Крестный отец

           WhenSonnyhungupthephonehesaidtoTheresaHagenandMichael,"Canyoutwowaitoutside?IgotsomebusinesswithTessiowehavetofinish."

           Hagen’swifesaid,"WasthatcallaboutTom?"Shesaiditalmosttruculentlybutshewasweepingwithfright.Sonnyputhisarmaroundherandledhertothedoor."Iswearhe’sgoingtobeOK,"hesaid."Waitinthelivingroom.I’llcomeoutassoonasIhearsomething."Heshutthedoorbehindher.Michaelhadsatdowninoneofthebigleatherarmchairs.Sonnygavehimaquicksharplookandthenwenttositdownbehindthedesk.

           "Youhangaroundme,Mike,"hesaid,"you’regonnahearthingsyoudon’twantahear."

           Michaellitacigarette."Icanhelpout,"hesaid.

           "No,youcan’t,"Sonnysaid."TheoldmanwouldbesoreashellifIletyougetmixedupinthis."

           Michaelstoodupandyelled."Youlousybastard,he’smyfather.I’mnotsupposedtohelphim?Icanhelp.Idon’thavetogooutandkillpeoplebutIcanhelp.Stoptreatingmelikeakidbrother.Iwasinthewar.Igotshot,remember?IkilledsomeJaps.WhatthehelldoyouthinkI’lldowhenyouknocksomebodyoff?Faint?"

           Sonnygrinnedathim."Prettysoonyou’llwantmetoputupmydukes.OK,stickaround,youcanhandlethephone."HeturnedtoTessio."ThatcallIjustgotgavemedopeweneeded."HdturnedtoMichael."Somebodyhadtofingertheoldman.ItcouldhavebeenClemenza,itcouldhavebeenPaulieGatto,whowasveryconvenientlysicktoday.