Departure

Lorenzo dialed Tom Hagen, his voice low and urgent. He spoke of two FBI G-men who had paid him a visit, snooping around his business affairs and making no secret of their knowledge of his ties to the Corleone family.

On the other end of the line, Tom's voice was cool and collected. "Lorenzo, if you should meet them again, be cautious with your words. Don't divulge too much. They're likely gathering evidence against you as we speak."

Lorenzo's response was curt but resolute. "I got it, Tom. I'll watch my mouth."

After hanging up the receiver, Lorenzo made his way to the lobby, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Lorenzo's gaze met Adam's, his expression grave. "Adam, we need to scale back on our illegal operations. The Feds are onto us."

Adam's eyes widened with worry, but he nodded in understanding. "I'll see to it right away, boss." He hesitated, then added, "Speaking of which, when we relocate… I was wondering if I could bring a few people close to me."

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, and a knowing smile crept onto his face. "You mean you want to bring that Tiffany, don't you?"

Adam blushed, confirming his suspicion. "That's right. Especially now that…"

"What is it, Adam?"

"She's… she's pregnant, boss."

Surprise registered on Lorenzo's face. "You're going to be a father?"

Adam nodded, unable to hide his pride.

Lorenzo clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, congratulations, my friend. Congratulations."

After the congratulatory moment, Lorenzo's expression turned serious. "Now that you're about to be a father, are you sure you still want to stay in this line of work? It's not too late to walk away."

Adam met his gaze, determination in his eyes. "Lorenzo, I owe you everything. Without you, I never would've met Tiffany or had a life like this. I'm not leaving your side."

Lorenzo sighed, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "You know it won't be easy, don't you?"

"I know," Adam interjected, "but I changed my last name to Lupo. You're practically my brother!"

Lorenzo couldn't help but smile. "You're right, you're family now."

Adam's eyes glistened with gratitude. "And you're my boss. Unless you fire me, I'm not going anywhere."

Lorenzo clapped him on the back, his expression softening. "In that case, consider yourself stuck with me, 'brother.'"

"Even if we're not blood, you're the kind of brother every man should be so lucky to have," he added with a grin.

---

In the days that followed, Lorenzo treaded carefully, ensuring his organization scaled back on their illegal operations. On the surface, he focused on legitimate businesses, but behind closed doors, he still pulled the strings. His past life had given him the knowledge to navigate both worlds seamlessly.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lorenzo exited his office, briefcase in hand. He couldn't help but notice the men in suits and hats, trying too hard to blend in. FBI agents, he thought to himself. But they underestimated his keen senses and experiences.

Lorenzo chuckled to himself as he approached his waiting car. Mike opened the door for him, and he slid into the passenger seat. As they pulled away, he knew the Feds were tailing them, but he didn't mind. Let them watch, he thought. They won't find anything.

The FBI agents in their unassuming sedan jotted down every detail in their notebooks as they tailed Lorenzo's car. They had been shadowing him for days, documenting his every move.

The car pulled up to "The Mark Hotel," and Mike emerged to open the door for his boss. The two men exited the vehicle, and the hotel staff greeted Lorenzo by name.

The FBI agents remained in their car, watching as the duo disappeared inside. They didn't need to follow him any further; they knew his routine. One agent slid out of the car and headed to a nearby payphone, where he placed a call to their headquarters, updating them on Lorenzo's whereabouts.

---

Entering his hotel suite, Lorenzo spotted Deborah, a vision in her robe, applying lipstick in front of the mirror.

"Deb, you don't need that stuff," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You're beautiful just the way you are."

Deborah blushed, but she persisted. "My drama teacher says I should learn makeup if I want to be an actress. He says beauty won't last forever."

Lorenzo's brows furrowed. "That so-called teacher of yours better watch his mouth."

Deborah giggled. "Lorenzo, he's just being realistic."

"No, I think he's just jealous of your beauty," he teased, running his fingers through her hair.

"How did you know?" she asked, feigning surprise.

"He's really jealous? Isn't he a guy?" Lorenzo asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

Deborah laughed. "Well, that drama teacher is indeed a guy, but he's gay."

Lorenzo chuckled, understanding dawning on him. "No wonder."

The air between them was thick with the electricity of young love, as they flirted and giggled like two doves in springtime.

Lorenzo flashed a charming grin at Deborah. "If you've got any trouble at school, just let me know… I'll sort it out for you."

Deborah rested her head on his shoulder, sighing, "Well, there's this fella who's been pestering me lately…"

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed. "Who is he?"

"It's my drama teacher's brother," Deborah said, exasperated. "He won't take no for an answer, even though I told him I'm with you."

