Chapter 51: Integrating into the family

"Are you sure your alright-"

"I'll be fine Ricky, I'll see you later." Maria kissed Ricky's cheek before returning to Betty's side, sighing at this and turned to Lucky waiting in the car.

Walking around, he opened the car door and got in before the black cars immediately sped off.

"We are heading to management." Lucky spoke, subtly informing Ricky that he was about to be introduced to the family's internal matters, signaling a deeper level of trust and involvement in the Luciano operations.

"Holy sh*t, really?" Ricky, still surprised by the notion despite their heartfelt talk, asked for clarification as Lucky patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Really." Lucky's smile lingered as Ricky nodded, but a sudden thought from his earlier conversation with Henry this morning flashed through his mind. 

"Hey pops, do you know about trust and holding companies?" Ricky inquired, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice. 

He'd never given much thought to trusts and holding companies until Henry mentioned them, and now the unfamiliarity gnawed at him.

"Of course, I'm not an idiot." Lucky brushed it off as if it were nothing, but Ricky gave him a puzzled look.

"Listen dumbass, I want our family to have generational wealth so of course I made a trust for you." Lucky shook his head, a hint of frustration crossing his face as he was reminded just how clueless his son could be at times.

"You did?" Ricky asked, his confusion evident, but Lucky only nodded in response.

"I set up an irrevocable trust with me as an advisor to operate it until I deem you ready to control it fully. All my assets are already in it, including the ownership shares of the bank, along with others, are all located in the trust." Lucky informed Ricky, explaining that he had been self-educating on these matters ever since he adopted him.

Initially, Lucky had been prepared to let his last name die with him, but with Ricky now in the picture, he was determined to ensure that his family legacy would endure and thrive for generations to come.

"What about my buildings-"

"There in your name so I couldn't touch them." Lucky, already knowing where this conversation was heading, interrupted Ricky.

"Well, what do you think I should do?" Ricky asked, his curiosity piqued, while Lucky shot him a sidelong glance.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Lucky first asked, needing to ensure Ricky had some level of understanding and involvement.

"I wanted to invest in a company with the clean forty thousand-"

"What companies?" Lucky interrupted, but Ricky responded with a blank expression, clearly confused.

"Ford?" Ricky instinctively said, Lucky rolling his eyes at his naive son's amateur business skills.

"Listen-"

*SIGH*

'Y'know what, no, you'll have to learn failure.' Lucky thought to himself just as he was about to lecture him until he had another idea.

Lucky had originally set up a holding company to invest in the volatile market during the Great Depression.

However, after seeing the opportunity of creating a bank, he decided to put his chips in that basket instead, so the holding company's funds were just sitting there.

"I already made a holding company called 'Luciano Financial' and I'll let you use it to invest your forty thousand in the stock market. Hell, I'll even do the paperwork to get the bank to transfer that money into funds to the holding company." Lucky gave him an opportunity since he thought of this as a learning experience.

Lucky knew Ricky wouldn't be a business genius overnight, but from his observations, Ricky seemed to learn more from failure than from success. 

Deciding to accelerate Ricky's growth, Lucky resolved to push him through some deliberate failures, hoping it would force him into improvement.

"Wow, thanks pops." Ricky thought about Lucky's offer and saw no reason to refuse it.

"Also, your clubs are businesses that need constant oversight. It would be better to place them under the holding company within the trust rather than the trust itself. I'll make you the controller of the holding company," Lucky patted his shoulder, reaffirming himself that this upcoming failure was for his own good.

"Boss, we're here." The driver instructed, but Ricky looked puzzled, as they were parked across the street from Italiano's.

"We moved our operations to this building." Lucky anticipated Ricky's question as they both exited the car and walked side by side.

"Listen up, your rank is Caporegime and a meeting is being held today on which operations you will be handling for the family." Lucky spoke quietly so only Ricky could hear.

