Before writing this story… I want to say it has been a while… over a year actually. Lots has gone on but alas… I am back. Now, without further ado… Who is Carmine Antonio?

“Run… run you son-of-a-bitch…” Desi Charm “the brute” takes off, as he knows that Carmine would not hesitate to take him out next time they cross paths. Desi throws the knife into a dumpster on 15th street as he sees Carmine march towards him. “Is he just toying with me? Is he just making this a game? Ima dead man,” Desi thinks internally as his blood stained hands tremble. Like an almost psychic ESP answer; Carmine looks down the block at Desi and utters the chilling sentence… “you have one hour to say your good byes Desi!” Desi stumbles to catch his balance as he runs towards his brother’s house.

BANG BANG BANG… Desi pounds on his brother Gio’s door. “I’m screwed man” he says as Gio opens and pulls him inside. “You had one job bro… take out Junior without Carmine finding out. The vengeance coming after both of us now is inevitable. What am I supposed to tell the other fellas?? We all gotta hide or run because of you!?” Desi puts his hands on his head as he tries catching his breath. Gio’s phone rings… “is it done?” Gio clears his throat… “yes, Junior is gone… but Carmine knows.” The silence in awaiting a response is deafening. The mumbles from the fellas on the other end of the phone is numbing. “What do you mean Carmine knows… does he know everything? Does he know who’s involved?” Gio hears a bang and drops his phone… Desi jumps back looking at how pale Gio is. Desi picks up the phone… “hello?

In the distance on the other end of the phone he hears a scuffle, more bangs, and shattering of glass. “What the hell is going on over there?” Silence then… “Desi… I said you have an hour. 5 minutes to go now… these guys unfortunately did not have the same offering. I know they all put you up to it. Now it’s just Gio and you… 5 minutes Desi… figure out what you are going to do.” Desi drops the phone and looks at Gio as a cold sweat forms on his brow…

Three years and fifteen days ago was when Junior took over the family. Carmine remembered that day as the best for them all. Junior was the brains and he was the muscle. Or so what everyone else thought… they all thought Carmine was just the power as the right hand man. But they did not know how calculated he actually was. While he was a menacing physical being, he knew a lot… he knew who was close to Junior, who was faithful, who can be trusted, and who he did not trust. Gio and Desi were a part of all those categories. Except Carmine did not have them in the not trusted until 3 years from the day that Junior took over.

Throughout his time as the head of the Romas family, Junior revolutionized what it meant to be in power. He did not rule the family as a dictator but he brought together everyone. While some thought of this as controversial, he was able to squash any former issues that the Romas had with other families. As time had passed, this made most of them happy to not have to worry anymore about rivalries. However, there were a select few that did not like the new regime and the change to bring everyone together. The fellas, as they were know, were right under Junior and Carmine. The hierarchy was not demanding or pushed them away, it just changed the way things were done. Business was booming as Junior and the Romas now had 12 restaurants under their affiliation, throughout New York and New Jersey. However, they did give some of the ownership to the other families as a way to move forward in a peaceful way. As Junior put it, “we all get a piece of the pie and can all grow together, with ideas that will not be turned away.”

Back to present day… 15 days prior to Junior’s death. Gio holds a meeting with the Fellas and Desi. “Its been 3 years to the day that Junior expanded the business. Multiple families thriving, over 25 restaurants in the tri-state now… any of us have one? No… whys that?” Desi raises his hand, Gio smacks his head “just say whatchu thinking.” Gio clears his throat as he’s looking at the old heads staring back at him. “Well fellas, I just think Junior doesn’t trust us to run one of the restaurants or be the sole owner of one with his help.” They all stare daggers at Desi, knowing subconsciously that he is right, but do not want to admit it. “Ever since that bastard combined all the families the top tier guys have gotten a shot to get a restaurant. We knew his father first and this is how he treats us? Gio, you’re his cousin, so are you Desi, how does he not at least let you guys get one and then you both can bring us into it?” Gio nods his head… Desi, without thinking blurts out “maybe it’s because he doesn’t trust you guys and we are close with you all?”

The Fellas stand up in unison… “well then maybe the head of this whole thing should be someone who trusts us. We may just be a small group of fellas but we have been a part of this thing for a long time. Maybe it’s that Junior doesn’t trust yous two and doesn’t like that we are close to yous?” Gio clears his throat… “Now lets not all get hot here. We all came together to figure this out. Maybe we just let him know we want to run a restaurant separate from the families but will abide by what ever they say?” Desi gulps as they all stare at Gio and him… “or maybe I can talk some sense into him?” Gio slowly turns his blank stare from the Fellas to his brother. “Maybe I can let him know that we all deserve a piece of that pie since we have been so loyal for all these years…” The fellas put on their jackets. “Sure Desi… go do that, in two weeks we are going to have an answer one way or another… you and your brother convince Junior to give us a piece of the restaurants… or maybe cutting yous two out will make him understand more?”

The fellas leave the house… Gio’s head is in his hands… “why would you think we can convince Junior to play ball with them or with us for that matter. It’s the fellas that he doesn’t trust, at least we are family. We need to figure out a way out of the Fellas, not strong arm the head of all the families you son-of-a-bitch!” Desi stares at his brother, “I can figure this out, maybe I can ask Carmine for help?” “No! You bring Carmine into this and we are all screwed. He is the closest one to Junior, if anything we need to get Carmine away from Junior.”

