There he was, sitting at the table with the men of honor in the local tavern in Palermo Sicily.  This was a meeting of the Lucchese's and their Don Angelo Lucchese their grandfather.  Victor and his twin brother Vincent were instructed that they were to sail to America and ensure that their cousins mother return with her two daughters and last son Anthony.   Angelo's youngest son wanted nothing to do with that life style so he left Sicily with his young wife and there they produced several son's but the first three were killed. 

Stefano, Peter and Michael had been killed in America due to gangland wars within the mafia.  Victor and Vincent were instructed not to seek revenge.  They were to see what holding still bared the name Lucchese and manage them.  Victor nodded but looked at his father Carmine as he approved of sending his son's to return his brother wife and remaining children back to Sicily.   Victor lit a cigarette then stood and told them he would honor the family wishes but he wanted his brother Nico to join them also.   That Nico would return with their uncle's family and he and Vincent would have to remain in America if things are as Michael said they were.  Angelo nodded as Thomas his underboss informed the brothers that New York would be the gate way and support.  Everything had been arranged they would arrive on a steamer and they would by pass staying on Ellis Island and will be picked up by friends of the family.   

They were to leave in two days until then they were to pack and inform no one outside of the room not even their grandmother or mother.  Vincent looked at Victor and smiled.  Nico thanked Victor for requesting him to go with them.  Victor told his two younger brothers that he would not do anything to hurt them, that family is everything but blood is blood and that is family and honor.  That night they stayed in there rooms and ate late after everyone was asleep.  They couldn't look their mother in the face knowing that they would be leaving and not able to tell her when they would return or why and when they had to leave.  

The steamer was a new created ship with large cabin rooms and elegant dinning and upscaled first class recreation activities.  Nico and Vincent took advantage of the status and socialized with the wealthy as Victor walked the deck thinking and looking out at the ocean and wondering how to best handle the what if's to uncover the unknowns.  He thought of when his brothers would return as he understood that he would stay in America until his death.  He hoped that he would die of old aged in bed surround by his children and wife.  The thought of marriage was the only thing that frighten him.   Everything else was just a day in the life of a man.  The man needed to do things that made sense not just react but be slow to answer and answer with decisiveness.  

The day that they arrived to the shores of America Victor stood on the deck smoking a cigarette looking up at the Statue of Liberty.  He shook his head he thought that an Italian artist could have made it better but what did he know he wasn.t into art but he loved beautiful women and he heard that America was filled with them.  He also knew that he would have to handle business fast as he was told work before pleasure was how the Lucchese's did everything.  He was a man of few words not that his english was bad but he wasn't perfect.  He looked over at the city in the deep back ground and smiled as he would get off the ship.  It wasn't a bad ride but being on land was better then on water after all how far can you swim and how much water can you drink.  

To Be Continued

The brothers bags were being off loaded onto the pier where a car was wanting.   The driver was a young man named Joe or Joey V.  He greeted the brothers and then a well dressed man stepped out of the car.   He told them that their Aunt had been under his protection and that they were under his protection.  Victor shook the gentlemens hand and then they started to get into the car.   Victor looked back at the steamer and smirked as he turned towards the car getting in the front passinger seat.  The man told them that his friends call him Lucky.  Vincent was quick to ask why; hoping he was going to talk about American women.  The man pointed to the scar on his face and told Vincent I got taken for a ride and came back with this point to his scar that's why they called him lucky. 

Vincent relied that Victor got the same scar but they didn't call him lucky that called him Victor.  Lucky looked at Victor then Vincent then laughed as they got into the car.  Nico shook Lucky's hand and called him lucky Victor called him Mr. Luciano while Vincent never even spoke to him.  They arrived as Vincent was watching the driver the entire drive over to his aunts home.  They got out of the car and grabbed their bags.  Vincent whispered to Lucky and ask him his drivers name.  Lucky replied that's Joe Valachi Vincent nodded and told Lucky not to trust that guy his gut was telling him that Valachi wasn't right that something was off to watch him and keep the family secrets from him.   Lucky looked and smiled telling Vincent that Joe was good people but he will keep an eye out.  

