Secret Assignment
"I'm a little worried about this Sollozzo fella. I want you to find out what's
under his fingernails. Go to the Tattaglias, make them think that you're not
too happy with our Family...find out what you can."
―Vito Corleone[src]
Shortly before Vito Corleone is shot, Brasi was summoned by the Don, who
intends to draw out rival mobster Virgil Sollozzo and the rest of the Don's
enemies by having Luca pretend he had switched allegiances. Luca hung
around Bruno Tattaglia's nightclub, eventually going to bed with one of his
bargirls and complaining about not making much money, knowing that word
would eventually get back to Bruno. When Bruno offers a meeting, Luca
drives to The Luna Bar with Trapani, wearing a bulletproof vest.
Sollozzo, after promises of friendship, a job, and $50,000 he then rams a
knife into Luca's hand, pinning it to the bar as an Tattaglia's henchmen
garrottes him from behind. A Sicilian message is later sent to the Corleone
family: a fish wrapped in Brasi's flak jacket. The meaning is made clear to the
Corleones: "Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes."
Brasi's role as personal enforcer/bodyguard to the Don was later filled by Al
Neri. Tom Hagen once said to Michael following the completion of Neri's
training, "Well, now you've got your Luca."