The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
341
Tessio refused to be silenced. “Everybody knows Bartini gave you provocation since 
then. And besides, if Michael is the new chief of the Corleone Family, what’s to stop him 
from taking any action he sees fit? Your word doesn’t strictly bind him.” 
Michael broke in sharply. He said to Tessio, very much the chief now, “There are things 
being negotiated which will answer your questions and resolve your doubts. If my word 
isn’t enough for you, ask your Don.” 
But Tessio understood he had finally gone too far. If he dared to question the Don he 
would make Michael, his enemy. So he shrugged and said, “I spoke for the good of the 
Family, not for myself. I can take care of myself.” 
Michael gave him a friendly smile. “Tessio, I never doubt you in any way. I never did. 
But trust in me. Of course I’m not equal to you and Pete in these things, but after all I’ve 
my father to guide me. I won’t do too badly, we’ll all come out fine.” 
The meeting was over. The big news was that Clemenza and Tessio would be permitted 
to form their own Families from their regimes. Tessio would have his gambling and 
docks in Brooklyn, Clemenza the gambling in Manhattan and the Family contacts in the 
racing tracks of Long Island. 
The two caporegimes left not quite satisfied, still a little uneasy. Carlo Rizzi lingered 
hoping that the time had come when he finally would be treated as one of the family, but 
he quickly saw that Michael was not of that mind. He left the Don, Tom Hagen and 
Michael alone in the corner library room. Albert Neri ushered him out of the house and 
Carlo noticed that Neri stood in the doorway watching him walk across the floodlit mall. 
In the library the three men had relaxed as only people can who have lived years 
together in the same house, in the same family. Michael served some anisette to the 
Don and scotch to Tom Hagen. He took a drink for himself, which he rarely did. 
Tom Hagen spoke up first. “Mike, why are you cutting me out of the action?” 
Michael seemed surprised. “You’ll be my number one man in Vegas. We’ll be legitimate 
all the way and you’re the legal man. What can be more important than that?” 
Hagen smiled a little sadly. “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about Rocco Lampone 
building a secret regime without my knowledge. I’m talking about you dealing direct with 
Neri rather than through me or a caporegime. Unless of course you don’t know what 
Lampone’s doing.” 
Michael said softly, “How did you find out about Lampone’s regime?” 

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