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Cosa Nostra a term Joseph had heard many times when he joined the family. His initiation into the family was easy and yet hard just because he was not connected to them in anyway. Joseph started out as a small time hoodlum prying on small time business men who ran grocery stores. During one of his infamous ‘raids’ on one of the small time business man, he crossed swords with Morano, the Don’s right hand man.
It was 10pm when Bruno was closing up that Joseph ran into his shop demanding that he paid him his due that was 2 days late. Bruno laughed at him telling him that he was protected by the Morello family and it would be wise for him to take his threat elsewhere. Enraged by his words, Joseph drew his hand and pointed at Bruno’s head. He did not care if he was protected. They weren’t there for him when he needed them most. “Pay up or die old man!” he yelled.
“I won’t pull that trigger if I were you boy.” a voice said
Joseph turned his head around while his hands were on Bruno’s shoulder and the tip of his gun was on his head. “Who are you to stop me punk?” he asked.
“Morano is my name, and I have my gun pointing at your gut right now. Go ahead, pull that trigger, you won’t walk out of here.”
Joseph froze, he knew who he was. Morano was the most notorious gangster in Sicily. He was known to shoot first ask questions later, but tonight, he did not. Joseph gulped, his hands shaking and beads of sweat ran down his forehead. “Okay, take it easy.... I won’t blow his head off.” he said trying not to sound too shaken.
“That would be wise.” Morano said looking at the punk who had invaded into his family’s turf. Usually he would just shoot down low life punks, but somehow he saw a potential in this street punk and decided to give him a chance. “What’s your name boy?” he asked
“My name is Joseph, Joseph Valdi.” he answered removing his gun away from the Bruno’s head and dropping it to the ground. He stood still and not making any sudden move as he knew that it would be deadly.
“Well met. Now, let’s talk business.” Morano was impressed by his bravado and his quick wit. The business was for Joseph to join his family and help out. He would be under his care for a period of time before he was allowed to run a small district for the family.
Since then, Joseph did not let Morano down. He proved to be an asset to the family and rise to thru the ranks fast that cause much jealousy among his peers and elders alike. Morano praised him and beamed knowing that he looked good in the eyes of the Don. Morano told him that he was asked to attend the Don’s daughter’s birthday celebration, he had better attend and bring along some presents.
Joseph bought new suits and shoes thinking that the daughter of the Don would be some fat ugly dame who had nothing to do all day but to waste her father’s money by shopping and eating. He did not expect much. He walked into the Don’s mansion with Morano who introduced him to the other higher ups and their businesses and areas. Morano excused him telling him to mingle around and make himself known. Joseph nodded as he spotted a pretty slender girl who stood alone by the cocktail bar looking alone and bored. She was the most beautiful lady he had laid his eyes on. She made his heart raced. Naturally, he walked up to her and introduced himself. Her calm and modest demeanour made him wanted to know her more and asked if he would have the honour of asking her out for a movie or dinner after tonight. Or perhaps, they could sneak out of this party of some spoilt brat to a more exciting place.
Ever since that night, Joseph and the girl went everywhere, they soon fall in love. Initially their relationship was not seen as serious for the girl was known to be a flirt and never took any relationships seriously. This time, however, it was different. It appeared that she was serious much to her father’s displeasure. In order not to hurt her, the Don asked Morano who Joseph was. Morano explained that Joseph was an upcoming and potential candidate to take his place in a few years. The Don was impressed but not enough to have his girl running around with him then asked if he was up to the job of running an operation in America. Morano gave Don his assurance that Joseph would do a great job.
“Good, send him to America, at least my daughter would have time to forget him and carry on with her life.” he said.
Thus it was so, Joseph was sent to America on the pretext that he was to help the Don run the family’s business there. He knew the actual reason and did not protest. He was not in any position to protest. It was Cosa Nostra; nothing could be more important than Cosa Nostra business, not even love. With a heavy heart; he flew to America leaving his love in Sicily without leaving word nor had the chance to kiss her good bye. He swore he will return to Sicily the moment things in America were straightened out and he had made a name for himself that the Don had no choice but to acknowledge him as the his right hand man after Morano.
----------
Three years had passed since his departure. He did not know that it took him this long to get the business in America back on its feed. The achievements he made here caught the attention of the family in Sicily, since Morano was shot dead during a mob war in Sicily; the Don had no one to run his major business there. It was rumoured that at his death bed, Morano suggested that Joseph to take over him, the Don however, was not too comfortable with the idea, not when he had a relationship with his daughter. Nevertheless, Joseph was asked to return to Sicily for awhile.
Joseph was pleased. This time, he won’t leave Sicily without her even if it would kill him in the process. He recalled how surprised he was when he found out that she was the Don’s daughter and could not help laughing. She had asked him why and he told her. Of course, he got an earful and they ended up in bed. He had missed her a lot and wondered how she would receive him. After all, it had been 3 years, and in those 3 years, he had not written nor called her. Yeah, she’d be pissed alright.
