Крестный отец

           He’snotontheoperatingend,he’sjustourlawyer.There’snoreasonforanybodytodohimharm."

           HereleasedTheresaandthentoMichael’ssurprisehetoo,gotahugandakissonthecheek.HepushedSonnyawayandsaidgrinning,"AfterIgetusedtoyoubeatingmeupIgottaputupwiththis?"Theyhadoftenfoughtwhentheywereyounger.

           Sonnyshrugged."Listen,kid,IwasworriedwhenIcouldn’tgetaholdofyouinthathicktown.NotthatIgaveacrapiftheyknockedyouoff,butIdidn’tliketheideaofbringingthenewstotheoldlady.IhadtotellheraboutPop."

           "How’dshetakeit?"Michaelasked.

           "Good,"Sonnysaid."She’sbeenthroughitbefore.Metoo.Youweretooyoungtoknowaboutitandthenthingsgotprettysmithwhileyouweregrowingup."Hepausedandthensaid,"She’sdownatthehospitalwiththeoldman.He’sgonnapullthrough."

           "Howaboutusgoingdown?"Michaelasked.

           Sonnyshookhisheadandsaiddryly,"Ican’tleavethishouseuntilit’sallover."Thephonerang.Sonnypickeditupandlistenedintently.WhilehewaslisteningMichaelsaunteredovertothedeskandglanceddownattheyellowpadSonnyhadbeenwritingon.Therewasalistofsevennames.ThefirstthreewereSollozzo,PhillipTattaglia,andJohnTattaglia.ItstruckMichaelwithfullforcethathehadinterruptedSonnyandTessioastheyweremakingupalistofmentobekilled.