them."
"Don't worry, Eddie. I got this. Why would I remove my ability to expand connections?" Martin tells him that it would be fine.
"Is that all, pa? You brought me here just to shame me in front of your friends?" Giorgi had the nerves to answer back.
"They're not just friends, they're family! I can't even stand the sight of you bringing different girls every night just to break poor Lucia's heart. Do you understand us, son? I thought you loved her? This isn't a 'boys will be boys situation'." Agostino raises his voice at his son.
"I did love her, I can't just deal with her bullshit. She's too scared to speak out and I don't know when and where to stop." Giorgi reasons out, but Don Manzo and his father Agostino doesn't buy it.
"Oh? You don't know when to stop? Isn't that what your brain is meant for? You act like your dick speaks for you. You know what? Give him a reality check, boys." Don Leone calls for Grant and Vincent's attention as if he had enough of his son's alibi.
"You heard Don Leone..." Vicente gets up from his chair, tackling Giorgi forcefully.
Grant took it so far by slamming the chair at the downed Giorgi, swearing excessively while beating him. "I should have shoved my fucking fists right up your fucking mouth! Not to mention how squeaky your goddamn voice is, you good-for-nothing who fuck everything that walks!"
Vincent stopped assaulting the son of Don Leone after Grant took over, kicking him until he begs for mercy. "Yep, Grant's a bad motherfucker... I told you."
"Alright, that's enough. Hope that's enough for you to handle. I only wish you to man up, capiche?"
Don Leone sighed, waiting for Giorgi to get up.
"Now that seems to be a little harsh, Don Leone. Calling my men to hit your boy? No, that doesn't sound right." Don Manzo realizes that Giorgi has received a slight disadvantage by the numbers.
"Get up, Giorgi," Agostino tells him to get back on his feet.
"We are professionals, Don Leone. We only invited your son to make sure that he still wants to marry Lucia or what. In that way, that could strengthen our bond as a family. So we are asking your son with all due respect, would he fix this by talking to Lucia when she gets here?" Dino kept themselves established from the symposium.
"Don Manzo is giving you a chance, Giorgi. Would you finish what you've started and be committed to it?" Giorgi's father gets to ask him.
The young man just stood right there, dealing with a black eye and a sore head while deciding whether he will sort it out with the woman he is with. "Alright, alright. I will, Don Manzo. Jesus..."
"You don't sound like you're a hundred percent sure of that." Dino makes sure that he would speak to Lucia.
Giorgi sighed, couldn't appeal to what they wanted to do. "I promise that I will not hurt Lucia again or I will face the consequences by being disowned by this very family."
"Good to hear that from you. Again, we are reminding you that you are now a made man. You're officially a part of this, but you don't act like one. Well, we should see you play the part for the remainder." Dino gave Agostino's kid a piece of advice before moving onto the next topic.
Martin didn't bother joining on their conversation earlier since he's enjoying his meal, and now that he is finished eating, he sets his table aside to lend an ear to them despite missing a lot. "So, where are we?"
"Giorgi over here is going to man up finally, let's talk about businesses on our own. It's pretty obvious that I made a point about my kid entering the amateur leagues, but I won't fuck with the money. Don Marina, of course, how's the ocean park business?" Don Manzo reverts the topic to business and business only.
"The goddamn bureau won't leave me alone. They keep saying I need to pay up or it'll get cut short. You know I love putting on such a wonderful display, right? Like those eye candy or something? You know the rest." Don Marina admits that he is being taxed.
"What? Who's taxing you? I thought it was protected?" Dino couldn't believe that Marty has to pay up for taxes.
"They want to juice something out of me. Hell, I could do the same thing. I won't let anyone push me around again." Don Marina's business should be taken care of himself.
"And what about you, Don Leone? Anything new?" Don Manzo was waiting for Agostino to answer.
Before Don Leone could even stand up, his consigliere did the talking. "We're doing well with the horse races, Don Manzo. As a matter of fact, we make a lot from it."
The head of the Manzo family eyed Rocco, hearing the words coming out from his mouth before responding. "Horse races, great. When's the next betting?"
"Next week, and if you want, we could sort something out." Agostino offered.
"No, but thank you. I don't watch stallions getting overworked. Oh, those poor animals." Dino couldn't stand the horse racing business.
"But you ate one as a kid." Don Marina poked fun at him.
"Scusa, but I didn't have a choice." Don Manzo apologized.
