The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
79
wish we could get contact with Luca.” 
Michael asked curiously, “Is Luca that tough, like they say? Is he that good?” 
Sonny nodded. “He’s in a class by himself. I’m going to send him after the three 
Tattaglias. I’ll get Sollozzo myself.” 
Michael shifted uneasily in his chair. He looked at his older brother. He remembered 
Sonny as being sometimes casually brutal but essentially warmhearted. A nice guy. It 
seemed unnatural to hear him talking this way, it was chilling to see the list of names he 
had scribbled down, men to be executed, as if he were some newly crowned Roman 
Emperor. He was glad that he was not truly part of all this, that now his father lived he 
did not have to involve himself in vengeance. He’d help out, answering the phone, 
running errands and messages. Sonny and the old man could take care of themselves, 
especially with Luca behind them. 
At that moment they heard a woman scream in the living room. Oh, Christ, Michael 
thought, it sounded like Tom’s wife. He rushed to the door and opened it. Everybody in 
the living room was standing. And by the sofa Tom Hagen was holding Theresa close to 
him, his face embarrassed. Theresa was weeping and sobbing, and Michael realized 
that the scream he had heard had been her calling out her husband’s name with joy. As 
he watched, Tom Hagen disentangled himself from his wife’s arms and lowered her 
back onto the sofa. He smiled at Michael grimly. “Glad to see you, Mike, really glad.” He 
strode into the office without another look at his still-sobbing wife. He hadn’t lived with 
the Corleone Family ten years for nothing, Michael thought with a queer flush of pride. 
Some of the old man had rubbed off on him, as it had on Sonny, and he thought, with 
surprise, even on himself. 
Chapter 5
It was nearly four o’clock in the morning as they all sat in the corner room office– Sonny, 
Michael, Tom Hagen, Clemenza and Tessio. Theresa Hagen had been persuaded to go 
to her own home next door. Paulie Gatto was still waiting in the living room, not knowing 
that Tessio’s men had been instructed not to let him leave or let him out of their sight. 
Tom Hagen relayed the deal Sollozzo offered. He told how after Sollozzo had learned 
the Don still lived, it was obvious that he meant to kill Hagen. Hagen grinned. “If I ever 
plead before the Supreme Court, I’ll never plead better than I did with that goddamn 
Turk tonight. I told him I’d talk the Family into the deal even though the Don was alive. I 
told him I could wrap you around my finger, Sonny. How we were buddies as kids; and 

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