Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Revelation After Revelation
Next Morning,
*BAM*
"LUCKY, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" Genovese burst through the door, kicking it wide open, disrupting the easy flow of conversation between Lucky and Ricky in the early morning.
Both men turned sharply, their pleasant exchange replaced with wary tension as they locked eyes with Genovese.
"What's the meaning of you kicking in my f*cking door? Last I checked, you weren't a damn barbarian." Lucky said, his voice calm but laced with a sharp edge as he gestured to the shattered hinges.
Genovese flinched at the remark but quickly regained his composure, straightening himself as if the momentary lapse hadn't happened.
"Lucky, did you not hear? Slick beat up my right, MY RIGHT!" Genovese's voice cracked with fury as he shot a venomous glare at Ricky, his anger spilling into the room.
Ricky blinked, just as confused as before, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of the accusation.
"Who?" Ricky genuinely wondered out loud, trying to recall who was Genovese's right hand man.
"Bass." Lucky promptly informed Ricky, still at a loss until a light bulb flickered above his head.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhh," Ricky drawled, the sound stretching as the memory of the man he'd beaten to a bloody pulp in the back alley yesterday began to resurface as his expression shifted, slowly piecing together the situation.
"Well, he tried to touch my girl and that couldn't fly." Ricky didn't even give Genovese's face, promptly shrugging the act off entirely while leaning back in his chair without remorse for his actions.
"Was it Maria?" Lucky's eyebrow twitched, acutely aware that any action involving the Long Island Princess was a delicate matter.
However, as he caught Ricky's subtle nod of affirmation, Lucky leaned back in his chair, his expression cooling, as if already calculating his next move.
"Slick was in the right-"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME NOW-"
"Do not interrupt me." Lucky's cold tone cut through the air, interrupting Genovese tirade as the burly man had realized that he had crossed the line that was Lucky's patience.
"You know the rules." Lucky said, his tone cold and unyielding, gazing at him as if he was a piece of meat on the chopping block.
"You should've known my boy would've handled Bass that way if he stepped out of line. Now get out." Lucky's voice sent a shiver down Genovese's spine, its chilling edge serating his spine which made him instinctively lower his posture.
Realizing he'd either crossed a line or that Lucky was simply in a foul mood, Genovese decided it was best not to stick around to find out as he quickly made his exit, not daring to linger.
"Damn." Lucky's voice choked as the cold air seemed to disperse around him, his heart breaking in two.
"You need a minute or-" Ricky, seeing how Genovese's mere presence unnerved him, gave out his courtesy remark.
"Shut up." Lucky gave him the bird, scoffing at Ricky seemingly pulling out a tissue from nowhere.
"Ohohoho, looks who's letting his emotions-"
*Cough*
Lucky shot a harsh glare at Ricky, who, caught off guard, choked on his words and struggled to stifle a laugh.
"Just get your ass out there and try not to be a condescending asshole when you unveil the product."
5 minutes later,
"THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE, BUT THEN I WENT OUT THERE AND DELIVERED!" Ricky roared with triumphant gestures as the Luciano family, assembled for their meeting, were stunned by the sudden reveal of two million dollars' worth of weed placed neatly on a large table.
They towered all the way to the ceiling, stacked in a pyramid as if sculpted from green gold.
*Sigh*
Lucky sighed from the side, clearly unimpressed, while Meyer erupted into hysterical laughter, utterly content with seeing their losses replenished.
Frank, meanwhile, applauded with a broad smile, clearly pleased with Ricky's display and relieved to see that everything was going well.
"That kid's hubris is gonna get him capped one day." Lucky muttered with an aggrieved sigh, while Meyer nodded in agreement, though the wry smile on his face contradicted it.
"I mean, you've got to give it to him." Meyer said, trying to defend Ricky, playing the devil's advocate for the group.
"The kid did something no one else could've done and then topped it ten times over." Meyer played along with the celebrating atmosphere, only for Frank's face to finally break first.
Frank didn't want to be the one to bring it up, but with everything going on, he couldn't stay silent any longer.
He needed to know the truth, he needed to know whether Genovese was a rat.
"Lucky be honest with us, is it really true that Genovese is selling the family out?" Frank couldn't hold back any longer and after turning and seeing Genovese glaring at Ricky with disdain, he finally asked Lucky in a low whisper
"C'mon Franky, he was just joshing us last night, Genovese is a lot of things but he isn't a snitch, right Lucky?" Meyer responded, though his words trailed off as he glanced at Lucky.
In that moment, Lucky's eyes held more emotion than they had ever seen before, a rare crack in his usually stoic demeanor.
No one could ever truly understand how much Lucky valued Genovese, not just as his underboss, but as his closest friend.
Growing up on the streets after emigrating to America with nothing but three nickels, Lucky had lived a hard life.
With his family dead in Sicily, he had nothing but the cruel memories he was left with.
Every day was a battle for survival, often ending in a fight just for even a scrap of bread.
One day, he saw a scrawny kid getting beat up in an alley and without hesitation, Lucky jumped in, beating off the hooligans.
But it didn't take long before he was knocked to the ground himself and as one of the attackers pulled out a knife, Genovese returned the favor by smashing a brick over the kid's head, saving Lucky's life.
From that day forward, they ran the streets together, inseparable, until Genovese left for Sicily.
When he returned, Lucky hadn't forgotten their bond and immediately set him up as his right-hand man.
Their friendship, forged in blood and loyalty, was something few could ever hope to understand.
"We'll have to see." Lucky tightened his grip on his cane, his knuckles whitening as he gave Genovese a cold, unflinching gaze.
"SLICK!"
"SLICK!"
"SLICK!"
"SLICK!"
The Luciano family erupted into cheers, their voices filling the room as they turned to the young man who had just pulled them from the financial pit Dewey had so meticulously crafted.
Ricky stood at the center of it all, the unlikely savior of their fortunes, basking in the sudden wave of admiration.
'At least something good came out of all of this.' Lucky allowed himself a brief smile as he watched the family chant Ricky's name, the young man holding up his arms in triumph.
But as the moment passed, Lucky's face grew cold once more, his mind already shifting back to the weight of their world.
"Meyer, Frank, get the warehouse ready." Lucky made his decision, his gaze hardening with a resolution clear in his mind..
Meyer and Frank, sensing the shift, exchanged a silent glance as they understood without a word being spoken.
"And get me that Bass fella Slick beat into oblivion."
"Yes boss."
1 hour later,
"Lucky, you need to explain what the f*ck is going on with you!" Genovese kicked the door open and strode into the dimly lit warehouse where Lucky had asked to meet him.
He knew this place well and how it was reserved for secret meetings, the kind where only trusted men were invited.
Yet, the thought that this might be his own secret execution never crossed his mind as he walked in, unaware of the storm brewing within these familiar walls.
"LUCKY-"
Genovese screamed as a harsh light suddenly flickered on in the center of the warehouse, illuminating Lucky's figure.
The sudden reveal made Genovese flinch in surprise, his heart racing as the room filled with an uneasy tension.
"Sit." Lucky gestured silently toward Genovese, who frowned but stomped over to the seat, his frustration evident.
"Lucky, what was that sh*t about earlier, huh?" Genovese pointed at Lucky, his expression sharp with accusation, but Lucky remained unfazed, his eyes steady and unreadable.
The silence between them grew heavier, the weight of unspoken words pressing down, but still, Lucky refused to respond.
"I'm supposed to be your number two." Genovese finally blurted out, his frustration bubbling over, escalating with every word uttered from his mouth.
"But it feels like I'm just a placeholder for that little sh*t." Genovese's voice trembled with anger and hurt, unable to mask his growing resentment at being consistently overlooked.
"On top of that, you only gave me this position because the Jew and that Calabrian couldn't take it!" Genovese shouted, his voice cracking with genuine hurt.
