The black-furred spider took a drag from his lit cigarette; he let it out into the open air. Eight eyes gazed out of a window of the tenement he had commandeered as a hideout for his crew and himself. Ever since he arrived in Hell in 1949, it felt like every single day felt like the family had to go to the mattresses. There were a number of tenements, old abandoned hotels, and apartment buildings that had been purchased in the various areas of the city. Every couple of weeks they would change locations with another crew so there was never any official way to lead a rival gang to a permanent residence. Each crew would rest in shifts as they kept alert for enemy activity.
Being in Hell, none of them officially had to be concerned with death in the same manner they had when they were alive. They could be shot, stabbed, and various other things and just reform again. The only way they would be taken out permanently is if they were subjected to an angelic-based weapon. Despite the virtual immortality they possessed as Hellbound souls, the wars among the various crime factions were still costly both in money and in men. Angelic weaponry while useful was expensive and difficult to obtain due to being a high commodity on the black market. Heaven bullets and blessed tipped riffles had to be used sparingly and only on high-profile targets. Even then this had to be careful because certain kills could end conflicts, but there were erasures that could bring about wars among the gangs as well.
Due to the unrestrained structure of existence in Hell, the Ragno family had grown more rapidly than it had in life. They had reevaluated and reinstated various family members that had been lost in the numerous conflicts and jobs in the living world. Uncles and Cousins who had been killed during the wars and vendettas between families before the Costa Nostra was established. Family members that were from the Camorra-the Neopolitan Mafia Syndicate- from long before Don Ragno stepped foot on New York Soil in his late teens. A new commission had been established and Henrico Ragno had finally gotten what he desired, to be as the Five Families of New York following the Castellammarese War. Still, Arackniss had to question was reaching this was really worth all it had cost them.
The original Five Families that rose from the end of the feud between Masseria and Maranzano were dangerous men who were not to be trifled with. But they had still rightfully earned the power and respect they held. Henrico Ragno in his rise as a Mafia Don gained power and respect in a manner similar to that of a schoolyard bully. Those who sided with him, family and associates alike lived in fear of him, even his own children were subjected to his tantrums. Because of this, he was often compared to Al Capone due to his Neapolitan Heritage, his public arrogance, and his rejection of political shielding.
Don Ragno had raged upon receiving respectful dismissals from the various Dons in written correspondence telling him that a man from the Campania region had nothing to gain by inserting himself into Sicilian affairs. If he wishes to be a friend, they would welcome him as it is more profitable to have those who are an asset during times of upheaval. But if he does not wish friendship, then he should consider taking his family and going elsewhere for the criminal empire he seeks to build shall wither and die like grapes left upon the vine.
True to these professed views, the Ragno Family legacy did fall. First with the death of a caporegime within their crime family known as Luca Celani. He had disappeared with no explanation and was found slumped in his car a week later with a photo of himself and Anthony Ragno meeting at a cafe. When WW2 was announced several younger members of the family enlisted in support of their country or were drafted including Don Ragno's two sons. Don Ragno had managed to make a few calls to have a number of them discharged. Anthony was discharged to New York after admitting on his medical evaluation that he was gay, which they immediately took as unfit for combat. Enzo passed his medical evaluation but was discharged some months after on the grounds he showed signs of psychopathy with homicidal tendencies. Enzo was never certain if that was really their actual evaluation, or if that was the evaluation their father had pulled strings for. Other members of the family couldn't be spared from the war, Cousin Jose who had been appointed a caporegime in the family business had joined the frontlines of the war despite Pops offering to pull a few strings and have him marked as unfit for battle. Their maternal cousin had bragged about how he would return as a war hero that even the Five Families would have to respect. He didn't care where the US army chose to send him and if by chance he went to the battlefields of Italy, then he would come home with an Italian Bride. However, when he did return home it was in a body bag. He did not become a hero like he had proclaimed but had died as a coward who chose to take his own life in the face of an actual full-scale war. The family members that we're able to return from the war front alive were never the same men they were when they had left. Two years after the war ended, Don Ragno's youngest son Anthony died following a drug overdose. It was known that Anthony was a drug user and had cocaine that was one of his prefered drugs of choice.
