Chapter 18: The Blow He Didn't Return

I held on to the maid with both arms, and a big hand closed around my wrist through the bars.

"Let go of her, signorina," said the man.

"No."

"Nina!"

Alessio was coming down the gravel at a run, in his shirt, with the sling gone and his bad arm swinging.

He did not stop at the gate.

He pulled it wide open, walked out into the lane, and stood between the two Montanari men and the girl.

"Take your hands off my guest," he said.

"The Don has no say in a Montanari servant," said Domenico.

"She asked for my protection at my gate. That's all the say I need."

"Then you are interfering with my house." Domenico nodded to his man. "Move him."

The big man swung.

I saw it coming and I screamed.

His fist caught Alessio on the cheekbone with a crack.

Alessio's head snapped round.

He staggered a half step, and caught himself on the gatepost, and blood ran from his lip.

His captains, running down the drive behind him, had their guns half out.

"Hold," said Alessio.

He did not turn his head.

"Hold. Nobody touches him."

He straightened up and wiped his mouth with the back of his good hand.

He looked at the man who had hit him, and he did not raise a fist.

The thirty women of the Quartieri stood in a ring on the gravel behind him.

They held their bread in their arms, and not one of them made a sound.

A black car rolled up the lane behind the silver one.

The oldest of the council got out, with his wife on his arm.

Four more old men climbed out of the car behind.

"Don Alessio," said the oldest, taking in the blood. "What is this?"

Alessio looked at him, and then at the faces behind the gate.

"This is what I should have done at my engagement dinner," he said. "I'm doing it now."

He stepped forward into the middle of the lane.

Domenico and his six men faced him, and the council and the grandmothers watched.

"Once I let her be insulted at my own table, and I said nothing," he said.

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