The Godfather FOUR E-Book

Ali Zohdi

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

The novel is a sequel to the Godfather Trilogy. It depicts the chronicle of the notorious Corleone Family as a metaphor for capitalism in America. In other words, the novel aims to shed light on the ascent of a new underworld figure, who is the product of the tumultuous events that took place and drastically changed the world we live in throughout the past three decades in terms of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Gulf War, the September 11 attacks, and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The Godfather IV portrays the rise of Robert Corleone (the protagonist) to power, as well as the remarkable transformations in his volatile life; from a decent, warmhearted young man, a brilliantly preeminent student, to a brutish streetfighter, and a coldblooded murderer, who eventually becomes the head of the most powerful mafia family in the whole world.

Leseprobe

Ali Zohdi

The Godfather IV

I would like to dedicate this novel to my dear father Ahmed Zohdi. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I know that I was not easy to handle, but you tolerated me, and most of all never lost faith in me. I would also like to thank my English professor at the American University in Cairo Ms. Dina Lamey for nurturing and molding my writing skills. Special thanks to Dr. Amira El Zekred and Dr. Mustafa Riad for writing the recommendation letters that enabled me to enroll in the master's program at the American University in Cairo. At the end, I would like to extend my sincerest indebtedness and truest appreciation for the two academic institutions that enhanced my knowledge, and paved the way for me to explore and nourish my potential: Modern Sciences and Arts University under the leadership of Dr. Nawal El Degwi, and the American University in Cairo. BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

The Godfather IV

In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.

Dante Alighieri

Chapter 1

On a dark cold winter night in January 1985 Claudia Soleri lay in bed at the maternity ward of Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. This ancient medical institution that has been around for a very long time was actually founded on March 31, 1736. As a matter of fact, it is the oldest public hospital in the United States of America. Bellevue Hospital was firstly located in First Avenue between 29th and 30th Streets in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, at a time when the nascent city of New York did not stretch much farther north than Wall Street. The purpose behind establishing this six-bed infirmary on the second floor of the New York City Almshouse in such a desolate area, almost 2 miles north of the relatively populous borough of Manhattan often referred to by the inhabitants of the Big Apple as the City, was to make sure that patients would enjoy an adequate amount of tranquility, while they were quarantined. Almost two centuries later, in 1931, a new building for Bellevue Hospital was constructed on 462 First Avenue in New York, which kept functioning till the mid-1980s before it became a shelter for vagabond men. However, this long-established hospital was moved in 1974 to another state of the art 25-story facility dubbed “the Cube” or “the New Building” on an area of 1.7 million square feet comprising 1500 beds in the FDR Drive along the East River in Manhattan. And this is where Claudia gave birth to her first and only infant at the age of twenty-five. An infant, who will later on make drastic changes not just in his life, but in the lives of everyone around him…

Childhood memories, most of them are mournful for being an orphan started to go through her disordered mind; Claudia lost her father in the Vietnam War at the age of seven. The day she learned of his death is deeply engraved upon her heart. That ominous Friday, May 19th, 1967 when she came back from school, and saw two army officers stepping outside the modest apartment located at Mulberry Street in Little Italy, where she still lives. They wore a firm, gloomy look. One of them stood in front of her for a brief moment, gently stroked her face, and left without saying a word. As she went inside, she found her mother Maria sitting on the sofa in absolute stupefaction. Claudia sensed something amiss right away, “What’s wrong mommy?” she worriedly asked. “Daddy got killed in the war,” the mother calmly, as well as forthrightly answered without giving her daughter any preamble of any kind. A few seconds later, a storm of tears enveloped in stark anguish struck them both. The two officers heard their cries on their way down. A scene by time they got used to ever since the war broke out. And sometimes it got even worse, when some of the soldiers’ families went mad, and vented their wrath and frustration on them for merely relaying the bad news. But this time they were lucky, and did not encounter the common fiery rage, which was usually very hard to extinguish... Claudia’s father Robert was gone, and left behind a wife and a mouth to feed. He was killed in Vietnam in a grenade explosion. His body was torn to pieces; there was nothing left of it to bury. His body would not be brought back home in a casket wrapped in the American flag. He would not be granted a majestic military funeral in honor of the costly sacrifice he made for his country America for fighting the evil Vietcong, and most of all, defending democracy. His country America would not at least be able to do him the slightest courtesy of burying him in his hometown, New York. His country America, for which he fought and died. His country America, which he gave everything, and eventually received absolutely nothing. Nothing but a life fraught with tribulations, indigence, and last but far from least, indubitable discrimination.    