Henrico Ragno had played the part of the grieving father earning much sympathy and regrets from various members of their community and the other New York families. For Lorenzo and his younger sister, it was obvious that it was all an act. A public display to hide that he was pleased a filthy secret had been dealt with. Days after Anthony's funeral, Molly the only daughter of the Ragno family left and dropped all contact with her surviving blood relatives. Her final parting words to her living brother were: "I will never forgive Pops for what he has done. Il mio gemello (My twin) may have died from an overdose, but Pops has always despised Anthony for not being the son he wanted him to be. As for you Fratello Majore…I hope you really come to understand just how alone our brother actually felt. I hope you appreciate what it means to be alone, only then will I forgive you."
It was two years following Anthony's death that, Lorenzo Ragno had met his own end. He was serving as acting boss while his father was imprisoned on Riker's Island for dealing in narcotics. It was while he was looking over the business accounts that he realized how shotty his father was as a businessman. The Italian Imports company that they used as a cover for the more shady dealings that their crime family did behind the scenes. None of the accounts matched up to what the ledgers suggested. On the contrary, everything was in the red and the business itself was bankrupt. There was no chance of salvaging it…unless…unless he reached out to the families for assistance.
That was easier said than done, Pops had burnt too many bridges with his actions towards the other families. And even if he could by chance settle bad blood between the families and regain respect, he was only an acting boss. Plus any organization is at its weakest point when it was in a change of leadership. There were Capo who only followed him under the belief that his role as Don was only temporary. He hadn't proven himself to them or earned their respect as their Capofamilglia and some were ready to defect to the other families as soon as an opportunity arose. The families themselves would be more open to seeing the Ragno Family crumble to nothing. If they offered to help at all, they would seize the business and territory for themselves. The only other choice was to let the business dissolve and start up a legit business outside of New York. The Caporegime in service to Ragno Family would see that as being a coward…not fighting for their rightful place. But with Pops in prison, Anthony dead, Molly gone, and the family business beyond salvaging there was nothing to fight for. Leaving could seem like the actions of a coward, or it could be a strategic retreat to gain power and prestige before returning to New York and regaining everything Don Ragno had so foolishly driven into the ground.
This transition was all something that would not happen immediately, his first course of action was to travel, and see what other areas could work. Capone had been arrested for tax evasion and had died in prison, so his Chicago outfit was gone. There were also other cities such as Detroit, Vagas, Reno, San Franciso, and Las Angeles. Once he knew where he wanted to rebuild and laid down some groundwork and connections he could return to New York to inform the family of the change.
He kept quiet about his decision, the other Caporegime were still loyal to Don Ragno…they wouldn't take kindly to their acting boss making decisions that could affect all of their lives and their businesses. Particularly since his absence would cause the other families to see him as abandoning the family. The only person he told directly about his plans was his father's Caporegime, Umberto Andreioli. The man was a good friend of Henrico Ragno and had been seen as a godfather and uncle by all three of Don Ragno's children, if there was anyone he could trust it would be him.
The plan had been simple, he would visit Detroit, Philly, Cleveland, Chicago, San Louis, and then further west to Vagas, Reno, San Francisco, and LA to see if there could be stakes placed there before turning around and making a stop in Boston before returning to New York. While Commerical Air travel was available, he opted to take the train on this journey. It would give him the space and time needed to think about his next course of action, and it would allow him to keep in contact with Andreioli who was acting in command during his absence. Unfortunately, during the trip the train derailed, the last conscious memory Enzo Ragno had was of several tons of metal and steel enfolding him into a fatal embrace.
Arackniss paused his thoughts as there was a call on his phone, the name display only held a single name "Vina". He closed his eyes momentarily before returning his attention to the window. Tuning out the shrill scream of his phone the same way he was tuning out the brays of laughter coming from the crew of men as they played their poker game just a few doors away. He had nothing to say to her and had wanted nothing to do with her ever since she had arrived in Hell.
Vina or Corrina DeNatale as she was formerly known had been his wife long ago. She was the only child of a Mafia Chief that Don Ragno was seeking an alliance to. Don DeNatale had agreed to the alliance but only on the grounds that one of Don Ragno's sons took her as his bride. Henrico Ragno immediately introduced his eldest son as a potential match as he was the only son that was of a marriable age.
Neither Corrina nor Lorenzo had been enthused with the idea of being together. They were allowed the court one another with the belief that they would grow to accept each other as a husband and wife, even though their relationship was in all respects arranged.