"There will be plenty of options, but you should focus on protection rackets in Harlem. It's straightforward, and everyone down there already holds you in high regard," Lucky advised Ricky who frowned slightly, considering the implications.

'That seems boring.' Ricky frowned, Lucky frowning at his son's frown.

"I swear I'll beat the living sh*t out of you if you pick something like drug smuggling-"

"Slick!" Genovese smiled as he stood, opening the door and extending his hand for a handshake.

"It's good to see ya, I'm glad you're finally coming into the family." Genovese said warmly, though Ricky's raised eyebrow betrayed his suspicion of the clear insincerity as he detected it as a lie.

"Y'know, I'm really proud of what you've done for the family so far and I've been itching to see you enter the fold." Genovese spoke with apparent glee, but Ricky's confusion deepened as he struggled to grasp the underlying meaning.

'Does he not like me?' Ricky thought about his limited interactions with Genovese, realizing they hadn't had any conflicts for him to have anything against him

However Ricky's assessment was spot on; Genovese had indeed started to harbor animosity towards him.

Genovese was originally positioned to inherit leadership of the family from Lucky once it was his time to pass the torch. 

However, Lucky's clear favoritism towards Ricky had stirred resentment within Genovese over the years. 

In Mafia families, the leader's position holds immense power, not just in authority but also in preserving the family's name and legacy. 

While the family's name might change over time with its leader, the core identity and values remain, often passed down through generations of leadership.

Genovese's ambition to have his name on the door and lead the family was increasingly threatened by Ricky's sudden rise and Lucky's overt favoritism towards him.

Initially, Genovese didn't harbor resentment towards Ricky, but as Ricky began to demonstrate his value to the family, Genovese's wariness grew. 

This sentiment escalated to full-blown resentment, especially when Lucky highlighted Ricky's connection to the Vatican, which garnered significant respect and support within the family. 

Despite any personal feelings, members of the family couldn't even openly oppose Ricky without going against the church, which tilted the balance of power further in Ricky's favor.

'You damn f*cking runt, I'll show you your place just you wait.' Genvose thought through gritted teeth as he purposely led Ricky into the room before Lucky could warn him anymore.

Upon entering, Ricky noticed about fifty high-ranking members of the family gathered in the room. 

Lucky had been aggressively recruiting members over the past two years, a strategy that some of the other dons viewed with skepticism. 

While it increased their manpower, it also meant spending a significant amount on their pay, which could have been allocated to other ventures. 

It also led to the family being stretched thin, and maintaining close-knit relationships was crucial for the success of their operations. 

While family loyalty was essential, an exceptionally tight-knit group was considered vital above all else.

Despite the tension surrounding Ricky's introduction and the looming division between factions, the high-ranking members knew the stakes were high. 

When Lucky entered the room, he raised his hand, signaling for everyone to take their seats though their gazes remained on Ricky.

"I'm sure you all know my son, so let's skip the pleasantries. I'm announcing him as the newest Capo in the family," Lucky declared, gesturing toward Ricky as the other high-ranking members nodded in acknowledgement and respect.

"Now, due to his numerous achievements, I've decided to let him decide what field he wants to focus his efforts in." Lucky then gave him the floor as Genovese widened his eyes though before he could say anything, Ricky moved forward.

Then with a dumbest smile, Ricky walked in front of all these members as Lucky had a sudden foreboding feeling.

"I will be focusing on drug smuggling." Ricky spoke the very thing that Lucky told him not to say.

"You motherf-" Lucky held his cane up only to have Genovese suddenly step forward.

"Of course Slick would want to go after one of our most risky fields!" Genovese announced as the other members were confused since they expected him to pick something easier, like the protection racket.

Ricky selected drug smuggling, partly because it was one of the things his father had explicitly advised against. 

It was as if he was drawn to the very things Lucky wanted him to avoid, finding them more intriguing than anything else. 

Or at least, that was what he would tell people when asked. 

