Крестный отец

           LucasatatthebarandBrunoTattagliawentbehindit.Lucarefusedthedrinkofferedtohimandlitacigarette.Itwaspossiblethatthiswouldturnouttobesomethingelse,nottheTurk.ButthenhesawSoltozzoemergeoutoftheshadowsatthefarendoftheroom.

           Sollozzoshookhishandandsatatthebarnexttohim.TattagliaputaglassinfrontoftheTurk,whonoddedhisthanks."DoyouknowwhoIam?"askedSollozzo.

           Lucanodded.Hesmiledgrimly.Theratswerebeingflushedoutoftheirholes.ItwouldbehispleasuretotakecareofthisrenegadeSicilian.

           "DoyouknowwhatIamgoingtoaskofyou?"Sollozzoasked.

           Lucashookhishead.

           "There’sbigbusinesstobemade,"Sollozzosaid."Imeanmillionsforeverybodyatthetoplevel.OnthefirstshipmentIcanguaranteeyoufiftythousanddollars.I’mtalkingaboutdrugs.It’sthecomingthing."

           Lucasaid,"Whycometome?YouwantmetotalktomyDon?"

           Sollozzogrimaced."I’vealreadytalkedtotheDon.Hewantsnopartofit.Allright,Icandowithouthim.ButIneedsomebodystrongtoprotecttheoperationphysically.Iunderstandyou’renothappywithyourFamily,youmightmakeaswitch."

           Lucashrugged."Iftheofferisgoodenough."

           Sollozzohadbeenwatchinghimintentlyandseemedtohavecometoadecision."Thinkaboutmyofferforafewdaysandthenwe’lltalkagain,"hesaid.HeputouthishandbutLucapretendednottoseeitandbusiedhimselfputtingacigaretteinhismouth