It wasn't just the position that stung, but the knowledge that Lucky had overlooked him twice before finally offering it.
The pain of being seen as second choice fueled his anger even further, especially now that he was in the position but still overshadowed by Ricky.
Lucky remained silent, allowing Genovese to seize the moment and pour out all his grievances.
As Genovese vented his frustrations, Lucky listened, giving Genovese the space to finally express everything he had kept bottled up.
"And that kid of yours." Genovese continued, his voice rising with a clear resentment.
"He might be Sicilian, but he ain't a leader and he definitely doesn't have what it takes to run this family!" Genovese's frustration was palpable as he watched Lucky groom Ricky to be the next leader, a move that felt like a betrayal to the traditional order of the mob scene.
"Are you saying you would do better, are you saying you could lead this family?" Lucky finally broke the silence, his voice cold and measured as Genovese bit his lip, then closed his eyes, bracing himself for whatever was to come next.
"Yes Lucky, I think-"
*Bam*
Lucky slammed a packet onto the table, his hand tapping it once before he slowly slid it across to Genovese.
As Genovese opened it, his eyes widened in shock at the contents, unable to conceal his surprise.
"Is that why you tried to go behind my back and undermine the family through cowardly means?" Lucky asked, his voice tinged with pain as his hurt expression overtook his face.
Genovese's pupils shook violently, his shock clear as he processed Lucky's accusation.
Even now, Lucky didn't yell or scream as he continued to gaze at Genovese with a heartbroken expression, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of betrayal and sorrow.
In another world, in another reality, Genovese might have taken over the Luciano family after Dewey uncovered the evidence to imprison Lucky.
But with Ricky's unexpected rise, a ripple was set in motion that would forever alter the course of their world.
"W-What is this?" Genovese's voice trembled, asking in an incredulous tone.
Gazing down at the picture, Genovese saw his own men, those he had trusted with his life, conspiring with Dewey, his subordinates, and his own right hand Bass.
The sight was a crushing blow, revealing the depths of the betrayal he faced when gazing at this picture for the first time.
"What does it look like, Genovese?" Ricky spoke from the side as the lights in the warehouse flickered on, casting a stark illumination over the scene and revealing the gravity of the moment.
On each door, positioned at opposite sides of the warehouse, stood Meyer and Frank, their faces reflecting hurt and disappointment.
Meanwhile, Ricky stood a short distance from the table, next to a bound and helpless Bass..
"Bass-" Genovese stood up, his heart sinking into his chest upon seeing his right in such a bound and beaten state.
"I'm sorry, boss." Bass confessed as soon as Ricky ripped off the tape from his mouth, his words tumbling out in a frantic apology.
"What did you do!" Genovese yelled in anguish, his voice echoing through the warehouse and Ricky's eyes widened in shock as Bass, overwhelmed by the situation, began to cry uncontrollably.
"It should've been you boss, it should've been you that was next in line!" Bass yelled in desperation, his voice cracking with fear, as Genovese's face twisted into an expression of disbelief.
"DAMMIT GENOVESE, STOP LYING TO ME!" Lucky finally lost his cool, his anger reaching a breaking point.
Unable to contain his rage at Genovese's continued denial, he hurled the table aside with a violent shove.
Genovese looked back in shock, his face a mix of fear and confusion as the table crashed to the ground.
"Lucky, I'd never betray you-" Genovese immediately pleaded with Lucky, desperation evident in his voice as he gazed at his closest friend in this world.
"LIE TO ME ONE MORE TIME AND I SWEAR, I SWEAR GENOVESE!" Lucky roared, his voice filled with fury as he pulled out his revolver, his hand trembling as his heart screamed at him to stop.
All the while on the side, a sudden conundrum shattered what had seemed like a black-and-white situation.
Ricky, observing the unfolding drama, realized with growing clarity that Genovese was telling the truth.
The pieces clicked into place, and Ricky understood that Genovese's own men might have acted on their own, without his knowledge.
Ricky was left to grapple with the harsh truth: Genovese was never a rat and he hadn't betrayed Lucky, and in fact, was innocent.
In truth, Genovese never liked Ricky but that didn't mean he wanted him killed.
To him, the boy was reckless, self-destructive, and the glaring blind spot in Lucky's otherwise sharp judgment.
It felt as if Genovese alone saw Ricky for what he truly was: a cancer eating away at the foundation of their organization.
The plan to send Ricky to Mexico wasn't about setting him up for failure, it didn't need to be.
Genovese had complete confidence that Ricky would fail on his own and when he did, Lucky would finally be forced to see what Genovese had known all along: Ricky was never worth grooming for anything more than his inevitable downfall.
"Lucky w-wait, Genovese didn't-" Bass desperately tried to clear his name, but Ricky suddenly placed a hand over his mouth, silencing him.
Bass shook his head, his eyes pleading with Ricky for understanding, seemingly begging him to let him set this situation straight.
But in that crucial moment, Ricky made the brutal decision to cover it up, his resolve hardening when looking upon Genovese pleading with Lucky.
Ricky knew that eventually, he and Genovese would have to compete if he wanted to become the head of the family, it was inevitable.
However, Ricky was reluctant to deal with the complications that such a power struggle would bring.
Although it was against Mafia standards and considered immoral, he preferred to remove Genovese from the equation now rather than face the turmoil later.
"LUCKY, I WOULD NEVER BETRAY-"
*BANG*
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Genovese screamed as Lucky fired the revolver, the shot piercing his knee.
The impact of the bullet was sharp and unforgiving, and Lucky's hand remained steady, betraying no sign of the recoil or emotional turmoil he felt inside.
The bullet tore through the muscle and cartilage in Genovese's knee, causing him to collapse to the ground in agony.
The sudden loss of support left him writhing in pain, unable to maintain his balance.
"YOU WERE MY BROTHER GENOVESE, I TRUSTED YOU!" Lucky yelled out in immense grief, his voice breaking as his eyes began to water.
'A boss can only ask what he himself would do.'
These were the words his father had always told him: that it was his duty to clean up the messes he'd made.
Lucky felt the full weight of his father's wisdom and he knew that despite the pain and guilt, it was his responsibility to resolve the situation and restore order.
"LUCKY PLEASE-"
"TELL ME THE TRUTH, I WANNA HEAR IT FROM YOUR DIRTY MOUTH THAT YOU BETRAYED ME, SAY IT!" Lucky screamed, his voice echoing with fury as he pressed the barrel of the revolver against Genovese's head.
Genovese closed his eyes, accepting the harsh reality and knowing there was no escaping the consequences, and although he was innocent of the betrayal, he felt the weight of blame for his role in the unfolding events.
His constant complaints about Ricky and Lucky had inadvertently pushed his men into actions he never intended.
At that moment, Genovese resolved that if he was to leave this world, he would do so in a way that would at least make Lucky's life a bit easier.
As his friend.
"I betrayed you." Genovese managed a small, defiant smile as he lied, his eyes closing in resignation and Ricky stood by, fully aware of the truth but choosing to remain silent.
*Sniff*
"I loved you like a brother Genovese, I'd take a bullet for you." Lucky struggled with his emotions, the gun trembling violently in his hand as a single tear streamed down his cheek.
"We grew up together, we broke bread together, and when you came back from Sicily after being chased out, I welcomed you in with open arms," Lucky heaved, his voice thick with sadness as he looked at the man who had stood by him through thick and thin.
Discourse and soured relationships were inevitable within the family, but at its core, it was an immovable object.
Yet in Lucky's eyes, Genovese had shattered that core, breaking the very foundation of trust and more painfully, he had broken Lucky's heart.
"I know, and I betrayed you." Genovese lowered his head, accepting his fate as Lucky exhaled heavily, glancing over at Ricky.