They walked up onto the porch and knocked on the door.  Then a light from inside the home came on, then the light on the porch came on.  A old lady opened the door slightly and ask could she help them?  Victor was standing in front with Vincent hiding behind him.  She looked Victor in the face looking hard as if she knew him but the last time she saw Victor was when he was just 6 when she was on a visit back home.  Then he smiled and turned his face and pointed to his scar and she called out his name.   Vincent appeared from behind his brother once she called out Victors name.  She then called both their names and then pointed to the youngest and asked is that baby Nico?  Victor nodded yes that's baby Nico.  Nico hated being called baby especially by his brothers but for some reason when his aunt said it he felt like his mother said it.  His aunt was his mothers sister and the two girls both married into the Lucchese family.  

She hugged all three men and then their cousins came and they hugged as they walked into the home.  Lucky then smiled and told them to have a good night and that he would be by tomorrow with a different driver.  Vincent nodded in agreement and Victor walked him to the car as they spoke alone.  Vincent was peeking out the window and could see them shaking hands and Lucky nodded as he approved of whatever they talked about.  When Victor came back in Vincent looked at his brother but Victor didn't return his gaze he instead handed his aunt gifts and then his cousins.  Vincent then realized that Victor didnt want to talk family business infront of the women.  But Vincent wasn't going to let that hand shake pass.  

To Be Continued

Morning appears very quickly when you spend the night talking with relatives that you haven't seen in years.  Victor was exhausted physically but mentally he was sharp and ready.  His cousins had already been buried and the business titles and deeds the lawyer already had list and cataloged for his review.  Vincent was also anxious to speak with his brother about the hand shake between him and Lucky.  Victor knew that Vincent was like a dog with a new bone when he wanted something cleared up.  Victor gave his famous smirk and nod letting Vincent know he would tell him the deal.  Victor told him that they would stay in America and help with the plans Lucky had.  They would be heading out to LA and Victor would still control everything that Stefano and Michael had in play.  The new caveote' was that Victor would have to help convince the Families in Sicily to sale their narcotic in America and Vito Genovese would be the contact for the United States.  

Vincent wasn't to happy but he understood then he looked at Victor and saw a another smirk and asked if the Lucchese would get a brokers fee. Victor looked at his brother and told him that they get fifthteen percent of everyload no if ands or buts in either cash or product.  They agreed on the cash.  Eashier and mess hasle.  Victor then gave his brother a pat on the back and told him to watch the house he needed to ride with Lucky and see the lawyer and meet this Vito fella.  Vincent knew that Victor was carrying so he wasn't worried and Lucky needed them alive in order to pull off this new business deal.  Nico and the rest of the family were fast asleep and Vincent laid on the couch and closed his eyes as Victor went and took a shower.

Another hour went bye as Victor stood dressed neatly and waited then he saw the car pull into the driveway.  Victor tapped his brother Vincent to let him know he was going.  Then he was out the door in a flash.  He entered the car and sat next to Lucky as Lucky began telling Victor some of the things he did to get ahead and how him and Stefano became friends.  Along the way they picked up Mr. Lansky a friend to Lucky.  They all started talking business as Mr. Lansky pointed Stefano to the lawyer they were going to see.  Lucky and Lansky used this lawyer to include Carlo Gambino and Genovese.  Victor never said a word he listened and then realized that this lawyer may have scimmed a little off the top for Lucky so he needed to check the books on every operation and if he ran short the Lawyer and the men that put that viper in contact with Stefano and Michael would have to go.  

Victor sat in the office waiting room as the Lawyer gathered the titles to every business that was own or partially owned by his cousins.  Victor was able to see the deeds but could not take possession of them until they had the time to be placed in his name and ensure that they was no back taxes or claims to them.  Victor gave a smirk and then looked at the lawyer in such away that he understood that if anything doesn't go well or is off in the slightest Victor would be completely unforgiving.  Then the Attorney hand Victor two bag they both weighed 66 pounds and filled with hundred dollar bills or six million dollars.  Victor leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette then looked at the Lawyer and the man nodded that he would have someone carry it out with him and yet Victor didn't blink just keep looking at him.   That's when the lawyer changed his tune and said he would carry it down to Victors car and then Victor gave a simple nod and stood up.  

The lawyer then told him that he Stefano and Michael both had partners and that they needed to go over the tax issues and set up a dummy corparation to funnel the cash into and out of.  Taking another puff he looked at the man then walked over to the window.  He turned and said.

"We are on the 9th floor one hell of a fall, don't think anyone could survive that.  Then the family being devastated you never know with those fragile minds and how they could handle it.  Maybe need someone to console the wife and girlfriend.  You got a girl friend?"

