The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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saw the two men in back pull up behind his car and get out to watch the streets. He kept 
his own eyes open. It was a million-to-one shot that the opposition even knew he was in 
town but he was always careful. He had learned that in the 1930’s war. 
He never used elevators. They were death traps. He climbed the eight flights to 
Connie’s apartment, going fast. He knocked on her door. He had seen Carlo’s car go by 
and knew she would be alone. There was no answer. He knocked again and then he 
heard his sister’s voice, frightened, timid, asking, “Who is it?” 
The fright in the voice stunned him. His kid sister had always been fresh and snotty, 
tough as anybody in the family. What the hell had happened to her? He said, “It’s 
Sonny.” The bolt inside slid back and the door opened and Connie was in his arms 
sobbing. He was so surprised he just stood there. He pushed her away from him and 
saw her swollen face and he understood what had happened. 
He pulled away from her to run down the stairs and go after her husband. Rage flamed 
up in him, contorting his own face. Connie saw the rage and clung to him, not letting him 
go, making him come into the apartment. She was weeping out of terror now. She knew 
her older brother’s temper and feared it. She had never complained to him about Carlo 
for that reason. Now she made him come into the apartment with her. 
“It was my fault,” she said. “I started a fight with him and I tried to hit him so he hit me. 
He really didn’t try to hit me that hard. I walked into it.” 
Sonny’s heavy Cupid face was under control. “You going to see the old man today?” 
She didn’t answer, so he added, “I thought you were, so I dropped over to give you a lift. 
I was in the city anyway.” 
She shook her head. “I don’t want them to see me this way. I’ll come next week.” 
“OK,” Sonny said. He picked up her kitchen phone and dialed a number. “I’m getting a 
doctor to come over here and take a look at you and fix you up. In your condition you 
have to be careful. How many months before you have the kid?” 
“Two months,” Connie said. “Sonny, please don’t do anything. Please don’t.” 
Sonny laughed. His face was cruelly intent when he said, “Don’t worry, I won’t make 
your kid an orphan before he’s born.” He left the apartment after kissing her lightly on 
her uninjured cheek.