Lucky's eyes searched Ricky's for that final confirmation, knowing that Ricky had the ability to discern truth from lies.
Lucky's eyes pleaded for a reason to stop, a last shred of hope to avoid the inevitable.
Yet Ricky saw an opportunity to seize the power within the family, the very power Lucky had hoped to bestow upon him.
For the first time, Ricky chose to deceive his old man as he nodded, and Lucky, trusting in Ricky's abilities, felt his entire world collapse.
Believing wholeheartedly in Ricky's judgment, he turned back to Genovese, the gravity of the situation settling heavily on him.
*Click*
*Sniff*
"Any last words Genovese?" Lucky clicked the revolver, the sound echoing ominously in the tense silence.
Genovese remained quiet, his head bowed and his expression resigned as the weight of the moment hung heavily between them.
"I know I betrayed your trust, but can you put 'A loving friend' on my gravestone?" Genovese asked boldly, wanting people to remember him as a good friend rather than a dirty rat.
As Lucky heard the request, memories of their shared past, both the good and the bad, flooded his mind.
"Yeah, I will."
"Thanks Lucky, take care." Genovese chuckled, a sad, knowing smile on his lips as he prepared himself for what was to come.
He had already accepted that Lucky would honor his request, even in the face of the betrayal that had brought them to this point.
"Goodbye Genovese."
*BANG*
*Thump*
Genovese's brains splattered across the pavement as his lifeless body collapsed onto the ground.
Lucky let out a deep breath, holding the revolver where the smoke trailed from the barrel.
He holstered the weapon back into his jacket and stood there, his face gradually hardening into an expression devoid of all emotion.
"Slick, issue the order." Lucky spoke coldly, his heels clicking sharply against the floor as he walked toward the door where Frank stood.
Ricky nodded in response, though Lucky didn't need to glance back as he continued walking, bypassing the waiting car and heading down the street with a grim determination.
"W-What are you going to do?" Bass asked, his voice trembling, once Ricky let go of his mouth.
A construct materializing above Bass, resembling a guillotine, though only Ricky could see its manifestation as it hovered over him ominously.
"Well, when a part of the body has rotted and threatens to spread its decay, what would you do?" Ricky asked, and as he did, Bass's eyes widened in shock, his vision seemingly turning upside down.
A look of disbelief was frozen on his face as he gazed at his own body slumped on the ground, the last flicker of life fading from his eyes as he looked upon his decapitated form.
"You cut it off." Ricky coldly chuckled as he walked toward the other door where Frank was stationed.
Meyer and Frank followed him, and they re-entered the building where all the higher-ups, except those under Genovese, were gathered.
In the headquarters, the higher-ranking members gathered around the large table, their faces etched with confusion and unease.
Their unspoken questions were swiftly answered when Ricky abruptly tossed the photos onto the table.
Spread out before them were images of the traitors, their faces unmistakable as they stood beside Dewey and other government officials as the room grew tense as the damning evidence told the story without a single word needed.
The air was thick with a mixture of shock, betrayal, and apprehension and the conversations were hushed, and the room was filled with the low murmur of uneasy speculation.
The betrayal had hit hard, and the absence of Lucky, a figure of authority and respect, only intensified the uncertainty.
As the room fell into a tense silence, all eyes turned to Ricky as his presence had become more prominent in Lucky's absence, and the higher-ups looked to him for guidance.
Ricky's demeanor was calm and composed, a stark contrast to the turmoil around him and the weight of leadership was now on his shoulders, and he knew that his next actions would set the tone for how the family would move forward.
Clearing his throat, Ricky addressed the room with a measured tone, ready to assert control and provide direction in the wake of the chaos.
The members, still grappling with the betrayal and the absence of their usual leader, awaited Ricky's words with bated breath, hoping for clarity and resolution.
"Kill them all."
As the higher-ups absorbed the gravity of their situation, they stood in somber solidarity, closing their eyes in a moment of silent respect for the brothers they had lost to betrayal.
Despite their ruthless reputation, they were still men who had shared deep bonds and personal confidences with those who had now turned against them.
These traitors, these rats, had been in their homes, trusted with their deepest confidences, and considered more than mere co-workers, they were supposed to be family.
One by one, they trickled out of the room, each taking a piece of the burden with them.
They trickled out until Ricky was left alone in the room as he tapped his fingers on the desk, staring out the window at the clear blue sky.
An expanse that all the higher-ups of the Luciano family were walking beneath as they dispersed to handle what needed to be done.
"Fellas?" A man named Aldo looked up, surprised to see five men from the same family approaching him while he was rolling dice with a group of strangers.
The bystanders were quickly cleared out, leaving only the Luciano family members as they stared at Aldo with a mix of pain and anger before forcefully pushing him into the alley.
"Enzo, Carlo, what is the meaning of this and why you interrupting my game-"
"I welcomed you into my home, Aldo. The place where my wife and daughter live." Enzo made a dismissive gesture with his hand, causing Aldo's face to drain of color as he instinctively reached for his back pocket.
*BAM*
"ARGH!" Aldo couldn't reach it in time and let out a grunt as Carlo's fist drove hard into his gut.
"P-Please-" Aldo collapsed to the ground, holding up his hands for mercy.
*BAM*
Carlo's foot crashed into Aldo's jaw with brutal force, his face twisted in a rage-filled snarl as he drew out a gun, the steel cold and menacing in his hand.
"You f*cking rat, how dare you ask for mercy after what you did!" Carlo yelled through gritted teeth, looking at the man who attended his son's baptism last week.
"I-I-"
*BANG*
Carlo's rage reached its peak as he fired, blowing Aldo's brains out in a split second as he let out a staggering breath, his eyes still locked on the scene of his fury before looking back at the grunts they brought with them.
"Clean it up."
At a cafe in Brooklyn,
"Johnny, what's the matter?" A fat man asked, seated across from Johnny, who clutched his fingers tightly.
"And why we not sitting at our usual table-"
"Why'd you do it, Gino?" Johnny looked up with a betrayed expression, having cashed in all his favors for one final conversation with his mentor.
"...." Gino remained silent, his long tenure in the mafia having taught him all too well what was about to unfold.
"Genovese was the right guy to lead-"
*BAM*
"DAMMIT GINO, THAT WASN'T YOUR CALL TO MAKE!" Johnny, in a fit of aggrieved fury, slammed his hand down onto the table, sending his espresso spilling across the surface.
"You always said that there were rules in this line of work, but above all, the boss's words were always right." Johnny reiterated Gino's own teachings, his finger shaking as he pointed at his mentor, who maintained a calm and unwavering gaze.
"You broke that rule Gino, tell me why you did it!" Johnny yelled, standing up as he pulled out the revolver.
"I believed in him, I believed that Genovese was the right man for the job, not Slick."
*Sniff*
"I guess you chose wrong." Johnny sniffed, rubbing his nose as the revolver shook violently in his hand.
"Ha, I guess so." Gino let out a laugh while grabbing the espresso, his very same that didn't tip over, and took a light slip.
"Your gonna make it kid, as your mentor I'm proud, so stop being such a sissy and pull the damn trigger-"
*BANG*
Gino's head snapped back, his lifeless body collapsing into the chair where he had once waited for orders.
As the echo of the gunshot faded, Johnny instinctively slumped back into his chair, putting his head in his hands as the weight of the moment sank in.
All across New York, the rotten flesh of the Luciano family was being severed, with bodies dropping by the second.
All the while, Lucky walked along the very streets that the men under him were dropping like flies on as he eventually arrived at his house.
Lucky didn't know how long he'd been walking nor did he care as he entered the mansion before heading to his desk.
Sitting down at his desk, he grabbed a bottle of wine and twisted the cork off while starting to drink.
