Chapter 1 : The meeting of an old enforcer
The sky was completely dark now, the clock had rested it's small hand on the number 9 and the large hand on the 12,
Lying on his bed, frequently rolling around was Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather of one of the most powerful mafia families in New York.
Vito who had now got in a comfy position of rest, stopped moving opened his weary eyes and gave out a little sigh, and with a glance at the small clock that was positioned on a table that was quite close to his bed
Vito closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
And just as he did the bedroom door opened ever so slowly, Vito opened his eyes slightly and turned his neck which was rested on a very delicate, comfortable pillow to look at the door which was now completely opened and to reveal Don Vito Corleone's youngest son, Michael.
Vito stared at Michael for a brief few seconds and quietly said what sounded more like a whisper, "What is it son?"
Michael paused for a second and inquired "Are you alright, father?"
Vito looked at Michael, smiled and replied "Yes, still just a bit sick son, but I'm alright."
"Good" Michael gives a little smile, and leaves, closing the door on his alone and sick father.
While on the other side of the door Michael just stood on the spot and hanged his head down with what looked like sadness.
Vito who was now sat up in his bed got into yet again a comfortable state of mind, laid down softly on his bed, he turned his head to look through his bedroom window as he very slowly closed his eyes to fall in a gentle quiet sleep.
While the don slept his peaceful sleep the house was completely silent, though outside was quite different.
Michael Corleone had just exited the Corleone house,
A car engine was running, Michael walked up to the black Cadillac Fleetwood which had just pulled up into the drive of the Corleone house.
Michael tapped his finger on the front door window several times, The dark window panes gradually came down revealing the face of a quite over weight middle aged man with not much hair and quite a fat face with a pudgy nose and weary eyes. He was wearing quite a rich, grey formal suit with shiny black Italian shoes. The man was Piero Carlentino, one of Don Vito Corleone's mafioso henchman who had disappeared about three years ago.
Piero adjusted his tie and spoke with a great burst of happiness " Michael, I'm so happy to see you!"
Michael smiled down at Piero who gave a little grin back.
"Well, same here Piero but where exactly have you been for these last couple of years?" asked Michael. "After I came back from the war my father told me you had went missing." said Michael.
Piero turned his head round and glanced at the Corleone house which he had left such a long time ago.
"I've been on the run Michael!" said Piero, he paused and looked at Michael's eyes and spoke quite softly.
"You don't know how hard it was for me Michael, always being found out by the cops, my criminal record must be pages long and all for the sake of your father to respect me." said Piero giving a little sigh
"You know, sometimes I wonder why I don't just give up my life of crime, leave New York and go back to Sicily and buy my self a nice house, get a beautiful Italian wife who will love and take care of me for the rest of my life and maybe get a few children," said Piero giving a smile to Michael.
"You should of stayed Piero, My father has been trying to find you since the day you went missing, He's actually been very worried" said a quite frustrated Michael.
"I know and I'm really sorry for putting your father and my god father under a lot of worry but those times of me hiding away are over now Michael" explained Piero.
Piero seemed like he wanted to change the subject so he asked "How is Vito anyway?"
"He's ill, me, Sonny, Tom... every ones looking after him tonight" answered Michael.
"Oh dear, it isn't anything serious, is it?" asked Piero.
Michael cleared his throat and answered "No, he's just a little unwell, it's nothing too serious."
Piero smiled at the news.
"I'll tell you what Michael, I'll come back in the morning to say hello to Don Vito, I've got a little hotel room, I'll sleep there for tonight, I don't really want to interrupt your father's sleep either." explained Piero.
Michael stared at Piero with an unsure sense of emotion on his face and said " OK then, do what you want, my father really would love to see you again"
"Same goes to him as well Michael" said a quite happy Piero, "I'll be seeing you all tomorrow then" added Piero.
"I suppose so" said Michael smiling.
Piero smiled back, round up the windows gave Michael a quick wave, started the engine of his Cadillac Fleetwood reversed it out of the drive of the Corleone house, and then sped off.
