Крестный отец

           Noblowsonthetoporthebackofthehead,therewastobenoaccidentalfatality.Otherthanthattheycouldgoasfarastheyliked.Hehadgiventhemonlyonewarning:"Ifthosepunksgetoutofthehospitalinlessthanamonth,youguysgobacktodrivingtrucks."

           Thetwobigmenweregettingoutofthecar.Theywerebothex-boxerswhohadnevermadeitpastthesmallclubsandhadbeenfixedupbySonnyCorleonewithalittleloan-sharkactionsothattheycouldmakeadecentliving.Theywere,naturally,anxioustoshowtheirgratitude.

           WhenJerryWagnerandKevinMoonancameoutofthebartheywereperfectsetups.Thebargirl’stauntshadlefttheiradolescentvanityprickly.PaulieGatto,leaningagainstthefenderofhiscar,calledouttothemwithateasinglaugh,"Hey,Casanova,thosebroadsreallybrushedyouoff."

           Thetwoyoungmenturnedonhimwithdelight.PaulieGattolookedlikeaperfectoutletfortheirhumiliation.Ferret-faced,short,slightlybuiltandawiseguyinthebargain.Theypouncedonhimeagerlyandimmediatelyfoundtheirarmspinnedbytwomengrabbingthemfrombehind.AtthesamemomentPaulieGattohadslippedontohisrighthandaspeciallymadesetofbrassknucklesstuddedwithone-sixteenth-inchironspikes.Histimingwasgood,heworkedoutinthegymthreetimesaweek.HesmashedthepunknamedWagnerrightonthenose.ThemanholdingWagnerliftedhimupoffthegroundandPaulieswunghisarm,uppercuttingintotheperfectlypositionedgroin.Wagnerwentlimpandthebigmandroppedhim.