Corrina had only agreed as she was expected to marry a man of Italian descent who could benefit their family. Lorenzo only accepted her hand because it was the only way he could finally leave his father's household. His father had used his power to buy several buildings around their home. Their next-door neighbors were Andreioli and his wife, Sabina The other buildings had apartments and homes belonging to the blood relatives that existed in their crime family. Only three houses were left empty with the intent of being wedding gifts for Henrico's sons and daughter when they married.
He would only be across the street from the Brownstone he shared with his father and younger brother, but he would still at long last be out from under his father's roof. He wasn't as subjected to their father's rages as much as Anthony was, but he had still faced his share of abuse. Don Rango often took any question about his judgments or authority as an insult and he repaid the insult with pain and torture. Earned him the moniker of "The Wolf" due to how he would leave those who dared risk his anger butchered and bleeding like they were torn apart by an animal. As his sons, Anthony and himself were expected to carry and maintain their father's reputation. Any actions they took could potentially undermine the Ragno Families' operations or revealed areas of weakness. As such Enzo often played the role of the loyal and obedient son to avoid being struck with his father's belt or beaten under one of Henrico's drunken rages. Wisely choosing to remain quiet and unobtrusive about his father's orders or edict and impassively stand guard outside his father's study while he heard his own brother suffer under the Don's wrath. He would feel a sense of guilt at letting this happen, but he would tell himself excuses that Anthony had deserved it. If his brother had made more of an effort to be a better son, then maybe Pops wouldn't feel the need to punish him for his failures. It was only that one moment where Molly had interfered that the mask of self-denial could no longer shield him from the monster their father truly was.
One of the reasons he took that fatal train trip was so he could prepare himself for some difficult decisions. The first was regarding his father, he knew Don Ragno would not be pleased that his eldest and most obedient son had moved their family business out of New York rather than fighting for what was theirs by right. A few of the caporegime would be left in New York to build crime families of their own so that way they had some allies in place for when they return. If they struck out at the families to maintain the business rackets they carved out of the city, they would only create conflict and possibly ignite a war. The Ragno didn't have the money or manpower needed for that. The best course was to rebuild away from New York, once established reach out to the other families in the commission, and offer an olive branch to settle old debts and grievances.
The other difficult decision was regarding his marriage to Corrina. The two of them had a tolerant relationship, but there was no real love or anything to keep the relationship going. Being born under the Roman Catholic faith, divorce was largely frowned upon. The whole purpose of the marriage with Don DeNatale was so he would agree to an alliance with Don Ragno. DeNatele couldn't interfere in his daughter's marriage, but he would take umbrage against his son-in-law if he just divorced her without a second thought. DonNatale knew his only child was not happy with the relationship, but she had been a loyal wife and devoted mother to their sons. Perhaps the older man would understand that his son-in-law was only doing this out of the best interests of his daughter and grandsons, and knew there was still the intention to make sure they were taken care of. Then Don DeNatale would perhaps be open to having that alliance without the marriage being in place, or if the alliance must end then the two families could part on amicable terms.
Ever since he had learned Corrina had manifested here in Hell, he hadn't wanted to see let alone talk to her. Just hearing her voice only brought him pain...pain over how he had failed his children. And worse feelings of how he had failed his own siblings...if he had dared...if he had done things that were different...maybe things would have been better for them too.
Letting out a breath through his nostrils, he closed his eyes and let his mind drift to memories of a past he had walled off long ago.
April 1st 1913
Lorenzo put his hands over his ears to block out his mother's screams of agony. The past several months had been strange and hard for the young boy to understand, the previous fall his mother had been feeling sick. Often suffering from a headache or tired for no discernable reason. Also, foods that she normally enjoyed such as fresh ciabatta bread from the Franseze's bakery down the street or the smell of Calabrian chili peppers simmering suddenly made her feel ill.
It was when the family gathered for the Thanksgiving Feast that his mother, Maria Ragno stood up and announced that she was expecting another child. There were congratulations all around by those present. Only her husband was stony-faced with the news, while her only son watched her having difficulty understanding what she meant by expecting another child. It was only after the guests had cleared, that he was sent up to his room by his grandmother while his father expressed his displeasure about having another mouth to feed. As the months passed, his mother's stomach grew round and big. The men in the family and family friends from that special business his father couldn't talk about would often talk amongst each other as Enzo walked down the street to the store or to clinic appointments with his mother. All of them would comment about her to one another about the expanding bulge. Some talk was about how big her stomach was becoming, while others were guesses at what baby she would be having based on how her protruding stomach sat against her frame.
