Initially Sonny probably thought that Mike was not made for the family business because Michael had always distanced himself from it. And Sonny, out of fear that his father would be mad with him for getting Michael involved, would not have chosen Michael as his heir.

But after Michael is hit by McClusky, and is sitting in the Don's office, he is the one who comes up with the plan, volunteering himself to kill both McClusky and Sollozo. It is at that moment when Michael lays out his plan, that Sonny realizes that Michael was more like Vito than enyone else.

Sonny laughs when Mike says that he'll kill Sollozo and McClusky. But it is not a laugh that is mocking Michael. It is a laugh that resonates Sonny's inward suspicions throughout the years that Michael was probably the tougest of the brothers, the one most like his father. Deep down Sonny always knew that Michael was the ballsy brother, the one that was as tough as nails in spirit. The one most like Vito.


Don Cardi