Page 5 of Family Matters

“I'm sorry you went through that.” Brian leaned over the table and tentatively touched the youth’s cheek with the tips of his fingers. “I've been called that before. It's not true, I hope you know that.”

Again, Liam didn’t know what to say, so he stayed silent. After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke again, a frown of confusion creasing his forehead. “Are you some hotshot or something? Everyone calls youbossor treats you with respect, even that Leon guy”.

Brian let out an amused laugh. “Here we are, back to square one. Well, I can’t blame you that you want to find out more about this aspect of my life; I would be curious, too, if I were you.” He took a deep breath. “Our family, the Cavallieris, is part of an organization called the Old-World Mafia.”

“You mean the men with knives and guns, who shot left and right? Those who used any methods, no matter how dirty, to eliminate the competition?” Liam let out a loud gasp, shock making his breath hitch. “They are still doing this, since you talked about this organization using present tense.”

“Like I told you a few minutes ago, it’s very complicated, but, thinking better, I prefer to explain things sooner rather than later.” Brian sighed and looked into his son’s eyes. “When you finish eating, we’ll go into the living-room. There are a lot of things you need to know.”

“Everything was delicious, but I’m done, I had enough for a week.” Liam pushed the plate of sandwiches aside, left the chair, put the plate into the fridge, then followed his father into the living-room.

Sitting in a comfortable, roomy armchair, Liam was more than ready to find out the truth about his family and heritage. Eyes wide, mouth slightly agape, he listened fascinated to the story Brian was telling. It was a story about brave, strong-willed, intelligent men and women, who fought the good fight, leaving a lasting mark on the times they lived in.

CHAPTER 4

“There’s a thing I still don’t understand.” Liam broke the silence that followed after his father finished his story. “If the Mafia did so many good things, helped so many people, how come they have such a bad reputation?”

“Everything started during the Prohibition era, when the gangs of bootleggers thought of gaining more popularity and recognition by slapping the label of Mafia over their illegal activities. While many people knew the difference between the real mafiosi, who were guided by moral principles and honor, and those criminals, who were only after profit, no matter the methods they used, others couldn’t or simply didn’t want to.”

“I see.” Liam sighed in frustration after carefully listening to his father’s explanation. “As if becoming unpopular among their own people wasn’t enough, the members of the Old-World Mafia started to be hunted down by the federal and state authorities, because the gangsters often made them look responsible for the crimes they committed.”

“Exactly.” Brian pressed his lips into a thin line. “Look, son, our ancestors and the members of the other Grand Families were no saints. They often made use of guns, swords, and sometimes poison to get rid of their enemies, but did that only when they didn’t have other options left. The Old-World Mafia members were aristocrats, well-read, educated, diplomatic people, who always chose peace over war.”

“Sorry I’m jumping from one subject to another, but I just remembered something. At the library, that kid who growled at me called the kid with the cane War, and on the way here, in the van, Leon was saying something about you, and called you Giudice. He also called your friend Luca Consigliere.” Liam grinned. “You guys have some funny nicknames.”

“Well, these are not nicknames, but honorary names.” Brian gave his son a smile as he relaxed into the armchair. “Each one corresponds to a position in the Mafia's Council of the Ten. This is a government-like structure, recognized by all the organizations derived from the Old-World Mafia. The leader of The Council is called Il Giudice, or The Judge, and I’m the current holder of the position.

“So you are the top dog!” Liam enthusiastically exclaimed. “That's cool, but I also imagine it involves a great responsibility. I mean, keeping all those mafiosi in line…”

“You can say that again” Brian showed his teeth in a wide, amused grin. “However, I was appointed only temporarily, until your brother Gabriele turns twenty-one. The position of Judge belongs to the Ubaldis, his birth family, for generations. Once he becomes of age, I will take the seat of Custode della Sagezza, that is rightfully ours.”

“Il Custode della Sagezza…” A smile played on Liam’s lips as he spoke the words, trying to pronounce them correctly. “It sounds mysterious and intriguing.”

