Chapter 22: Put Down Your Guns

Mara's POV

Rocco looked down the table at the old man.

For the first time since I had known him, he had nothing ready to say.

"The boat," said the Don again.

"A rumor," said Rocco. "From a girl who was paid by both houses. You heard her say so."

"I heard her say so in front of twelve of your men."

"Aurelio. You know me."

"I know the man who sat at my brunch and kissed my daughter-in-law's hand."

A chair scraped on the south side of the table.

The big gray-haired captain stood up with the cigar still in his fingers.

"I was in the house Saturday afternoon," he said.

"You took a call in the hall.

"I heard you say it: one passenger, out of Revere, Sunday night, the sister."

"Captain," said Rocco softly.

"You said it would only be if the dinner turned."

"Sit down."

"You told us the girl would be married in a church, with a priest."

The captain's voice was shaking.

"My son took the oath for that peace.

"My son stands at your door."

He put the cigar on the white cloth.

"I won't sit at a table where a man ships a woman out in the dark."

Another chair scraped.

A second captain stood, and then a third.

Rocco watched them with his mouth slightly open.

Then he laughed.

"You think they'll keep you," he said, to the room, to me.

"The old man keeps nobody.

"He keeps what he's afraid of."

"Rocco," said Aurelio.

"I gave this town Revere. I gave every man here his house."

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