More than meets the Eye
Ch. 1: "Bentornato a casa, fratello"
September 6, 2000
It was a beautiful sunny day or so that's how it looked from inside a window of a prison cell. Within the prison cell was a tall muscular man, only he wasn't just any prisoner. No, siree. He had connections and had been around the block quite a few times, but one of those times led him to be in this cell for the past 15 years and now, today was the day. The day he would be freed from this prison.
The man was making more chalk marks on his prison cell wall when a door opened very loudly.
"Mr. Dante." the guard called out, as he walked up to the cell.
The man slowly turned around and had a pissed off look on his face.
"Mr. Dante," the guard held up a box with stuff in it, "your sentence is finished. You're free to go."
"Finally! I've been waiting 15 fucking years!" Mr. Dante said, as he threw his chalk down and stomped on it.
The guard opened the cell door and handed Mr. Dante the box of his belongings.
"Heh. I had forgotten about all this shit. However, seeing as 15 years has passed and the 80s are gone, some of this stuff may not fit me anymore!" Mr. Dante huffed.
"Mr. Dante, if I was you, I would not complain so damn much. After all, you're free to go and live your life." the guard rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, but a whole chunk of it is gone. It's like I gotta start way the fuck over, again. Oh, how fun for me!" Mr. Dante said, as he walked off with his belongings.
*Outside, a few minutes later*
Mr. Dante had since changed back into his old clothes that surprisingly still fit him, despite being in the joint for 15 years. Now, he was ready to go home and get back with his family.
"I hope she gets here like she promised." Mr. Dante said to himself, as he glanced at his watch.
Pretty soon, a black Lincoln pulled up and as soon as it was parked, a brunette woman who was a few years older than Mr. Dante walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the lips.
"I knew you'd come, babe." Mr. Dante said to the woman.
"Hey, I take my wedding vows to you very seriously and I just looked forward to this day for a long time." his wife kept on hugging him very tightly.
"C'mon, babykins. Let's get me some fresh clothes and pay a certain relative a visit." Mr. Dante kissed his wife, again.
"Right behind you." Mrs. Dante got in the driver's seat, while her husband got into the passenger side, after putting the box of his belongings into the backseat.
*Cut to the home of Gab and Silvio Dante, about 3 hours later*
"Gab, which tie should I wear the black one or the red one?" Silvio was debating which necktie he should wear.
However, before Gab could answer, there was a knock at the door.
"Ahhhh! Who the fuck could that be and what the fuck do they want?!" Silvio was pissed off that somebody could knock at this time.
Knock, knock, again.
"Aw right, I'm comin! I'm comin! Dammit!" Silvio made his way to the door and opened it, "What the fuck do you-"
"Hello...Silvio." Mr. Dante grinned.
Silvio stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the aviator shades wearing towering and hulking man standing before him. He could not believe his eyes.
"I said 'hello' or have you suddenly become hard of your fucking hearing?!" Mr. Dante's grin quickly disappeared to that of a pissed off look.
"I don't...believe it. I don't believe my fuckin eyes..." Silvio rubbed his eyes, again just to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Dammit, Sil! Don't you recognize your own brother?!" Mr. Dante's wife interjected, very angrily.
"Sil, what's going on?" Gab called out.
"Gab, you won't fucking believe this. Come here!" Silvio yelled back.
"Sil, who is this man and woman? They look familiar." Gab came over to where Silvio was standing and stood next to her husband.
"Gab, in case you have forgotten which is understandable given the years, this is my older brother...Carmine and his wife Mata. Her real name is Michaela, but he calls her Mata after infamous spy Mata Hari." Silvio told his wife, as he was still awe struck by seeing his brother for the first time in so many years.
"I remember you two! You were the best man and you were one of my bridesmaids." Gab started to remember Mata and Carmine.
"Thank you, Gab. Finally, somebody recognizes us!" Carmine was clearly annoyed with his brother.
"So, they finally let you out of the can after these 15 long years?" Silvio asked.
"Yeah, finally. However, I'm gonna have to start way the fuck over and work myself up from the damn bottom, again! Plus, I also have some wise guys I need to meet with and I hear talk of one Anthony Soprano, who I would love to meet." Carmine cracked his knuckles.
"Oh yeah, I forget you never met Tone. Well, let me tell ya Carmine, he is the greatest fuckin guy you'll ever know. He is genuine and sincere unlike the clowns you worked for as a bodyguard. In fact, an idea just hatched in my brain." Silvio snapped his fingers.