Robert Soleri was a waiter at a well-known restaurant in Brooklyn called Denari’s, where wise guys used to hang out. His cleverness, along with his mild demeanor with the customers, especially with made men endeared him to everybody, including to his boss Nicholas Denari aka Nicky Glasses the owner of the place. In 1965, when the United States proliferated its military forces in Vietnam galvanized by the discernment that the government of South Vietnam was losing the war against the communist-dominated North Vietnam, Robert knew for sure that it was just a matter of time and he would be definitely inducted into the armed forces. He was poor, he was not well-educated, he did not have any connections, and worst of all, he was a second generation of Italian immigrants, who swept through the country like a plague at the turn of the century. He was among the impoverished Italians, who were given a bad name because of a few rotten apples. And because Robert’s shift was at night, he sometimes had to experience a few harassments from a bunch of racist cops on his way home late at night; he had this outward appearance that could give the wrong impression, but deep down inside he could not harm a soul. Nevertheless, he had to tolerate their absurd questions such as: “Who are you?!” “What are you doing?!” “Where are you going so late at night?!” “Show me your ID!” And as soon as they found out that he was Italian they started with their derogatory remarks straightaway: “Oh, are you a troublemaker?! Are you a tough guy, you guinea punk?!” But one incident in particular that occurred in November 1964 made him swerve from the very perspective he used to have on this seemingly well-balanced society he was meant to be born and grow up in, especially with respect to the very farfetched American Dream; a white officer was suspicious of him. He stopped Robert on his way home, and began searching him for a concealed weapon. “Leave the man alone Russo!” said his black partner sharply. “Jesus Christ, at first I thought this skinny bum was a fucking kike. I mean look at this nose and these dark eyes,” commented officer Russo cynically, which made Robert’s blood boil. He condescendingly said to the officer: “Disgrazia!” The hotheaded Italian officer could not take control of himself. He rapidly wrested the big flashlight from his partner, and brutally smashed it against Robert’s delicate face three times. A few seconds later, blood was profusely spurting from his forehead. Then officer Russo roughly turned Robert’s slim body around, and shackled his hands with a solid, rusty cuff. When Robert regained consciousness after this unexpected, or rather, unjustified physical attack he discerned that he was in the precinct facing charges of resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer. In other words, there was a high probability that Robert would spend at least a couple of years in prison for merely walking back home late at night, or maybe for just being a helpless Italian-American... As soon as Nicky heard of this obnoxious incident, he keenly interfered, and called everyone he knew at the New York Police Department. Two days later, he managed to get Robert out of jail, and the false charges were dropped of course. “I am giving you a week to rest. Go spend some time with your family. You don’t know how much of a nuisance your wife Maria is! She kept busting my balls ever since she knew you were arrested Mr. Troublemaker,” said Nicky in an attempt to assuage the poor man’s affliction as they were standing on the sidewalk outside the precinct. Robert quietly nodded. “Is there anything going to happen to this animal who broke my nose, and damaged my face?” asked Robert calmly. Nicky took a contemplative look at Robert’s face that was swathed in gauze and bandages before giving him the painful answer: “What do you expect, huh? A nobody like you walking the street alone late at night, and was stopped by two cops, actually thinks that they will be put on the stand to defend themselves for assaulting you?! Come on Robert. In fact, you should be kissing their asses now for letting you go… Hey, hey, I know that this must sound cruel and unfair. But think about it, it could have been far worse. Spending a few days in jail, and having bruises on your face with a busted nose is without a doubt much better than spending at least two years behind bars, right?” said Nicky in a persuasive tone. He took a one-hundred-dollar bill out of his wallet, and modestly put it in Robert’s shirt pocket. “Actually, it was just one cop, who did this…” said Robert sulkily. “It won’t make any difference, trust me,” replied Nicky with a shrug. “I thought it was a free country,” commented Robert disappointedly. “I thought that was true kid. I thought that was true,” said Nicky ruefully. “See you next week,” he continued before leaving his vulnerable employee. Robert kept looking at Nicky while he was slowly diminishing in front of his eyes until Nicky was swallowed by the crowd.   

