WHO ARE THE PAPARINI'S
STANDARD DISCLAIMER
PLEASE SEND ME REVIEWS – I know this isn't a Mac and Harm story but after 70+ chapters about them I needed a change.
Author's Note: To Diversam – The Gunny Story is part of a different series, so it won't be included here. The Mac and Harm story will overlap a bit every now and then.
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"Who are the Paparini's?" Anna said. "That's a question that requires a long answer."
"I have time." Webb said.
"A lot of this you could probably find out through your work." Anna said.
"I want to know from you. I am interested in you." Webb said. Who is this guy? When did I get like this?
"And then do I get to hear the Webb Family History?" Anna asked.
"Maybe." Webb joked. "Yes you do."
"Ok my grandfather, who you said looked familiar to you should." Anna began. "His name, as you know, was Salvatore Paparini. He came here in 1910 from Prizzi when he was 9."
"Where's that?" Clay asked.
"It's a province in Palermo." Anna replied.
"You're Sicilian." Webb said.
"Yes. Having nothing he started working odd jobs in Little Italy. As he grew up he made some friends and started working with them."
"Ok." Webb said.
"Clay his friends were Massimo Gianetti." Anna said flatly. "Alberto D'Alessio, Franco Amoretti and Santino Corelli."
"That's why I knew who he was." Webb said. "Your grandfather recently passed away didn't he."
"Yes earlier this year." Anna said. "Do you want me to continue?"
"Yes only if you want to, but not here." Webb asked.
"Let's go back to my place." Anna said. They rode in silence and when they got to Anna's they went right in.
HUNTER'S CROSSING
"Can I get you something?" Anna offered.
"Sure what have you got?" Webb asked.
"Nocello?" Anna suggested.
"Sure after a Big Mac, that's classy." Webb joked.
"Hey class is what you make of it." Anna smiled and brought over two snifters of Nocello. "Gramps always had a glass before bed."
"No wonder he lived to be 100." Webb said.
"My grandfather and his friends did what they could to survive. It wasn't easy for immigrants back then. If you didn't take care of your own nobody else would." Anna said defensively.
"Anna you don't have to tell me." Webb said.
"Why not; you can look it all up. I am sure you have contacts." Anna said.
"I do, but if you don't want to talk about this we don't have to." Webb said honestly.
"It's okay. These five friends created a business. They imported different things from Sicily. As time went on, the business became, well you know." Anna said.
"I do." Webb nodded.
"Well, my grandparents got married in 1920. They didn't even know each other. My grandmother was sent here to be his bride. Alberto was born in 1921, Aunt Sophia in 1929, Uncle Franco in 1933 and my father in 1936." Anna took a breath. "Anyway, my grandfather and his friends started making a lot of money. Which to them; was the key to everything in this country. Eventually they started bribing the police, judges and politicians. They ran gambling operations and prostitution, mild by comparison to things that came later. Around 1921, Santino Corelli wanted to expand; he wanted to bring drugs into the business. The others were against this and it was at that point that they broke apart."
"When I recognized your last name, it never dawned on me that your family was one of them. I thought it was a common last name." Webb said.
"Well I am not exactly. Four of the five worked together, or should I say worked harmoniously. Corelli on the other hand did not like the idea that they were now against him. He felt he could not trust them. In 1922 there was a fight that escalated and before anyone knew what had happened Gianetti, D'Alessio and Amoretti were dead." Anna stated.
"Your grandfather survived?" Webb asked.
"Not exactly, they missed my grandfather and killed Alberto. Scared for his family and angry, my grandfather made a decision. He was done out of it. He no longer wanted a part of it. He went to Corelli and agreed to hand over all his holding and those of his 3 friends in exchange for peace."
"But there are still five families?" Webb asked he knew most of this history from books but this he had never heard.
"I'm getting to that." Anna said. "Before those men were killed, Corelli had already begun to reorganize, actually while those men were running their gambling and such Corelli had organized others. Those are the five families that everyone knows about."
"Oh, this you don't read about." Webb said.
"No you don't. These men were gone and their families were left alone. My grandfather still had his money and he took care of his friend's families. By the late 30's his import business was thriving. Luckily for him and for us, he was very shrewd during the depression. My grandfather put every one of his children and the children of his friends through college. If there was one thing my grandfather learned was that no matter how much money you had, it was nothing if you didn't have an education." Anna stopped.
"Your grandfather walked away from the Mob?" Webb asked.
"There are only two men that I know of who died of natural causes who retired from the business, my grandfather and Frank Costello. They were lucky." Anna said.
"Very lucky." Webb said.
"You want more?" Anna asked. "Or have I scared you away?"
"I'm not going anywhere." Webb replied.
"Let's fast forward shall we?" Anna said. "I think you are actually interested in my father not the entire family."
"Well, he is interesting." Webb smiled.
"That he was. My father went to military college and then into the Army. Before he left for Viet Nam my mom got pregnant with me. My dad promised her that as soon as I was born he would retire. And he did. He went to law school when he got back, graduated and then got a job in the prosecutor's office. After years there he was worked as a Federal Prosecutor for the Southern District of New York. My dad and his brother and sister grew up hearing the stories and seeing the pain of my grandmother, she never recovered from Alberto's death." Anna stopped.
"So your dad went after the people who caused that pain." Webb said.
"Not just my grandparents pain, the other families as well. He did it the right way, not with a vendetta but by bringing them to justice." Anna said proudly.
"That's quite a legacy you have and one to be proud of." Webb smiled.
"I am very proud of my family." Anna said. "Maybe we didn't start out properly but we have all done well. My Uncle Franco is a retired surgeon, Aunt Sophia designed clothing, and among the aunts and uncles I have from the other families, they are all doctors, lawyers, a few went into the military, all professionals. They worked hard to escape the past, my grandfather used to say, he did what he thought was best at the time." Anna said.
"Ok one more question." Webb stated. "What's with the gun?"
"Oh," Anna laughed. "It's actually not funny."
"What is it?" Webb asked.
"Being the daughter of Anthony Paparini does have its pitfalls." Anna said as she pulled her jersey and bared the area below her shoulder.
"What is that?" Webb asked startled.
"In 1992 I was walking into the courthouse and I was shot. It was during one of the big trials. They were sending a message to my father. My father was ready to hand the case to someone else. My family convinced him otherwise. So, since then I have been licensed to carry." Anna said.
"Anna I am so sorry." Webb said as he gently touched her scar.
"It's ok. Clay you are only the third person I showed the scar too. The other two left. If you plan on leaving, please do it now. These past two days have been amazing, but if all it's going to be are these two days then let's end it now." Anna said.
"Hmm so that's why you're a workaholic." Webb said.
"Why's that?" Anna asked.
"I don't think you want to take the chance of being left again so you work." Webb replied.
"Something like that. Clay, are you leaving?" Anna asked.
"No Anna I'm not." Webb said. Not sure of what came over him, he felt as though he was no longer in his body, it was as if he was watching the couple on the couch. Clayton Webb leaned over and gently kissed Anna's scar. He then shifted positions and pulled Anna to him. "I promise I am not going anywhere and as long as I am around no one will hurt you." Anna settled back into his embrace and rested her head on his chest. Within minutes they were both fast asleep.