The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
16
Don received Brasi as a king greets a subject who has done him an enormous service, 
never familiar but with regal respect. With every gesture, with every word, Don Corleone 
made it clear to Luca Brasi that he was valued. Not for one moment did he show 
surprise at the wedding gift being presented to him personally. He understood. 
The money in the envelope was sure to be more than anyone else had given. Brasi had 
spent many hours deciding on the sum, comparing it to what the other guests might 
offer. He wanted to be the most generous to show that he had the most respect, and 
that was why he had given his envelope to the Don personally, a gaucherie the Don 
overlooked in his own flowery sentence of thanks. Hagen saw Luca Brasi’s face lose its 
mask of fury, swell with pride and pleasure. Brasi kissed the Don’s hand before he went 
out the door that Hagen held open. Hagen prudently gave Brasi a friendly smile which 
the squat man acknowledged with a polite stretching of rubbery, veal-colored lips. 
When the door closed Don Corleone gave a small sigh of relief. Brasi was the only man 
in the world who could make him nervous. The man was like a natural force, not truly 
subject to control. He had to be handled as gingerly as dynamite. The Don shrugged. 
Even dynamite could be exploded harmlessly if the need arose. He looked questioningly 
at Hagen. “Is Bonasera the only one left?” 
Hagen nodded. Don Corleone frowned in thought, then said, “Before you bring him in, 
tell Santino to come here. He should learn some things.” 
Out in the garden, Hagen searched anxiously for Sonny Corleone. He told the waiting 
Bonasera to be patient and went over to Michael Corleone and his girl friend. “Did you 
see Sonny around?” he asked. Michael shook his head. Damn, Hagen thought, if Sonny 
was screwing the maid of honor all this time there was going to be a mess of trouble. 
His wife, the young girl’s family; it could be a disaster. Anxiously he hurried to the 
entrance through which he had seen Sonny disappear almost a half hour ago. 
Seeing Hagen go into the house, Kay Adams asked Michael Corleone, “Who is he? You 
introduced him as your brother but his name is different and he certainly doesn’t look 
Italian.” 
“Tom lived with us since he was twelve years old,” Michael said. “His parents died and 
he was roaming around the streets with this bad eye infection. Sonny brought him home 
one night and he just stayed. He didn’t have anyplace to go. He lived with us until he got 
married.” 
Kay Adams was thrilled. “That’s really romantic,” she said. “Your father must be a 

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