“I’m gonna marry you.”

Georgia meets and falls madly in love with Joe Lamendola, a local club owner and mafia member.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Teleforce Productions and I Heart Radio presents Wheel Woman Confessions
of a Getaway Driver. Good morning, Mr Rante, would be
better if I wasn't here. Let's pick up where we

(00:26):
left off. Whatever you say, how did you first meet
your second husband? Joela Mondola? He found me one night
at Caesar's Too, and apparently he knew something I didn't
m Caesar's Too was the latest happening place on the

(00:52):
West Side. It actually used to be a seller and
had horribly low and musty smelling ceilings that were covered
in red bur lap. It was a huge place, but
hanging beads separated the various rooms, giving it a cozy feel.
Many deals went down there, but many good times too.
One night I was there with Sammy and Joey Tia Barelli,
having some drinks and some laughs when a man appeared

(01:15):
from behind. I kept my eyes on Sammy as we
continued our conversation, but I noticed as he pulled up
a chair by the back to our table and sat
down straddling it. Sammy gave him a look. Finally I turned.
Even sitting I could tell he was tall, and his unwavering,
dark brown eyes were focused on me. He didn't smile.

(01:38):
He didn't speak for a while. He just stared, I'm
gonna marry you get serious, Sammy? Who is this guy?
Sammy didn't answer, He only shook his head. It was
one of the few times I actually saw him look surprised.
I am, you'll see. I didn't know what to say.

(02:02):
The stranger raised his glass to Sammy. Hey, Sammy, salute.
So are either of you going to introduce me to
this gorgeous girl? Joe. This is Georgia Duranti. You've probably
seen her on TV and in the newspapers. Oh yeah,

(02:23):
that's right. Weren't you want the cover of Upstate Magazine
last Sunday? Yes? I was. That was a great article.
Thank you, Georgia. This is Joe Lamondola, the owner of
this joint. He's turned it into one hell of a
gold mine. I can see that. This is my first
time here. I know you never could have gotten by
without me noticing. I like your choice of bands, Joe.

(02:49):
I think we have a problem in the back room.
I'll be right there. Excuse me. I have to say
something about him. Intrigued me. I watched as he disappeared
into the crowd, but then I noticed Joey and Sammy
watching me. Oh, Sammy looks like a little Alice in

(03:11):
Wonderland as eyes for cassing Ova Beauty and the Beast
is more like an unspoken rivalry always simmered in Rochester
between the east Siders and the West Siders. I could
tell Sammy wasn't a fan, and I figured that was
the reason. I could have asked, but I sensed I
didn't want to know. What's this? BE got around of

(03:37):
drinks for you on Joe Lamondola. Thank you be bringing
my tab? Would you okay? Seemy? I didn't see Joe
again that night. I knew based on Sammy's reaction, I
probably should have stayed away. But even though we only
talked for a few moments, I couldn't stop thinking about him,

(04:01):
and he certainly had plans for me. When did you

(04:49):
see him next? It was only two days later I
received a call. Hello, a pretty lady. Who is this?

(05:09):
I told you I'm gonna marry you, and you forget
me already. You don't need to say yes now. Just
know I'm I'm ready to wait. I know a good
thing when I see it. I hope you're ready to
wait a long time. So where'd you run off to
the other night? Oh, we just did the Friday night ritual,
the Blue Guardinia Ben's and Breakfast. Listen. You like the

(05:33):
band we have playing? Right? You clearly have good taste
in music, and I'd really like your opinion on something.
I have to go to Buffalo Wednesday night to see
a group I'm thinking of booking. Would you like to
come with me? Mm? Hmm, Wow, are you planning on
returning the same night? No, but you'll have your own

(05:55):
room if that's what you're worried about. Well, in that case,
I'd love to go. I'll pick you up. But now
I was worried. He wasn't the type to actually take
things slow, and I had a sense he was trouble.
But there was something I couldn't resist. What was the harm?

