Крестный отец

           HedidnotwanttoworkinVegasbuthewouldtakeajobwiththeFamilyinNewYork.Hemadehisloyaltyclear.Michaelwastouched,Nericouldseethat.Itwasarranged.ButMichaelinsistedthatNeritakeavacationfirst,downinMiamiattheFamilyhotelthere,allexpensespaidandamonth’ssalaryinadvancesohecouldhavethenecessarycashtoenjoyhimselfproperly.

           ThatvacationwasNeri’sfirsttasteofluxury.Peopleatthehoteltookspecialcareofhim,saying,"Ah,you’reafriendofMichaelCorleone."Thewordhadbeenpassedalong.Hewasgivenoneoftheplushsuites,notthegrudgingsmallroomapoorrelationmightbefobbedoffwith.Themanrunningthenightclubinthehotelfixedhimupwithsomebeautifulgirls.WhenNerigotbacktoNewYorkhehadaslightlydifferentviewonlifeingeneral.

           HewasputintheClemenzaregimeandtestedcarefullybythatmasterfulpersonnelman.Certainprecautionshadtobetaken.Hehad,afterall,oncebeenapoliceman.ButNeri’snaturalferocityovercamewhateverscrupleshemighthavehadatbeingontheothersideofthefence.Inlessthanayearhehad"madehisbones."Hecouldneverturnback.

           Clemenzasanghispraises.Neriwasawonder,thenewLucaBrasi.HewouldbebetterthanLuca,Clemenzabragged.Afterall,Neriwashisdiscovery.Physicallythemanwasamarvel.HisreflexesandcoordinationsuchthathecouldhavebeenanotherJoeDiMaggio.ClemenzaalsoknewthatNeriwasnotamantobecontrolledbysomeonelikehimself.