Then of course there were the stupid questions people would ask him such as: How did he feel about being a big brother? Was looking forward to being a big brother? Did he feel he was up to the task of being a big brother? Always the same questions, but never answers to his own questions of: "Why did he have to be a big brother?" or "Did he have a choice about being a big brother?" He was tired of the grown-ups treating him like he was some stupid little kid, why didn't anyone ask him if even wanted to be a big brother? He had seen some of his infant cousins and he never understood the big deal with them. All he saw was some ugly and smelly creature that could only make insensible noises that the mothers were somehow able to interpret.
And then there were the visits from this strange woman who called herself a midwife. Every few weeks this woman would visit their house to see the progression of the baby. There were times he could be present in the room as the Midwife patted and put her hands on his mother's exposed bulging stomach. It looked like she was trying to feel where the baby was or maybe trying to figure out how to get the baby out of her. After which she would put this metal horn against his mother's stomach to hear her insides. While all this was being done the midwife would pull out a bunch of strange tools and equipment that he couldn't begin to wonder what they were or even what they were for. His grandmother would immediately usher him to his room or downstairs for a snack during these times since it involved things she claimed he was too young to see.
"Baby sounds well and good," The Midwife had said during a visit in December. Enzo had been sitting by his mother's side on the bed while she was being examined. He wasn't paying the conversation any attention. Mostly they weren't talking about anything that interested him, and most of the words the Midwife used such as obstetrics, and speculum were not words he could understand. Plus was tired of all the talk about the baby...that was what his aunts and his mother's woman friends would talk about. What was the baby going to be called? When was the day the baby would arrive? Did they need anything for the baby? He just wished this baby would come already so this whole thing could be over with. He was used to the routine by now after the Midwife had felt about his mother's stomach and listened to what she wanted to hear. He was starting to crawl off the bed to join his Nonna at the doorway when the Midwife stopped him. "Wait, do you want to use the Pinard horn to hear your sibling?" He looked over and noticed that the Midwife had placed the tapered metal tube against his mother's stomach at an angle where he could hear.
He had never been asked this before and wasn't sure if he should. He immediately looked to his grandmother who watched with a neutral expression, not disapproving but her stern expression showed she felt some impropriety at this suggestion. When he looked at his mother, she smiled and gave him a nod.
"Go ahead," She said. Her melodically accented voice was soft and gentle. "It is alright for you to listen."
Moving closer to the tube the Midwife instructed him on how to press his ear against the narrow side of the cold metal horn. For a moment he only noticed the cold of the metal against his face. But then he heard a steady thrumming noise. He thought it was his mother's heart at first, but then he quickly realized this thrumming noise was a different pace than his mother's heart. And there was almost an echo to it, focusing on it he realized he wasn't hearing an echo the beat was just as strong as the first but it was coming in close behind. He was about to ask about this but his grandmother intervened
"Basta così piccolo. È ora di dare un po' di privacy a tua madre (That is enough little one. It's time to give your mother some privacy,)" His grandmother said in Italian as she picked him up off the bed and carried him out of the room. The older woman muttered to herself about how the midwife could subject a child to such things.
"Nonna, (Granny)" Enzo stated in Italian as his grandmother set him down on the ground. The older woman only spoke Italian and would not hear any suggestions of learning English."Quando stavo ascoltando lo stomaco di mamma, ho sentito due battiti cardiac. (When I was listening to mamma's stomach, I heard two heartbeats.)"
"Hai sentito il cuore di tua madre, agnello mio, (You heard your mother's heart, my lamb,)" His grandmother said in her native Italian. "Vai nella tua stanza finché l'ostetrica non se ne sarà andata. Preparerò la cena. (Go to your room until the midwife has left. I will prepare the evening meal.)
Now here they were. When his mother had realized she was going into labor she had Uncle Umberto's wife, Sabina call for someone to assist with the birth. The other woman immediately jumped into action and was on the phone immediately before she and grandma helped the pregnant woman to the bedroom.
"Enzo," Sabina instructed. "I will need you to stay in your room until it is okay for you to come out, alright? Can you do that?" He obediently did as he was told, but part of him wanted to be there with his mother. He hated the wails of pain coming from his parent's room and feared his mother would die before everything was done. There was one last strained scream before there was an enraged wail of an infant. It just didn't seem real...a baby. Getting off the bed he walked to the door and peered out as Sabina was coming out of the room with a basin of water that was slightly tinged a cloudy red. The older woman noticed him peering out and smiled tiredly at him. In the room behind her, the baby continued to cry as though it wanted something, and that seemed to be concerning the midwife and his grandmother. His mother suddenly gasped in pain which drew Sabina's attention.
