The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 201: Old Habits

I was at the office late at night and alone with my thoughts and demons.

I reflected on the last few years and thought about the endless pattern of threats.

Victoria Sterling, Marie Starling, Charles Sterling, Jennifer Morrison, Richard Blackwood, Davidson, Juliet, Dante Marvin, Senator Ashford, Maxwell Pierson, Alexei Petrov... the list was endless, some I could remember and some I couldn’t.

There were endless enemies for constant attacks amidst the never-ending cycle of violence and survival.

The pattern was becoming painfully clear: being good made us targets, and choosing ethics made us vulnerable.

My father’s words haunted me like ghosts. "In this world, you’re predator or prey. So choose wisely."

I chose prey. I chose ethics, goodness, and redemption.

And what was the result? A life of constant attacks with my family endangered repeatedly, Katherine was almost killed, and the children were traumatized.

"Maybe my father was right. I thought to myself. Maybe I needed to be feared to be truly safe."

I had a coffee meeting on Tuesday. It was for a professional, during which we discussed Harold Stone’s hotel portfolio.

Beverly was casual as she leaned forward. "You’ve changed so much since high school. The woman you married has really changed you." She observed.

"Well, change is a constant thing. Nothing inherently wrong with it."

Beverly was intense now as she studied me. "You’re the son of a mafia kingpin. Thomas Marvin was a dangerous godfather. You should be brutal, firm, and feared."

"That’s the old me. I’m genuinely different now." I replied to her.

"The old you would never have allowed Maxwell, Volkov, or Ashford to betray and attack you or your family."

The painful truth stung, which I’d been avoiding.

"You lost investments to traitors, became fugitives, and made national news repeatedly. This never would have happened to the old Tony I know."

I thought about what she said as I drove home. I wrestled with myself, and my thoughts were deeply conflicted.

Katherine wants the good man who is ethical, kind, and redeemed from his father’s sins.

But the good man keeps getting our family attacked, threatened, and almost killed.

To beat them, you have to become like them and master their game.

This was not abandoning ethics entirely, but adding an edge of power, which was the real fear factor.

"I can be the man Katherine wants AND still protect our family effectively. A balanced approach." I thought to myself.

I began aggressively expanding our business. Not just Marvin Ventures, but delving into serious diversification.

I went into hotels, like Beverly suggested, and luxury properties. It brought substantial cash flow and served as a legitimate cover for power.

The clubs, nightlife, and entertainment venues all yielded money, influence, and control.

I also diversified into real estate development, which was a means of gaining territory and building an actual empire.

Nothing criminal about them; it only brought formidable and untouchable power.

"When they know who you really are, they don’t attack. They respect, and they fear."

I stayed at the office until midnight every single night to plan, build, and execute strategy.

Katherine always called every night. "When are you coming home?" She’d ask.

"Soon. Just finishing some important work. Please, go to sleep and don’t wait up."

I missed dinner consistently and bedtime stories. I also miss our family time together.

Rose would always ask Katherine. "Where’s Daddy?"

"He’s working, baby. He’ll be home later tonight."

The guilt consumed me, but building protection and genuine safety for my family was necessary.

I met frequently with Beverly to secure hotel deals and investment opportunities. This was a good business strategy.

We were professional, and nothing remotely improper occurred that I could think of.

I was comfortable with her because she understood the business instinctively. She knows ambition and understands the old Tony.

"You’re building something significant. I can see the old fire and the old drive returning." She pointed out.

"Just protecting my family and ensuring there is permanent security," I told her.

"Well, it’s good... you know it’s great becoming powerful, respected, and feared when necessary. It’s a smart strategy, I like that." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

She understood without judgment and was not trying to change me. Just a complete acceptance of who I was.

I got home late again and saw Katherine waiting up, her face set.

"We need to talk seriously." She said as I stepped in.

"It’s late. Can we talk tomorrow?"

"You’re never home anymore, and the kids barely see you. I barely see you! What’s happening, Tony?"

"I’m building the business and expanding strategically. This is me protecting our future." I responded to her.

"By working 18-hour days and missing family? This isn’t protection, it’s you being an absent husband and father."

I flinched at the accusation. "You don’t understand, or you may have forgotten the threats and the attacks and how they keep coming endlessly. I’m aiming to stop them permanently."

"Oh! And you plan to achieve that by becoming your father and building a criminal empire? That’s not who you are, and you know it!"

"Maybe it’s who I need to be to keep you and our kids safe."

Katherine’s tone was accusatory. "This is about Beverly, right? You’re spending excessive time with her. Meeting her constantly and not telling me."

"It’s business on hotel investments, which is completely professional."

"Is it? You’re home late, becoming distant and different. You have changed significantly since meeting her."