In truth, however, Ricky's choice stemmed from a deeper motivation: he wanted to prove to Lucky that bringing him into the family wasn't a mistake, and that he was worthy of all the trust placed in him while being able to bear the responsibility always held in high regard for him.

"Aye Slick, I know you're young and all, but are you sure bout this?" An older fella asked with slight concern after seeing the maddening glare from Lucky.

"Yeah why not-" Ricky shrugged light heartedly, Lucky's vein almost snapping on his forehead.

"IMA KILL YOU!" Lucky rushed at Ricky only to have Genovese hold him back as the other members immediately stood up.

"Oh come on pops." Ricky sighed dodging backwards as Lucky tried to swing his cane at him.

"You know what, fine, FINE." Lucky stopped while adjusting his hair as Ricky showed surprise.

"You think you're hot stuff just because you've had a few lucky breaks?" Lucky's voice was edged with a dangerous amusement. 

He laughed maniacally, his eyes glinting with a sinister light as the room fell into an uneasy silence, with even Genovese visibly tensing at the volatile mood.

"We've been having trouble getting our product from Mexico to here, thanks to the government cracking down on the border." Lucky's tone grew more intense, his frustration palpable. 

The other members exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes widening at the gravity of the situation.

"Cool." Ricky smiled with some light hearted mannerisms as Lucky burst out in a sarcastical parade of laughter.

"Oh it's cool, it'll be very 'cool' when I get to bail you out of a Texas prison!" Lucky pointed his cane at Ricky.

"You really don't believe I can do it, do you." Ricky slowly started to loss his smile as Lucky had a vein form on his forehead.

"Slick, we've been cut off for the last year and have lost well over 700,000 in cash alone while trying to get the weed over the board." A member, who was previously involved in the smuggling ring, informed him.

"Fine then I'll bring back 700,000 worth of it." Ricky boldly proclaimed his readiness to tackle the challenge, his confidence unwavering. 

Genovese, sensing an opportunity to gain favor, grinned from ear to ear, while Lucky, overwhelmed by the mounting pressure, clutched his head in frustration.

"I need a drink." Lucky pulled out a flask as the others were reeling in from what he was saying.

"Slick you can't-"

"Alright Slick, we all believe in you so I'll even help you out and contact our guy Guerra." Genovose smiled though Ricky could feel it was the truth as he shrugged.

"Great."

Later that day,

Lucky and Ricky were driving back to the house before Lucky finally turned towards his idiotic son.

"Why do you always do this, huh?" Lucky was on the cusp of starting his lecture as Ricky sighed.

"What happened to respecting me?" Ricky turned back to Lucky to freeze before shaking his head.

"No, no, no, don't act like-"

"Listen pops, I know you want to help me succeed, but when you were my age were you simply trying to make ends?" Ricky asked as Lucky immediately shut his trap since he'd be lying.

Lucky paused to reflect and realized the hypocrisy in his own stance. 

When he was Ricky's age, he had been robbing cargo ships and trucks with nothing more than a beat-up car and an old pistol. 

Now, here he was, judging Ricky for stepping into the same treacherous world he once navigated with far less.

"And I get that you're only trying to protect me, but how many times are you going to say you're going to include me before trying to immediately exclude me." Ricky said as he was beginning to feel a hint of frustration. 

Although Lucky included him in various activities, he would often turn around and attempt to isolate him, claiming it was all for his protection.

Lucky opened his mouth to retort but slowly closed it as Ricky made another compelling point and with a reluctant nod, Lucky conceded the argument.

"Fine, but let's make a wager." Lucky suddenly proposed a bet, immediately making Ricky intrigued. 

"If you win, I'll let you do f*ck all in the family and hold the reins freely but if you fail, you're gonna be on my leash, capish?" Lucky gave the conditions, holding out his hand as Ricky grabbed it immediately.

"Deal." 

Ricky had unwavering confidence in his own abilities, while Lucky feared that Ricky's arrogance would ultimately lead to his downfall.

"You know who you remind me of." Lucky suddenly spoke up after releasing Ricky's hand, causing Ricky to tilt his head in curiosity.

