The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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then he stood Godfather to our child just to throw us off the track. The coldhearted 
bastard. You think you know your husband? Do you know how many men he had killed 
with my Carlo? Just read the papers. Barzini and Tattaglia and the others. My brother 
had them killed.” 
She had worked herself into hysteria again. She tried to spit in Michael’s face but she 
had no saliva. 
“Get her home and get her a doctor,” Michael said. The two guards immediately 
grabbed Connie’s arms and pulled her out of the house. 
Kay was still shocked, still horrified. She said to her husband, “What made her say all 
those things, Michael, what makes her believe that?” 
Michael shrugged. “She’s hysterical.” 
Kay looked into his eyes. “Michael, it’s not true, please say it’s not true.” 
Michael shook his head wearily. “Of course it’s not. Just believe me, this one time I’m 
letting you ask about my affairs, and I’m giving you an answer. It is not true.” He had 
never been more convincing. He looked directly into her eyes. He was using all the 
mutual trust they had built up in their married life to make her believe him. And she 
could not doubt any longer. She smiled at him ruefully and came into his arms for a kiss. 
“We both need a drink,” she said. She went into the kitchen for ice and while there heard 
the front door open. She went out of the kitchen and saw Clemenza, Neri and Rocco 
Lampone come in with the bodyguards. Michael had his back to her, but she moved so 
that she could see him in profile. At that moment Clemenza addressed her husband, 
greeting him formally. 
“Don Michael,” Clemenza said. 
Kay could see how Michael stood to receive their homage. He reminded her of statues 
in Rome, statues of those Roman emperors of antiquity, who, by divine right, held the 
power of life and death over their fellow men. One hand was on his hip, the profile of his 
face showed a cold proud power, his body was carelessly, arrogantly at ease, weight 
resting on one foot slightly behind the other. The caporegimes stood before him. In that 
moment Kay knew that everything Connie had accused Michael of was true. She went 
back into the kitchen and wept. 

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