"Sil, for Christ's sake, you haven't seen me in 15 fucking years and already you have an idea for my future?!" Carmine raised an eyebrow.
"Ya wanna hear it or not? I may not be as kind as to make the damned suggestion, again!" Silvio folded his arms.
"Okay, let's hear it. Can't be as bad as the one you gave me that landed me in the slammer for 15 fucking years of my damn life!" Carmine scoffed.
"Look you fuckin jagoff, I ain't the one who told you to take the fall for those other guys. That was your dumbass's fault and also the fault of those other jackasses!" Silvio fired back.
"Hey, you said it wasn't a bad idea!" Carmine pounded his fist.
"Well, I only said that, because I didn't know your dumb ass was gonna take the damn fall!" Silvio folded his arms.
"Aw well, that's the past now. Not a damn thing you can do to change it!" Carmine ran his hand through his hair.
"You can say that, again." Silvio nodded, before smiling and hugging his brother, patting him on the back, "I'm just glad you're out of the can. Bentornato a casa, fratello!".
"Sil, what does that last part mean?" Gab asked.
"It is welcome home, brother in Italian." Silvio said, as he continued to hug his brother.
"È bello essere tornato. Ora, mi occuperò degli affari, poi incontrerò questo Anthony Soprano di cui parli. (It feels good to be back. Now, I shall take care of business then meet this Anthony Soprano you speak of.)" Carmine responded in Italian.
Silvio released his brother from the hug and nodded, while still smiling. One had to admit that this was one of the rare times Silvio Dante was seen genuinely happy and all smiles. Then again, he hadn't seen Carmine in many years, so to him and even for him, this was a very heart touching moment. His next step was to introduce Carmine to Paulie, Bobby, Christopher, and above all...Tony.
"If you'll excuse me little brother, I think I have some unfinished business to attend to." Carmine turned to leave, only to stop in his tracks and turn around, "Oh, before I go, may I ask you something?".
"Anything." Silvio said with a slight nod of his head.
"Do you know one Jimmy Altieri and one Big Puss? Those rat bastards owe me." Carmine asked.
"They're gone, Carmine." Silvio said in a solemn tone.
"Oh, those cowards are hiding? Why? They afraid o'l big bad Carmine is outta the slammer?" Carmine joked.
"No, my brother...they're... gone. Sleeping with the fishes type of gone." Silvio hinted.
Carmine, immediately understanding his brother's hint, mouthed "Oh." and nodded his head.
"Yup. That's what happens when you're a dirty rat." Silvio shrugged in a nonchalant way.
"Believe me, I know, Sil. I know and as much as I would love to stick around and chit chat, I have some friends to visit, so this is good bye...for now." Carmine nodded, again before turning to leave.
"Carmine, wait. Once you're done visiting to your friends, stop by at the Bing." Silvio told him.
"The what?" Carmine was confused.
"The Bing. I'll explain later." Silvio gave him a card that had the address of the Bing on it.
"Thanks, Sil. See ya at the Bing...later." Carmine put the card in his pocket and gave his brother a kiss on the cheek, before leaving.
"It was nice seeing you again, Gab and Sil." Mata hugged both of them.
"Mata, C'mon! I ain't gettin' any younger!" Carmine called out.
"Oh, Carmine!" Mata rolled her eyes, before turning to Gab and Silvio, "Impatient, but I do love him."
"That's how it is with this one." Gab laughed, as she pointed at Silvio.
Silvio just gave her a look of disapproval, before shrugging it off.
"Men." Mata rolled her eyes, before leaving.
"Sil, may I ask you something?" Gab asked, as she shut the door.
"What is it?" Silvio went back to debating which necktie he should wear.
"What was Carmine in for?" Gab was curious.
"Gab, that's something I would rather not discuss right now." Silvio was clearly too focused on his necktie dilemma.
"Silvio." Gab folded her arms.
"Gab, I said I didn't wanna talk about it, so I'm not gonna talk about it, yet! Alright?" Silvio snapped.
Gab, deciding to just leave the matter alone, walked off.
As Sil continued to have his necktie dilemma, he started to realize that he needed to not only tell Gab of why Carmine was locked up for so long, but he needed to inform Tony and everyone else, because he knew Carmine wasn't just your average mob enforcer and mob bodyguard. In fact, he knew Carmine MORE than Carmine even knew himself. Plus, he also knew of the brutality his brother was capable of and what caused his brother to be locked up for 15 years, but he also knew that he must inform his wife and everyone around him of Carmine, as nobody had any idea. Then again, would they really want to? Would anybody want to know what Carmine Dante did and has done in the past? That's a question that shall yet be either answered or ignored.