(06:18):
In one night? I immediately made plans to leave Tony
with my mother and started packing. Joe picked me up
in his seventies Sting Ray, my kind of car, and
I was glad he wasn't scared to hit the gas
on the ninety miles to Buffalo. You know your brother,

(06:43):
Ronnie has a friend of mine. How do you think
I got your number? Oh? I assumed you got it
from Tammy tried that route. You basically told me you
were unlisted. He's overprotective of me. Sometimes that's an understatement.
I didn't even know Ronnie hadn't older brother. I haven't
I met you before. I've been in Boston for the

(07:04):
last six years. I'm sort of the black sheep of
the family, the one no one ever talks about. Mm hmm.
So how do you know my brother? I used to
date a friend of his, Sammy Sapienza. I was about
fourteen or fifteen at the time. Ronnie was the bouncer
at the club. Sammy took me to He got me

(07:25):
past the door without having to show my ID, and
we just became friends over time. It sounds like Ronnie.
Eventually we arrived at the Executive Hotel, the Executive that

(07:45):
was owned by Jimmy Constantino, right yeah, and he literally
rolled out the red carpet for our arrival. He left
champagne and Joe's sweet Flowers and mine. I was curious
to meet him. I'd heard a out what a powerhouse
he was, that he was a young, good looking guy
climbing his way up. He sent a limo for Joe

(08:06):
and I which brought us to a quaint Italian restaurant
where we had a wonderful dinner compliments of Jimmy. After dinner,
the limo took us back to the hotel, where we
were led to the lounge to hear the group. Come

(08:28):
with me. Joe took my hand and we walked right
up to the band, who were in between songs. Hey, boys,
can you play in Paris? You got him man dream?

(08:50):
Would you like to dance? Sure? I was surprised how
natural it felt dancing with Joe. We bear only knew
each other, but we danced like we've been together for years.
You're gonna marry me. You know I'm barely divorced. I

(09:15):
know I'm not ready to jump into the fire again
quite yet. Besides, it's bad enough being married, having a child,
and getting divorced all before him twenty How old is
your baby? Eight months? We'll be married by the time

(09:36):
she's three. Is that long enough? I didn't answer. I
let him hold me close and we danced for the
remainder of the song. It was the perfect night, and
I couldn't help but feel that tingle in my vulnerable
young heart, the first pangs of falling in love. As

(09:57):
the night ended, I was worried that he would make advances,
but he acted like a perfect gentleman. Did you remain

(10:20):
hesitant about getting into relationship with Joe? I tried to be,
but he was hard to resist. Joe and I were
soon an item, and he continued to whisk me off
my feet. It was a flashy nightclub owner and always
dressed and acted the part. He knew how to spend money,
and doors open wherever he went. Matri Ds greeted him

(10:43):
as though he were a king. He carried an undeniable
aura of power, and I fell madly in love, dazzled
by the illusion of Joe Lamondola. The illusion, well back then,
I didn't know it was only an illusion. When we started,
we truly enjoyed each other's company, always finding something to

(11:05):
giggle about. We felt connected beyond anything we could relate
to on an earthly plane. We were happy together and
utterly miserable when we were apart. Once we were separated
by a snowstorm and I was stuck in a photography
studio only seven miles from home, but Joe refused to
be a part. He searched until he found a kid

(11:28):
with a snowmobile and paid him a hundred dollars to
bring me home. When I got there, he had a
candle at dinner and wine waiting. We spent a warm,
snowed in romantic evening together. But as much as I
love the time we spent together at home, I also
loved that Joe took me out frequently, even on Fridays,
which had always been deemed boys night. On Saturdays, everyone

(11:50):
took out their wives, but Fridays were usually reserved for girlfriends.
We took many short trips, usually in search of good
bands to book for the nightclub, and we were always
treated like royalty. I felt lucky had captured the heart
of one of the most desirable bachelors in town, but
he had also captured me. How long before you were married?

(12:14):
By the time Tony was three, just like Joe predicted,
I was madly in love. But he also made me
feel safe. You see, as unhappy as I was with Tom,
I was still scared about what the future held for
a young single woman with an infant. Joe seemed to
understand that and worked to make Tony as big of
a part of his life as he made me. I

(12:36):
was surprised by how little trouble he had converting his
bachelor lifestyle into that of a family man. But he
wanted to make sure he was the only father Tony
would know. And what did Tom think about that? For
some reason, Tom didn't cause any problems. I'm sure Joe's
reputation had something to do with it. But Tom was

(12:57):
his lax about Tony as he was about himself, and
Tony just being a baby, didn't know the difference. She
enjoyed the attention from wherever it came, and boy did
Joe lavish her with it. But there were moments when
his true nature peeked through. One day, Joe and Tony

(13:20):
were playing while I was making breakfast. Over and over,
she climbed up onto the counter and jumped into Joe's arms,
and he caught her each time, laughing alongside her. Look, look,
be careful, Tony got you. But on her sixth jump,

(13:41):
Joe moved away and let her fall. That'll teach you
never to trust anybody. I'm sorry, baby, She okay, You're okay.
That was sick, Joe. Fuck, how could you do that
to her? Don't challenge me on how to bring up
a kid. Maybe if someone did that to you when
you were younger, you'd never have gotten raped. Yeah, exactly,

