Blood Covenant

MONEY. POWER. PRESTIGE. Mafia boss Michael Franzese had it all. From the time he took a blood oath that bound him body and soul to New York's Colombo crime family, Franzese became a force to be reckoned with in organized crime. Named one of the biggest moneymakers in the mob since Al Capone by Vanity Fair, he quickly crept into the upper echelon of Mafia authority in this country. At age 35, he was the youngest mobster listed on Fortune magazine's survey of the fifty most wealthy and powerful Mafia bosses in America. Franzese hit the list at number eighteen, only five spots behind the infamous John Gotti. The son of a notorious mob kingpin, the smart and sophisticated Franzese scaled the ladder of power quickly and was considered an heir apparent to the family's vast power. Avoiding traditional mob domains, he masterminded brilliant scams on the edge of the legitimate business world. From auto dealerships and union kickbacks to a lucrative gas–tax scheme and a successful venture in movie production, Franzese earned millions in cash every week at his peak. Then, defying common sense and the covenant that bound him to the Colombo family, Michael did the unthinkable. HE QUIT THE MOB. While shooting one of his films, Michael met Camille Garcia, who turned his world upside down with her innocent beauty. He fell in love with her, married her, and then began a new life that didn't include the Mafia. But nobody of Franzese's rank ever just quit the mob and started over. The old saying was that the only way to leave the Mafia was in a coffin. But Michael has somehow managed to avoid the grave after he turned his back on the past. NOW HE'S A MAN ON A MISSION. Today, Michael Franzese is a new man using his past experiences as a powerful tool for helping those who may be vulnerable to the same pitfalls he faced. The story he shares is that of a man who seemed to have everything the world could offer then traded it all for a new lease on life. But what made him leave the lavish lifestyle of the Mafia? And how has he escaped what should have been sure death after he quit the mob? Now, in one of the most fascinating books ever written about today's Mafia, Michael Franzese reveals the answers to the many mysteries surrounding his incredible life. Walk the streets with him and find out how and why he has done what no one else managed to do––and live. Journey with him through a life defined by two blood covenants... ...The first bound him to the mob. The second set him free. Michael Franzese's life is all about change. In 1986, Fortune magazine listed him as the eighteenth most powerful mobster in America. At the height of his power, he raked in millions a week through slick scams and used his wits and charm to keep the likes of John Gotti from moving in on his turf. The son of one of the most–feared mob enforcers in New York City, Michael took his own blood oath to join the Colombo crime family in 1975. But a criminal career that skyrocketed from its outset ended in 1989 when Michael quit the mob. Breaking his ties with the Mafia, he found himself part of a new blood covenant when he became a Christian. Now, Michael is a new man with a new mission in life. He travels around the world relating the experiences of his former life with students, pro athletes, business executives, at–risk youth, and anyone else who needs inspiration for life's challenges.