Robert and Maria were to a great extent a happy couple. They rarely had any arguments, despite the fact that they had limited financial means; he was a waiter, and she was a seamstress. But the only thing that brought joy to their hearts was having their beautiful daughter Claudia. She was their only child. They finally had her after five years of marriage. During that time Robert and Maria went to several fertility doctors in order to seek a solution, or even an understandable explanation for not having a child, but all their efforts were in vain. It was an unfathomable issue. Both of them were healthy, and capable of conceiving, but the pregnancy was somehow delayed for an anonymous medical reason. It was a matter that has engendered growing exasperation in the young couple, for it was their biggest dream to have a child. However, God eventually answered their prayers, and bestowed upon them the one and only thing they wanted the most... “She is so beautiful, and very smart as well,” Robert proudly used to say about her. “Who knows, maybe one day she will be the first woman to be the president of the United States of America,” he usually continued. Claudia’s parents really had high hopes for her. And as much as Robert showed endless affection to his only daughter, and never deprived her of anything as long as it was within his capacity, he always felt guilty for not spending enough time with her like fathers normally do with their children given his long-lasting working hours ranging from 16 to 18 hours per day, including weekends, which he could neither shun nor curtail. He sometimes ran into her on her way to school early in the morning, or on her way back after finishing his morning shift at the grocery store. He rarely saw her, although he loved her more than anything else in this world. His sole consolation was that he chose to work hard, or rather, suffer in order to provide her with the best possible life. He chose Claudia’s happiness by fulfilling her needs to the best of his ability, even if this choice has regrettably come at the expense of strengthening the fatherly bond with his adorable child. “Life is a bitch!” Robert always used to remind himself, but at least it was livable. Until this ignominious incident that took place a few days ago, where he found himself on the edge of the precipice; his life, including his family’s, was at stake. Maria understood how upset and hurt Robert was. She did everything she could to alleviate his torment; starting by taking care of the wounds, and putting ice on his swollen face to palliate the bruises, up through cooking his favorite meal lasagna, right up to wearing her flashy light brown nightgown, and revealing her best skills in bed. But alas, all her strenuous efforts availed her little in boosting Robert’s low morale, and helping him overcome this mortifying experience that deeply injured his spirit. After little Claudia was lulled to sleep Maria gracefully switched roles... She had this amazing ability of embodying sundry characters; from the caring mother, up through the meticulous housewife, right up to the ravishing lover, who is willing to do anything to please her man. A well-known trademark among Italian women that kept passing on from one generation to another throughout history... However, this time the plan did not go exactly the way she wanted. As Maria was on top of her husband, she sensed that his ebullience was tangibly dwindling. He abstained from caressing the private parts of her body. The intercourse was gradually but palpably turning into a sheer disquietude. “What’s wrong Robert?” Maria caringly asked as she lay next to him. Robert remained reticent. “Talk to me Robert…” she demanded with a patent tone of irritation. He kept gazing at her in deafening silence, while tears sprang to her eyes. “What if Nicky somehow couldn’t save me?!” he sadly wondered. “What would have been the fate of both of you?! And how would I be able to survive among those animals in prison?! They think just because I am Italian then I am definitely a gangster. I am for sure involved with the mafia. My heritage, our heritage is our curse, Maria! We live in a society, where nobody will take our side, or even sympathize with us when shit hits the fan because of the bad name those thugs gave to our people. They made everybody think, including the police, that once you are Italian, especially if you are poor then you are some sort of a troublemaker, an outlaw, or even a gangster. A gangster… Do I look like a gangster to you?! I don’t know how it’s like to be a gangster! I don’t even know how to use a gun. I have never held a gun in my entire life...” Robert somberly continued. He got up from the bed, lit a cigarette, and then angrily said: “How the hell am I supposed to live in such a country, where a mad police officer, who is also Italian by the way, can do this to me, and gets away with it, just like that?! Without any punishment! Without even any investigation! As if nothing happened, as if absolutely nothing happened! I am the one who was assaulted. I am the victim, and I am the one who apologized so they can let me go. Is this America?! Is this the land of opportunities our parents kept telling us stories about?! They lied to us! Oh yes, they did! Or maybe they were fooled just like we were. I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t feel safe anymore... I am worried sick about our daughter Claudia. What if something else happens to me?! It’s not right what happened to me Maria. I don’t deserve what happened to me!” Maria kept looking at him in utter disbelief. She could not really grasp what he was saying, but one thing she knew for sure that the man she was just making love to was not the same man she married ten years ago. Robert never psychologically recovered from this terrible mishap. His life continued to be monotonous and tedious up to the hilt. He refrained from partaking in any social gatherings or cultural festivals. He kept an extremely low profile. No inviting friends. No hanging out in leisure time. Nothing at all. He decided to rigorously stick to the empty social life he chose for himself. The one thing Robert managed to do was preserving his two jobs for the sake of his family, especially his dearest Claudia, while his fear of going through another situation that odious again kept intensifying. His relationship with his spouse took a thoroughly unexpected turn for the worse, especially when it came to the conjugal part; they rarely spoke, and they almost never copulated again. Claudia was still too young to take notice of anything, but poor Maria spent the next two and a half years wondering about what happened to the first and only man she faithfully loved. 