Victor looked at the man his eyes as cold and his facial expression said everything the Lawyer needed to confrim that Mr. Lucchese was refering to him.  The attorney tried to reassure him that he was on the up and up and they those accounts were correct and nothing was touched by anyone.  He made his living dealing with men that could kill him over a dime and he understood they made dollars and it made no sense to cross them.  Victor smiled and looked at the bags then looked at the man and turned towards the door and as he went to reach the door knob the Lawyer was right behind him with the bags.  He loaded them in the back of the car as Victor sat next to his cash and Meyers up front while lucky sat in the back with Victor.  

Victor made it back to his aunts house with both bags.  He spoke with Lucky and Meyers in the car.  Victor then looked up and his brother came out of the house.  Victor thanked the two men as he handed his brother both bags and told them that they would be in touch once everything was settled.  Lucky was happy that the bosses in the old country agreed to ship them heroin and in turn they would then ship back American made cars and U.S. currency.  They now new Victor as a man of his word and now from coast to coast everyone would.  Victor walked into the house whispering to his brother that his Aunt is to have both bags that was what Stefano and Michael put to the side for her.  Vincent nodded and ensured it was placed in her luggage and that they made it back to Sicily.  

That night as they ate dinner they talked about the old country and the things in Amercia that didn't add up.  Pizza pie was not a pie, the sandwiches were lacking the different spicies that they have.  They didn't know what was italian gravey they called it spettetti souce.  Then they sat by the fire place and told stories about their grandfather and great grandfather and the people.  Then they retired for the night except for Victor and Vincent they went to the back yard and smoked a cigarette and talked about them leaving tomorrow and the upcoming meeting that Victor would have to have with his so-called new businesses partner that he never even got the name of.  He wanted Vincent to ensure that the family and their money made it back home safely and after that they would start planning life in america and helping Lucky keep things running smoothly with a small kick back to them and the old country.   

Vincent had concerns and voiced them to Victor who also had the same concerns.  Victor reinsured his brother that the attorney understood what Victor stance was and that it was not a matter of negotiations.  Victor then put his cigarette out and walked back inside with his brother. Vincent wasn't completely convenced but they always trusted each other so Vincent would not push the issue.  They knew what needed to be done and how it had to go down.  

Victor found himself at the pier saying goodbye to his aunt, cousins and younger brother Nico.   He ensured that the money was safe in there room and his aunt wasn't to know until they arrived in Sicily.  To ensure their safety Victor hired several men to ensure they arrive unharmed and should they fail what ever fate touches his family would be the fate of their families.  He stood there and waved at them as they boarded and then and turned to Vincent and told him its his last chance to get on board as Vincent laughed still looking at them boarding the steamer.  Vincent replied that they were made and born at the same time from the same parents and have been together since he couldn't get rid of him that easy.  Victor nodded and replied that it hasn't been from a lack of trying as they laughed together.  Victor then pulled out a cigarette and lit it as he turned to head for the car.  

Sitting in the back he looked out the window to remember a young woman named Connie Desantis she was the apple of his eye as she was forbidden from him to see.  Her parents were cosidered noble birth land owners going back to the Mighty Roman Republic before Rome was divided.  She was short thin and well put together.  They had nothing in common but stolen moments all the way up to the day she was put on a ship heading to America over four years ago.  Victor thought on her often as he hoped to find her someday or atleast another woman that could melt his icy heart and calm him when he wants to destroy someone or something.  Connie had that flare she could finish his sentance and when someone was in need of a reminder she could place her hand on his chest and calm him down.

The car finally stopped at a bar that Vincent wanted to check out.  He wanted to relax and get Victor to loosen up they were in America and had not made any attemps to meet American women or really eat American foods.  Victor was all about business and Vincent was all about fun they only switch positions when Vincent was set on killing and Victor saw opportunities to squeeze more cash from the person.  They would both win but they were a deadly combo.  Victor stepped out of the car first then Vincent; Vincent nodded yes as he was excited about the joint and Victor shook his head seeing the place as a dive or a hole in the wall joint.  They both walked in and they both smiled as they saw walk to walk women of all heights, sizes and shapes.  Victor and Vincent made their way to the bar and order scotch on the rocks and toasted to new beginnings and great wealth.  They downed their drink in one throwback gulp and then slammed the empty glass unto the bar and turned to face the music and the girls doing the charleston.   