"You’re being ridiculous. I love you and only you. Beverly is just a business associate, nothing more whatsoever."

"She wants more. I see how she looks at you. How she touches you and the way she talks to you."

"You’re imagining things that don’t exist and being paranoid. Jeez! You’re jealous without any reason, Katherine."

"Am I? Then why hide meetings and not tell me? Why all these secrets?"

"They’re not secrets; I just didn’t think it was relevant. Business meetings aren’t romantic."

I dismissed Katherine’s concerns entirely because I genuinely believed everything was innocent and was clueless about whether Beverly had ulterior motives.

"You’re overreacting dramatically, and you know Beverly’s simply helping with legitimate business expansion," I explained to her.

"I’m your wife, and I know when something’s wrong." Katherine continued.

"There’s nothing wrong, Kat. You’re projecting your own insecurity. We’re solid, and we’re fine."

I walked away to end the conversation. I could tell Katherine was frustrated, hurt, and dismissed.

But I believed I was right and she was overreacting.

The next day, Beverly called. "How about lunch to discuss the Brooklyn property details? It’s a major deal."

"Sure. Where?"

"Le Bernardin. 1 PM. It’s my treat to celebrate this new acquisition."

It was an old, expensive restaurant I was familiar with, and it usually had a romantic setting. It wasn’t a typical business lunch location, but I was oblivious.

I did not inform Katherine again because it was business and there was nothing to tell... right?

I was at the office until midnight, developing detailed plans for hotel acquisitions and club investments.

Luca Torrino visited, looking concerned. "Tony, you’re working yourself to death. Your family needs you."

"I’m doing this FOR my family. This is for their protection and security, never to be vulnerable again."

"But Katherine-"

"Katherine will understand eventually. When the empire’s built and we’re truly untouchable. Then, she’ll see."

"Will she? Or will she see a husband who chose power over presence?"

I ignored his advice and focused entirely on the goal, in a state of tunnel vision.

Thomas’s second birthday party arrived, and we planned a small celebration with family and close friends.

I promised Katherine that morning. "I’ll definitely be there tonight."

But the meeting ran late, and Beverly’s hotel deal had complicated negotiations.

I texted Katherine. "Running late. Start without me. I’d be there in 30 minutes maximum."

30 minutes became an hour, and the hour became two as I missed the party entirely.

When I arrived home, Thomas and the kids were already asleep. Katherine was cold and silent, meaning she was furious.

"You missed his birthday. Your son’s second birthday party."

"I’m sorry. The business meeting ran unexpectedly late. I really tried-"

"You tried? No Tony. You chose Beverly’s meeting over Thomas’s birthday because you could have canceled it and forgo whatever million dollars the deal was worth. This was your choice."

Katherine slept in the guest room. This was the first time in our marriage, and the distance had become physical.

I was alone in bed, on the empty sheets, and realized the magnitude of it, but I doubled down.

"She’ll understand when the empire’s built. She’ll forgive me when we’re genuinely safe and when all this is over."

But would she really? The distance was growing every day: every late night and every missed moment.

Beverly’s influence was subtle. It wasn’t romantic, but she was present, understanding, and available.

Katherine’s influence was fading. She was angry, distant, frustrated, and becoming increasingly unavailable.

The pattern was shifting dangerously, and I was becoming completely blind to it.

By morning at breakfast, Katherine was cold and formal, already made her decision.

"We need marriage counseling. We’d be starting with Dr. Nina Cole this week."

"I don’t have time for-"

"MAKE time, or we’re done. I’m serious, Tony. This marriage is breaking because of you and your choices. Your priorities."

"You’re being overly dramatic-"

"Am I? You missed our son’s birthday for Beverly Stone. For a flimsy business meeting. You’re becoming your father and choosing the empire over family."

"I’m PROTECTING our family, why can’t you see that?"

"By abandoning us and by working 18-hour days? You’re missing important moments with your kids. That’s not protection. Let’s call it what it is, it’s neglect."

She walked out and took the kids with her to Bella’s house.

This was our first real separation, physical distance and emotional distance, and I could tell our marriage was cracking.

Beverly texted me later. "Great meeting yesterday. Let’s try lunch again on Thursday to discuss the Miami property. My father’s really excited about this deal."

I stared at the text and could hear Katherine’s words echoing.

Beverly’s availability was comfortable, easy, and understanding.

Katherine’s anger, demands, judgment, and difficulty.

Who’s right and what’s the priority?

Was it family or empire? Love or power?

Katherine or... No. Not Beverly. Never Beverly.

But why does Katherine feel so impossibly far away?

Why does Beverly feel so dangerously close?

The divide was growing, and the other woman was winning.

Without me even realizing it.

The fight wasn’t physical. It was emotional, subtle, and dangerous.

And I was losing.

Badly.