(14:04):
I'm not going to let her grow up to be
as stupid as her fucking mother. With time, I loved
and hated Joe an equal measure. The more secure he
felt with me, the more I fell under his spell,
the more his dominant behavior and jealousy intensified. He said

(14:28):
he wanted to shield me from any external influences, but
I became his property. Men couldn't even look in my
direction without a violent reaction from Joe. I started to
change my own personality, careful not to attract attention from
the opposite sex. To eliminate the problem, Joe started making
me stay at home. We lived in an apartment above

(14:49):
Caesar's too. There wasn't any place where Tony could go
out to play. No trees, no park, just pavement. I
started to feel as if I had traded one prison,
my marriage to Tom, for another, and from this one
there seemed no escape. I felt like a death sentence.
How did he get you to stay home? It started

(15:11):
with subtle manipulations. At first, his caring seemed genuine, guiding
me in ways that appeared to be in my best interest. Eventually, though,
he made all my decisions and my independence completely crumbled.
I wasn't allowed to associate with my friends for my
own good, of course, and eventually I even had restrictions

(15:31):
on my own family. He forbade me to have contact
with anyone who might open my eyes to the destruction
of his domination. My opinions had no value. His opinions
were law. But the thing is I loved him, so
I put up with his behavior, and my own self
worth was so malleable at the time, but even I

(15:54):
couldn't pretend it wasn't getting worse. Soon he became physically abusive.
Was he also abusive with Tony? Never physically, but emotionally.
Tony had turned from a happy kid, always laughing and playing,
into a scared little creature. She was quiet as a
mouse around Joe, never knowing what to expect from him.

(16:17):
She became timid and withdrawn, and I realized she had
stopped smiling, which made me realize I had been a
bad mother. As things got worse, I began leaving her
with my parents. Suddenly she was staying there more nights
than not. I started saying whatever it took to appease
Joe when against my better judgment, I occasionally attempted to

(16:37):
demonstrate that I have a mind of my own. He
became infuriated. Did he act that way towards you around
other people? The problem was Joe was able to manipulate everyone.
No one could ignore Joe's presence in a room Mr authority.
He got off on holding court, expounding his theories and

(16:58):
daring anyone to challenge him. If they did, he'd pounce.
And he had an uncanny way of knowing other secret fears,
never passing up an opportunity to point out their shortcomings.
I truly believe Joe enjoyed mentally mutilating people, stripping them
of their own self confidence. He squashed them like insects
without a hint of compassion. Can you share an example.

(17:26):
I was allowed in the club Less and Less, and
I always had to watch who I was talking to
make sure not to let anyone approach me. But one
night I was sitting with Joe and some of the
guys after hours, and the cops strolled in confidently, clearly
he was new on the beat. They all turned and
stared as the cops sauntered up to the table. Hey,

(17:48):
look at this guy, look at his twirly little tail.
Are going going cool to the bacon? Jesus, it's after two,
so lock it up. I'm gonna have to close you down.
Who the hell do you think you are? Gunga ding?

(18:12):
I couldn't believe he'd spoken to a uniform like that,
but such was Joe. He respected no one. You're breaking
the law. Either shut it down or I'm going to
have to site you. I'd like to see you go
ahead and try. The cop took out a notepad and

(18:32):
scribbled furiously. He handed it to Joe, who ripped it
up into little pieces right in front of the CoP's face.
Then Joe showed him the door. M The next day,

(19:04):
the officer was reprimanded and transferred out of the division.
But it wasn't just strangers or people who dared to
challenge him who Joe treated that way. He wasn't any
better to his own family. I remember one night he
belittled his little brother Jimmy, in front of his customers
at Caesar's. Too. Jimmy was pissed, so he walked out,
leaving Joe stranded without a bartender on a busy night.

(19:27):
In return, later that night, Joe went to his mother's
house and woke Jimmy by choking him. Joe told Jimmy
that if he wasn't out of their mother's house by morning,
he was going to burn all his clothes. Well. The
next day, Joe found Jimmy's clothes still hanging in the closet,
so he loaded them into his car, drove them to
the nearest dump, and set them on fire. Jimmy came

(19:49):
back to work the next night. Did you tell anyone
about this behavior or how he acted towards you? It
wasn't that simple. I was slowly being brainwashed and continually
being convinced that I was worthless. Just as Joe said,
he had an act of confirming all my fears and
self doubts. But people close to me could tell things

