Monday, May1rst, 2024

Tony and Tino arrived at the Mafia Mansion, owned by their uncle Carlo, the head of the New York City Italian Mafia. Carlo had overtaken the Mafia 12 years ago when their current head, or Boss, passed away and handed it all down to Carlo. It had been what Carlo had always wanted, what he worked hard for his whole life. He sacrificed his life multiple times to get jobs done. He betrayed his closest friends. Blood money was his whole way of life. While he did not particularly like killing people, he didn't mind doing it as long as he got to take the money in. And the title of the Boss of the Mafia was finally his. "Rightfully" his, as he would put it.

The Mansion was the most luxurious place to live that one could ever imagine. It had glass windows that were perfectly spotless and a beautiful cream exterior. It was made of the best, most expensive materials, somewhat to make it look beautiful, and somewhat to make it safe as the whole building was bulletproof. The outside had a large lawn with a swimming pool to match. The pool was lined with a gorgeous, silver, deck. The building had an all-around extraordinarily rich person kind of look to it.

"It's been too long", Tony reminisced as he looked at everything from the refreshing pool to the height of the mansion. "Man, this place is still as lit as ever."

"I still can't believe a bunch of no-good criminals live here", Tino smirked, looking straight ahead as if he was unimpressed by the rich-looking mansion set before him.

"They have to have a place to live. The bad thing is that every penny that's went into this building is blood money." Tony and Tino both never could stand the thought of people making money by doing things that were wrong. It disgusted him from the inside out. "I wouldn't have this place for anything."

Tino shook his head. "Just imagine all the people that had died to support this slump."

"Still, I can remember visiting here briefly as kids.", Tony said with a smile.

Mario and Carlo had temporarily tried to keep their families together, especially for their children's sake. Carlo agreed to put all business matters aside as long as Mario and his family visited. But it never really worked out. As time went on the families drew farther and farther apart, mostly because Mario had guilty feelings over his children being associated with people from the Mafia. He had an intense fear that they would want to join that kind of lifestyle.

The weather was cool and breezy, with clouds setting in that day. It felt good, especially for people who were planning on going out. But it created a kind of mysterious, fearful, vibe to the Mansion. If it had been foggy, it would have been perfect for the feel of a mansion run by the Mafia.

As the brothers walked up the silver-toned pathway and approached the large, double-glass door, they had to travel up what seemed to be 500 small steps to get to the matching silver-toned porch. "That must be how the mafia guys stay in shape", Tony joked.

They found a tiny doorbell on the side of the glass door with a camera attached. "Let me guess, they still have the creepy doorbell that scared us to death when we were kids.", Tino said with a smile.

"Badges", Tony demanded as they took out their badges and flashed them to the camera. They rang the doorbell with it ringing a hollow, mysterious ring. They stood there for a minute in dead silence. They looked at each other, Tony trying to crack one of his jokes again." Hmm...they must not have their poodles on gua-", he was barely cut off by the sound of bullets firing. In a split second, bullets started raining their way. They ran and ducked under a large, glass outdoor table, the only thing they had for protection, though not the greatest armor. They immediately saw the bullets coming from upstairs of the Mansion by two guys in black suits. They got out their guns and started firing back, but not doing so wastefully. They were using their bullets wisely, firing when they had a good shot.

"Bertelli Family!", yelled Tony. "We're part of the Bertelli family!", Tino yelled along with him. Suddenly, the firing stopped and the two men in black ran inside. Tony and Tino stayed ducked behind the glass table, guns aimed, waiting for a return of bullets.

"What was that?!", Tino exclaimed.

"The heck if I know!", Tony answered." Are you alright?", he asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"Well, I'm not full of holes, so yeah I'm pretty good."

"Make sure you keep your guard up. Look around you. Pay attention.", Tino warned his brother, looking out for him. His heart was racing out of the surprise hit of bullets.

Suddenly, a fat, tall, curly-headed guy answered the door. He wore a dark suit, matching the guys that were upstairs firing the gunshots.

"Antonio! Valentino! Is that you?", the strong voice called out in a strong Italian accent.

"Yes!", they almost simultaneously yelled, still being shaken up by the rain of fire.

The man took out a black cell phone. " We're good. Control your fire.", he said in a monotone, serious voice." Didn't your father ever teach you not to flash your badges at a house full of mafia guys without telling them who you are first?!", the voice yelled.

Tony came out from behind the glass table with Tino following closely behind. They were both panting, sweating, still shaken up." Didn't anyone tell you not to have your guys randomly start firing at people before they know who they are?!", Tino asked rhetorically.

"You're both just lucky you didn't get yourselves killed.", the man said sharply. "We're the mafia. We don't care much about who we shoot. It's your responsibility to identify yourself. I can tell your father hasn't taught you much."

As the boys approached the man, trying to catch their breath, Tony put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Uncle Carlo, how are you?"