The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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letting them goof off on the job. We had a little argument and I straightened him out.” 
Michael’s face was impassive when he said to his brother, “You straightened out, 
Freddie?” 
Freddie stared sullenly at his younger brother. He didn’t answer. Greene laughed and 
said, “The son of a bitch was taking them to bed two at a time, the old sandwich job. 
Freddie, I gotta admit you really put it to those broads. Nobody else could make them 
happy after you got through with them.” 
Hagen saw that this had caught Michael by surprise. They looked at each other. This 
was perhaps the real reason the Don was displeased with Freddie. The Don was 
straitlaced about sex. He would consider such cavorting by his son Freddie, two girls at 
a time, as degeneracy. Allowing himself to be physically humiliated by a man like Moe 
Greene would decrease respect for the Corleone Family. That too would be part of the 
reason for being in his father’s bad books. 
Michael rising from his chair, said, in a tone of dismissal, “I have to get back to New 
York tomorrow, so think about your price.” 
Greene said savagely, “You son of a bitch, you think you can just brush me off like that? 
I killed more men than you before I could jerk off. I’ll fly to New York and talk to the Don 
himself. I’ll make him an offer.” 
Freddie said nervously to Tom Hagen, “Tom, you’re the Consigliere, you can talk to the 
Don and advise him.” 
It was then that Michael turned the full chilly blast of his personality on the two Vegas 
men. “The Don has sort of semiretired,” he said. “I’m running the Family business now. 
And I’ve removed Tom from the Consigliere spot. He’ll be strictly my lawyer here in 
Vegas. He’ll be moving out with his family in a couple of months to get all the legal work 
started. So anything you have to say, say it to me.” 
Nobody answered. Michael said formally, “Freddie, you’re my older brother, I have 
respect for you. But don’t ever take sides with anybody against the Family again. I won’t 
even mention it to the Don.” He turned to Moe Greene. “Don’t insult people who are 
trying to help you. You’d do better to use your energy to find out why the casino is losing 
money. The Corleone Family has big dough invested here and we’re not getting our 
money’s worth, but I still didn’t come here to abuse you. I offer a helping hand. Well, if 
you prefer to spit on that helping hand, that’s your business. I can’t say any more.” 

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