*Out in an alley, somewhere*
After Carmine dropped Mata off at their house, he was bound and determined to find his old friends and possibly have a reunion of sorts. He finally approached the alley where he and his old friends used to meet up and hang out. Much to his surprise, he saw three guys he recognized almost immediately.
"Okay, Carmine. Just go up to them and make small talk. They would recognize you in an instant, as you always were a man of a few words." Carmine quietly said to himself, as he stepped out of his parked car and started walking up to the trio.
"So, as I was saying to this broad-" one of the men started to say, before he was abruptly cut off when he saw Carmine approaching them.
"Oh my God! Do my eyes deceive me?" the second man asked, before rubbing his eyes.
"Is that-" the third man was too surprised to finish the question.
"Hello...fellas." Carmine greeted, as he was finally standing in front of the three men.
"Carmine Dante. Are you a sight for sore eyes?" the first man said, as a smile started to form on his face.
"Likewise, Matteo. I also see Santino and Lorenzo are here. Looks like the party has already started." Carmine nodded and slowly rubbed his hands together.
"Nonsense. The party could never start without you." Matteo patted Carmine on the shoulder.
"Yeah, Carmine. You are our most trusted and loyal friend. We have been waiting for the day that you got released from that cage you were in." Lorenzo added.
"We missed ya, chief. We sure missed ya." Santino kissed Carmine on each cheek, before hugging him.
"Oh ho, I missed each of you. I sure did. 15 years I spent in the slammer, because someone in our crew had to speak up to the F.B.I. and like a stupid fool, I thought I would do them a favor and take the fall, because it would've been a longer sentence for them. Only to find out that the sentence was for 15 years and not for life without parole. Plus, to find out that the people I took the fall for never even bothered to pay me one visit. They got to enjoy the last two decades, while I rotted. I mean I'm not complaining, but still when you take an oath and make a promise, you keep your end of the said bargain, right?" Carmine told them, in a very aggressive, yet passionate tone.
Matteo, Lorenzo, and Santino each exchanged nervous glances, before turning back to Carmine and nodding their heads in agreement.
"However, like I said, it is water under the bridge. I mean it was only a mere 15 years, right?" Carmine shrugged.
"Yeah, it was just 15 years." Lorenzo nervously nodded, again.
"Then again, that's time that I'll never get back. That's time that I'll have to start all over, again." Carmine looked down at the ground for a brief moment.
"True. Very true, Carmine. Very true indeed." Matteo nodded, while trying hard to not look nervous.
"However, like I said, I'm not complaining. I mean after all, I do get to live my life again with Mata. Which leads me to ask how Debra, JoAnne, and Jenevieve are?" Carmine tenderly rubbed his knuckles with his fingertips.
"Debra?" Matteo asked.
"JoAnne?" Lorenzo's eyes shifted to the right for a brief moment.
"Jene-Jene-Jenevieve?" Santino raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Debra, JoAnne, and Jenevieve. Your wives. You haven't forgotten your wives, have you?" Carmine folded his arms.
"Oh, no. How could we forget our wives? Who does stuff like that? Right?" Matteo ran a hand through his hair.
"Only a monster would forget their spouse." Santino chimed in.
"Just like a monster would forget their friend, right?" Carmine put one arm around Santino and the other around Matteo and Lorenzo.
"Wha-wha-wha-wha-what do ya mean, Carmine?" Matteo suddenly felt his stomach drop.
"Yeah, chief?" Santino asked, after gulping hard.
"Well, you see, I have started to put everything together. You know, like a puzzle and I solved my dilemma, like a riddle and do you three wanna know what I came up with?" Carmine grinned like a shark.
Matteo, Lorenzo, and Santino started to breathe heavily and get a little shaky.
"My three bosom buddies. My only confidants. The men I loved like family...betrayed and double crossed me in '85 or so I was told. I did not want to believe it at first for two reasons. One: Family doesn't turn on family and Two: Who would be dumb enough to betray and double cross Carmine Dante? Who would be dumb enough? I kept asking myself this and I finally figured it out that you three wise guys committed the worst of the worst sins against a fella. A sin worse than banging another man's wife." Carmine let out a long and breathy sigh, before continuing, "My three bosom buddies. Most trusted and loyal friends...became dirty rats, let me take the fall, and deserted me before the blink of an eye and for what? For what? To save your asses, that is! You let me take the fall and rot in a cage for 15 years just so you three could enjoy yourselves after you pledged loyalty to me!".