(20:11):
were getting worse. Were you able to continue driving during
that time? God? No. Joe wouldn't even let me leave
Rochester for modeling assignments. He considered taking work in Buffalo
too far. Trips to New York were impossible. I learned
very quickly how to sneak around. I took jobs out
of town and drove ninety miles an hour to get

(20:33):
back home At a reasonable time. I even had Tony
lying for me. Tell Daddy we stopped for an ice cream,
don't say we visited with Susie. If yes, they were
at Grandma's. Only later did I realize how horrible it
was to put that type of pressure on a child.
But I was terrified, and soon enough it wasn't even
worth trying. The result wasn't worth the effort. Was Sammy

(20:58):
angry that Joe got you to stop working for them.
Sammy wasn't concerned about the work. He was concerned about me.
He was protective of me, So yeah, he got angry.
But Sammy also never liked Joe. No he didn't, because
he knew him, knew what he was like. But when
Joe started getting abusive, Sammy really wanted to kill him,

(21:21):
even tried. In fact, after weeks of feeling cooped up
at home, I decided to go out on a Friday
night and enjoy the night life at Caesar's too. For
a change, Tony was with my parents, so Joe couldn't
use her as an excuse to keep me locked up.
I dressed conservatively in an elegant pant suit and walked downstairs.

(21:43):
I sat at a vacant table and quietly took in
the room, spotting Joe trying to accommodate the steady stream
of high rollers. High on, Hi Bee, are you usual?
Please say? Where's the hostess tonight? Beats me? Hasn't up
on a Friday night? Is she sick? Could be? I suppose,

(22:05):
But as far as I know, she hasn't called in.
It's not the first time she's pulled this either. I
don't know why Joe hasn't fired her. Yeah, be right
back with you drink. I knew why he was sleeping
with the hostess. I caught a glimpse of Joe across
the room, beaming as he charmed a pretty brunette. I

(22:27):
thought he seemed nervous, trying to play the host and
keep an eye on me. But then I thought maybe
it was the other way around. Maybe he was nervous
about me keeping an eye on him. How's it going
with you tonight, Georgia? Just fine till you showed up?
What the fund is that supposed to me? I don't

(22:49):
like being treated like a child, that's what. Why aren't
you babysitting Frank Valenti He's the one who needs a bodyguard.
Not me. What the fox's gotten into you tonight? You
got your period of something? Jimmy the hammer massarrow God,
I couldn't stand him. I got up without another word
and walked to the ladies room on the fifty ft walk.

(23:09):
I was asked to dance several times and offer just
as many drinks, but I knew to ignore them all,
not even a no thank you. I've seen too many
innocent people not walk out the same way they walked in.
When I returned, yet another undesirable Jeane di Francesco was
waiting at my table at Jimmy, who's starting Frank tonight?

(23:31):
Don't mind o, Geane, she's just got the rag on tonight.
Hi Jean, Hi, Georgia. Do you know what, Jean? I
don't think i've ever seen you smile? Do you ever? Yeah?
I smile when I've never seen it. When I heard
someone when you get back from Boston, Gene yesterday, Mike

(23:55):
the fink he is now a memory. Yeah yeah, he
dropped dead while being strangled. It's time to go upstairs, Hi, Joe.
I don't want to go upstairs. I'm too busy to
watch you get your ass upstairs. I'm a big girl, Joe,
you don't need to watch me. I'm not going anywhere.

(24:16):
He discreetly pulled my head back by my hair, but
he released me as Sammy appeared out of nowhere. This
table open for you. It is, Sammy. Sit down. I
have a babysitter now, Joe. I think I'll be safe. Hey, Sam,
how's it going? Joe offered his hand. Sammy didn't take it.

(24:36):
Could be better. I'll be at the bar. Joe, Jimmy
and Jean left us alone. What was that all about?
What was what? I don't play dumb, Georgia. You know
what I'm talking about. It was nothing, Sammy. Really, he
just doesn't like it when I exercise my brain. Has

(24:59):
he been treating you like? Okay? That's what's that bruise
on your on? Oh? I must have done it on
the car door yesterday. You know you sold yourself short
with tom Kids, thinking he would spoiled goods, and you're
selling yourself short now. You don't need to take this ship.
This asshole gives you your special lady, Georgia. Everyone seems
to know that, but you. I love him, Sammy, but

(25:23):
there are times something in Sammy's expression was unsettling you're
going to the after I was club tonight. Oh I
don't think so. If you hadn't come along when you did,
I'd already be upstairs, all dressed up, entertaining myself by
staring out the window at the parking lot, watching who's

