Крестный отец

           Hagenpaused."Maybehethoughtweweresoft,readytobetaken,becausewedidn’tstrikeback.NowwithoneoftheTattagliasonsdeadheknowswemeanbusiness.HereallytookanawfulgamblebuckingtheDon.Bytheway,wegottheconfirmationonLuca.Theykilledhimthenightbeforetheyshotyourfather.InBruno’snightclub.Imaginethat?"

           ***

           AtthehousesinLongBeachtheentrancetothemallwasblockedbyalongblackcarparkedacrossitsmouth.Twomenleanedagainstthehoodofthecar.Thetwohousesoneachside,Michaelnoticed,hadopenedwindowsontheirupperfloors.Christ,Sonnymustreallymeanbusiness.

           Clemenzaparkedthecaroutsidethemallandtheywalkedinsideit.ThetwoguardswereClemenza’smenandhegavethemafrownofgreetingthatservedasasalute.Themennoddedtheirheadsinacknowledgment.Therewerenosmiles,nogreetings.ClemenzaledHagenandMichaelCorleoneintothehouse.

           Thedoorwasopenedbyanotherguardbeforetheyrang.Hehadobviouslybeenwatchingfromawindow.TheywenttothecornerofficeandfoundSonnyandTessiowaitingforthem.SonnycametoMichael,tookhisyoungerbrother’sheadinhishandsandsaidkiddingly,"Beautiful.Beautiful."Michaelknockedhishandsaway,andwenttothedeskandpouredhimselfsomescotch,hopingitwoulddulltheacheinhiswiredjaw.

           Thefiveofthemsataroundtheroombuttheatmospherewasdifferentfromtheirearliermeetings.Sonnywasgayer,morecheerful,andMichaelrealizedwhatthatgaietymeant.