Foreword (by TK)Prologue: Little Nicky and Crazy Phil
The book opens in December 1979 with the brutal murder of mob associate Vincent Falcone by a young Philip and his uncle, fast-rising East Coast Mafia power Nicky Scarfo. This is their first murder together, and acts as a turning point in their relationship, setting them off on a bloody journey to the top of the American underworld.
Chapter 1: In Plain Sight
Its 2011 and Philip has been in Witness Protection for almost two decades. As he watches the capture of Osama Bin Laden and Whitey Bulger on a TV set far removed from his life as one of the countrys most dangerous gangsters, he senses the irony that he also remains hidden in plain sight with an equally lucrative bounty on his head placed there by none other than his uncle.
Chapter 2: Back From the Dead
This chapter tells of how Philip met his coauthor (Burnstein) in the early part of 2011 and began work on this book.
Chapter 3: La Cosa Nostra
A brief history of the Mafia in America and in Philadelphia-Atlantic City specifically, leading up to the starting point of our story.
Chapter 4: The Bloodline
Early bios of Philip and his uncle, Nicky Scarfo.
Chapter 5: Ducktown
The history of Atlantic Citys Little Italy and the how the Scarfo-Leonetti families history is interwoven in the rich fabric of the tight-knit community.
Chapter 6: The Yardville Years
This chapter covers Phils two years (1972-1974) after high school, acting as a go-between for the incarcerated Scarfo and Philly mob boss Angelo Bruno, and their soldiers on the street. These years established Phils good relationship with Bruno and proved his trustworthiness to his uncle.
Chapter 7: Iinizio The Beginning
An overview of the start of Nickys and Philips ascent to power. The reader is introduced to all of their main associates and primary rackets, as well as the growing turbulence that was starting to engulf their surroundings.
Chapter 8: Boardwalk Empire
A comprehensive history of Atlantic City.
Chapter 9: Becoming a Killer
This chapter tells of Phil committing his first murder.
Chapter 10: Bullets and Badges
The chapter recounts several key murders by Phil and his uncle in the late 1970s.
Chapter 11: The Big Payback
The story of the brazen murder of Edwin Helfant, a sitting New Jersey municipal court Judge in 1978, by the Scarfo crew.
Chapter 12: Passing Him By
This chapter reveals the instability that was developing around the Bruno mob regime, stemming in part from Brunos hesitation to take advantage of the recent gambling legalization in Atlantic City.
Chapter 13: The Bloodlust
A more complete telling of the murder of Vince Falcone, first noted in the Prologue.
Chapter 14: Ides of March
Covers March 1980 to March 1981 and the major assassinations of Angelo Bruno and his successor, Philip Chicken Man” Testa, Nickys best friend and mentor. These murders vaulted Scarfo and Phil into the big time in the American mafia.
Chapter 15: The Coronation
Little Nickys first year as Phillys Godfather and his building of a powerbase that included dozens of young, aspiring psychopaths. Also covers Philip officially being initiated into the mafia in a ceremony conducted by his uncle.
Chapter 16: Going to the Mattress The Riccobene War
The story of the bitter Riccobene War” between Scarfo and a group of old-guard made men which saw nearly a dozen bodies fall. Philip was on the front lines of this war, literally shooting it out on the streets with the Riccobene crew.
Chapter 17: The Godfather Comes Home
Little Nicky returns to Philly in March 1984 after a brief prison sentence, kicking off an epic murder spree which will see more than 20 high profile gangland killings take place over the next 3 years at his hands.
Chapter 18: Salvie
The betrayal and murder of Salvatore Salvie” Testa by Little Nicky for getting too much attention and respect. Phil begins questioning his uncle and the life they were leading. Salvie was Philips best friend and his murder was simply ordered to assuage Scarfos massively growing ego. Things were different from that point forward.
Chapter 19: The Underboss
The two years from 1985 through 1987 when Philip was elevated into the position of his uncle Nickys Underboss. At only 31 years old, he was one of the most powerful men in the United States, able to shut down entire cities with a single phone call. In a twisted irony, this is the time in Philips life that he was internally wrecked with personal dissatisfaction and became disillusioned with his position.
Chapter 20: The End is Near
The final few months of 1986 when Phil decided to find a way out of his uncles grasp. Phil started to realize there was more to life than the Mafia and the twisted view on things that had been imparted on him by his uncle since childhood.
Chapter 21: Jersey Shore Romance
Amidst all the carnage, Philip meets Christina, a neighborhood girl who once dated one of the men he killed, and sees a flash of what things could be if he ever decided to leave the life of a gangster behind. He eventually marries her.
Chapter 22: The Bust
The 1987 racketeering indictment of Phil, his uncle, and their entire organization, as well as the forthcoming trial in 1988 that concluded with convictions across the board.
Chapter 23: The Witness
Phils decision to cooperate with the government and turn against his uncle and the mob prior to his sentencing in spring 1989. Phil discusses time spent in federal prison with fellow notorious mobsters like Salvatore Sammy the Bull” Gravano and Jimmy Chagra. He also discusses testifying in numerous trials against John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, and three dozen other high-priority defendants.
Chapter 24: Back at War
A review of the Philly and AC underworld during Phils imprisonment in the early 1990s, when the sons and nephews of the Scarfo regime reclaimed the headlines for their similarly outlandish and violent behavior.
Chapter 25: A New Beginning
The story of Phils release from prison in 1992 and his new life, with his new wife and son, in Nowhere, U.S.A.
Chapter 26: The Prodigal Son Returns
The dangerous period in the late-90s when Phil was sneaking back into South Jersey on a regular basis to care for his dying mom and grandmother while knowing mob hitmen were aware of his return and out to kill him and earn a huge bounty.
Chapter 28: Its Never Over!
How Phil is dealing with the aftermath and ripple effects of his cooperation to this very day, being forced to dodge frequent murder plots by his aging and imprisoned uncle.
Chapter 29: Loving Life
A summation stating that despite all that has gone on in his life, Phil is overjoyed with chance to be a regular schnook today and no longer the unscrupulous mob titan he once was. The smallest and most simple things like playing golf with his son or having a candlelit dinner with his wife fulfill him much more than his fast-track life of riches and mob royalty ever did.
Chapter 30: The Here and Now
A concluding chapter updating all the major players in our story, ending with the November 2011 indictment of Scarfo for allegedly defrauding a bank in Texas for four million dollars while in prison.