Chapter 16: Entered

Moira's POV

The doors of the hall on Atwells Avenue were chained shut.

Four of Giacomo's men stood on the steps with their arms folded.

It was Sunday, a few minutes before noon, and half the street had come out to watch.

I stood on the sidewalk with Daisy against my shoulder, in the yellow blanket.

Santo stood a step behind me, holding the old capo's invitation.

The old capo with the white hair had arrived first, in his own car, and he stood on the curb leaning on a cane.

"Gentlemen," he said to the men on the steps. "The adviser has called a registration. Open the doors."

"Mr. Ferraro's orders," one of them said. "Nobody in without his word."

"I knew your grandfather."

"Yes, sir."

"He would be ashamed to see you chained to a door."

The man looked at his boots.

One by one, the capos came.

A second car, then a third, and they stopped on the curb and stood.

The adviser walked up last, on foot, with the register under his arm and his hat in his hand.

He climbed three steps and stopped in front of the chain.

"I keep the register," he said, quietly. "It goes where the Family stands. If the Family stands on the sidewalk, I will write on the sidewalk."

He looked at the four men.

"Choose."

The chain came off.

The doors swung open.

We went in together, eleven capos and a Rinaldi and me, and nobody stopped us.

Giacomo was already at the head of the long table.

Gianna's father sat at his right hand, and Gianna sat further down with Rocco in her lap.

She looked as though she hadn't slept.

"You've broken my locks," Giacomo said.

"The Family doesn't need your locks," said the old capo, and took his seat.

The adviser opened the register on the table and uncapped the silver pen.

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