"Sabina," The midwife said as she appeared at the door. "Get some more hot water, there is another baby coming."
"Twins," Sabina asked nearly dropping the basin in shock.
"It seems so," The Midwife responded.
"Enzo," Sabina said. "It will be a while longer, I will let you know when it's over." As much as he wanted to be with his mother, he knew that the adult women wouldn't tell him he couldn't be there without reason. Reluctantly he shut the door and settled onto the floor by his bed. The palms of his hands pressed over his ears to block out his mother's screams of pain as she tried to bring another life into the world. And also to block out the wails of the baby that seemed to be competing with her over how loud they could scream in the chaos.
He wasn't sure how long it was but there was suddenly silence, even the baby seemed to have gone quiet as the commotion stilled. As if waiting for an opportunity, a shrill scream peeled through the soundlessness. The young boy didn't get up from where he was seated on the floor, he didn't want to have to endure a third baby. His mother couldn't possibly have the strength to give birth a third time. There was a knock at the door twenty minutes later, the door to his room opened as Sabina entered.
"Enzo," The older woman said with an exhausted but relieved look on her face. "You're mother has two people she is ready for you to meet." Hesitantly Lorenzo got to his feet unsure of what he would find. He followed the woman to his parent's room, where his mother rested peacefully under the covers. Her face was turned away from him as she was lovingly looking at two squirming bundles in the bassinet beside the bed. The midwife was packing up her belongings as they were no longer needed. The first thing that hit him as he entered the room was the smell of blood, sweat, and other rank bodily sents, his grandmother walked by him with a pile of blood-stained towels.
"Mamma..." Enzo asked? His mother's medium-brown hair was down and flowing over her shoulders. She turned her attention towards him, her olive-toned skin looked so pale and her face looked fatigued, but she held her arms out to welcome him.
"You have a baby brother, my dear one," Maria Ragno said. One of the babies fussed as Sabina picked the other one up and handed the infant to its mother. "This is your baby sister." The baby remaining in the bassinet started to get fussier at its twin's absence. Sabina picked up the infant into her arms lightly rocking it as she rounded the bed.
"Do you want to hold him," Sabina asked? Enzo held out his hands at the prospect of being able to hold a baby. Often when he had asked if he could hold one of his infant cousins, the adults would tell him he was too little or they didn't want someone else to hold their children. "Be careful, he is fragile," Sabina instructed. "Cradle his head against your arm like that, very good...now hold his body with your other arm." For something so small, Enzo was surprised at how heavy the squishy bundle actually was. The small face wrapped in the pastel yellow blanket was scrunched as though in displeasure, but the button round eyes opened and looked up at him in curiosity and fascination."
"That is your baby brother," Maria said as she let the baby girl lightly suck on her finger. "Like you, he is also an older brother."
"Why was he crying earlier," Enzo asked? He returned his attention back to the baby he held in his arms.
"He wanted his sister," Maria answered. "Babies don't communicate the way you or I do, the only way they can speak is by crying. So when he cried earlier he was calling for this little one, he didn't want to be parted from her."
"Do you have any names selected," Sabina asked?
"I believe they should be given American names," Maria said. "My mother-in-law insisted that Enzo be given an Italian name to remind us of where my husband and I came from. The boy will be named Anthony and the girl I feel Molly suits her."
"Anthony and Molly," Enzo said testing out the names. His Italian-new york accent made his childish voice sound somewhat lispy as he pronounced the names. The bundle he held in his arms let happy sounding noise that sounded like delighted coo.
"Lorenzo," Henrico said as he pulled his older son aside a couple of days later. Maria had gone upstairs to nurse the twins and put them down for a nap. "Your Pops needs to have words with yahs...a real man-to-man conversation."
"Why," Enzo asked?
"It's about your brother, Anthony," Henroin responded as he got to down on one knee so he was more eye level with the boy. "Yah sees you are my favorite son, cause you're older, and being a big brother does carry a lot of responsibilities. However, while Anthony is small and not much of a threat to yahs right now. In one year, maybe two, he'll try to take the pride and affection I have for you as my son for himself. If you want to remain my favorite, you are gonna have to fight to remain in my good graces. Otherwise, he'll become the favorite son instead, capiche?"
