Family Riessi - Part 1

July 11, 1970 - New York CityMichael Don Riessi, known by his long-standing nickname as the 'boss of bosses, ' was a man at the peak of his maturity, almost reaching his fifties. It could be said that he no longer had the old excitement and enthusiasm since he had achieved more than what he wanted. He was neither as lively as in his old days, nor was he a fearless man anymore! The man who used to get what he wanted in a very short time seemed to be far away now. The passing days had worn him out excessively.
He was lost in thoughts, staring into the distance from his ocean-view villa in New York City, very far away indeed... He seemed to be thinking about where he came from. Everything had happened so quickly that even he was amazed at times how he had come this far.
Looking at his men wandering around the garden with guns on their waists, he thought this place could be a haven of security, but the outside was far from it. The streets had been dominated by chaos for some time. Everywhere was filled with people from opposing groups eagerly waiting to throttle each other because of the Vietnam War.
The difficult situation the country was in seemed like a harbinger of upcoming confrontations. The Riessi family had long been prepared for this showdown, but Michael preferred to resolve all his matters through peace and without bloodshed. For him, diplomacy always came first.
However, for problems that could not be solved through discussion, he would resort to his armed forces as the last stand. Therefore, keeping his hitmen strong and ready was always a top priority in this world. This strength was also the key to their family's existence. In short, this was the first and indispensable rule of survival in this wolves' den.
He remembered the moment his son Anthony came to him, volunteering to join the war. As a father, he was in a complex situation. His heart felt constricted whenever he remembered. To him, Anthony still seemed like the baby he held in his hands just yesterday. He couldn't fathom how to cope, how to act while his son was out there.
It had only been four days since Anthony left, but he missed him every second, every minute. They hadn't even been able to tell his mother. They knew she wouldn't bear it and would never let him go. As an excuse, they had only managed to say he went out of state for education. Shaking his head vigorously as if to rid himself of the thoughts filled with anger, stress, and sorrow, he then took the tranquilizers that were on the table along with his water.
The absurdity of a son of a father deeply entrenched in the underworld fighting for his nation and country naturally sounded strange to many. If he wanted, his son wouldn't have to serve a day in the military, easily evading this patriotic duty like his wealthy peers. Yet, he was volunteering to go to war.
Michael Don Riessi's wealth was already massive. His son, in his early twenties, was receiving education at a very good and prestigious university. However, out of nowhere, he had started talking about dropping out of school and volunteering for the war. In short, everything happened all of a sudden, and this young man had plunged into this adventure. Although many suggested that his son's mind was clouded and he was dragged into this by his social circle, Michael knew his son better than anyone. Just like his father, Anthony Riessi was fearless, daring, and reckless.
Then he thought of himself. It was as if history was repeating itself. He remembered the days when he was selected for World War II in his twenties. He recalled the days when he turned back at the last minute, although he had boarded the train to reach the ship carrying soldiers to Europe...