The Fast Lane

Victor had been in America for two years now and he learned a hell of a lot from business to love to friendship and struggle.  He stood in a high raise down in Florida looking out of his window down at the marina.   The clouds were rolling across the sky faster then normal.  They took many different shapes as they journeyed onward.   He loved boats and see them docked and just bobbing with the flow of the water.  The wind was picking up and the waves appeared to be a little rough for this time of year.   Victor lit a cigarrette then slowly exhaled as he thought about his son.   They came to Flordia to celebrate his son's six birthday.  It was by grace that they found each other.  Victor wasn't going to lose his kid he was going to teach him everything about life and let him make his own choices.   Victor's son was learning to speak english and how to handle himself in school.  He was learning to be slow to anger and quick to listen.  To use his head faster then his hands and when to use his hands and finish the fight.  

Victor had a day planned out but looking at the tides rolling in on the shoreline he would have to make a few adjustments.  Victor had means and when you have that you can adjust easier then the average joe.  The Party would be indoors and the ponys and clowns will still perform Victor never understood clowns they were gypsies in his book they lived on the road and made money where they could.  He heard his son call him and as he turned Victor Lucchese junior walked up in his matching suit and asked his father whats the plan for the day.  Vistor Senior laugh as he saw that his son was trying to act like him.  They both walked over to the couch and unbotton their suit jacket and filpped the ends to the reak like you would a tuxedo before taking their seats. 

Senior looked at his son and realize they had the same hair style and when he acked him why Junior replied because I'm a Lucchese now.  That made Victor heart jump for joy his son now calls himself a Lucchese.  Asking his son what he wanted to do the kid said anything Pop as long as you know I'm a man now.  Victor tried to hold back his laughter and asked him what did he mean by that and to his second surprise the child replied if he could throw his fist and out think his enemies then he was a young man and a step ahead.  Nodding because his son was now using his fathers words to explain his rasonale.  Victor ask his son to continue and the kid then replied young is how you feel and I feel older there for I dropped the young and now I'm just a man.  

Victor looked over at his brother that had just entered the room and asked him what did he thing.  Vincent replied that the kid made a valid point.  Nodding Victor looked at his son and said that he does have a good point however Men have jobs and pay them.  Junior then replied not his fault that his father was holding him back for school.  He explain that he could have had a job shining shoes and selling news papers.  Victor reached into his poctet and gave Junior fifty dollars for telling him what was on his mind like a man.  Vincent gave the kid a twenty then told him that if he ever needs a lawyer he was going to call Junior.    

First day in grade school

Victor walked his son to school as the young Lucchese looked up at his father with his loving smile.  Victor leaned down and told his son that he was proud to be his father and that his love is never ending for his son and each day he is teaching his father something new.  The kids smiled back and said he wish that Ms. Alexus was here to see him in his suit.  Senior looked puzzled and asked why as the young Lucchese said that she is his girl friend and when he turns ten their going to get married.  Senior laughed and told his son that she's a lucky woman and he's a lucky young man but Alexus doesn't want a husband yet.  His son was sharp and replied thats why he was waiting until he turns ten.  Shaking his head Senior could only smile.  

They entered the school it was the young Lucchese first day of grade school and he was speaking english with the lessons Victor was paying for since he took his son home.  The Young Lucchese english was good for his age however he would still reply in italian then english.  They walked to his classroom and the young man smiled at his teacher as well as Victor.  The teacher asked the young man his name and the boy raised his chest and looked at his father and said his name was Lucchese , Victor Lucchese Junior.  The teacher smiled then his father explained that his son has to be reminded at times to speak in english as it was not his first langue.   His went over to a chair to sit down on.

Then it happened a bigger kid walked up to the young Lucchese and Victor was in shock.  The boy touch his son's pocket watch and his son grabbing the boy by the throat and told him in perfect english to never touch him again.  The fear that the young Lucchese struck in that child made his father think on his own actions and then wonder where did he learn that.  Victor walked over with his teacher as she asked what was going on.  The young Lucchese spoke up and said nothing they were just playing and getting an understanding.  The teacher looked shocked just as shocked as Victor and that's when Victor recalled the event his son witnessed and pull his son to the side.  Telling him that he can't do the same things he see's his father and uncle do to the kids in school or they will cry and not play with him.  Junior had a look of confusion for a second then nodded and whispered asking can he just do that to the bad boys.  Victor gave the nod and his son had a look of drunken power, pure excitement in his eyes as Victor whisper not to tell Alexus or the teachers.   

