Chapter 7

           OnthenightbeforetheshootingofDonCorleone,hisstrongestandmostloyalandmostfearedretainerpreparedtomeetwiththeenemy.LucaBrasihadmadecontactwiththeforcesofSollozzoseveralmonthsbefore.HehaddonesoontheordersofDonCorleonehimself.HehaddonesobyfrequentingthenightclubscontrolledbytheTattagliaFamilyandbytakingupwithoneoftheirtopcallgirls.InbedwiththiscallgirlhegrumbledabouthowhewashelddownintheCorleoneFamily,howhisworthwasnotrecognized.Afteraweekofthisaffairwiththecallgirl,LucawasapproachedbyBrunoTattaglia,managerofthenightclub.Brunowastheyoungestson,andostensiblynotconnectedwiththeFamilybusinessofprostitution.Buthisfamousnightclubwithitsdancinglineoflong-stemmedbeautieswasthefinishingschoolformanyofthecityhookers.

           Thefirstmeetingwasallabove-board,TattagliaofferinghimajobtoworkintheFamilybusinessasenforcer.Theflirtationwentonfornearlyamonth.Lucaplayedhisroleofmaninfatuatedwithayoungbeautifulgirl,BrunoTattagliatheroleofabusinessmantryingtorecruitanableexecutivefromarival.Atonesuchmeeting,Lucapretendedtobeswayed,thensaid,"Butonethingmustbeunderstood.IwillnevergoagainsttheGodfather.DonCorleoneisamanIrespect.IunderstandthathemustputhissonsbeforemeintheFamilybusiness."

           BrunoTattagliawasoneofthenewgenerationwithabarelyhiddencontemptfortheoldMoustachePeteslikeLucaBrasi,DonCorleoneandevenhisownfather.