No doubt secrecy would be the top priority and the outside assassins will be waiting in Brooklyn but wouldn't he have some men from his own ranks, accompany him to the [no] actual meet scheduled;†keeping up the charade
No. Since Tessio told Michael he'd be "safe" because the meeting would be held in his territory, there'd be no need for muscle. Remember this key moment: Tess and Tom are about to get into Tess's car when Cicci comes out and says, "Sal -- Tom -- the Boss says he'll come in a separate car. He says for you two to go on ahead..." Tess replies, "Hell, he can't do that -- it screws up all my arrangements!" Tessio thought he'd lulled Michael into thinking the meeting would be so safe (because Tess arranged it) that Michael would drop all of his defenses. Oh, Tessio--you
stunad!
