July 14, 1997

"You can't be serious, Joe!" Trevor Lansing chortled into the phone after Mancusi Family Underboss, Joseph Augustino laid out his request. Salvatore Mancusi was delusional if he believed his son's marriage to Anthony Zacchara's daughter constituted any kind of alliance between the Zacchara and Mancusi Families. Trevor usually took the man for smarter but why else would he think they owed him any kind of a favor?

"Salvatore said it wasn't a request," Joe Augustino offered.

Despite his bravado, Trevor heard the insecurity in the other man's voice. He laughed again. "Just hypothetically, what could possibly be in this for us?" he asked.

Joe Augustino chuckled. "If you aren't smart enough to figure that out then perhaps Salvatore has overestimated your intellect," he said.

Trevor bristled at the insult. For just a moment, he was back in 1960 trying to explain to his father, esteemed surgeon Dr. Arthur Lansing, how he had failed to secure a medical school acceptance for the second year in a row. "Or perhaps he overestimates his own importance," he said slyly.

"Suit yourself, just remember, turn about is rarely fair play. Assets can quickly become liabilities," Joe Augustino said and then he abruptly disconnected the call.

The dial tone buzzed in Trevor's ear like an annoying gnat. As much as he didn't want to admit it there would be consequences for all organizations if Abigail Donely Quartermaine was able to prosecute Mancusi hitman Joey Lombardo. It was time for him to reach out to someone who did owe him a favor…Girolamo Palerno. He just needed to appropriately time his request.

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Angela Augustino was definitely ready to do her penance when she stepped off the Chicago Mercy Hospital elevator on 6 East, carrying a tasteful floral arrangement. In theory, Isabella Mancusi was her best friend. Or at least she was supposed to be. After all, their respective husbands were running the Mancusi Crime Family.

The problem was that Angela doubted Isabella was capable of being a friend. Then there was the issue that she lacked the ability to see anything beyond how a situation might benefit her personally. Angela wasn't exactly claiming to be a great humanitarian, but she could grasp that it wasn't all about her all the time. So, she took a deep breath and walked down the hall with her tasteful floral arrangement.

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When Girolamo "Jimmy" Palerno left Newark Beth Israel Medical Center after what would likely be his last conversation with Charles Corelli, he felt a bit exhilarated. His time had come. It had certainly taken long enough. He should have been tapped to lead the De Rossi Family after his older brother was arrested in 1990. John assured him that was what he had wanted. But then the power still truly rested with Papa De Rossi and he had tapped Joey "Pretty Boy" D'Amaro.

That had been insulting for various reasons. Not the least of which was that it was clear D'Amaro was pitching for the other team. After D'Amaro's murder, fittingly on Valentine's Day 1992, De Rossi tried to send a message by creating a ruling triumvirate which included Palerno, Stefano Dimeo and Charlie Corelli. Corelli had the chutzpah to reach out to Zacchara Family hitman Johnny Gallo. Fortunately, Gallo was loyal to the family and Zacchara Family consigliere, Trevor Lansing knew where his loyalties should lie. That had saved Jimmy's life which was about to become worth living.

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Angela Augustino released a deep sigh as she stepped into the elevator after her tiring visit with Isabella. Despite her annoyance with ever entitled Isabella; life as Joe Augustino's wife; and the day in general; she hit the button for three rather than the ground floor. She should have stopped in to check on Bobby and Claudia days ago. There really was no excuse when she was already at the hospital.

Anyway, while she didn't know Claudia very well, she truly believed all life was precious so how could she genuinely pray for anything less than Claudia's survival? Beyond that, she would always owe Bobby a significant debt of gratitude and it was clear that Bobby loved Claudia. How could she root against true love?

Those words stuck with her as she exited the elevator but as she turned towards the ICU waiting room she thought of her own daughter, Eden. Eden didn't know anything about the conversation her mother had with the man she was convinced was her true love in December 1994. If Eden knew the truth; she suspected Eden would laugh ruefully if she heard her mother utter those words. She might also refuse to ever speak to her again. Angela was afraid of that.

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Roberto Mancusi yawned as he exited the ICU and nearly collided with someone. As he quickly jumped out the way and mumbled an apology, he realized that the woman he had nearly knocked over was none other than the wife of his father's underboss. "Oh, Mrs. Augustino, I am sorry!" he said more clearly.

Angela Augstino merely smiled at him. "I know you have a lot on your mind," she said.

He did and he supposed that she might know better than most. He remembered the bedside vigil she had kept when her son had been in the ICU at Riverside Medical Center. Nicholas had never regained consciousness and been pronounced brain dead two days after his original injuries. He couldn't imagine that same fate for Claudia. He just couldn't.

"How is Claudia?" Mrs. Augustino asked.

Bobby shrugged his shoulders feeling helpless. "I don't know. Dr. Thornhart assures me he hasn't given up hope, but she has been sick for at least two weeks, it has been almost a week since I brought her to the ER, and this is her fifth day on the ventilator so it's getting hard to keep holding out for a miracle," he said. But once the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them because he wondered if Mrs. Augustino would have given almost anything for just a few more days with her own son.

"Uhh, I'm sorry," Bobby started trying to figure out how to make it right.

Angela Augustino took one of his hands into both of hers. "I understand, and you have nothing to apologize for. If there is anything I can do please call me. I really am praying for Claudia," she said.

Then, almost as abruptly as she had appeared, she was gone. That left Bobby to just shrug his shoulders and feel helpless. Unfortunately, it wasn't just a feeling.