"But," Enzo said as he tried to process what his father was telling him. "But, I'm responsible for them...mamma said that I need to help take care of both of 'em."
"That's right," Henroin said. "But, I was a big brother to three boys when I was your age. And I made it clear that I was the boss and they couldn't even take a shit without answerin' ta me first. The reason I'm tellin' yah all this is to prepare yah for the family business. I have the Italian Imports company, but I also have things in the business I can't talk about. One day, you will be taking it over and your brother will be workin' under you. Before then, your brother will be trying to prove he is more deserving than you."
"What about Molly," Enzo asked. "Will she try to take you from me to Pops?"
"Nah," Henroin waved it away like it was no big deal. "She's a girl, being Papa's little princess is a whole different thing from being my favorite son. She won't be part of the family business, she'll have a role to play but you and Anthony would be the ones who are part of the business. Though since you did bring it up, the two of them being twins will be a problem depending on how close they are. There, fortunately, are ways of dealing with her so Anthony doesn't have her as an ally against you."
That was how it had been, he was taught to see his own brother as competition and a rival. That was all Anthony was to him...someone who wanted to take what was rightfully his. Yet, contrary to Pops's warnings, when they had been growing up...Anthony never wanted competition with his brother. He wanted approval, he wanted to be recognized, but he didn't actively seek aggression toward his older brother. The two would fight at times-mostly over how Pops was raising them- with Anthony telling him that their father wasn't the man he presented himself to be. The only time he directly accused Anthony of jealousy was the time he was approached by a representative from Murder Inc, an organized crime group that acted as an enforcement arm of both the Italian-American and Jewish Mafia.
Pops had taken to discussing the family business at the dinner table since Anthony had proven himself of use to the family and had pledged albeit somewhat reluctantly. Grandma Ragno had returned to Italy wanting live out her remaining years in her native home. Molly was still living upstate with their aunt but would be returning to New York in a couple of months. So for the current time period, they had no need to be mindful of what they discussed about the family business. When Enzo had explained that someone associated with Albert Anastasia had seen him during the Castellamarese War and expressed an interest in him being part of their group. Henroin was impressed as it would gain them more of a foothold in the city. Anthony hadn't outright objected to this news, but he was less than happy about it. Murder Inc. was "Lucky" Luciano's army of attack dogs, and it was headed by Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia, a man who was so skilled in torture and murder he was known by the moniker of "Lord High Executioner". While he and Enzo had their differences and he knew his brother couldn't exactly say no without it being an insult, that didn't mean it didn't worry him.
"I hope your time with 'em works out for yah," Anthony said as he cleared the table after their father had gone to his study.
"Is that jealousy I hear, Fratallino," Enzo mockingly asked? At long last Anthony was showing his true colors, after years of living in his older brother's shadow he was now beginning to reveal the cards he tightly held to his chest.
"No, just concerned," Angel said. "You know the sort of man Anastasia is...the reputation he has. Pops is violence happy too, but we know him well enough to know when he's triggered by somethin'. But Anastasia is worse because he's unpredictable, and I'm worried that this group will change you and not in a good way."
"I was only thirteen when I made my first kill," Enzo excused. "You think that sort of stuff bothers me...take my advice, in the family you don't question the orders. You just do what the family needs yah to do."
"I made my bones as well," Anthony protested. He put the plates in the kitchen sink before turning his attention to his brother. "It's not the sort of thing you forget."
"I seriously can't believe we are even brothers," Enzo darkly snarked. "I can blow people's brains out and not be phased by it, while you kill a guy on accident and you're still pissing yourself about it."
"Your first kill was a female lounge singer that owed the family money," Anthony stated. "She wasn't threaten' you in anyway except maybe sayin that she was going to the cops. The person I killed was an association of the family. It don't matter the reason why I had to do it, killen' family is still seen as bad blood."
"You being gay is also bad blood," Enzo remarked. "That's probably why yah don't got the stomach for the sort of shit we do, and yet you pledged your oath just the same."
"It ain't like I was given any options," Anthony protested. "This was the expectation for the two of us"
He wished he had heard his brother's concerns for what they were. While they both understood violence and death were part of the life, and if a murder was to be carried out...then it would be carried out. But there is a difference between ending a Soldier who was being too much of a problem for the family or taking out an actual Don without it causing a conflict between the families. But now, the murders carried out were classified as business.
