Крестный отец

           "Aren’tIalways?"

           "Yes,youare,"hesaid."That’swhyyou’remybestgirl."

           "Iloveyou,"shesaid."Canyousayit?"

           Michaellookedatthefourhoodsittinginthekitchen."No,"hesaid."Tonight,OK?"

           "OK,"shesaid.Hehungup.

           Clemenzahadfinallycomebackfromhisday’sworkandwasbustlingaroundthekitchencookingupahugepotoftomatosauce.MichaelnoddedtohimandwenttothecornerofficewherehefoundHagenandSonnywaitingforhimimpatiently."IsClemenzaoutthere?"Sonnyasked.

           Michaelgrinned."He’scookingupspaghettiforthetroops,justlikethearmy."

           Sonnysaidimpatiently,"Tellhimtocutoutthatcrapandcomeoninhere.Ihavemoreimportantthingsforhimtodo.GetTessioinherewithhim."

           Inafewminutestheywereallgatheredintheoffice.SonnysaidcurtlytoClemenza,"Youtakecareofhim?"

           Clemenzanodded."Youwon’tseehimanymore."

           Withaslightelectricshock,MichaelrealizedtheyweretalkingaboutPaulieGattoandthatlittlePauliewasdead,murderedbythatjollyweddingdancer,Clemenza.

           SonnyaskedHagen,"YouhaveanyluckwithSollozzo?"

           Hagenshookhishead."Heseemstohavecooledoffonthenegotiationidea.Anywayhedoesn’tseemtobetooanxious.Ormaybehe’sjustbeingverycarefulsothatourbuttonmenwon’tnailhim.AnywayIhaven’tbeenabletosetupatop-notchgo-betweenhe’lltrust.Buthemustknowhehastonegotiatenow.Hemissedhischancewhenhelettheoldmangetawayfromhim."