Matteo, Lorenzo, and Santino looked down at the floor, knowing Carmine was right.
"While I am not surprised at Matteo and Lorenzo, but you Santino, you are the one who surprises me the most. I mean I looked up to you like an older brother and after you promised that you would be there for me while I did time for crimes I did not have a major role in and that if I did the time for those crimes, you would take the fall for me, only for me to find out that A) you quickly changed your mind and said our deal was off and that you wanted to start a new life, B) Matteo talked you into betraying me, because he didn't want me around and thought that I was gonna be in for life and never get out and lastly, C) you were never there for me when I needed you the most which was while I was doing time. You had previously promised me, but you reneged, because it was convenient for you to drop me when you no longer found me useful. That...really hurts. It really does." Carmine put his hand on top of his heart and shook his head in disgust.
"Oh, Carmine, we're so sorry. I'm so sorry. Truly, I am." Santino put his hand on Carmine's shoulder.
"Yeah, we didn't mean it, kid. We were just-We were just...young...and-and-and-and stupid back then. C'mon, man. You can let it go, right?" Matteo said in a very shaky voice.
"Yeah, you can compro-compro-compro-compromise, right?" Lorenzo asked.
"Compromise? You three want me to compromise?" Carmine still sported that shark-like grin.
"Yeah. I mean you're a reasonable kid and you have a big heart. Surely, you can compromise. Just a little." Santino suggested.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute, wait a minute. You want me to compromise? Well, let me riddle you this: Don't you three think I compromised quite enough for being in the slammer for 15 damn years?! Hmmm?" Carmine sternly asked.
"Well...yeah...you've compromised a lot these past 15 years. However, you could compromise, again, right?" Santino sounded hopeful.
"Boy, you three must be really dumb or naive or something. I mean I've compromised more than enough. I wanted to be home banging my wife's ass into next week, but since, I was in that joint for 15 years, I compromised. I jacked off into my bath towels. I stained fifty five towels, but hey, I compromised. I wanted to be drinking Sambuca on Friday nights like I normally did, but since, I was in that joint, I also compromised that, too. I drank prison moonshine that a fellow inmate made in those cold steel pots they call the porcelain express. I wanted to go for a swim, but I was in the slammer, so like with the Sambuca and the sweet sweet sex, I...compromised my swimming, too. I swam in a big trash dumpster filled with ice cold water. Not exactly a swimming pool, but when you're in prison, you compromise everything!" Carmine slightly raised his voice.
"We get the point, Carmine and we understand your anger, but couldn't you just forgive what happened in '85? Please?" Matteo put his hands in a pleading motion.
"Yeah, please, kid. It'll never happen, again." Lorenzo pleaded.
"I'm sorry, but in case you forgot, I don't forgive betrayal and plus, this is what happens to dirty rats like you." Carmine reached into his pocket, grabbed his gun, and cocked it, before pointing it at Matteo.
"Oh, Carmine. Oh...my...God. I-I feel very numb on my feet and like-like my head is spinning. I...I don't think I can...stand." Matteo put two and two together and suddenly figured out what was happening.
"Good, because you won't be for long." Carmine said, before unleashing a hail of bullets to Matteo's chest.
Lorenzo and Santino gasped in shock and horror, as they watched their friend drop to the ground, dead.
"You two...in the car...now!" Carmine turned to Lorenzo and Santino.
Lorenzo and Santino quickly got into the backseat of the car. Carmine shot Matteo a few more times, before getting into the car and driving off to another location. As Carmine was driving, Lorenzo and Santino realized that their friend, whom they betrayed at the behest of Matteo, had just snuffed Matteo out and now, they were next.
Question was: How was Carmine going to do them in? Plus, since they are both condemned men, couldn't they have a final request? It only seemed fair, even though, they knew to expect this, because it was the life they chose. Now, their fates have been sealed.
To Be Continued...
Author's note: This is my first "Sopranos" fic, so please be patient. Also, I own nothing from "The Sopranos". Just the characters: Carmine, Mata, Matteo, Lorenzo, and Santino.
Carmine: Please, R&R.
Matteo: R&R? You killed me you jagoff!
Carmine: Yeah, whatever.
Lorenzo: Bright idea you had, Matteo. We're next!
Santino: Hey! What are you trying to do? Spoil it?!
Carmine: Could you all shut your traps, please?! Thank you!
Silvio: Hey! What the hell? I only appeared briefly!
Carmine:(punches him out cold).