Over the next two weeks, Desi and Gio concocted a plan… if Junior is alone, he may be more willing to work with them. Carmine there will stop any negotiations, as he just does not trust the Fellas. Gio calls Carmine… “Hey man how’s it going?” “Hey Gio… just working with Junior on opening up the Long Island location, what’s up?” “Actually that’s why I am calling, I wanted to venture out to the Island myself and wanted to know the next time you’re going? Maybe you and I can grab lunch and discuss?” Carmine hesitates as he calculates what Gio might actually want. “OK, I am done with Junior at 12. Meet me at Joe’s of Avenue U at 1pm.”

Gio hangs up the phone… “OK that gives you about an hour and a half to talk to Junior. I would do it, but he likes you better Desi.” Gio puts his hand on Desi’s shoulder as a sign of “don’t screw this up” as he half smiles. Desi drives to the Romas on 15th street, knowing Junior is there waiting for the place to open for the 4pm dinner crowd. He parks the car as he looks at the front of the building. No one else around. He begins to shake his right leg as he keeps playing the conversation the fellas had with them 2 weeks ago… beads of sweat appear on his brow. “The fellas are going to kill me if I cannot convince Junior” he whispered to himself as he bit his thumb nail. “OK just go talk to your cousin… you got this.”

The old school bell at the top of the door chimes as Desi opens it… Junior is at the counter looking over papers with his hair slicked back, his suit jacket on the back of his chair, and his glasses perched on the top of his head. “Desi! You’re a site for sore eyes. I haven’t see you in weeks… how’s it going? How’s your ma and Gio?” Desi wipes his brow feeling a calmness over him as Junior waves him over to sit down. “Everyone’s good Junior” Desi responds as he scuffles over to the chair next to him. “You want something to eat? I have steak coming out now. Joey! Bring another plate with a setup, my cousin’s here.” Desi gulps as he is trying to figure out how to start the conversation… Junior is a talker and it’s hard to get a word in when he is on a roll. “You hear we are expanding to Long Island? It’s a hot spot. I think Romas will do great out there, right on the water too.”

Desi cuts a piece of the steak as he nods along listening to Junior. He looks at his watch, 1:37pm. He thinks to himself “how do I say all of this before Carmine comes back? Just interrupt him.” “Sorry Junior I don’t mean to interrupt but I was just wondering who’s running the Long Island Romas? I know some of the Fellas were hoping they could have a shot, I mean I would love to one day too and I know Gio is ready, but whatcha think?” Junior wipes his mouth with a cloth napkin as he swallows a piece of steak and sips his red wine… “well funny you should bring up the fellas. You do know I have eyes and ears all over right? I have a feeling that the way we operate all of this doesn’t sit well with them.” “Ohh no Juni” “Please don’t interrupt… I just want to get this off my chest as you’re my cousin” Junior says with a louder voice as he puts his hand around Desi’s neck. “Now… theres a reason why we are so successful and we do not worry about any other family issues… because Romas has welcomed the other families to join in our success… what has that done? It has made us all flourish… now you and Gio are family. The fellas are old school… they may mean well but do you trust them?”

Desi takes a sip of his wine… “I mean we talked the other” Junior stands up abruptly, “you talked to the Fellas about what? Who’s we? You and Gio are my cousins… what is this we talked bullshit?” “No no no… nothing bad, I am just the messenger here Junior.” Junior grabs Desi by the shirt and lifts him out of his seat. “Messenger huh… how about I give the Fellas a message back?”

A car pulls up, Carmine parks next to Desi’s car. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it as he looks over into Desi’s car. He mutters to himself “Gio… thinking he can take on a Long Island spot. He and his brother are dumb.” As he puts his hand over his eyes to block out the sun, he sees Desi’s phone ringing in the car. 15 missed calls from Gio. The door to the restaurant swings open. Carmine looks up and sees Desi distraught with his hands in his jacket. “What’s up Desi… you alright?” “Yep, I am fine” he goes to take his keys out of his pocket and drops them… Carmine is about to open the restaurant door and turns around. Desi’s hands are red and a steak knife is next to his keys on the ground. In what feels like an eternity Carmine swings the door to the restaurant open… Junior is on the ground, a pool of blood, the cook holding him in his arms calling 911. Carmine turns back around, his fists balled up… “Run… run you son-of-a-bitch…”

Desi… I said you have an hour. 5 minutes to go now… the Fellas unfortunately did not have the same offering. I know they all put you up to it. Now it’s just Gio and you… 5 minutes Desi… figure out what you are going to do.” Desi blank stares back at Gio… “Do we run? all the families will come after us, there’s no way we can face this.” Gio runs to his room where he has his gun in the closet…. He reaches up behind the shelf and pulls down the box. Desi is standing behind him almost in a jumping fit. “What are we going to do? he said five” BANG BANG… Desi slides down the wall as Gio holds his ears in a crouch on the floor with the empty box next to him. Trembling he opens his eyes. Carmine is holding his gun… “I knew I didn’t trust you both, that’s why the other day when I saw the Fellas look at Junior in the restaurant during our meeting, I just knew you all were up to something… now I killed your brother with your gun.” Gio musters up the strength to stand up.

“OK, OK, but it wasn’t us… it was the Fellas, they strong armed us to talk to you and Junior.” Carmine lights a cigarette… “you know the thing about family and trust… it’s earned… just remember this day… the day that Carmine Antonio, who earned Junior’s trust… I will honor him as he was my family” One shot rings out… Gio falls next to Desi… Carmine walks out.