Federico Domenico was born at a time when fathers dictated their children's future. Born in Vietnam to a lovely couple, Luigi Fabrizio and Laura Wendy. He hadn't gotten to know his father until he turned seven. Luigi Fabrizio, the first son of Don Edoardo Fabrizio, head of the Fabrizio clan, a mafia family in Sicily, had broken the family tradition and had fallen in love with Laura Wendy, an American air hostess. Infuriated, Edoardo had ordered Luigi, who hadn't just fallen in love with a woman who was three years older than him but had also gotten her pregnant, to get rid of her himself. Luigi, who had recently turned eighteen, couldn't hurt his child or the woman he loved, but was also afraid of what his father would do to Laura and their unborn child if he did nothing. He broke up with her and told her to leave Sicily and never to return. Heartbroken, Laura quit her job, left Sicily and moved to Vietnam. There she got a job as a waitress and lived a quiet life, vowing never to have anything to do with the Fabrizios. Luigi went back to his father and told him he had broken up with Laura after making her abort the child. Edoardo believed and accepted him back home because Luigi, his heir, was more capable of running the clan after his demise than Matteo, his second son, who was a skilled worker.
Soon Laura had her child, a son whom she named Desmond. Desmond grew up strong and happy. He had the hot blood of the Fabrizios but learned kindness from his mother, who showered him with all her love.
Seven years later, Luigi showed up at Laura's home in Vietnam. He explained to Laura he had broken up with her to protect her and his child. If his father had found out about Desmond he would kill both of them. But now, he had established his business away from his father's and could take care of both of them. He pleaded with Laura, who still loved him and accepted him back. They got married a few weeks later without any of Luigi's family present for the wedding. One cool evening a few days before Desmond's birthday, Laura told Desmond he was going to have a baby brother. Desmond was so happy. His father had come home, and now he was going to have a little brother to play with. He put his hand on his mother's tummy and spoke to his baby brother, promising to take care of him. But Desmond never got to see his brother.
One cold night a few weeks later, after being tucked in by his mother who had kissed him goodnight, he awakened to the sound of gunshots. He called out to his mother, but she never came. His bedroom door knob turned slowly and a man in black clothes came in. The man walked towards his bed, but Desmond didn't scream. He wasn't afraid of an intruder in his home. The man pressed a handkerchief into his face and he fell asleep.
Many hours later, Desmond awoke in an unfamiliar room. He tried to open the door but couldn't. He banged at the door yelling for his mother, but no one answered. He sat on the floor trying not to cry. The door opened after a few minutes and an elderly man in his eighties came in. He introduced himself as his grandfather, Don Edoardo. It suddenly dawned on Desmond that he was standing before the man whom his mother had said didn't want to meet him when he had asked of his grandparents. Don Edoardo smiled and held out his hand to Desmond. He didn't look scary and Desmond took his outreached hand. He then asked him about his parents and Don Edoardo explained they had to attend to an important business but would be back soon to pick him up. He had promised his parents to take care of him till they returned.
Desmond didn't believe him. He knew his mother wouldn't go anywhere without telling him. He asked Don Edoardo if his mother had gone to have his baby brother and Edoardo suddenly realized that Laura had been pregnant before her death. He smiled and assured him they all would be back soon. He took him to the dining table and watched him eat. He admired Desmond's boldness and quick sense. He showed no fear in a strange place and with people he hadn't seen before. He also hadn't believed his excuse about his parents' absence. Desmond glanced up at him, caught him staring and continued eating without flinching. Don Edoardo smiled. The child was a replica of him. He saw past Desmond as a child to Desmond as a man. He could break him, remold him into the version he wanted and have him take over from him.
First, Don Edoardo changed Desmond's name to Federico. Names were identities to him, and he wouldn't have an heir who bore an American name. He introduced him to the rest of the clan and got to see that he was well taken care of. It was Federico, strange meeting people he hadn't seen before and realizing they were family. He soon began to feel at home in Sicily and had training from Don Edoardo's captains.
Whenever he got homesick and asked for his parents, Don Alfredo would promise him of their soon return and gave him presents that were strange to him. At ten, Federico had a sling, a knife, a brass knuckle and a bow and arrows.
When he turned twelve, his cousin Matteo Fabrizo, son of Mario Fabrizio, his father's younger brother, had called him a muddy bastard after losing a game six times to him. Federico, blinded with anger, was on Matteo like a cat, hitting and tearing at his face. Federico was pulled away by one of his grandfather's bodyguards, leaving an injured Matteo howling away on the ground. Matteo was taken to the doctor while Federico was sent to his room. The Don summoned Federico, who, still angry, demanded to see his parents. It was then Don Fabrizio disclosed his parents' death. Don Fabrizio explained his father had discovered his mother's affair with her lover and killed her in a rage. He then killed himself because he couldn't face the law. Frederico didn't believe him and asked to see their graves. Don Fabrizio gave his consent and Federico was taken to see the gravestone of his parents. Federico wept bitterly at his parent's grave. He was taken away by his grandfather's bodyguard. Federico spent many days thinking about what his grandfather had told him. He didn't believe his father was capable of killing his mother and his brother. Before his father came home, he had asked his mother why his father couldn't come home, and she had said he couldn't be with them because of his family. Federico concluded that his parents were killed, and the killers had gone unpunished. He thought of anyone who could kill his parents and get away with it but couldn't come up with any names. He knew his grandfather knew who had killed his parents because he had lied to him. How had he known his parents were dead and how they died? Who had brought him to Sicily, to his grandfather? He didn't trust any of his family members and pretended he had believed what he had been told.
Federico grew fast. During his teenage years, he had grown into a tall, extraordinarily handsome youth with a mature courtesy. All the girls at school adored and fussed over him, but Frederick was not excessively interested in them. Federico had the economic genius which cemented the family power in Sicily. He started early, making his "bones" at the age of sixteen. He was very strong physically, of good height and with an intimidating bulk. He was, of course, an expert at firearms and explosives. All this aside, he was a charming man because of his zest for life; he had a geniality that put men at ease, and women appreciated his gallantry, which was half rustic Sicilian and half movie American. Though he took his work very seriously, he believed that life was to be enjoyed.
When Federico turned eighteen, his uncle Mario's hatred for him became more expressed publicly. Mario hadn't expected his father to accept Federico into the family because he had American blood. He had watched Federico grow rich and popular under the approving eyes of his father. Federico had gained his father's approval and the men's respect easily while his son struggled to please his father. Federico was a threat to his future and Matteo's future in the clan. He tried to make Federico look bad in his father's eyes by making sure Federico made mistakes, but Federico was so thorough in his work that he couldn't find any loopholes. For many weeks, he secretly plotted with men loyal to him in the clan and paid a large group of outlaws to join him in battle. One cool morning at dawn, he carried out his plan and attacked the rest of the clan. Federico and the rest of the clan fought bravely but were overpowered because they were outnumbered. Ettore Filippo, an old friend of Luigi, helped an injured Federico escape.