Крестный отец

           Therewerenolongeranydoubtsinhisolderbrother’smind.Hewascommittedandnothingwouldswayhim.TheattemptbySollozzothenightbeforewasthefinalstraw.Therecouldnolongerbeanyquestionofatruce.

           "Wegotacallfromthenegotiatorwhileyouweregone,"SonnysaidtoHagen."TheTurkwantsameetingnow."Sonnylaughed."Theballsonthatsonofabitch,"hesaidadmiringly."Afterhecrapsoutlastnighthewantsameetingtodayorthenextday.Meanwhilewe’resupposedjusttolaybackandtakeeverythinghedishesout.Whatfuckingnerve."

           Tomaskedcautiously,"Whatdidyouanswer?"

           Sonnygrinned."Isaidsure,whynot?Anytimehesays,I’minnohurry.I’vegotahundredbuttonmenoutonthestreettwenty-fourhoursaday.IfSollozzoshowsonehaironhisassholehe’sdead.Letthemtakeallthetimetheywant."

           Hagensaid,"Wasthereadefiniteproposal?"

           "Yeah,"Sonnysaid."HewantsustosendMiketomeethimtohearhisproposition.ThenegotiatorguaranteesMike’ssafety.Sollozzodoesn’taskustoguaranteehissafety,heknowshecan’taskthat.Nopoint.Sothemeetingwillbearrangedonhisside.HispeoplewillpickMikeupandtakeMiketothemeetingplace.MikewilllistentoSollozzoandthenthey’llturnhimloose.Butthemeetingplaceissecret.Thepromiseisthedealwillbesogoodwecan’tturnitdown."

           Hagenasked,"WhatabouttheTattaglias?WhatwilltheydoaboutBruno?"

           "That’spartofthedeal.