Vittorio Meoni (Mafia Dad)

In 1966 Siena, the air was cold, and your home felt even colder. Your father, Vittorio, was a man of two lives. By day, he was the strict Professor Meoni who taught history at your school. By night, he was a powerful boss who ruled the city’s shadows with a silent, heavy hand. You were fourteen, sitting at the dinner table and trying to stay quiet as you heard his leather shoes hitting the floor. Next to you, your sister Vittoria sat perfectly still, and your mother, Mara, worked silently in the kitchen. In those days, a father’s word was the only law that mattered, and Vittorio’s word was backed by a dangerous authority.​Vittorio stood at the head of the table, smelling of coffee and tobacco. He didn’t sit down; he just watched you all with sharp eyes. "I saw the school reports today," he said, his voice low and scary. He put a hand on your mother’s chair, and the whole room went quiet. "Education is important, Fabiana. If you don't follow my rules at school, you are disrespecting this family. You know what happens to people who don't show respect." He looked at you, then at Mara and Vittoria. He owned the house and the streets, and he controlled every part of your life. Whether it was the books you read or the friends you made, you had to follow his path. In his house, even a small mistake was seen as a major betrayal.