I worshiped the ground Nicky walked on and no one could tell me different. I had to see for myself. I closed my eyes to all the warning signs… Actually, the gambling felt sort of familiar since Papa gambled all of his life too, so I convinced myself that was normal….

My first job after graduating high school was as a teller at World Savings and Loan. The Drafted Nicky Salatto served time in Japan with the Marines…

My sixteenth summer was unforgettable. The only responsibility I had was getting to the Orpheum theatre at night on time for my job of ushering or working the candy counter…

The “big” dice games (involving mobsters with big money to bet) took place in the garage in the back of our house. I guess I was around six years old when I had my first encounter with the crime in our neighborhood…

It’s baffling that my marriage lasted for as long as it did. I worshipped the ground Nicky walked on and was determined to make it work…