At the age of seventeen life hit Claudia with another devastating blow. Her mother Maria, who was tremendously close to her was diagnosed with lung cancer for being an inveterate smoker; she used to smoke at least two packs a day. A habit, to which she stuck ever since her late husband Robert left for the war, and was hideously ingrained in her after the death of her beloved. It did not take too long for the wretched tumor to enervate Maria’s body. It spread all over her like scattered fragments of a broken vase. The ailing Maria, who refused to be hospitalized knew that her days were numbered. As a matter of fact, she would be very lucky, if she got the opportunity to witness her daughter’s high school graduation. On the other hand, Claudia’s performance at school was not exactly up to the standard, despite her sharp intelligence. Ever since she knew about her mother’s illness her concentration on her studies began to deteriorate conspicuously. “It’s truly a heartbreak to see someone with your great potential Claudia is not getting a scholarship to enroll in college because of your subpar performance. Look, I know what you are going through. And I am not saying it is easy. I know it is not easy at all. Because I have been through this before. Oh yes, I have, and I can absolutely relate. But you must get your act together. You are a capable individual. And you can do a hell of a lot better young lady, a hell of a lot,” said Mrs. Henderson the principal of Brooklyn Technical High School with unfeigned enthusiasm, when she summoned Claudia to her office desperately endeavoring to put the poor girl on the right track once again. Claudia had always been an apt student. Ever since she was in kindergarten her brilliance began to significantly emerge. And when she was at high school math along with physics were by far her favorite subjects, which drove her teachers to unanimously concur on her preeminence by foretelling what a resplendent future is awaiting her as an engineer. But alas, all these hopes were shattered because of the harsh circumstances that kept a firm grip on her, which started with the early death of her father at the age of seven, the poverty she dwelt in ever since she was born, although Nicky has always been very supportive, especially after Robert went to Vietnam, and now the worst of them all, the inevitable death of her mother. And it happened…