(25:44):
cheating on who? Maybe that's for the best. We sat
there a little longer. I got up to say hi
to my cousin Debbie at the bar. When we returned
to the table, Sammy was gone. Debbie and I hung around,
and around three the morning, we headed for the after
hours club of lyle Af. Joe knew I had watched
him in action with the ladies all night, and he

(26:06):
felt he needed to appease me. The club was an
old rundown house in a commercial area that had been
converted into a meeting place. It was well known as
the spot where clandestine business was conducted. The boys were
all there except for Sammy. Gee, Hey, Joey, Georgia, what

(26:29):
are you doing here? What do you mean? What am
I doing here? Well? Sam said he want coming to night.
I'm just surprised to see you as all. Joey, you
remember my cousin Debbie, don't you sure? I remember? Debbie,
how are you You guys want to drink? Of course
we want to drink, Joey, Why the hell else do
you come to an after hours club? The question is

(26:50):
what do we want to drink? Yeah? Right, I'll be
right back. It seemed kind edgy, didn't he Who knows
what weirdness goes on in their world? Dub, I've learned
not to question it. What's going on? Oh shit? My

(27:17):
fears were validated as I pushed through the crowd and
into the kitchen. Joe was on the ground with five
guys on top of him. My friends. Sammy was doing
most of the damage. Every time Joe went down, someone
smashed a foot in his face. Sammy had a glint
in his eyes I've never seen before as he threw
punch after punch. Oh my god, stop it, stop it now,

(27:42):
you'll kill him, you'll Bestard. How could you do this?
Get off me, Joey, let me go, Please, please don't
kill it, please, Georgia stopped struggling. This motherfucker's got a comment. Sammy,
stop it's my husband. Just sell this killing Joe. Stay down,
stop fighting back, you stop you animals. These were no

(28:06):
ordinary guys doing this damage. These were Rochester's fiercest men,
who had made their living killing and mutilating. I loved
all these guys and assumed the feelings were mutual. I
didn't understand why they were doing this to me. I
was terrified for Joe's life, and Joe kept getting up,
but the punishment was severe. Finally I broke through the

(28:28):
human barricade and ran outside, gasping for air in the cold,
I spotted a police car patrolling the alley. I wasn't
thinking about the rules. I was hysterical, sure they'd killed
Joe if I didn't get the help the cops stopped.
I knew him. It was a regular at the club. John.
Oh God, John, they're gonna kill Joe. You gonna help me?

(28:49):
They're gonna kill him. I'm sorry, Georgia, I can't help you. Please, Please,
I'm sorry, I can't. I realized it was a dead
end and ran back inside. I froze when I saw

(29:11):
Joe laying motionless on the floor. I thought he was
dead and started screaming. Joey. Tiabarelli pulled me back and
I tore into him. Joey, how could you? I had
to Georgia, I didn't have a choice. I'm sorry, Georgia.
The ass whole deserved it the way he treats you.
Oh no, Savvy, Oh my god. No, you didn't do

(29:32):
that because of me. Please say you didn't do that
because of me. We're taking him to the hospital. Well
I'm coming. No you're not. Maybe, are you okay? We're
taking you to the hospital. Stay here, No, I'm going
with you. Don't argue, kid, We're going. I'll fucking call you, Georgia.
Just just stay here. He had five broken ribs and

(29:58):
some internal bleeding, but he was okay for a while.
After things were actually better, Joe calmed down, but soon
as this bruise has faded, so did his memory of it.
Why did Sammy stop before killing Joe? I don't know.
Maybe because I showed up. I probably should have let

(30:20):
Sammy do it, but I couldn't. If only I knew,
I'd spend the next few years trying to keep Joe
from killing me. Wheel Woman is written by Lars Jacobson
and Sabrina Jagulin and directed by Sabrina Jagulin, Produced by
Lars Jacobson and Sabrina Jagulin, Executive produced by Georgia Durante

(30:42):
and Noel Brown for I Heart Radio. Wheelwoman stars Lilia
Symington as Georgia, with additional performances by Tanner Beard, Zachary Webber,
Simon Jagulin, Chase Mullins, Nick Williams, Gabe Greenspan, Dylan McCullum,
Garrett Bear, Nora, Eric Duncan Caldeen, Victoria Foyt, Max Georgie,

(31:04):
Mariah Bess, and Max Jacobe. Edited by Chris Childs, with
sound design and theme music by Chris Child's. Adapted from
the book The Company She Keeps by Georgia Duranti. Wheelwoman
Confessions of a Getaway Driver is an I Heart Radio production.
For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit the I
heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.