[TheStellarEnsemble.com] The Godfather - Mario Puzo

to be extraordinarily careful in all his movements and he knew that his visits to Lucy Mancinihad been charted by the enemy. But here he took elaborate precautions since this was thetraditional vulnerable spot. He was safe there. Though Lucy had not the slightest suspicion, shewas watched twenty-four hours a day by men of the Santino regime and when an apartmentbecame vacant on her floor it was immediately rented by one of the most reliable men of thatregime.The Don was recovering and would soon be able to resume command. At that time thetide of battle must swing to the Corleone Family. This Sonny was sure of. Meanwhile he wouldguard his Family’s empire, earn the respect of his father, and, since the position was nothereditary to an absolute degree, cement his claim as heir to the Corleone Empire.But the enemy was making its plans. They too had analyzed the situation and had cometo the conclusion that the only way to stave off complete defeat was to kill Sonny Corleone.They understood the situation better now and felt it was possible to negotiate with the Don,known for his logical reasonableness. They had come to hate Sonny for his bloodthirstiness,which they considered barbaric. Also not good business sense. Nobody wanted the old days backagain with all its turmoil and trouble.One evening Connie Corleone received an anonymous phone call, a girl’s voice, askingfor Carlo. “Who is this?” Connie asked.The girl on the other end giggled and said, “I’m a friend of Carlo’s. I just wanted to tellhim I can’t see him tonight. I have to go out of town.”“You lousy bitch,” Connie Corleone said. She screamed it again into the phone. “Youlousy tramp bitch.” There was a click on the other end.Carlo had gone to the track for that afternoon and when he came home in the late eveninghe was sore at losing and half drunk from the bottle he always carried. As soon as he stepped intothe door, Connie started screaming curses at him. He ignored her and went in to take a shower.When he came out he dried his naked body in front of her and started dolling up to go out.Connie stood with hands on hips, her face pointy and white with rage. “You’re not goinganyplace,” she said. “Your girl friend called and said she can’t make it tonight. You lousybastard, you have the nerve to give your whores my phone number. I’ll kill you, you bastard.”She rushed at him, kicking and scratching.He held her off with one muscular forearm. “You’re crazy,” he said coldly. But she could229