If the psychologist acted as a surrogate brother

If the psychologist acted as a surrogate brother, a construction company owner practically became Riccardo's second father. Mariano Nicotra told Riccardo what happened when he refused to pay protection money: His car was torched, his daughter ostracized. Nicotra even gave away the family dog, because Mafia threats made walks dangerous. Nicotra saw something in Riccardo that few back home even bothered to look for: a normal kid. Slowly Riccardo began to change.

Twice a week, he helped out at an after-school center for children from broken homes, even though doing something for nothing is an alien concept in the 'ndrangheta. He moved stiffly, always buttoned up, wearing a jacket even at outings at the sea. But he came willingly, a supervisor recalled. One day, he surprised everybody by clucking like a hen to make the children laugh. Riccardo's exile wasn't all hard work. On Saturday nights, Interdonato took Riccardo out for pizza and beers, and even to discos. There, he earned respect because of his personality, not his name.