Chapter 12: The Lock-In

The summons came at nine that night, on a plain white card slipped under my bakery door.

*The family would like to see Teodoro one more time. The club. Eleven o'clock. C.*

It was in my uncle's neat slanted hand.

Teo read it over my shoulder in the kitchen of my apartment.

He had slept in his truck outside my building for two nights.

I had let him up for coffee, and for nothing else.

"He's acting boss for one day," I said, "and already he wants a second test."

"He wants to see what I do with a gun in my hand."

Teo set the card on the table.

"The first time I cut his man loose, and the capos weren't there to see it. Now they will be."

"Then you don't go."

"If I don't go, I'm a man who ran from the family." He looked at me. "And you're alone with him."

"I'm not alone. I have my father's keys."

"Allegra."

"It's my handwriting, Teo. It's my room."

I put my hand on his chest.

"If my uncle wants a show, I'm going to watch it from the front."

He put his hand over mine.

It was the first time he had touched me in two days, and I felt it down to my knees.

"If anything goes wrong, you run," he said.

"I won't."

"Say you will."

"I will not."

He closed his eyes and laughed under his breath.

The club was full when we arrived.

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