I think he had to return to NY for a while to straighten out financial affairs. Connie and George Hamilton would have been forceful about that. He probably went through the motions and returned to Sicily. Living in Don T's house would be a fitting finale.

Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu,
E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu...
E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu
Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.