Michael had paused for about 5 seconds after the sound of the cars engine had completely disappeared until he actually walked back into the house, not realizing that Sonny, Michaels older brother, had been listening and watching the entire conversation from his upstairs bedroom window.
Sonny quickly drew the curtains
"He's back, That son of a bitch, he's back!" he said to Tom Hagen the adopted son of Don Vito Corleone who serves as the family lawyer and adviser, who was sitting at a desk in Sonny's room signing some papers.
Tom took his eyes off the papers and stared at Sonny who was now walking around in circles thinking.
"Who's back Sonny?" asked Tom.
"Piero Carlentino!" said Sonny in quite a angry voice
"Umm, remind me Sonny who this Piero Carlentino is" asked Tom.
"That bastard ran away from us about uhmm three or two years or something like that, my father got really round up about that man going missing, and now he comes back from hiding and expects to be welcome back with loving arms!" Sonny said in a heavy tone of voice. "that coward of a man" Sonny quietly added
"Now, now, are you completely sure it was Piero Carlentino you saw? said Tom. "I mean it could've been anyone, unless you have some sort of wonderful vision which allows you to see in the dark." said Tom.
As Tom and Sonny had their conversation Michael overheard it as he was walking up the stairs and quickly walked up to the door, and pressed his hear next to the door to listen clearer at what Sonny and Tom we're talking about.
"Oh, it was Piero Carlentino alright!" said Sonny "I heard Michael talking to him, I heard Mike mention his goddamn name!"
Michael listened on as Sonny started to say a few curse words about Piero..
"And I think I heard Piero saying he's coming back here tomorrow, oh god this is all my pop needs." said Sonny.
"Sonny maybe this will brighten your old mans day up a bit," said Tom trying to calm Sonny down.
"Maybe, but then again maybe not, maybe my dad will go mad about it."
"Now why would your old man go mad about it Sonny?" asked Tom giving a little laugh.
"Because tha---" Sonny was about to explain until he got interrupted by the bedroom door opening.
The door quickly opened and Michael enters Sonny's room.
"Because once your part of a family, you're forever part of a family, no break ups," said Michael interrupting what Sonny was going to say.
"That's a lesson my father taught me when I was just a child, even though I completely hate what this family, 'My family' is capable of and sometimes I feel like I want to escape from it all, just like Piero, but then I remember that saying my father told me and I know how important family is, no matter what your family are like." said Michael.
"Mike? how could you even think of looking Piero Carlentino in the eye and letting him just drive off and come back tomorrow expecting us to give him a nice warm welcome tomorrow?" protested Sonny as he walked up to Michael "If I was you, I would've given him a big punch in the face" advised Sonny.
"But I'm not you though Sonny" replied Michael.
"Yeah, well maybe you should start acting more like me, how do you think you'll survive in this world Mike, by acting all friendly and shaking hands with everyone, well if you think that then you're wrong Mike" Said Sonny, "This worlds filled with a lot of crazy bastards Mike! if you let them walk all over you well it's not going to be giving the Corleone family a good image is it!?" added Sonny.
"What happens in this family is no concern of mine Sonny, I'll take care and love for my family that's it. I have no intention to join the family business" said Michael.
Sonny paused with a straight face and looked at Tom who was paying much attention to the two brothers.
"I wouldn't worry too much though, lets just get some rest OK, before we wake up dad" said Michael quietly.
Michael leaves the room slowly closing the door leaving Sonny wondering.
Tom went back to signing the last of the last few papers which he had been signing.
"Sonny after I finish signing the last of these bloody things maybe you should go to bed," said Tom who saw Sonny who looked pretty tired.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right" said Sonny who was now putting on a dressing gown.
Tom who had now finished signing the papers he had been signing for quite a while put them into a neat pile, picked them up, and walked to the door.
"Cheer up, maybe you can give Piero a punch in the face as a welcome present" Tom said with a little smile has he walked out of the door and closed it behind him.
Sonny laughed and walked off to his bed, where he would dream about his fathers reactions in the morning when he would finally meet Piero in more than three years.
End of Chapter 1.