Seeing a picture of him and Genovese on his desk, he stopped drinking the wine before gently setting it down on its face.
The other families were at a loss, unsure of what to make of the sudden bloodshed, seemingly watching the internal massacre unfold within the shadows.
They hadn't made any moves yet, but none dared act hastily as Lucky wasn't one to make impulsive decisions, unlike his reckless son.
They knew better than to challenge him without understanding his endgame.
Later that night,
"And this is the truth?" The man in the trench coat asked, clearly amused as he regarded Dewey with a condescending smile.
"Sworn testimonies from the border police, complete with the stamp you requested, confirming that Ricky Luciano is indeed a mutant," Dewey said, pointing to the documents as the man flipped through the papers, and his smile widened even more.
"Y'know, when you first came down here I was skeptical, in my mind you were nothing but another man with a badge." The man leaned back against the wall, his face displaying a veneer of pleasantness while his eyes remained hollow and cold.
"But to think you got this far against Lucky and provided me with such a valuable piece of information." The man said with a calm smile, chuckling in a hollow tone.
"Who would've thought that leading you to Bass and those other grunts would yield such gratifying results?" The man glanced at Dewey, who appeared genuinely uncomfortable in his presence.
The true mastermind behind tipping Dewey off about Lucky's operations and the discontented mobsters within his family wasn't Genovese, but Joe Bonanno, the head of the Bonanno family.
Unlike Lucky, who wielded power through brute force, Joe amassed his influence through strategic information-gathering.
These carefully cultivated connections ultimately led him to Dewey and the enigmatic figure guiding him.
Joe Bonanno sensed that something was amiss within the Luciano family, particularly regarding Ricky, but he lacked the information and proof needed to make a decisive move.
He understood that if he engaged directly with Bass or his associates, they would offer him nothing of value.
That's why Joe orchestrated Dewey's involvement with Bass, deliberately putting them together to uncover something on Ricky that would finally yield significant results against the careful Lucky.
"My boss wants you to know that the deal still stands. You have four years to completely eradicate the other families and if you do, then the New York underworld is yours."Dewey conveyed the message from Franklin, though the sender's identity remained shrouded in mystery and Joe, still unaware of who was behind the message, was determined to uncover the truth soon.
"I think I'll only need three." Joe calmly slid the papers into his trench coat, tipped his fedora in a courteous gesture, and then walked down the alley, his demeanor unruffled.
"It was such a pleasure working with you Dewey, I hope we meet again." Joe offered his final remarks, leaving Dewey standing there, visibly unnerved by their encounter.
As Joe disappeared down the alley, Dewey turned away, rubbing his forehead in disbelief.
The weight of the situation settled on him; he knew he'd have to return to D.C. a failure and work tirelessly to regain his standing, hoping for another opportunity like this one.
As night fell, so did the last of Genovese's men as a total of twenty one men, including ten higher ranked members, died at the hands of the family that they were a part of.
Ricky hadn't stayed idle during the chaos and instead, he sat comfortably in a chair, shrouded in darkness, as the world unraveled around him.
Meanwhile, the door creaked open, revealing Dewey, his arms full of groceries and as he stepped inside, an apple slipped from his grasp, tumbling to the floor and rolling into the room.
"Dammit-"
*Click*
The light flickered on, revealing Ricky in its harsh glow as the figure who had turned it on was the very man responsible for the sudden bloodshed.
"Hello Dewey, funny meeting you after I broke into your apartment." Ricky joked, feeling like some sort of villain in some cheesy story.
"What the-" Dewey instinctively dropped the bag of groceries, reaching for his side only to realize who was sitting in his temporary living room.
"You don't mind that I served myself a drink, do you?" Ricky asked, twirling around an ice cube in his glass of bourbon.
"Ricky." Dewey's annoyed expression became a serious one as he didn't wait for Ricky to gesture to his side as he sat on the chair positioned in front of him.
"I heard you've had some familial problems." Dewey said, deliberately pressing on a sensitive nerve, while Ricky took a slow sip from his glass.
"Well, if there are problems in a family then it should be solved by said family." Ricky smiled, firing back as Dewey squinted his eyes, understanding the basis of what he was hinting at.
"I'll be the first to say it, I underestimated you Ricky." Dewey leaned back in his seat, actually complimenting him but in a hollow way.
"Oh?" Ricky surprisingly let out, taken aback that Dewey would actually compliment him in any form that wasn't sarcastic.
"I thought you were a victim, someone Albert was trying to save," Dewey said, locking eyes with Ricky, remembering how his deceased friend had tried to steer this man back from the path he had long been wandering.
"But now I see that he was wrong, that I was wrong." Dewey admitted, his voice heavy with regret, that his own compassion and desire for glory had ultimately led him to his failure.
"I thought I'd be doing him a service by giving you a warning, by letting you walk away. I believed I was honoring Albert's memory by trying to save the kid he couldn't rescue all those years ago. But when I saw you at that border, I realized something." Dewey's words piqued Ricky's curiosity as he listened intently, waiting to hear more.
"And that is?" Ricky gestured to Dewey, leaning in with a wide smile.
"It's that you can't be saved, you're too broken Ricky." Dewey spoke without an ounce of fear as he gazed at someone who could cut him down with a mere thought.
"Ouch." Ricky feigned a look of hurt as he downed the rest of the bourbon, then placed the empty glass deliberately on the table.
"Anything else?" Ricky asked, pulling out a pistol with a calculated nonchalance, but Dewey simply shook his head in response.
"I'm just saddened to see someone with so much potential choose to destroy himself and everyone around him." Dewey said, his voice tinged with disappointment as Ricky laughed, the sound chilling, as he aimed the revolver directly at Dewey.
*Click*
Ricky pulled the trigger, but the gun merely clicked; the chamber remained empty as Dewey blinked his eyes open.
"That's your last warning, my pops gave me specific instructions to give you one more chance to walk away." Ricky laughed as Dewey flinched at the sound of his trigger pulling.
"You know I won't stop-"
"That's what I said to him, but he insisted on giving you one more chance." Ricky shrugged since he would have preferred to get Dewey out of the way, but he knew that Lucky had kept him alive for a reason.
The reason for their hesitation was clear: behind Dewey, there was a puppet master pulling the strings.
Lucky knew that if they killed Dewey, they would unwittingly sever the connection they had with this unseen force.
Doing so would put them on the defensive, as Dewey's death could provoke a coordinated attack from whoever he was working for, thrusting the mob into a perilous conflict with the government.
So, until Lucky or Ricky could uncover who was truly orchestrating things from behind the scenes, they decided to keep Dewey alive.
They were fully aware that he would eventually return to New York, but they hoped to glean more information before making any final decisions.
So Ricky followed through with one condition.
"However, I did give one condition." Ricky smiled, leaning down and holding up one finger to Dewey.
"I said that I'd be okay with letting you leave if I could be the one to take your life in the end." Ricky smiled, a cold satisfaction in his expression, as Dewey scoffed and frowned at him.
"And what makes you think you'll be the one with the gun in his hand?" Dewey asked with curiosity as Ricky calmly holstered his revolver, the tension in the room shifting.
"Because you're right Dewey, I am f*cked up." Ricky admitted, knowing full well that no normal person like him would have such a self-destructive personality just for the thrill of it.
"But I can see that you're just as broken as me." Ricky stood over him, spreading his arms wide as Dewey froze, caught in the grip of his words.
"And the problem with people like us, is that we're always slipping up, failing, and constantly picking up the pieces of the mess we make." Ricky walked out the door, leaving Dewey to rise from his seat and watch him go, a mix of frustration and resignation in his eyes.
"You don't know me!" Dewey yelled after him, causing Ricky to pause at the doorway as he sighed, turning around to face the livid Dewey,
"You can't even begin to know the people I work for, know who's backing me." Dewey continued, walking up to Ricky and staring him straight in the eyes.