“The Wisdom Keeper, the Council’s librarian. According to Don Calogero Sedara, my mentor and guide when it comes to all things Old-World Mafia, I’m the most powerful man in the Council, after the Judge. The position was vacant, becausethe Cavallieris were supposedly dead.” Brian leaned forward, waiting for the younger man’s next question.

“It sounds like another long, complicated story.” Liam fell silent, reflecting for a moment to the next question he was dying to ask, but didn’t dare, because he wasn’t sure how his father was going to react to it. Eventually, curiosity got the best of him. “Is your family rich?”

“You mean our family.” Brian corrected his son in a gentle voice. “And yes, we possess the second largest fortune in our world, after Don Eugenio Brentano-Fenelli, but unlike ours, his money was exclusively earned by him.”

Relaxing into the armchair, Brian started to tell Liam about how, sensing his end was near, the Templar Knights’ Grand Master, Guy de Lusignan, revealed the hiding place of the Order’s legendary treasure to a young novice called Blasio. The Commander of the Templars also made the then-teen promise he would get in touch with other young men who weren’t confirmed yet, and together they would continue the work of the Templars.

Blasio, none other than the founder of the Cavallieri family, kept his promise, and split the Order’s treasure between him and other nine unconfirmed novices, who miraculously escaped the persecutions the Papacy and the then King of France unleashed on the Templar Knights. Each of them split their share in two: one for personal use, and one for charity works, like hospitals, schools, and funds for helping the widows, orphans, and soldiers wounded in battles.

With each generation, the Cavallieri family’s fortune grew through inspired purchases and profitable investments. Later, they branched out by lending money to those who wanted to start a business, but were rejected by banks, because they didn’t have anything to offer as collateral. Like most of the Grand Families’ members, the Cavallieris could smell a good business from miles away and, instead of the astronomically high interest rates banks charged, they asked for a share of the newly established company.

At the beginning, there were mostly bakers, shoemakers, tailors, and other traders who wanted to open small shops or workshops who came to the Cavallieris and the other Grand Families for money. Later on, when they moved to the New World, they started to borrow larger amounts to those who wanted to establish larger businesses, like shipping companies or house builders.

The buzz of Brian’s phone signaled an incoming call, putting an end to his story about the origins of the Cavallieri family fortune. A radiant smile spread on his face and reached his unique eyes when he saw Nuzzo’s name on the screen, and he answered the call, his cousin’s singsong voice pleasantly greeting him.

The man announced his intention of paying Brian a visit in New York City, the first after his engagement to Bernardo Corvo, a few months earlier. Ennio Nardi, who missed Stefano and wanted to spend some quality time with the boy, would also accompany him. Nuzzo agreed to take his father on the trip onlyafter the man promised not to speak ill of his rival, Il Pipparo, in front of his grandson.

His cousin’s words made Brian smile; the Sicilian racehorse breeder came a long way, from the man plagued by self-doubt and uncertainties, grief-stricken and partially under his father’s heel to the one standing his ground and defending his love and beliefs. The transformation was amazing, especially since it happened in only a few short months.

Brian proudly announced to his cousin that his family just got bigger by adding his older son Liam to it. He only found out about the boy’s existence a few hours earlier, but welcomed him with open arms, and so did the rest of the family, the librarian told his cousin, who congratulated him and expressed his wish to meet the newfound nephew.

The phone was on speaker, but Liam still couldn’t believe his ears. No, he said to himself, papa and his side of the family are nothing like mother’s asshole husband and his obnoxious offspring. For that horrible man, I was always the shameful secret, the bitter pill he had to swallow when he married his wife and her money.

Liam didn’t have much love from his maternal grandparents, either; they considered him a stain on the family’s cheek, a burden for his mother, and a repulsive creature. Just like his stepfather, they always reminded him he was defective and made a discordant note with the picture perfect their daughter, her husband, and their two handsome boys were offering.

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