Chapter 19: The Memorial Mass

St. Rocco's was nearly full by nine.

Bianca had asked for a Mass for her father.

Half the parish came because they had heard something and wanted to see who would cry.

She sat in the first pew alone, in a plain black dress, with her hands folded.

No guards. No phone.

Nico and I sat halfway back, his shoulder against mine, his ribs wrapped under his jacket.

Franco came in with my mother on his arm.

My father was not there. The boss had told him to keep away from the church, and he had.

My mother walked up the aisle and did not take the Marchetti pew.

She sat down one row behind Bianca.

She put her hand on the back of the pew in front of her, close to Bianca's shoulder.

Bianca didn't turn.

The priest said the prayers for the dead and read out Bianca's father's name.

For nine years nobody in my house had said it aloud.

Near the end, the priest asked if anyone wished to speak for the departed.

The church went still.

My mother stood.

She came out of her pew with her hand pressed flat to her pearls.

She walked to the front and turned to face the whole parish, and I thought she might not be able to.

"I'm Rosalia Marchetti," she said. "Most of you know me."

A cough from the back. Then silence.

"I didn't know how this man died," she said. "That's what I told myself. But I never asked. Not once in nine years."

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Capo's Daughter Needs No Permission from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.