Michael watched the men wordlessly haul the young man to his feet and turn him around.
As they stood face to face, intently, Michael watched as the realization slowly dawned upon Giovanni that he would live and not die. Wisely, he chose not to speak. Still, even after having escaped death, he stood tall and uncowered. He could most definitely make a good Sicilian, Michael noted with the faintest twinge of pride.
"Because of my daughter, you live. Granted, it will be without her," Michael clarified, "but you shall live just the same." Michael's next words were steeped in a wisdom that was matched in brutality only by that of his gaze. "Time will surely prove whether or not death would have been the more prudent road for you to travel."
With a wave of his hand, Michael gave the signal for Giovanni to be taken away.
The limousine barreled down the highway, causing all the scenery along the way to whiz by in a blur. Much like Giovanni's recall of the evening. Still, this one thing he knew he'd always retain. For Giovanni swore if he lived to be a hundred, he knew he would never forget his 'conversation' with Don Michael Corleone, the conviction that resonated in his voice and his eyes.
He'd never forget the eyes.
The voice of Michael's consigliori, Tom Hagen, barely registered in Giovanni's mind. He gave faint pause to details regarding him leaving the country. It was only when the quiet, intense lawyer made reference to Sabrina and how he was to refrain from all contact with her that Giovanni's thoughts ceased to wander.
The enormous weight of what his existence would now be like seemed to crush Giovanni's very soul. Or was that done by Michael's final words as they came back to haunt him?
'Time will surely prove whether or not death would have been the more prudent road for you to travel.'
Gently, Michael smoothed the dampened strands of hair off Sabrina's brow. As he gazed down upon his eldest child, the one who at times was such a stranger to him yet so incredibly like him, Michael gave a weary sigh. No doubt, she would hate him. But what was done was done. He did not do it for Tieri. While he bore no ill will towards the young man, he nevertheless was not a factor in Michael's decision.
No. As it had been all those years ago when he rescinded his order barring his ex-wife Kay from the lives of Anthony and Mary so it was now. He did what he did for his child. For regardless of all his power and riches, he had come to realize in the end their happiness - attained and assured by whatever means necessary - was the most important thing.
Truly, the greatest wealth in this life for Michael Corleone was his children.