"They know everything Ricky and it's funny to me that you think things will just work out as planned, but your world is going to turn upside down just like mine did. And there's nothing you can do to stop it." Dewey's threat was unmistakable, his words dripping with menace.
He made it clear that if he was going to suffer, Ricky would be dragged down with him.
"And you think we're different but we're the same-"
"Except I'm not someone's little lap dog, I don't have my strings pulled, and I definitely don't need to use someone else's notoriety to threaten someone." Ricky fired back, standing up to the fuming Dewey while holding a mocking smile.
"But do you want to know what I really am, what I'm really similar to?" Ricky genuinely asked, his tone earnest, while Dewey remained silent but clearly eager for an answer.
"I'm like a f*cking cockroach," Ricky laughed out at his own comparison, his voice clearly undermining Dewey in front of him as he continued with the analogy.
"You could detonate a bomb, kill everyone around, and I'd just scurry out of the rubble." Ricky gestured, walking backwards into the hallway while still making direct eye contact with Dewey.
"I adapt in the worst ways possible. No one likes me, but they have to live with me because I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay around you; you'll know I'm there, but you'll never see me until everything around you is burned to the f*cking ground while I scurry away from the debris." Ricky's words clearly threatened Dewey, the district attorney's face remained impassive, a mask of unreadable composure, as he watched Ricky depart backwards toward the elevator.
"You're gonna lose Dewey, badly, but before you do, let me give ya a little insight on my one condition." Ricky wasn't done, in fact, he was going to straight up tell Dewey what he had in store for him.
"I'm going to take away everything you hold dear," Ricky said, his voice dripping with menace as the elevator doors opened.
"From the things you hold close to your heart to your very proud career, I'm going to f*cking burn it to the ground and when I do, when you have nothing left to live for." Ricky laughed, stopping before the elevator could close and gazed back at him with a sleazy smile.
"That's when I'll be there right to take the last thing you have left, your life." Ricky left him with a parting message, showing that this wasn't over until Dewey suffered to his fullest extent.
"THIS ISN'T OVER SLICK!" Dewey no longer regarded Ricky as a man but as a mobster, a monster, running out the door after him and into the hallway to see Ricky walking away towards the elevator as the doors started to close.
"I'LL BE BACK AND WHEN I DO, I'LL RAIN HELLFIRE UPON NEW YORK AND BURN THE ENTIRE LUCIANO FAMILY TO THE GROUND!" Dewey roared with a vengeance at Ricky who stopped the doors from closing in just so he could have the last words.
"And when you try Dewey, I'll come in at the very last moment and put it out, just to see the look of defeat on your face." Ricky snake back, laughing at him even further as Dewey's raged state ran forward.
*Dink*
Dewey recoiled, an invisible barrier suddenly manifesting in front of him. He glared menacingly at Ricky, who simply mouthed one word.
'Everything.'
Meanwhile in a commission meeting,
"Now that we're all here-" Joe formally began the meeting, greeting everyone at their seats with a poised demeanor.
However, their attention was fixed on the one vacant seat, its presence a silent reminder of the absence that loomed over the gathering.
"All?" Vinny interrupted, glancing around to gauge the others' reactions, only to find that they all wore the same expression, one of unspoken apprehension, as they fixed their gaze on Joe Bonanno.
"Where's Lucky?" Profaci was the one to break the silence, his voice cutting through the tension as he addressed Joe.
"I called this meeting because of Lucky-" Joe already knew there would be backlash at first, deciding to speak before he was brutally interrupted.
"The f*ck Joe." Profaci suddenly stood up, everyone else joined in since a meeting couldn't be called unless all bosses were present.
"He's pulling our legs, tell me you're pulling our legs Joe!" Frank Nitti swiftly moved to defuse the mounting tension, stepping in to defend Joe with a calm and measured approach.
"I'm afraid, I cannot fellas." Joe smiled with hollowed eyes, leaving the room in a dead silence.
"I ain't standing for this, it's against the code we put in place-" Profaci shook his head, trying to rid himself of any connection related to this encounter only for Joe to chim in.
"Ricky 'Slick' Luciano is a mutant." Joe uttered words that no one had ever anticipated, causing Profaci to freeze at the door, caught in shock and disbelief.
"What?" Profaci asked, his entire body freezing in place as the other members' eyes widened in astonishment.
"Joe, this ain't funny no more." Stefano spoke out with a deadly tone, prompting the other bosses to reach for their weapons and despite the escalating tension, Joe maintained his smile, unwavering and firm.
"I can assure you all that Slick is indeed a mutant." Joe said calmly, but his words were cut short as Profaci charged at him with a sudden burst of aggression.
"Aye Profaci!" Tommy Gaglino lunged forward, trying to intercept Profaci as he swung wildly at Joe with a flurry of fists that only hit the air.
"LET ME AT HIM, LET ME AT HIM I SAY!" Profaci yelled in rage, seeing red though Joe didn't even flinch and simply adjusted his tie.
"My fellow Silician's, this is a report that I obtained after Slick's most recent crossing with the officers on duty near the border of Texas and Mexico." Joe held up a piece of paper, Profaci still trying to lunge at him while he took out his reading glasses before clearing his throat.
"The officer on the scene reported but to sum it up 'the district attorney, Thomas E. Dewey, unable to lawfully convict Ricky Luciano announced to the rest of us that he was a mutant, but when we gazed at the kid he didn't argue but confirmed the fact' this was-"
"GIVE ME THAT!" Profaci yelled, swiping the paper as his anger seethed while his eyes scanned it until a cold bucket of water was poured on it.
Silent, his hands rummaged through the papers as all of them were quiet since if anyone was on Ricky's side, then it was Profaci.
At this point, it was common to all the bosses that Profaci was going to marry his princess away to Ricky which is why they were waiting for his reaction.
Profaci didn't say anything but didn't have to, the paper wasn't a forgery and he could tell since they hadn't been able to forge documents with the new government seal as of late.
All the bosses watched in stunned silence as Profaci's shoulders slumped, his expression hollow and speechless, knowing what this meant.
"I know you all have your opinions of me, but I can assure each and every one of you that it is the truth." Joe continued, taking the floor while gazing at his fellow mobsters.
"Lucky has evidently been covering up this fact from the commission for years and I thought it was best that we discuss this matter without him." Joe then took a seat in the chair, while Carlo looked on with a pleased smirk, clearly enjoying the unfolding scene.
"I knew that Lucky was a bad egg, taking in a mut like that, it's disgusting." Carlo scoffed, showing his clear hatred for him as Vinny smacked his head.
"Listen, Joe, it's true that Lucky was wrong for not informing us, but it doesn't matter since Slick isn't in the-" Vinny began, attempting to ease the tension, only to be interrupted.
"I'm sure you're all aware, but Lucky has killed Genovese making the underboss position available and might I add, Slick is currently being groomed to take the mantle, I have firm sources that say sp." Joe continued to fan the flames, his words hollow and fabricated as he spoke to the silent bosses.
Though his connection with the Luciano family had all but disintegrated that day, the seed of doubt he planted began to take root in their minds.
It seemed neither fair nor rational, but the mob's stringent criteria for high positions left little room for leniency.
Even rival families had a say in these decisions, which was why Lucky had been unable to appoint Meyer or Frank as underbosses in the past.
However, this situation was different as men of faith, the bosses held a deep-seated aversion to mutants, whom they regarded as Satan worshippers.
This discrimination added a new layer of complexity to their decisions which only heightened the growing consequences in their heads.
"But he got the church-" Profaci still tried to say something, anything, to deter this train of thought but Joe wouldn't let him steer the narrative.