"You?" Ricky presumed but Lucky started out laughing hysterically.

"No way, you're an idiot." Lucky shook his head before wiping his eyes.

"No Capone, you're like a spitting image of him when he was younger." Lucky spoke, prompting Ricky to raise an eyebrow in response.

"Y'know Capone was even richer than you, right?" Ricky taunted but Lucky scoffed at this well known fact.

"And look where he's now, in the slammer." Lucky waved Ricky's notion aside.

"Capone was trying to get rich quick, I'm trying to build something real." Lucky pointed at Ricky as he looked out the window.

"I'm trying to build a foundation and that Capone always prioritized short-term gains while I'm always looking at the long-term options." Lucky shook his finger in a lecturing way but Ricky shrugged his shoulder.

"Anyways forget about everything, tell me about your day." Lucky smiled as Ricky then started recounting the day before he let out a boastering laughter.

"You really pulled out a gun on them, that's hilarious!" Lucky slammed his hand on his knee as Ricky nodded while pulling out his revolver.

"Why does it look so beat up?" Lucky asked after seeing the chippings and scratches Ricky caused modifications.

"I took it apart and made it better." Ricky simply said though once he did, Lucky snatched it from his hands before reaching into his coat.

"No way, Slick." Lucky went full dad mode and handed his pistol to Ricky while holstering the one he just took.

"Ain't no way you are gonna convince me that you simply took this revolver and made it 'better'." Lucky spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, aware that if people didn't know of his skill, they might not fully appreciate it.

Ricky frowned, feeling an unsettling itch at the back of his head as he held the gun but this time, it was stronger, more insistent than before.

"Oh don't be like that, you can play around with chicks but guns, guns is where I draw the line." Lucky said as he opened the door to see Ricky's gerbil wearing his armor.

"YOUNG RICKY, OUR TRAINING CONTINUES!" Alexander roared outwards, Chester flapping his wings while Lucky shook his head.

"I swear that kid's like a magnet for weirdness." Lucky simply walked by the gerbil as Ricky wasn't paying attention to Alexander but the pistol in his hand.

"Oh hey Alexander-"

"CEASE YOUR WORDS, WE START NOW!"

Later that night at the Cotton Club, Jake was snoring at his desk, buried under a mountain of papers, when the door suddenly swung open.

"JAKE!"

"HUH!" Jake's sleeping face jerked upright, a paper stuck to his cheek, as he looked up groggily at Ricky.

"PUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ricky erupted into maniacal laughter as he saw Jake reach for his gun. 

Unfazed by the threat, Ricky strolled over to the seat in front of Jake, who was still a little out of it, and took a seat.

"S-Slick!?" Jake was confused and shocked at his arrival as Ricky saluted.

"How was your nap?" Ricky asked, his amusement evident, as Jake hurriedly peeled the paper stuck to his face.

*Ahem*

"I was simply taking a quick power nap." Jake scratched his chin knowing his excuse was poor but Ricky didn't care.

"Whatever, you want to come with me to Mexico?" Ricky asked with anticipation but Jake gave him a weird look.

"Why Mexico?" Jake asked, then paused as a realization hit him, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Slick no-"

"Yes."

"You can't-"

"I will."

"SLICK!" Jake yelled at Ricky who started laughing knowing he couldn't stop him.

"So you in?" Ricky asked, but Jake sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"No Slick, I'm not 'in' since I got to do all of this." Jake spread his arms while Ricky rubbed his chin, trying to think of a solution to bring him along.

*Snap*

"Then delegate it." Ricky came up with a brilliant idea and Jake rolled his eyes.

"It's not that simple." Jake said to Ricky, who frowned, realizing that it really was that simple. 

However, upon seeing Jake's expression, he merely shrugged while knowing that this tough cracker wouldn't relent.

"Welp, tell me if you change your mind and do you want some help with- '' Ricky left the door open as he picked up a piece of paper, only for Jake to quickly snatch it away.