When he had stepped foot into the Brooklyn Candy Store that was going to be the meeting place for Murder Inc, he was immediately ushered into the upstairs room. Anastasia had stood in the back of the room smoking a cigar, while "Lepke" Buchalter told him the rules of their organization. How they were not allowed to target any Mafia Bosses, civilians, police, politicians, journalists, judges, and prosecutors. All the while Anastasia smoked his cigar and eyed him as if trying to spot any sort of weakness or flaw that would make Enzo ineffective as part of his crew. The feeling was chilling but the younger man still schooled himself to make it clear he was worthy of this organization.
It was when he was accepted as good enough that he saw what Anthony had been warning him about. It wasn't just simply carrying out kills on whoever Luciano and the Commission wanted dead...the victims were sadistically tortured and forced to suffer before they were given the mercy of death. Hits were organized and efficient, but these murders were placed on virtual strangers. With the family, if he killed a loose-mouthed soldier or a caporegime who was choosing to defect to another family. When their deaths came for them, they at least knew who was there to kill them and why. But this, there was no association, the people who were killed were unknowns. This made the murders difficult to track, but also it felt like an injustice. One man is jumped and has a cloth bag placed over his head and his hands bound behind his back before being taken to a place where he was shot dead when in reality he only deserved to be roughed up at best. Someone who had stolen money had their hands cut off while those tasked with the dead would dispassionately stand and smoke while their victim bled out. Other guys got an icepick through the ear, or had their tongues cut out. Death caused in various numerous and horrible ways that would have given any normal person nightmares for years.
In working with Murder Inc from 1933 until the group was dissolved in 1941, he began to see that his father was not the mobster he liked to believe he was. Henroin was dangerous but like everything else, it was all show. It was just an act he put on to make himself appear like he was worthy of the attention of the five families and the commission. But Albert Anastasia was the sort of boss that Henrico Ragno liked to pretend he was, which said a lot considering Anastasia had more in common with a rabid dog than anything else.
As much as he felt he had made a mistake in agreeing to this, as much as he wanted to go to prosecutor Tom Dewey and the FBI about what was going on, he didn't dare. If he did, he'd be a dead man and Pops himself would have said he didn't raise him to be a rat. The only time that he felt like he was being tested by them was when he was informed that Anthony had disappeared. He was found by the Brooklyn docks a day later, severely battered and bruised. His brother couldn't say who attacked him because they took him from behind and blindfolded him. He had only known that they had taken him somewhere and had beaten him with what felt like bike chains as they interrogated him about the family. They had eventually let him go once they realized he wasn't the soft touch they took him for. Enzo had seriously wondered if this was Murder Inc. doing, but he stopped himself. While torture was their style...he knew the group well enough to know that they wouldn't have left Anthony alive regardless of whether he talked or not. And while made guys could be shot dead just for the suspicion of being gay, Anthony was not in any relationships with any men as far as he knew.
Even when he arrived at Murder Inc. after this, he was asked by one of his crewmates if he suspected they had attacked his brother. The room went silent at that question and all eyes regarded him over what he would say. Anastasia had regarded him in a manner that suggested that if he gave him any reason to believe he would become a liability he had the authority to end him then and there. Enzo replied that he knew they didn't do it by pointing out they would never have left Anthony alive once they were done torturing him.
"That fag will get what's coming to him," Anastasia said after a moment of silence. "Sooner or later, we'll have that order."
"I'm aware," Enzo said impassively. "Our sister wants to move him out of the city for his safety, I've let her know he's safer staying in the city. After all, he knows too much about other families and organizations. If he leaves town, that'll just give the Commission reason to want him silenced. At least at home, Pops and the rest of the family keep an eye on him. And if he does think about squealing to the feds...I'll take care of him myself."
"See to that," Anastasia said. "That queer will die with his own dick in his mouth if I get the call."