"How do we know that he obtained the cross with moral means, what if he stole it?" Joe rebutted Profaci who honestly wanted to refute, but his own beliefs made him unable to defend Ricky.
"Unless he or mutants are officially sanctioned by the church, Slick's incorporation as the next underboss is a clear violation and must be handled according to the code." Joe announced, getting to the point he was trying to make as they all became quiet at this revelation.
"Then what do you want us to do, kill him?" Frank Nitti asked out, the others feeling uncomfortable as well once he said it since they couldn't even begin to know what powers Ricky held.
Joe wasn't naive, though. He understood that killing Ricky wasn't the optimal solution.
If Ricky could dismantle gangs in a single day, Joe could only imagine the chaos he could unleash in a full-blown war, especially if Lucky wasn't there to hold him back.
"Of course not, I don't want to start a war with Lucky." Joe laughed, shaking his head but that only seemed to make them more confused.
"We'll just do what we always do when other 'kinds' of people intrude into our territory." Joe's words made them all understand instantaneously as Joe's eyes formed into crescent moons, looking upon the favorable situation he needed to gather more power and to cripple Lucky mentally even further.
"We drive them out." Joe then threw a packet onto the table that contained multiple names, pictures, and addresses.
Next day,
Arriving into the house to pick up Maria, Ricky walked into the living room to see Profaci in a somewhat distressed state.
"Slick." Profaci gave a nod to Slick, who was waiting in the living room for Maria.
"Profaci." Ricky nodded in acknowledgment as the man approached and took a seat directly in front of him.
"So, you're a mutant." Profaci revealed that the news of Ricky being a mutant had finally leaked from the Luciano family and spread to the other families.
Ricky was slightly taken aback by Profaci's blunt revelation as he hadn't expected such directness, but he quickly realized, judging by Profaci's unyielding gaze, that denying it wouldn't change his mind.
"I am." Ricky nodded, not bothering to conceal the truth as Profaci's intense gaze lingered on him.
After a moment, Profaci closed his eyes, took a long look at his glass, and then set it aside, steeling his resolve before meeting Ricky's eyes once more.
"You can't come here anymore Slick, after today you're blacklisted from the Profaci family territories along with the other families territories." Profaci spoke to Ricky with a heavy heart, leaving Ricky bewildered by the sudden and unexpected proclamation.
"What are you talking about?" Ricky was caught off guard, thinking this was some sort of weird joke of his as he let out a small anxious chuckle.
"The commission met last night, Slick." Profaci spoke with a heavy tone, and Ricky, caught off guard, sprang to his feet in haste.
"That's against the rules-"
"5:1, the commission has voted." Profaci stood up and placed a hand on Ricky's shoulder, shaking his head as he did.
"Kid, if you don't leave New York, then it'll be war." Profaci was pained to even utter the words, but he knew he had to be the one to deliver the message.
"Does-"
"Yes, Lucky should've been notified right about now." Profaci spoke, but Ricky merely scoffed and pushed him away.
"You can't be serious Profaci, my pops will never let this go." Ricky couldn't believe what was happening, this scenario completely catching him off guard.
"I know." Profaci understood the kind of man Lucky was and observed as Ricky paced restlessly around the room.
"Why are you doing this, I thought you wanted me to be your family?" Ricky asked out, bewildered, while Profaci looked down in silence and he continued, pressing for answers.
"I'm a part of this community, I'm a part of the mob, you can't just kick me out of the place I belong." Ricky laughed at the statement, finding the whole situation absurd, considering he was just as much a mobster as any of them and Profaci slowly lifted his gaze to meet Ricky's eyes.
"That's the problem Ricky, you were never a part of the italian community, you were never one us." Profaci drew a line between them, clearly marking where he stood and where Ricky truly belonged.
"You were always a mutant and that's all you'll ever be." Profaci's words struck Ricky like a knife, leaving him stunned into a brief silence.
"You're actually serious? You think that just because I'm a mutant, I'm somehow different-" Ricky, never having faced such blatant discrimination from the mob before, was taken aback.
"Yes, the things you can do go against the nature of God, powers that humans were never meant to wield." Profaci shook his head, his stance striking Ricky with the full force of inequality of what all other mutants in this period face like him.
"Is this what you really think of me?" Ricky asked, staring at the man who had treated him like family just days ago, now viewing him with contempt as a disgrace.
"I don't have a choice, this is just how it has to be and always has been." Profaci showed his stnace, putting a line between them.
"You can't do this-.....you just can't." Ricky vehemently denied it, but Profaci simply looked back at him with a face full of disappointment.
"Dammit Slick, can't you even see that you lost?" Profaci looked at Ricky, who was visibly taken aback by his words as that fact never came across his mind.
"What do you mean I lost, I f*cking won, I beat Dewey and-" Ricky, visibly hysterical, pointed to himself, his anger boiling over as he propped himself up after having beaten the man who tried to dismantle his family.
"Everything you've built yourself up as, everything you've done within the mob, doesn't matter after what Joe revealed at the meeting." Profaci said deliberately, his gaze unwavering as Ricky glared at him, teeth clenched in a mixture of fury and disbelief.
"Joe's a nobody-" Ricky laughed out, thinking of Joe Bonanno as nothing more than a psycho.
"Joe played you like a fiddle, played us all." Profaci sat down, swirling his drink as Ricky didn't accept these words at all and scoffed.
"And the fact you can't see it, concerns me." Profaci's words struck Ricky silent, leaving him staring at the man with a mix of disbelief and anguish.
"How." Ricky wiped his mouth, giving in and asking Profaci who sighed deeply.
"How did you think he found out, who has the most to gain from you leaving, think Ricky?" Profaci watched as Ricky's expression shifted, the realization dawning on him with a jolt.
"He's colluding with Dewey, and you didn't tell me-" Ricky put it together, holding his head as he immediately blamed Profaci who laughed.
"There's someone else behind this." Profaci firmly concluded, his voice tight with frustration.
"Dewey couldn't have spread the news so extensively without help. I didn't see it until the meeting, but now it's clear, there's someone else orchestrating this." Profaci looked at Ricky who nodded along, coming to this conclusion as well but they couldn't prove it so it didn't matter.
They stood in awkward silence, the tension between them almost palpable and Profaci, aware of the danger, felt the weight of Ricky's gaze.
Ricky, who could effortlessly end Profaci's life with a mere thought, something the unsuspecting Profaci remained oblivious to, finally reached the point where Ricky resorted to making threats.
"Honestly Profaci, could you really even stop me, do you think that if you waged war that you'd win?" Ricky stepped up to Profaci, looking down at him with a cold intensity.
But then, with a shake of his head, he took a deep breath, the threat lingering in the charged silence.
"No, I don't." Profaci spoke from the heart, knowing that Ricky must have something to be so bold in front of him
"Although I'm not fully aware of your capabilities, I'm well aware of your families capabilities, and I am almost certain that you'll come out the victor." Profaci explained, his words steady despite the tension.
Ricky, however, couldn't help but laugh, his gaze locked on Profaci as he tried to make sense of the situation.
"Then why should I leave, what would make me even consider just letting this go?" Ricky genuinely asked, watching as Profaci absently touched his pinky ring.
"Because the families won't only go after you, we'll go after everything you care about." Profaci said, laying his cards on the table as Ricky's expression hardened while processing the threat.
"Alina, Maria, Lucky, Frank, Jake, Henry, Madame St. Clair, Chores, and Barko are some of the few we know about." Profaci took another sip, Ricky side-eyeing him with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"You'll win, but not after losing everything." Profaci's words made Ricky really emotional as his eyes were as sharp as a dagger.
"You and your family don't have the resources to protect it all, you'll win but only if you lose as well." Profaci tried to speak reason, but Ricky cut him off, his patience wearing thin.