"I can handle it Slick, I don't need any help." Jake scratched his head while setting different papers in different areas as Ricky walked to the door.

Looking back, Ricky saw Jake absorbed in his work and although he frowned at the sight, he didn't want to be as controlling as his father, so he simply turned and left.

"Aye Chores, Barko." Ricky dashed up to Chores, who was working as a bouncer, and Barko, who was there for moral support.

"Wanna go to Mexico?" Ricky asked Chores who went to reply with a hard 'no' but stopped himself.

"You know what, I will." Chores said calmly, surprising both Barko and Ricky with his unexpected initiative.

"Really?" Ricky asked since he thought he'd have to at least convince him.

"Usually I wouldn't simply be swayed by your statement, however, I've never traveled unless it was against my own will, so I want to travel on my own volition." Chores poetically said and Barko nodded his head.

"Then if Chores is in, then I'm in." Barko agreed, making Ricky smirk while patting his shoulder along with scratching Barko's head.

"Alright then, I'll come get you when it's time." Ricky left without even giving a set date, a signature move of his, though neither of them seemed bothered by it at this point. 

He rubbed his eyes wearily as he headed back to the mansion, collapsing onto his bed without bothering to remove his shirt. 

The necklace around his neck glinted in the faint moonlight but the circular black stone, at the center, remained untouched by the light, appearing completely hollow. 

Until a pulse of energy radiated from within it.

Meanwhile At The Vatican,

"Are we seriously doing this, he's just a brat-"

"You violated the rules and you need to pay the price, Abraham." Father Sebastion cut him off as they walked down a long hallway towards the inner council.

The hallway was lined with paintings of historical figures, each rendered as heroic icons, their legacies immortalized through the gaze of the Vatican.

*Sigh*

"Rules schmules." Abraham scoffed, walking past a particular painting though instead of continuing as he usually does, he stopped.

"You've gotta be sh*tting me." Abraham's jaw dropped as he paced backward, his incredulity evident from what he glimpsed in his peripheral vision. 

Meanwhile, Father Sebastian scoffed, his disdain clear while thinking Abraham was about to make a fuss over nothing once more.

"Must you use such vulgar language in such a holy place-"

"LOOK!" Abraham screeched, prompting Father Sebastian to angrily turn toward him, his ire focused on the man pointing at a large painting.

"WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT-by the grace of the gods." Father Sebastian exhaled a small breath of cold air, staring at the painting in a daze.

"I KNEW IT, I KNEW HE SEEMED FAMILIAR!" Abraham put his hands on his head, showing an ironic smile while they were in complete shock.

"This-...this explains everything." Father Sebastion whispered to himself as Abraham started laughing.

"Of course it was that damn bloodline, it's almost as cursed as mine!" Abraham covered his eyes as he shouted in a hysterical manner.

"We must make haste; the inner council needs to know that another candidate for the position has appeared," Father Sebastian said urgently, rushing toward the room without a second glance at Abraham, who flinched.

"H-Hey wait for me!" Abraham, who was at first unwilling, eagerly rushed knowing chaos would unfold.

The painting, however, remained steadfastly mounted on the wall, as it had for centuries, with the figure within it presenting itself boastfully.

A knightly figure emerged for anyone who gazed upon the masterpiece, his armor clad in deep black with striking red undertones.

The man in the painting looked eerily similar to Ricky, almost like a twin as their resemblance was uncanny. 

However, while Ricky had short, slick black hair and green eyes, this figure sported long blond hair and light blue eyes.

Beneath the magnificent mounted painting was a carving ingrained in solid gold, the inscriptions of his name commanding respect as if by divine decree.

'Sir Percival, The Black Knight.'

Author Note: I've seen all your comments, questions, critisms, and suggestions, but I'm in a bad mood after dying in RLCraft and losing all my sh*t. I don't think I'm in the right mindset to respond right now, so I'm going to take some time to cool down and will address most of it tomorrow.