Ellen Sara asked Kristen Ashley:

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Kristen Ashley Yes, Vinnie loved Frankie

I'm not sure it was healthy love because I'm not sure how healthy Vinnie was, or how unselfish he was (he seemed rather intent on meeting his own needs). If he was willing to make the decisions he made in his life that so negatively affected those who loved him, it seems clear he didn't really think of anyone...but himself.

I honestly don't know since he was gone well before it could be explored if he would have straightened out at the thought of losing Frankie. My gut is, no. My gut is, Vinnie was driven by things that Vinnie thought important. If Frankie was important to him, he'd never have joined the mob. That said, you cannot "straighten out" of the mob. You're in and you're in for life. There is no out. And he would know that prior to becoming a made man. So once the decision was made, there was no turning back and everyone involved knew that.

I think in a family as close as that, Benny stealing his brother's girl would have had significant ramifications. Benny would not have cared about this, however. He was in deep for Frankie long before his brother died and unlike his brother, he'd go to the ends of the earth for her.

That said, the closeness of that family, they would eventually come around. I don't know if Vinnie Jr. would have forgiven easily but I feel in my heart if he'd lived that he loved his brother and Frankie so much, it would have taken time but he'd get there and be happy they were happy.

Vinnie fighting for Frankie, honestly, I don't see this. If she defected to his brother, I believe at first he'd simply cut them both out.

These are his romantic flaws. These are, alas, why he wasn't worthy of all that was Francesca.

And these are the reasons she was meant to be Benny's.

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