In June 1977 Claudia woke up in the middle of the night by a squeak emanating from her mother’s room. She ran to check on her. And for the first time in Claudia’s life, she dreaded her mother. Yes, she got used to the acute development of her mother’s chronic disease, which changed her looks entirely. But this time she saw something very unusual, if not actually very scary. She saw, as well as felt deep down in her heart the horrific presence of death. Maria was perversely clinging to life as much as she could, despite the unbearable agony she suffered each and every second. She did not want to leave her only daughter all alone in this nasty world, but alas, all her arduous attempts were in vain. There were only a few moments left to spend with her Claudia before embarking on a distant journey that would take her to a totally different heavenly body. A new, magical heavenly body, which she sincerely hoped and wished from the bottom of her heart would unite her once again with the love of her life… “Did you take your medicine?” asked Claudia anxiously, as she was fumbling around in the dark trying to find the medicine placed on the commode. Maria shook her head, insinuating the uselessness of any medicine. ”Please don’t leave me mommy, please,” Claudia repeatedly beseeched her mother. “Listen to me now, and listen very carefully. I want you to promise me Claudia that you will never ever do anything immoral. No drugs, and no fooling around with boys. I want you to focus on your studies. I want you to be a good woman. Don’t you ever dishonor your family! Promise me Claudia, and keep that promise, or you will be cursed for good!” demanded Maria forcefully with a flicker of life in her eyes. Claudia was stunned. She was truly speechless. She did not fathom what drove her mother to utter these words, but a visceral nod that moved Claudia’s head up and down reassured the bedridden Maria that her obedient daughter would fervently abide by the sacred commandments this adamant mother always made sure to instill into her. Most importantly however, Claudia’s mind could not really assimilate the sudden urge her mother had to bequeath them to her one last time on her deathbed. “Onore Claudia, onore (honor)…” these were the last words Maria said before her pure soul was ceded to the implacable big C in preparation for finally meeting its equitable, merciful creator. 

