Meet the Brothers
Michael and Jeffrey Gentile grew up in a topsy-turvy world where the guy who robbed the bakery
Only 14 months apart, as children some mistook Michael and Jeffrey for twins. But they are very different boys. Michael is charismatic and outgoing; Jeffrey is shy and uncomfortable around the neighbor kids who crown Michael as their leader. The story explores the shifting sands of brotherhood. In their youth, Michael serves as Jeffrey’s pal and protector. As teenagers, they become rivals. In school, Jeffrey excels. At home, Jeffrey is the good son. Michael is a rebel who resents the comparisons.
As a young man, Michael is drawn to the Outfit’s glistening illusion of power and pulled willingly into a world. Mike blames himself for exposing his sons to people and circumstances that created a false impression of how the world worked. His guilt – and his wife’s blame – brings forgiveness for Michael’s increasingly reckless choices and help cleaning up his messes.
Jeffrey is repelled by his brother’s choices and exiled from the family when he comes out as gay. He builds a successful, stable life outside the family as Michael stumbles through a life littered with dangerous decisions and broken promises. But when Mike dies suddenly, there’s no one to clean up an entanglement with the mob that could cost Michael his life, and Jeffrey comes to the rescue. Helping to save Michael brings the estranged brothers back together and creates a brand-new version of family.
