Living the Oath

Was it his blood oath of omertà, the teachings from the Don, his admiration of The Art of War by the Chinese General Sun Tzu, or was it his family that caused Domenico to kill once again in the last seconds of his life. Domenico Di Natale, an Italian immigrant to the United States, lived ninety years--he spends most of those years as a successful mob capo and many years in prison. What he did, what he learned, how he affected others and, most importantly, who he was. Was the secret blood oath of omertà--taken with a bloody finger, a picture of a saint, and a lit match which made him a "made man"-- the only guiding principle in his life? Were these Made Men merely ruthless ignorant brutes or did they possess creativity, loyalty and other valued traits. When judging the Mafia capo Domenico Di Natale as a son, a husband, a father, a friend, a grand father, and a great grand father it is not an easy call.

Much has been written about the twentieth-century US-based Italian Mafia; their organization, their crimes, and their brutality. There are scores of books, many containing organization charts of mob families, hierarchy and the tenure of their reign. But who were these people? What is it like to live a life of crime immersed in an underworld filled with deception, brutality and danger? Does one lose all sense of right and wrong, or are there elements of humanity and decency that survive even a lifetime of criminal activity? Domenico Di Natale, an Italian immigrant to the United States, lived for ninety years—most of those years as a successful mob capo and many years in prison. What he did, what he learned, how he affected others and, most importantly, who he was are explored in this narrative. Was the secret oath of omertà—taken with a bloody finger, a picture of a saint, and a lit match, and which made him a "made man"—the only guiding principle in his life? Were these made men merely ruthless ignorant brutes or did they possess creativity, loyalty, and other valued traits? Judging the Mafia capo Domenico Di Natale as a son, a husband, a father, a friend, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather it is not an easy call. Join Domenico on this journey, and you be the judge.

Michael Ron Hayward, BPS, MBA, was born and raised in the Bronx, New York until being drafted into the Vietnam Conflict in 1966. He is a retired vice chairman of a major East Coast financial services firm and a graduate of the FBI Citizens' Academy. Living the Oath is his first work of fiction and the characters are imaginary. The story reflects his memories of the influence of the Italian Mafia during the twentieth century in New York City, as well as being influenced by real-life personal experiences. Michael currently resides in Southern California where he devotes his time to writing.