A dangerous glint flickered in Lorenzo's eyes. "I'll have a word with him, don't you worry."

Deborah looked at him, concern in her eyes. "Please, don't hurt him too bad, alright?"

Lorenzo smiled reassuringly. "Trust me, Deb. I'll only rough him up a bit."

***

"Argh!!!"

In the dimly lit alley, the man in his thirties doubled over, clutching his stomach in agony. He glared at the young man before him, spitting out blood. "Who are you?!"

Lorenzo's voice was cold as ice. "I'm the man who's taken the woman you've been pestering."

"You're too old for her!" Lorenzo growled, delivering another kick to the man's gut. "Find someone your own level!"

The man groaned, but spat out, "So you're her guy, huh?" He grimaced. "I don't care if she's young! She's the one I want!"

Lorenzo's face darkened. "You want to die?"

With a sickening crunch, Lorenzo's foot connected with the man's crotch.

"Aaargh!" The man doubled over, clutching himself. "No more! I won't pest her again, I swear it!"

Lorenzo's voice was cold as ice. "Good. Because next time, you'll be singing soprano."

He spat on the whimpering man and strode out of the alley.

Outside, his men kept watch, ensuring no FBI agents were nearby.

The FBI agents in their car eyed him suspiciously. "Is Lupo making another deal?" they wondered aloud.

But as Lorenzo climbed into his car and drove off, they saw nothing out of the ordinary.

The FBI agents watched as Lorenzo's car disappeared around the corner. Curiosity piqued, they entered the alley to search for evidence. All they found was a man doubled over in pain.

"Hey, what happened to you?" an agent asked, nudging the man with his foot.

The man pushed him away, groaning, "Mind your own damn business!"

The agent didn't take kindly to being shoved off. He kicked the man in the same tender spot, eliciting a high-pitched yelp.

"Are you gonna talk now?" he asked, voice deceptively calm.

"Yes! Yes!" The man whimpered, clutching his crotch.

The agent pressed for more information, but the man insisted he had didn't know Lorenzo. It was only when the agent described the young man who'd just left the alley that the pieces clicked in the man's mind.

"Oh, him? We don't have any relationship! I-I was just… pursuing his girlfriend." He winced as another kick found its mark. "That's why he did this!"

The agent's expression darkened. "So, you're telling me, I just roughed you up for nothing but a damn love triangle?"

The man whimpered, "I swear, I won't go near her again! Please, believe me!"

The agent stormed out of the alley, fuming. They'd finally gotten a lead on Lorenzo Lupo, and it turned out to be a measly lovers' spat. He slammed the car door, frustrated. They needed something solid to bring down the Corleone family, not this nonsense.

He thought he finally had valuable information on Lorenzo that they could use to blackmail him into turning against the Corleone family.

***

With the Corleone family's help, Lorenzo laundered the profits from his illegal ventures, preparing for his gang's exit from New York.

Over the next few days, they forged documents and created new identities for Lorenzo and his men.

By the time they were ready to leave, Lorenzo had amassed $580,000 in cash, along with the movie studio equipment.

Some of his men secretly left New York, traveling by cargo ship to major ports and by airline.

Leo, Julius, Patrick, Max, Peggy, and the rest of his trusted inner circle had already made their way to Los Angeles, to the address he'd given them.

Lorenzo would join them there, once he'd tied up loose ends in the city.

The rival gangs in the neighborhood noticed the dwindling numbers in Lorenzo's ranks, but they didn't dare move on his turf. Not with the Corleone family watching their backs.

Lorenzo had, after all, signed over his New York operations to the Corleones as a show of gratitude for their help. It wasn't enough to repay their debt, but it was a start.

Finally, in early June, it was time for Lorenzo, Richard, Adam, Tiffany, and the remaining men to leave for Los Angeles.

Lorenzo also brought Deborah along, she's unwilling to part with him even for a moment.

In the dead of night, Lorenzo and Deborah huddled low in his car as Mike sped down the deserted road. Richard and Adam's cars followed close behind, with the rest of their men in tow.

Suddenly, two cars careened out of the darkness, blocking their path.

"Mike, heads down!" Lorenzo yelled, pushing Deborah's head down.

Two cars had boxed them in, and from their open windows, revolvers glinted in the moonlight.

Bang Bang

Gunfire erupted from the assailants' open windows, shattering the windshield.

Deborah's heart pounded against Lorenzo's chest as she clung to him for dear life.

The hail of bullets stopped just as abruptly as it began, and tires squealed into the distance.

Behind them, the cars carrying Adam, Richard, and the others were also under attack.