It was 10pm when Bruno was closing up that Joseph ran into his shop demanding that he paid him his due that was 2 days late. Bruno laughed at him telling him that he was protected by the Morello family and it would be wise for him to take his threat elsewhere. Enraged by his words, Joseph drew his hand and pointed at Bruno’s head. He did not care if he was protected. They weren’t there for him when he needed them most. “Pay up or die old man!” he yelled.
“I won’t pull that trigger if I were you boy.” a voice said
Joseph turned his head around while his hands were on Bruno’s shoulder and the tip of his gun was on his head. “Who are you to stop me punk?” he asked.
“Morano is my name, and I have my gun pointing at your gut right now. Go ahead, pull that trigger, you won’t walk out of here.”
Joseph froze, he knew who he was. Morano was the most notorious gangster in Sicily. He was known to shoot first ask questions later, but tonight, he did not. Joseph gulped, his hands shaking and beads of sweat ran down his forehead. “Okay, take it easy.... I won’t blow his head off.” he said trying not to sound too shaken.
“That would be wise.” Morano said looking at the punk who had invaded into his family’s turf. Usually he would just shoot down low life punks, but somehow he saw a potential in this street punk and decided to give him a chance. “What’s your name boy?” he asked
“My name is Joseph, Joseph Valdi.” he answered removing his gun away from the Bruno’s head and dropping it to the ground. He stood still and not making any sudden move as he knew that it would be deadly.
“Well met. Now, let’s talk business.” Morano was impressed by his bravado and his quick wit. The business was for Joseph to join his family and help out. He would be under his care for a period of time before he was allowed to run a small district for the family.
Since then, Joseph did not let Morano down. He proved to be an asset to the family and rise to thru the ranks fast that cause much jealousy among his peers and elders alike. Morano praised him and beamed knowing that he looked good in the eyes of the Don. Morano told him that he was asked to attend the Don’s daughter’s birthday celebration, he had better attend and bring along some presents.
Joseph bought new suits and shoes thinking that the daughter of the Don would be some fat ugly dame who had nothing to do all day but to waste her father’s money by shopping and eating. He did not expect much. He walked into the Don’s mansion with Morano who introduced him to the other higher ups and their businesses and areas. Morano excused him telling him to mingle around and make himself known. Joseph nodded as he spotted a pretty slender girl who stood alone by the cocktail bar looking alone and bored. She was the most beautiful lady he had laid his eyes on. She made his heart raced. Naturally, he walked up to her and introduced himself. Her calm and modest demeanour made him wanted to know her more and asked if he would have the honour of asking her out for a movie or dinner after tonight. Or perhaps, they could sneak out of this party of some spoilt brat to a more exciting place.
Ever since that night, Joseph and the girl went everywhere, they soon fall in love. Initially their relationship was not seen as serious for the girl was known to be a flirt and never took any relationships seriously. This time, however, it was different. It appeared that she was serious much to her father’s displeasure. In order not to hurt her, the Don asked Morano who Joseph was. Morano explained that Joseph was an upcoming and potential candidate to take his place in a few years. The Don was impressed but not enough to have his girl running around with him then asked if he was up to the job of running an operation in America. Morano gave Don his assurance that Joseph would do a great job.
“Good, send him to America, at least my daughter would have time to forget him and carry on with her life.” he said.
Thus it was so, Joseph was sent to America on the pretext that he was to help the Don run the family’s business there. He knew the actual reason and did not protest. He was not in any position to protest. It was Cosa Nostra; nothing could be more important than Cosa Nostra business, not even love. With a heavy heart; he flew to America leaving his love in Sicily without leaving word nor had the chance to kiss her good bye. He swore he will return to Sicily the moment things in America were straightened out and he had made a name for himself that the Don had no choice but to acknowledge him as the his right hand man after Morano.
----------
Three years had passed since his departure. He did not know that it took him this long to get the business in America back on its feed. The achievements he made here caught the attention of the family in Sicily, since Morano was shot dead during a mob war in Sicily; the Don had no one to run his major business there. It was rumoured that at his death bed, Morano suggested that Joseph to take over him, the Don however, was not too comfortable with the idea, not when he had a relationship with his daughter. Nevertheless, Joseph was asked to return to Sicily for awhile.
Joseph was pleased. This time, he won’t leave Sicily without her even if it would kill him in the process. He recalled how surprised he was when he found out that she was the Don’s daughter and could not help laughing. She had asked him why and he told her. Of course, he got an earful and they ended up in bed. He had missed her a lot and wondered how she would receive him. After all, it had been 3 years, and in those 3 years, he had not written nor called her. Yeah, she’d be pissed alright.