"Ah, don't be." Martin gestured, dismissing his apology.
Agostino cackled slightly before looking at his consigliere as if they almost had themselves in immediate trouble, meaning that they should be cautious or else. Dino also gets to chuckle lightly, but he was observing the Leones all along. He was just keeping his mouth shut up until now.
Don Manzo took a sip of the fine-aged wine he was drinking earlier, savoring it before proceeding on the meeting that has been going well so far. "So, anything else you gentlemen have in mind for business? Because I'm putting on something out of the box."
"Fate pure, Don Manzo." Don Marina tells him to go ahead.
"What I mean is to tweak some family traditions, unlike someone who dared to break it entirely." Don Manzo shaded at Don Leone about his rather questionable business.
Don Leone and Marina just left a moderate laugh, as if one of them weren't affected by it. "Oh, that's a good one. I mean my ocean park isn't worth squeezing for cash anyway."
"Then why even bother pushing for it, Don Marina?" Dino questioned.
"Living up to my surname, you know? Nothing wrong with a little passion in it." A sudden change of heart brought Martin to answer back.
"Okay, not gonna argue with that. No offense, but people in ages like that would love to see some hell of a view before their eyes shut down for good." Don Manzo explains his point.
"Oh, and one more thing. I'd love to see some more from this union we put on. I have a suggestion, rather." Don Leone puts up his hand in an indicating gesture.
"And what is it, Don Leone? I'd love to hear you talk before I call it a day." The head of the Manzo family gave Don Leone to speak up.
"Rocco, do the talking." Agostino passed the responsibility to his consigliere.
"Oh, um, we advise you to call in our connections from Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans, signor Manzo." It wasn't just them who's a part of it, Rocco reveals that they have more affiliations through the United States.
"You mean the Cenni, Pisano, and Romano Family?" Dino cites the three other families that happen to be on their side.
"Exactly, Don Manzo. I'll give Don Leone the credit for the idea," Rocco said respectfully.
"We'll see about that..." Don Manzo rubs his chin while thinking of it.
"Stefano Cenni's the most approachable button man out there, man's too kind-hearted to be a part of this business. He knows a thing or two that's why his father kept and made him the boss before he died." Martin tells something about the Cenni Family.
"Right, I'll go call him. For now, I wish you all a pleasant night. You are all dismissed now. Arrivedecci, gentlemen." Dino has finally concluded the meeting.
"Addio, Don Manzo. Thank you for the food as well." Both Don Leone and Marina stood up from their seat after the meeting.
"Stay on the right track, Giorgi. And listen to your father." Dino waved goodbye at them as they exit Villa Marina.
"I wish I could stay here but I have more places to go to." Marty was getting assisted by Eddie, opening the door for him.
Soon as they leave, Don Manzo left a long sigh to express his exhaustion upon dealing with the other families. Vincent and Grant were able to breathe freely after a tense moment of keeping themselves straight as well, sitting beside the Don to ask what is left for them for the night. "So, señor Manzo. What's the plan?"
"Thank you for asking, Vincent. Wait for a second, let me enjoy this pasta. It's too good." Dino was enjoying his meal that has been waiting to get eaten during the meeting.
"Alright." Vincent gives him a short moment to savor the pasta he's eating.
"Be quick, you know my temper's short like- Ah, never mind." Grant scrapped his own words to say.
After chewing his food thoroughly, Dino consumes it. "Oh, here it is. This pasta kicked the foul mood out of me so... I don't usually talk to them, especially the Leones. They put up a bad reputation in this business."
"What do you mean by that?" Vicente asked.
"Man's doing it the American Way. He does business with unwanted families, corrupted government figures, et cetera. He does these convoluted trading operations with them. Specifically drugs, we don't mess with that." Dino tells them that Agostino deals with illegal drugs.
"What are you trying to say exactly? You're making it hard for us." Grant gets to complain.
"What I'm saying is... We need to subtract for this business. Uncle Marty's acceptable because of his age, but oh, Agostino Leone took the wrong path."
"Still, we don't understand. Just tell us what we need to do." Vincent asked once again.
"Okay then, before I explain everything about the rules and regulations I'm putting in, cut the loose ends for the Hopkins Family just to keep you boys busy." Dino gave them a task they couldn't refuse.
"Fuck yeah, that's noted. When and where?" Grant gets a little excited over the job.
"Louisiana, after the sunset. And remember... Burn them down."
To be continued...