"Watch it Profaci." Ricky was clearly uninterested in the threats, but the old mobster remained unfazed.
"No Ricky, it's you who needs to watch himself." Profaci stood up, staring Ricky head on with an unfazed glare.
"If you think that we can't get to the people-"
"I can protect them-"
"Like Rocco and Eddy." Profaci went for the throat as Ricky choked on his words, looking away in guilt.
"We both know you can't protect everyone, all at once." Profaci used his final card, knowing that Ricky might be powerful but he couldn't be in all places at once.
"You really want to do this, don't you?" Ricky asked, nodding his head to the side with a hollow smile.
"I was left with no other choice."Profaci didn't want things to come to this, but sometimes tough decisions had to be made, even if it meant facing Ricky in this harsh manner.
"I thought-...I thought much like your father, that if I gave you enough time that you'd straighten out, iron out all the kinks in that tough armor of yours." Profaci straightened out Ricky' clothes, flicking some lint from his shoulder.
"I thought you could become a leader so that I could intrust my Maria too." Profaci spoke from the heart, showing his sincerity through his words.
"But you just can't see the bigger picture Slick, you can't see ahead of you and that's your biggest weakness." Profaci got down to the bare bones of it, speaking the truth from what he saw.
"You're just not a leader." Profaci revealed his true thoughts about Ricky, stripping away the veneer of camaraderie to show that Ricky was far from what he had believed him to be.
"I'm gonna be the Luciano family underboss, I'm a leader-" Ricky fired back, trying to argue with Profaci who shook his head.
"People who claim that their leaders aren't true leaders, but mere entertainers, are often the ones who misunderstand the essence of true leadership." Profaci believed, giving Ricky a nugget of wisdom.
"You're not a leader; you're just entertainment. People are drawn to you because you amuse them, not because you inspire them," Profaci scoffed, showing the truth of who he was as Ricky gritted his teeth.
"Your power isn't about guiding or building; it's about spectacle. You're the flashy show, the sideshow act that grabs attention but fails to lead. People watch, they cheer, but when the curtain falls, you're just a performer who couldn't keep them engaged. That's your real legacy, empty excitement and fleeting thrills." Profaci said, his words cutting deeper than any blade into Ricky as the mutant stood before him without a discerning expression.
"I had high hopes for you, Ricky. I saw potential, believed you could rise above the noise and become something more than just a spectacle. But now, seeing you for what you really are, it's clear that this is all you'll ever amount to, just a fleeting moment of excitement, lacking the substance and vision to truly lead-" Profaci continued, rubbing salt in the wound as Ricky clenched his fist.
*Bam*
Ricky's fist collided with Profaci's mouth, sending the old mobster reeling back as Profaci grabbed the chair behind him to steady himself, a surprised laugh escaping his lips as he wiped the blood from his split lip.
"The families have already started surrounding your territories, if you know what's best for you then you'll leave." Profaci words pressed on, threatening Ricky even further.
"F*ck you Profaci, I can't believe you're taking Joe's side." Ricky gnashed his teeth at Profaci, angered by everything he was hearing as he knew that Lucky needed to be warned.
"This is the real world Slick, it ain't no f*cking movie where everything just goes the way you want it to." Profaci spit out to the side, blood staining the carpet beneath him while spreading out his arms.
"If anything, I'm doing you a favor, teaching you a valuable lesson that you can't trust anyone but yourself." Profaci's words rang with hypocrisy, yet beneath the veneer of his criticism, there was a flicker of hope that Ricky might one day surpass his current limitations.
"Let me go, LET ME GO!" Maria broke free from Ninfa's grasp and dashed down the stairs, her footsteps echoing with urgency as she fled.
"RICKY!" Maria's scream pierced the air, and Ricky's head snapped toward the sound, his steps faltering as he instinctively moved forward until Profaci blocked Ricky's path.
"Move-"
"Slick, I can't involve Maria in this and if you love her like you say you do, then you know too." Profaci tried to calm Ricky, his voice soothing yet firm, as Ninfa yanked Maria back into her room. Maria's sobs echoed through the hallway, her cries piercing and desperate.
"Screw you." Ricky pushed Profaci away, literally being threatened by him mere moments ago as Profaci grabbed his clothes to stop him.
"If this goes down and I have to choose, I-.....I can't protect her if you go through with this." Profaci pleaded with Ricky, who was visibly agitated, his eyes darting between Maria, now held against the wall, and Profaci's restraining grip.
"Then give her to me-"
"I-I can't do that, the second you leave here with Maria, she's as good as dead." Profaci's words struck deep, leaving Ricky stunned and visibly hurt.
"Is that what you really think of me, do you think I won't be able to protect Maria?" Ricky asked, bringing up his old wounds from earlier.
"Yes, I don't think you can, everything you've shown me till now proves my point, you're someone who only protects himself." Profaci's bold words left Ricky breathless, cutting through his façade to reveal the selfish, cowardly man beneath.
"What is wrong with you-" Ricky asked, watching Profaci's threatening demeanor turning into clear begging as Profaci lashed back out.
"What is wrong with you, how could you let this happen-" Profaci snapped back, thinking that if he had Ricky's power then none of this would have turned out the way it did.
"I didn't let this happen-"
"That's the point I was trying to make Slick, you failed, but most of all, you lost." Profaci explained, revealing that Ricky's ignorance of this fundamental truth was precisely why he had failed.
"Profaci, trust me they won't win-" Ricky assured him, trying to move forward only for Profaci to cling onto him further.
"I can't lose Maria like I lost my brother, you need to leave." Profaci understood that he couldn't halt Ricky if the latter chose to disregard him, which is why, in this moment, the mafia boss who ruled over Long Island cast aside his pride to protect what he cherished most deeply.
"Do you think I'll be pushed around like some chump, that I'll just give it all up-" Ricky yelled out, pushing Profaci back as the man held up his hand.
"No, that's not what I'm saying Slick, I'm saying the people around you will, and only once you realize your own weakness, it will already be too late." Profaci spoke from a place of deep personal experience, haunted by the memories of his deceased older brother that died because of his own rashness.
"Do you want the truth Slick, man to man." Profaci finally looked up at Ricky, firmly trying to find the words to keep Ricky from taking Maria.
"You don't have the tools to fight these guys and you know it, I know you do." Profaci pointed directly at Ricky's heart, his eyes locked onto the younger man's, conveying a depth of emotion that words alone couldn't capture.
"You're just too young, too naive, too arrogant, too rash, and too stupid." Profaci declared with brutal honesty, his voice carrying a weight of years of experience.
"You want advice, real advice? Sharpen your knives, Ricky. The only way out of this mess is through a battle you might win, but remember, the war is one you'll ultimately lose." Profaci was confident in this fact, looking at Ricky as someone who could win a fight no problem but might crumble under the weight of a war.
"Your kidding, what can these guys do-"
"Listen Ricky, I'm just here to give you the words of the families and the commission." Profaci stepped back as a line was once again drawn between them.
"If you don't leave New York in two weeks, then there will be a war." Profaci stood resolute, unwavering in the face of Ricky's stunned silence.
"From here on out, you have been exiled from the order of the commission. You can no longer be a part of the Luciano family, conduct Luciano family operations, and belong to the Luciano family." Profaci spoke his words as if reading off of a script, informing him of the commission's decision.
"You may keep your last name, but that's all you're allowed to keep." Profaci's words sparked Ricky's anger, looking at him with a newfound animosity.
Ricky anticipated resistance from the other families once his mutant status became public.
However, what he failed to grasp was that while the mafia might tolerate his powers due to the church's influence, the real problem lay in his inability to fully integrate with them.
His powers might be accepted, but his differences made him fundamentally distinct from the rest, resulting in him being a black sheep.
