Editing Marty Marcano (section)

=== Early Life (2000–2017) ===
Marty Marcano was born in Palermo, Sicily, to [[Connie Marcano]] and Giuseppe Marcano. Unlike his older brothers Lorenzo and Angelo, who were groomed to become mob bosses, Marty’s upbringing was meant to be different. Giuseppe, hardened by years in organized crime, hoped to steer his youngest son toward a legitimate life. He envisioned Marty as the one who would earn wealth honestly and give the family a foothold in respectable society.

Marty grew up in the Marcano estate, surrounded by uncles, capos, and bodyguards. The lavish mansion, filled with whispered deals and shadowy figures, was both a playground and a cage. Despite the opulent surroundings, Marty’s day-to-day life was far from carefree. His father and mother were strict disciplinarians who enforced rigid expectations. Rather than indulging in the freedom he thought was granted to his older brothers, Marty was tasked with assisting Connie, his mother in household chores, a responsibility he found degrading and often tried to avoid.

This disparity in treatment sowed early resentment. Marty couldn’t understand why Lorenzo and Angelo were praised while he was reprimanded. While they trained in business, enforcement, and strategy, Marty was expected to scrub tiles, fold linen, and wash cars. He began to find this hypocritical, especially coming from his father, who preached honesty while ruling an empire built on crime.

However, not everyone in the family agreed with Giuseppe’s approach. Marty's uncles, [[Salvatore Marcano|Salvatore]] and [[Giovanni Marcano|Gianni]], encouraged him to explore life at his own pace. They believed in learning through experience rather than discipline. This freedom resonated with Marty, who gravitated especially toward Gianni, forming a strong bond that stood in contrast to the tense relationship he had with his father. Marty and Giuseppe often clashed—Giuseppe would push him to become a great man, while Marty resisted, sparking arguments that usually ended with Giuseppe sternly putting him in his place.

This tension also prompted Marty to spend more time with his uncle Gianni, who lived life more freely—emotionally and sexually. Gianni would often regale Marty with outrageous stories of his youthful escapades, encouraging him to enjoy life on his own terms. Giuseppe absolutely despised this influence, seeing Gianni's liberal values as a threat to the discipline he tried to instill. But for Marty, these moments with Gianni planted the seeds of what would become his hedonistic and sexual active lifestyle later in life.