LivingADream takes a few seconds to check out the latest happenings. What he found was an egotistic smackass protected by Luis.

Victor was at his boss's social club just breaking balls when the phone rung.   He gave John the nod to answer it and then John handed Victor the phone.  Victor listen never saying a word as he hung up he stood up and the men with him followed his every move.  He looked back at the joint and then walked towards his car.  John opened the car door as David sat in the drivers seat.  The rest of the men climbed into the other two cars.  Victor told david where they were going as John got into the front passenger seat.  Victor looked ou the window until they reached their destination.  It was an abandon warehouse the land it sat on was owned by a man that owed the family money so they used the property as they saw fit.  There was the man that was so disrespectful tied to a chair with a sheet over his head.  

The sheet had dark spots of blood on it as Paul had been working on the man's manners.  Victor looked at the layout then walked over to the poor sap that was taking the beating.  Removing the sheet and lifting his beaten face up Victor looked into his eyes and asked the guy if they ever met.  The man was silent and Victor shook his head and Paul went to work on his face again.  Victor removed his jacket because the building seemed to trap heat.  Taking a chair closer to the man Victor told Paul to give it a rest.  Vctor lighting a cigarette and taking a puff exhaled quickly above the mans head and took a seat.  He offered the man one but he just looked at Victor with contempt.  

The man still defiant refuse to answer a simple question so Victor shook his head and looked at David.  David took out his knife and stabed the man in his lift thigh and the man cursed at them and Victor exhaled and then nodded and David stuck the knife slowly into the mans right thigh and the poor chap screamed in pain.  David pulled the knife out slowly in a slight twisting motion.  Victor told the man he would not ask again and the man remained defiant and Victor stood picking up his suit jacket and slowly puting it back on.  Pual asked what about the guy Victor replied what guy.  I saw an abandon warehouse that was once owned by a man that retired.  I looked it over decided it wasn't worth the cost and too much of an effort to restore it.  

Paul and the two men with him got the message and ended the guys existance and then burdied the body southwest of the city.  They set fire to the building they were in and never spoke of it again.  Victor went to see the woman he had been courting as if nothing every happened and no one was the wiser of a day in the life.   The man's family was cared for by Victor he gave the wife a job cleaning his house in which she still does to this very day and he helped the kids get into a good school one became a dentist the other worked on wall street.  The daughter became a hair dresser and owns a hair salon.   Once a year they would visit Victor just before Thanksgiving to show their apperication for all that Victor did since their father abandon them.  

Victor had his stripes and now his work begins he wasn't just earning for his don he was now responsible for ensuring the members of his crew eat and that they towed the line.  They needed his protection and he needed their support.  He had books and Tricky to help guide him to include his brother Vincent.  He looked at them for more then wisdom they were his pals, his family.  He worried about LA and doing his part.  The Commission trusted AA and AA trusted him.  He understood the world that he choose and he wanted and needed to stay on track.   

As he looked out his window he saw his son playing tag with the nanny as she chased after him and the security that he had hired to protect his son.  Victor needed this to work for him just as much for his crew and Don and the city of LA.  He turned and again glanced at the picture on his desk of Alexus and a small smile came across his face.  She was the woman of his desire as she had fire and gusto she was soft and warm yet she was skilled in his word with a gun and brains to boot.  Look at the picture of his parents and cousins he thought of home and how will they receive his son.  

Know his father JR would get a parade with a marching band playing as he rode in the family car.  His mother would spoil him with a thousand kisses and never let him out of her sight.  The boy would learn what family was and means.  His grand parents on the other hand would take Alexus by the hand and tell her ever embarrassing story about Victor from birth to the second he returned home and treat her as if she was family.  If only he could convince her to go to Sicily with him.  Vincent would go however the question is will he return to America.  

He had work to accomplish before he could take a trip like that at this time.  Chinatown was flourishing and the money was starting to fill AA coffers and that kept him happy for the time being.  Victor needed to keep his ears to the ground and make a few partnerships with the local officials so that he can make a few deals with other families to keep good relations flowing and with the local officials looking the other way progress tends to move forward faster.  Victor sat in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment thinking of the one think that would make getting his stripes feel even better.  He opening them but she wasn't their, she was off doing what she does best.