It wasn’t everyday pop invited us to talk. All of us in the same table together; me, Fabrizio, Enrico, Vittoria and Connor. We were too engrossed in family business for a shot at reunion. So when pop invited us over to his home by the Staten Island, away from the everyday affairs, we knew it was important to hear what he has to say about the current matter.

As long as I could remember, Di Micheli family has always made foes in the past. There was the discord with the Passarelli a month ago then a week after, Mayor Watkins turned down the offer from father. Of course we had to deal with him. Fabrizio came to his house later that evening and had a real genuine ‘discussion’ until the man realized his mistake of betraying our mutual friendship. He stepped down from the office later that morning. But this time though it was different.

When we heard the news about the new mayor pressing charges against the head of Di Micheli family yesterday, we knew we couldn’t just stay idle. Father would never let his guard down as to let such transgression happen in the first place, not in this business.

The mayor claimed that he has evidence about the secret of our family. Stuffs that would put father behind the bar for the rest of his old days. The Passarelli would’ve never gotten hold to such intel, Vittoria made sure to keep a tight lid. I shivered at the thought I had come into after such a simple deduction. Someone in this very room must have tipped him off.

I came into the mahogany room knowing full well of that fact. One of us sitting here has to be the snitch. Fabrizio and Vittoria must have realized that as well. Enrico on the other hand, remained steadfast in his dogma about the Passarelli.

“It’s gotta be ‘dem punks I tell you! They would slip whatever their dirty claws into whatever means bringing us down!” Enrico stood abruptly from his chair. “You should’ve sent those Passarelli bastards sleeping with the fishes a month ago. They wanted vendetta, this is what they deserve!”

“Surely if pop wanted that to happen I would’ve done it a long time ago but you don’t get to tell me what to do” Fabrizio replied, his back pressed against the seat, his hand softly pressed the tip of a glass of whiskey against his lips as if not caring about the giant that stood before him.

“If only you had acted, father wouldn’t be in this spot” Enrico argued.

“Well what would’ve you wanted me do then? Barge into their place and gun everyone down? Surely that wouldn’t attract any bad blood with the other two families” his remark sarcastic. “I don’t think you get father at all, Ricky; he isn’t a man of wasteful violence”

“You wouldn’t know if the Passarelli was behind this anyway, we don’t have conclusive proof to point to that yet” Vittoria, the eldest of Di Micheli, interjected as she adjusted her spectacles. “For all we know, the Corsetti or the Buffano could’ve been playing behind the shadow but I would rather not point any fingers. Or it could’ve also very well been that the new mayor has grown some balls but we knew what happen when the last man did that. Dispatching him would be easy” her eyes darted towards Fabrizio who gave her a sly smirk in return. “That leaves us with only one option”

“You’re saying one of us worked with the feds? But why would we do that?” Connor, the last man on the table finally broke his silence, he gave Vittoria a solemn look. It seems he had also considered the possibility but his face was that of a surprise, as if not wanting to believe the simple hard fact.

“How much would the traitor have asked? Think about it. Money? Fame? Security? We have all that, this is a load of bull” Connor continued.

The discussion was put into a halt when a figure emerged from the door. It was godfather.

“I didn’t remember asking all of you to come here” he stated. “I said I wanted to talk to Joseph. Alone”

Connor surprisingly protested but father made it clear he wouldn’t repeat himself. So as his request, everyone but me left the room.

“You know why I called you here, yes?”

“It’s about the traitor isn’t it?”

“Joseph, I never raised you to be such a fool, you know who did it already. Stop hiding your true color in times like these”

My eyebrow raised at his statement. I was utterly confused by his words.

“Forgive me but I don’t understand where you’re getting at, pop”

He handed me the newspaper that he was keeping under his armpit all these time. When I turned towards the first page, my eyes simply couldn’t believe it. I knew I had all these memories buried under somewhere but until now I had forgotten. No, rather I had chosen to ignore them.

“When the mayor turned the charges against me, I knew I should have told you the truth. This is the secret he has about our family, the reason why people call Di Micheli family to be the most unbeatable syndicate there is. We tend to be…... How can I put it? More inseparable than all other families out there, that’s why we’re the strongest”

“Still need more proof?” godfather wasn’t done.

He pulled out razor from his pocket. With a single cut, his finger was slashed open. His palm bled and so did mine. On the highlight of the newspaper was my face. “Head of the Notorious Di Micheli Crime Family Suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder? True or False?”

I couldn’t process, my head spun. Father gave me a light tap.

“When I picked you up on the street ten years ago, I didn’t know you would grow into such an important part of our family. I’m proud of you” he said. “Now you know what has to be done”

The goal was clear; I gave him a nod.

-----------------------------------------

There was a moment of silence after the others settled back into the room. Everyone returned to their seat, now I stood before them, holding the same razor in front of everyone.

“What are you doing Joseph?” my mind couldn’t tell if it was Vittoria asking.

“What we should’ve done to find out those who messed with our family” I replied.

With that I gave my finger a cut. Me, Fabrizio, Vittoria and Enrico all bled. All except Connor. When the dust had settled in everyone’s minds, all our attention shifted to him. Alone in the corner, he slowly closed his eyes, swallowing defeat.

Sweat slowly dropped across his forehead. His eyes fixated on me as we approached him. Before he could utter a word, a glare from Enrico flashed before he was tackled into the ground. Connor was put into a headlock; he didn’t even try to resist.

 “I’m willing to bet this is Enrico holding me down? Ten years I’ve been with you Joseph. Gotta know all these friends you have” he grunted as Enrico, no, I pressed my weight against him on the ground.

“Why did you do it?” amidst the maelstrom that is our mind, our voices became one.

“Now you realized you’ve been prancing around this room all by yourself? By the stunt you just pulled, I can tell. I’ve been with you all this time, Joseph. Only me who stood by your side”

“Answer us!”

“When we first started of course I was thrilled. Who wouldn’t? We were dirt poor back then and now we’re the most influential syndicate in this part of the state” he continued, “but along those ten years I could only feel pity for you. Switching back and forth between all these imaginary dago guineas, playin’ Mafioso. You needed help”

“So money was it? The only thing you cared for and now you have it you decided to abandon the family?!” we asked.

“I have only cared for you. I am your real brother after all” his eyes were woeful. “Think about it, mental institution sounds better than spending the rest of your days behind the clink. These people can help, I can help”

I, no, Joseph paused for a moment. His head lost in the hazy maze of personas. A limbo stuck between different memories, a realm between ignorance and cognition. However, when he looked at his siblings before him, Joseph’s mind was made solid. Connor was fully aware of his intention.

“I’m sorry but family don’t backstab each other. If you were indeed a part of us, you should’ve realized that” Joseph said one last time before putting Connor to sleep.

After that day, family business continued as usual. Those were very lonely days indeed…...