It was late afternoon in February 1984, when customers began to show up at Denari’s Restaurant. Nicky Glasses was busy greeting and paying his guests compliments as he usually referred to them. A habit, or rather, a courtesy that came along with the livelihood he has been practicing for nearly three decades. The cash register was broken down, and until they could get someone to fix it, she had to fastidiously calculate the check of every table in order not to get into any hassle with her boss, and most importantly, with the guests. “Don’t worry about it boss this girl’s brain is like a goddamn calculator,” exclaimed Bob, a black employee, who worked for Nicky ever since the restaurant was opened. His primary job was actually dishwashing, and emptying the garbage. Nicky came near the girl as she was drowned in manifold numbers, patted her shoulder, and gratefully said: “You saved my ass today kid. You don’t have to worry. I called the company, and they will send somebody tomorrow to fix this thing.” “What about the bonus?” she seriously inquired. “You don’t have to worry about that either,” Nicky warmly replied, and left her to finish. Bob leaned over to the girl, and asked with a sly smirk trying to hide the vexatious curiosity that was so obvious on his face: “How is Bryan? I haven’t seen him for a while, is he alright?” “Get lost Bob!” she tersely, as well as sternly replied. And all of a sudden, the place became outright silent. All the customers, including Nicky, were quiet as if they were struck by a bolt of lightning. A man with an average height accompanied by two fearsome bodyguards humbly but robustly walked into the place. He was in his late thirties. He looked strikingly handsome with his spruce suit and tie. His dark eyes had a mesmerizing effect on anyone who looked into them, especially women. And that effect hit her right off. Nicky stood up fast, and showed him the utmost respect. The cordial welcome along with the warm hug he gave the man instantly broke the ice, and permitted the rest of the customers to continue their conversations, and the employees to resume their work. “It’s quite an honor to see you again Godfather. It has been a long time. Is there anything I can do for you?” Nicky warmheartedly said. “Well, for the time being it would be very kind of you if you could just find me a table to sit at, while I am still waiting for a couple of people, who will join me in five minutes from now,” said the man firmly, but genteelly. “Sure thing, Godfather,” said Nicky mannerly. “Oh Nicholas, kindly get us a table in a quiet area. We want to make sure that we are not going to bother anyone,” asked the man, indicating his need for privacy. “Of course, as you wish Godfather,” said Nicky, bowing his head obsequiously. The man motioned to his bodyguards to stand by the door. Nicky quickly went to the girl, who was writing the checks on the counter, and urged her to immediately leave whatever she was doing in order to serve the guest who had just arrived. She did not say a word. She dropped the pen, and stood up trying so hard to hide her eagerness. “I will take care of the checks. You just go, and get this man whatever he wants. Understand?!” Nicky hastily demanded. She tacitly welcomed the order, and cautiously approached the table this enigmatic individual was sitting at. This extra special guest, whose great panache at entering the restaurant had inadvertently called so much attention to himself as if he was one of the world’s most acclaimed movie stars, or perhaps even a president. “What can I get you Sir?” the girl politely asked. One brief look at her was sufficient to see her glowing pulchritude. She was a brunette in her mid-twenties. The apron she wore in addition to her slightly dark complexion along with her hazel eyes that were magically carved on her angelic face, which was devoid of any makeup, had somehow imparted an unquestionably elegant touch to her breathtaking beauty. Her breathtaking beauty that could easily make any man’s heart stop beating. And as the innate sense implanted in every man that dictates to him not to overlook the minute details about the woman he is desiring, her protuberant breasts along with her attractive curves added a sensational flavor to her provocative physique. “I would like a glass of wine,” said the man nicely. “Red or white?” she flirtatiously asked. “I am having a meeting with some of my associates, so I can’t decide for them. But what do you think is more suitable for meetings red or white wine?” he humorously asked. She grinned, and said: “Both of them are fine I guess.” “Then kindly get me a glass of red wine,” the man decently said. The astounding chemistry between the two was crystal clear, which explains why it was felt by everyone in the restaurant, especially Nicky. She speedily went and came back, and professionally served him the drink. A couple of minutes later, two men entered the restaurant. One of them was short and pudgy, while the other was distinctively tall and slender. They looked coarse, especially the former, and by the cold way they greeted Nicky they gave everybody a spooky impression. The man with the glass of wine, who was sitting alone waved his hand, and silently invited them over to his table. Both of them ordered black coffee. As they were talking the short man uncontrollably raised his voice. Nevertheless, a terrific blow with the Godfather’s fist on the table silenced him right away, and drew the attention of everybody, including the young cute waitress. By now everyone in the restaurant knew who was in full command of the situation. By now everyone in the restaurant knew why Nicky Glasses showed such deference the moment this man stepped into his place. The two stalwart bodyguards were quite alert, and fully prepared for any possible onslaught once their boss just snapped his fingers. The meeting lasted for another few minutes. The two men stood up, and paid homage to the Godfather, while he bluntly remained seated. The same waitress came to see if ‘the man in full command’ needed anything else. The man reverted to his previous attitude, and amicably said: “No, thank you.” “They didn’t even finish their coffee. Was there something wrong with it?” commented the pretty waitress innocently. “No, no. They were just in a hurry, and had to leave quickly,” explained the man to reassure her. He took a one-hundred-dollar bill out of his chic, handmade leather wallet, and humbly gave it to her. “Keep the change,” he gently said. “Oh, that’s… That’s too much Sir. I… I really can’t… Thank you. Thank you very much Mr…” she stuttered. “Corleone, Vincent Corleone, and you, what’s your name?” he smilingly asked. “Claudia, Claudia Soleri,” she bashfully replied.