Крестный отец

           "Ifhewere,he’dbedeadnow.You’dbeawidownow.You’dhavenoproblem."

           Kayblazedoutathim."Whatthehelldoesthatmean?Comeon,Tom,speakoutstraightonceinyourlife.IknowMichaelcan’t,butyou’renotSicilian,youcantellawomanthetruth,youcantreatherlikeanequal,afellowhumanbeing."

           Therewasanotherlongsilence.Hagenshookhishead."You’vegotMikewrong.You’remadbecauseheliedtoyou.Well,hewarnedyounevertoaskhimaboutbusiness.You’remadbecausehewasGodfathertoCarlo’sboy.Butyoumadehimdothat.ActuallyitwastherightmoveforhimtomakeifhewasgoingtotakeactionagainstCarlo.Theclassicaltacticalmovetowinthevictim’strust."Hagengaveheragrimsmile."Isthatstraightenoughtalkforyou?"ButKaybowedherhead.

           Hagenwenton."I’llgiveyousomemorestraighttalk.AftertheDondied,Mikewassetuptobekilled.Doyouknowwhosethimup?Tessio.SoTessiohadtobekilled.Carlohadtobekilled.Becausetreacherycan’tbeforgiven.Michaelcouldhaveforgivenit,butpeopleneverforgivethemselvesandsotheywouldalwaysbedangerous.MichaelreallylikedTessio.Heloveshissister.Buthewouldbeshirkinghisdutytoyouandhischildren,tohiswholefamily,tomeandmyfamily,ifheletTessioandCarlogofree.Theywouldhavebeenadangertousall,allourlives."

           Kayhadbeenlisteningtothiswithtearsrunningdownherface."IsthatwhatMichaelsentyouupheretotellme?"

           Hagenlookedatheringenuinesurprise.