Крестный отец

           Hedidn’tneedguardsrightbesidehim,hecouldtakecareofasingledirectassault.TheothermentraveledintheirowncarsandhadapartmentsoneithersideofLucy’sapartment.Itwassafetovisitheraslongashedidn’tdoittoooften.ButnowthathewasintownhefiguredhewouldpickuphissisterConnieandtakeherouttoLongBeach.HeknewCarlowouldbeworkingathisbookandthecheapbastardwouldn’tgetheracar.Sohe’dgivehissisteraliftout.

           Hewaitedforthetwomeninfronttogointothebuildingandthenfollowedthem.Hesawthetwomeninbackpullupbehindhiscarandgetouttowatchthestreets.Hekepthisowneyesopen.Itwasamillion-to-oneshotthattheoppositionevenknewhewasintownbuthewasalwayscareful.Hehadlearnedthatinthe1930’swar.

           Heneverusedelevators.Theyweredeathtraps.HeclimbedtheeightflightstoConnie’sapartment,goingfast.Heknockedonherdoor.HehadseenCarlo’scargobyandknewshewouldbealone.Therewasnoanswer.Heknockedagainandthenheheardhissister’svoice,frightened,timid,asking,"Whoisit?"

           Thefrightinthevoicestunnedhim.Hiskidsisterhadalwaysbeenfreshandsnotty,toughasanybodyinthefamily.Whatthehellhadhappenedtoher?Hesaid,"It’sSonny."TheboltinsideslidbackandthedooropenedandConniewasinhisarmssobbing.Hewassosurprisedhejuststoodthere.Hepushedherawayfromhimandsawherswollenfaceandheunderstoodwhathadhappened.