Page 1 of La Dolce Vita

PARTONE

The Good Life

Prelude

The Amalfi Coast –

Sorrento Italy / 1972

The sun drowned the tiny fisherman’s boat in golden heat. The cap Giovanni wore pushed down on his head was the only protection for his scalp. Pearls of sweat dripped from his brow and trailed down the side of his face. Giovanni's gaze swept the calm waters of the sea. However hot and humid the day became, he could always count on a fresh breeze from the ocean to cool him. It was the best part of fishing.

The water was the purest along the Amalfi when the tide was calm. Dark turquoise waves glistened as if sprinkled with blue crystals. And just below the surface, if he stared long and hard enough, he could see fish chase after the bait it sniffed on his hook. The medium sized fisherman's boat rocked like a cradle when Lorenzo shifted his weight behind him. He glanced back over his shoulder. The glare of the sun blinded him. He squinted out of one eye to look at his cousin. Lorenzo was again doing his best to impressPatriand Giovanni was envious. The relationship his cousin shared with Giovanni's father was far stronger than his own relationship with Don Tomosino had been in the past few weeks.

For approval, Lorenzo worked the wiggling shrimp on the hook without dropping it. The tiny creature kicked its little legs as it died.Patriinspected the bait and gave a nod of approval to his nephew. Lorenzo stood in the center of the boat. He wobbled a little. The entire boat shook, but he soon gained his balance. It was only then that he cast the line into the water.

"Bravo!" Don Tomosino let go an amused chuckle. The Don settled back into a reclined position at the bow of the boat. His dark gaze swiveled to Giovanni. "Any nibbles, Gio?"

"No,Patri,"Giovanni answered.

The Don removed his cigar from the front pocket of his shirt. He put it in his mouth. He cupped his hand around the flame of his match as he lit the end. He tossed the burned out stick into the sea with no regard to the beauty of the ocean around him. His gaze flickered back to Giovanni. All was not forgiven between them. How could it be? He'd seen his father's darkness and suffered his wrath. And his father had seen his weakness when he attacked Armando Mancini over his feelings for a girl. It was only recently that his father had started speaking to him again.

Instead of receiving his love and approval he had to watch from the sidelines as the Don took both Dominic and Lorenzo under his nurturing wing. It hurt Giovanni deeply. The love of his father was a guiding force within him. It helped secure his identity. It helped him understand and appreciate his mother's sacrifices and suffering. It justified his actions when even he didn't understand his reasoning. He was Tomosino's son. The birthright was a badge of honor. However long his exile from his father's affections would be, he knew the punishment was deserved. After all, his father had to leave Sicilia under the gun because of Don Salvatori Mancini's wrath. Salvatori Mancini, the father of Marsuvio Mancini, and Armando Mancini's grandfather, ruled his region of Sicilia as one of theFive Dons of Sicily. His temper was unyielding over his grandson's attack. Not even the friendship between Tomosino and Marsuvio could appease the old Don. Sicilia would no longer be their home.

"Patri? Where isZioRocco?" Lorenzo asked.

Giovanni turned his gaze back to the sea. Nothing nibbled on his line. His ears perked and he waited for his father's response. Uncle Rocco was dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. If he and Lorenzo hadn't been out in the woods sneaking whiskey and cigarettes, they would have missed the scene.Patriwaited under a dead, leafless tree in the forest for his brother to be delivered at his feet. And when he was, the mean punch to the gut from the Don shocked both Giovanni and Lorenzo. His father's men took a vomiting, weeping, Rocco deeper into the woods. That was two weeks ago. They had not seen their uncle since.

"He is in Chianti," The Don answered. "Where he will rot for his remaining days."

Giovanni closed his eyes and bit back his emotion. He and Lorenzo had a wager on what Rocco's fate would be. Giovanni believed nothing could separate the brothers. He believed that blood, no matter the sin, was the ultimate bond shared between men. He had to believe that. If his father could cast away his beloved brother, would he do the same to his only son?

Rocco was banished.

What crime could deserve such an unforgiving thing?

"Gio?Guardami!"The Don commanded.

Giovanni turned on his small bench seat to look back at his father. He held to his fishing rod and squinted once more at the sun that burned away his eyesight.

"Sí, Papá?"Giovanni answered.

He only called his father 'Papa' when truly trying to show humility. Lorenzo glanced at him and then to the Don. To both Lorenzo and Gio’s surprise,Patridid not regard Gio with the typical scorn or disapproval he'd cast him with the past week. Instead, the Don smiled.

"Life will be different. For you and me. For all of us."

"Perchè?"Giovanni asked.

"Cosa c'è?"Lorenzo asked.

The news could mean anything. Including their most dreaded fear. Being sent away to school likeZiaIsabella often threatened to do to them when she was angry.

"Guarda!"Patripointed. The boys' heads turned on their shoulders, and they cast their gazes back to the Amalfi. From the sea, the beauty of the tower homes situated amongst the base of the cliff could be seen for miles. And along the coast, colorful fishing boats were lined up at the shore. Tomosino traveled with men who carried guns. He always had armed men working for him, but these guys were different. They patrolled the beach and waited for their boss to return with his boys as if expecting some arsenal to rise from the sea to prevent it.

"We can make this our permanent home,per sempre," Tomosino informed them. "We won't be returning to Sicilia. For a very long time,"Patrisaid.

"Is it because of Giovanni?" Lorenzo asked.

For once Giovanni's sins weren't at the forefront of his father's mind, and his cousin insisted on dragging him down in his father's opinion again. He tried to reason away the betrayal. Lorenzo had lost his father a few months ago. Everyone was sensitive to him now. Except for Lorenzo's mother. In his father’s absence, and with his mother’s dismissal,Patri'sapproval had recently become a great desire for Lorenzo. But, when Don Tomosino didn't respond to his question, the boys knew that Lorenzo's little act of treachery had turned on him. The Don now glared at his nephew as if he'd strike him.Patrinever liked to be questioned.

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