These mobsters only trusted full blooded Sicilians, which Ricky was now considered a bastard.
"Is this how it is Profaci?" Ricky asked, clearly feeling betrayed by Profaci who nodded.
"This is how it has to be." Profaci spoke the words he never wanted to say as Ricky walked towards the door.
"I won't just run away-"
"It's ironic since that's one of the things you're best at." Profaci stepped up to him, Ricky looking at the crying Maria and backing away.
"This isn't over." Ricky pointed at Profaci, warning him in advance.
Walking out the door, Ricky went inside his car and drove off only for Maria to break down the door.
"Maria you need-" Profaci calmly spoke, seeing her fuming as she ran down the stairs.
*SLAP*
Maria slapped him across the face, her hand leaving a stinging mark as Ninfa, trailing behind her, gasped in shock; Maria had never shown such raw defiance before.
"How could you live with yourself, Ricky is one of you-"
"He was." Profaci's cold words cut through the tension, his voice unwavering as he turned his face back to Maria with a firm, unyielding expression.
"But he's not a Sicilian, he's a mutant and there's a difference."
Meanwhile at the Luciano Residence,
Lucky's office was a scene of chaos, with papers scattered and furniture overturned.
"Do they realize who they're dealing with?" Lucky sat in the center, laughing maniacally as Ricky walked in, the sight of Lucky's frenzied state..
"Lucky, listen to us-" Meyer tried to calm Lucky down only to be pushed aside, Lucky marching forward and looking at Ricky.
"Get everyone ready, if it's a war they want then it's a war they'll get." Lucky interrupted Meyer who backed away, Lucky informing them all as Frank had an uneasy expression.
"Slick, could you give us a second to talk-" Frank turned towards Ricky and asked out, knowing that this situation was a touchy one.
"No, he's now the underboss of the Luciano family and he's staying, it's final" Lucky's command came out in a burst of anger, his frustration palpable as Frank struggled to guide Ricky toward the door amid the chaos of Lucky's rage.
"Lucky-" Meyer attempted to reach Lucky, but the aftermath of Genovese's death had left Lucky in a visibly deteriorated state, something Ricky couldn't ignore.
"My boy ain't leaving, I ain't- '' Lucky yelled, his voice breaking as he struggled to get the words out.
"I ain't losing anyone else." Lucky felt a profound sense of defeat and powerlessness, despite being the most formidable mob boss in all of New York at that moment.
"Pops, you're not gonna lose me-" Ricky tried to offer reassurance, but Frank abruptly placed a hand on his shoulder, signaling a shift in the situation.
"Slick, please."Frank gestured for Ricky to leave the office as Lucky slumped into his chair, defeated and Meyer placed a comforting hand on Lucky's shoulder.
"Frank-"
"I know that it might be a lot with everything happening, but can you do me a favor and check on Eddy for me?" Frank asked, though it was clear what he intended, as Lucky needed his solitude with Ricky understanding and nodding in agreement.
"Alright." Ricky smiled, glancing back at Lucky in his distressed state before trusting Frank to handle the situation as he then walked to his car, where he glanced at a box of specially ordered sheets.
'Guess it's as good a time as any to give these to him.'
30 minutes later,
"So that is what is happening outside?" Eddy spoke as he gazed out the window, his eyes distant, while Ricky sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"Yep, it's a total sh*t show out there and I have no idea what to do." Ricky spoke, admitting that when he was driving to the mansion, he wasn't thinking about anyone else until he saw his father.
"Give me some advice, I would go to Jake but he'd probably just say to fight head on." Ricky spoke, admitting that as he drove to the mansion, he hadn't thought about anyone else until he saw his father.
*Sigh*
"I don't know." Eddy spoke honestly as he gazed at the sheets in his hand, gently caressing them and feeling their soft texture.
"Oh come on Eddy, that's really all you have for me?" Ricky asked with a wry smile but Eddy only closed his eyes.
"Slick, how should you react when you're pushed into a situation they never wanted to be in?" Eddy asked Ricky a question, prompting him to tilt his head in curiosity.
"Find a way out of it?" Ricky seemed to ask, and Eddy shrugged, finally meeting his gaze after a long period of silence.
"Then find your way out." Eddy told Ricky, hsi eyes conveying a deep meaning though the latter's mind was filled with too much to notice as he stood up with a chuckle.
"You speak as if you have experience." Ricky laughed it off, and Eddy, for the first time since the accident, allowed a genuine smile to appear on his face.
"Well, I'll come visit tomorrow to see how those sheets are fitting, alright?" Ricky waved, strolling out of the door as Eddy looked at him.
"You know I never blamed you for what happened to me, right?" Eddy suddenly spoke, causing Ricky to halt in his tracks just before he reached the door.
"Of course buddy." Ricky gave Eddy a wink and a smile, which prompted Eddy to nod his head in response.
'Good luck Ricky.'
Later that night,
Ricky gazed up at the mansion from which Profaci had banished him. He knew he had to see Maria, no matter what.
Gazing down at the various men patrolling the ground, Ricky walked on an invisible platform above them until he was high above the house.
Ricky realized that Maria had initially been intended as just another target.
Yet, as time passed, he found himself inexplicably drawn to her, though not in a way that made him love her.
Her presence seemed to complicate his life further, adding layers of difficulty to his already troubled existence.
From an outsider's perspective, Maria seemed unremarkable, just an ordinary girl with her head in the clouds and problems that only someone with privileged innocence could understand.
She didn't fit the mold of someone from a mobster family; instead, she appeared nurtured by pure love rather than the rigid rules that shaped others' fates and personalities towards marriage in this era.
Despite this, Ricky was drawn to her, whether by mere association or something deeper.
Over time, this proximity transformed into a subtle jealousy, as he couldn't help but envy the simplicity and purity she seemed to possess.
Initially, Ricky relished the idea of Maria, seeing her as a beautiful, privileged girl whose charm he wanted to taste firsthand.
However, as he spent more time with her, his perspective began to shift.
In stark contrast to his own corrupted mind, Maria always seemed to see the good in everything, trying to find any excuse for the bad.
Her unwavering optimism and almost childlike belief in the goodness around her made her appear to embrace a world filled with hope and possibility.
In a way, Ricky's attachment to Maria wasn't really love but envy.
He genuinely envied her ability to love so openly, finding himself unable to even fathom such a feeling.
His own personality seemed to self-destruct before he could reach that state of vulnerability and connection.
Seemingly deep down, Ricky was around her out of spite, a paradox of emotion where his resentment and envy masked a deeper, more complex attachment.
He stayed close to Maria not only because he was unwilling to let go but also because her presence was a constant reminder of the innocence and simplicity he could never attain.
He struggled to appreciate the genuine feelings she offered, instead seeing them through his own distorted perspective.
The window of her room was slightly ajar, and Ricky carefully climbed through it, his movements calculated and deliberate.
As soon as he landed inside, Maria was upon him, her arms wrapping around him with a desperate intensity.
She buried her face against his chest, eyes shut tight, her embrace a mix of relief and longing.
The warmth of her body and the softness of her touch contrasted sharply with the harsh reality Ricky had faced, offering a brief respite from the turmoil that surrounded them.
"I knew you'd come."Maria whispered softly as she looked up at Ricky as he smiled down at her, his fingers gently caressing her chin with a tender touch.
"I'll always come for you." Ricky whispered back to Maria, his words accompanied by a smile and teary eyes.
As their lips met, Maria didn't pull away; instead, she leaned further into him, gripping him tightly.
Amidst the chaos and the troubling news from her uncle, she felt that letting go at this moment would mean losing him forever.
"Ricky I'm ready~"
Author's Note: Massive chapter for 8k collections. Just want to say a thank you for everyone who likes my writing and I'm glad that you all enjoy my story, even when it's a tad frustrating.
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