Enzo had remained focused on the jobs given and returned home to his wife to drown his anxiety in Whisky. His siblings often avoided him due to the jobs he did as part of Murder Inc. Much of the family would also avoid him when they saw him as though fearful he was there to end them. When Luca was found dead, the police had arrived at the Ragno home to bring Anthony in for questioning because of the photo found at the crime scene. Umberto had gone with him to be sure Anthony said nothing to incriminate the family business in any way. Enzo again maintained to the rest of Murder Inc. that he would kill his brother himself if Anthony thought to go to the police. This heat however died down after Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, one of the Jewish Hitmen in Murder Inc. became a government witness and implicated a number of the crewmates. These men were arrested and executed in prison. Albert "Madhatter" Anastasia went into hiding, and Enzo did likewise. Corrina was pregnant with his firstborn son, Salvatore. While he knew his wife and unborn child would be taken care of should he meet his end, he didn't want his unborn child to live with the shame of knowing his father died convicted as a murderer.
He was reading the newspaper when he came across the article that informed him of Reles's death. He had been kept under witness protection at the "Half Moon Hotel" near Coney Island while waiting to testify against Anastasia. The police who had come to check on him found he had fallen from-or more likely was thrown- from his sixth-floor guest room. With their informant deceased any allegations against the remaining members of Murder Inc were thrown out. Don Ragno had readily welcomed his older son back, appointing him as an underboss and keeping him close as a bodyguard.
Enzo's relationship with his younger brother and sister never recovered. They would talk to and interact with him as a member of the family, but a rift had formed. Even now in Hell, there was still a distance between his younger brother and himself. Anthony had dropped his true name and used the name Angel Dust to distance himself from the family. The times the two did encounter each other there was a palpable tension between them. His younger brother had never forgiven him for Luca's death...even though Enzo had not murdered Luca Celani he had recognized it as a hit performed by Murder Inc, there were no doubts about it. If he had only known...or maybe, he should have recognized it beforehand.
"You're a good man Enzo, but yah know as well as I do that Anthony ain't meant for the life. He can exist in it, he can serve it, possibly learn from it, but he isn't meant for the life like you and I are."
"He pledged to the family; he made his choice."
"He made that his choice because there wasn't one to make. Don Ragno givin' the options of recruit and pledge and being disowned…that aint a choice…. that is like asking what death sentence he'd prefer. He's made his bones today icing Valvano, but that don't say much. It's his first blood, Andreioli understands it was defense and he'll make a case for it during the investigation. But Mario Valvano also had a lot of standing and respect in the family. Even if Valvano's death was not intended, there will be people wantin' Tony's execution because of it. Don Ragno's being his father will not save him, cause he killed a member of the family."
"For someone as observant as you are, you don't see the obvious. The only thing Pops cares about is himself, it's always his reputation...his legacy...his family. Excuse it all you like, but he don't give two shits about me, or Moll's, or even you. You, me, and everyone else are just tools he can use for his desires, that's the way it's always been. Didn't you ever think why he has the two of us fight for his fatherly affection? It's so the two of us don't join forces against him."
"We're NDrina Famiglia, this how things are done."
"This ain't Italy, Fratello. This is our lives were talkin' about here, don't we have some say in what we do with it?"
In the distance he could make out the sign of the "Happy Hotel", the hotel King Luci's daughter was running. The place where his younger brother had supposedly taken up residence. He hadn't wanted to jump to conclusions about his brother's presumed involvement with the Princess of Hell. Anthony could be impulsive, headstrong, and reckless, but he was far from stupid. There was no way he'd fall for something as far-fetched as redemption when there was nothing to prove it was even possible. And if Anthony was only using the Princess for his own needs, there were no words to accurately describe how brainless that decision would be. And that didn't exactly say good things about Princess Morningstar's sense of judgment. Still, the recent reports about Angel Dust retiring from the porn business seemed to have put to rest any doubts Anthony had become associated with the Princess of Hell. And supposedly she had left for someplace outside the city, taking Anthony with her. For what reason he didn't know. Despite his father's paranoia that Anthony must somehow be plotting something against the family, why would he be making moves against the family now of all times? When he found Anthony living in Hell years ago, the younger man had been living under a bridge. The years alone in squaller had made him crazed and animalistic, not someone who was a threat.
"I hope your time with 'em works out for yah," Arackniss said to the darkness. "If this whole redemption thing isn't bullshit like everyone else believes it is, then Moll's is somewhere in Heaven waiting."
A lot of the mobsters I do bring up in this chapter were mobsters that did exist during the time Angel and Arackniss were alive. Men such as Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Joe "The Boss" Masseria, Salvatore Maranzano, and Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, and groups such as the Commission, and Murder Inc. are all characters you can look up easily. And yes someone like Anastasia is the sort of man that Henroin wished he was, but in actuality would never come close to carrying the same reputation.