Page 2 of The Rescuer

“Well, Spitfire will get me this time.” Brian huffed out a laugh, which made him imperceptibly wince. “Oh, hello, Tanner,” he said to the man who tentatively cracked the door.

“I don't think Doc Alasdair will give you a hard time.” Luca sounded relaxed. “He'll be too relieved you’re alive.”

“Oh, just wait.” Brian grinned. “I'll get the ‘Why is it always you?’ speech, that’s for sure.”

“I’m happy to see you’re back to your old self, boss. We were all worried about you.” Tanner took Brian’s hands in his and glanced in Luca’s direction. “Let's say that someone as stubborn as you didn't get a wink of sleep in a week, and I'm not talking about your husband, here.”

“Oh, so you do love me, after all.” Brian’s words were accompanied by a grin as a response to the Sicilian’s groan. “I know, I know. You’re going to kick my ass.”

“Right now, even Martino could kick your ass.” It was Luca’s turn to grin.

“Look who's here! My favorite patient.” Doctor MacNamara-Stark walked into the room, putting an end to the banter between the four men. “I've had just about enough of patching you up.”

Brian raised his hands. “It wasn't my fault, Doc, I swear.”

The redhead nodded in understanding. “I know. Little Blaise told me what happened. I'll discharge you in a week, but you need a lot of rest, so I recommended Peyton hire temporary help. You'll only spend four hours a day at the library for two months.”

To everyone’s surprise, Brian didn’t comment; he accepted Doctor Alasdair’s recommendations and suggestions without a single word of protest. Tanner even joked about that, asking who the man was in the bed and what happened to his boss who was always worrying about the library when the doc ordered him time off from work.

Everyone laughed at the guard’s words, but Brian only offered them a mysterious smile as an answer. What Bart and the other didn’t know was that, in one of his rare moments of lucidity, the librarian became aware of how close to death he came that time, and also realized that without his intervention, Blaise would have been in Ottavio’s claws, a pawn to use in his sick game of greed and power.

Brian needed to talk to Don Calogero, Baldassare, Gabriele, Luca, and most likely Ardan and Elias. Together, they needed to devise a strategy that would allow them to keep the enemy’s threats at bay and gain new allies at the same time. He also needed to reconnect the New York City Old World Mafia with the heads of the honorable families from Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.

One of the most important things Brian learned when he was studying the Laws under Don Calogero’s and Baldassare’s guidance was that the Mafia welcomed anyone ready to fight for a noble cause, regardless of their nationality. It was only during the last two centuries that the membership was conditioned on an at least partial Sicilian ancestry.

Brian intended to open the organization again to anyone with the same moral values and code of honor, but for that, he needed The Council’s approval. First thing first; he had to make a list of gang leaders’ names and ask Julien or his father, the famous Tarquin Ballard, to run a check on them in all the databases they had access to.

This most recent event showed Brian how short and fragile life was and how fast his loved ones could be taken away from him. Because of that, he decided to spend as much time as possible in the company of Bart and their children, turning every moment into beautiful memories to treasure for later when they all would grow old and, hopefully, wise.

The week he spent in the hospital was one of the longest in Brian’s life; he couldn’t wait to be released to start working on his plans, hug his children close, and make love to Bart. However, he cooperated, followed the treatment, and didn’t complain when the doctor kept him under observation for another day, aware everything was for his own good.

Don Calogero was the first of Brian’s Sicilian friends who visited him the day following his release from the hospital. Eyes filled with tears of joy, the Educator gently hugged the librarian, murmuring words of endearment in his ear and rubbing soft circles on his back. For a long moment, the two men stayed in silence, enjoying one another’s company.

Then, taking his time and not letting the enthusiasm overtake him, in an almost emotionless voice, Brian told Don Calogero about his plan to open the Old World Mafia to similar organizations whose leaders were not Italian or Sicilian. Of course, the librarian added, he would bring the subject up again in Baldassare’s presence, but he wanted the Educator to be the first who knew about his plans.

A paternal smile softening his stern features, Don Calogero nodded his approval. He knew some names of respectable gang leaders, and, most likely, there were others he wasn’t aware of, but before starting the negotiations, they had to proceed with caution. Time was on their side, the old mafioso said, waving his hand dismissively.

Yes, time was on their side… until Brian found that note on the desk at the library, and everything seemed to go downhill… again.

CHAPTER 2

It’s time for us to meet, talk things through, and clear all the misunderstandings between us. If you are the man of honor that you claim you are, come to the address below, alone and unarmed. There is still a chance to avoid a senseless war.

Ottavio, the 16thPrincipe Sforza

For the nice librarian, said the little boy no older than seven, who gave Brian the piece of paper he was reading for the hundredth time during the last half an hour. The child pushed the note in the man’s hand, then joined the group of first graders who took part in the cake decorating class Albert, at Bianca’s suggestion, held at the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Brian headed to the wing of the library where the arts and crafts supplies were stored, hoping his childhood friend was still there and could give him some information about the little boy, but he changed his mind at the last minute. Knowing Albert like he did, the man would become suspicious and start asking questions or, even worse, would talk to his husband about that, and Lawrence won’t let the librarian get away without some answers.

How did the note get into the little boy’s possession, and who told him to give it to him were other two questions that weighed heavily on Brian’s mind,and he couldn’t find answer to. As Don Calogero told him many times, over the centuries, the Grand Families helped a lot of people in many ways, and they passed the debt of honor to the next generations.

Maybe the adult who gave the note to the child wasn’t aware of the message it carried, and most likely they weren’t one of Ottavio’s soldiers. However, the possible presence of one of the enemy’s men so close to the place where his husband worked and their children studied sent chills down the librarian’s spine.

Finally, the day of the meeting arrived, and, for the first time since he was released from the hospital, Brian was truly grateful to Doctor MacNamara-Stark for reducing his work program to four hours a day. As soon as the other librarian arrived, he left The Base, heading to the address Ottavio gave him.

He was familiar with the area, a gated, exclusive neighborhood where Elyan’s dads, Eugene Brentano-Fenelli and Elliott Ballard-Brentano, also lived.Well, Brian said to himself,our friend Ottavio doesn’t keep a low profile, which means he got his back covered. Also, he must have substantial financial means, given how much it costs to buy or rent a place here.

Brian stopped the car a few yards away from the elegant, imposing edifice at the address and was greeted at the gates by two bodyguards who didn’t look Italian or Sicilian. This was something the librarian didn’t expect, and as he walked into the house, accompanied by the men, he wondered what other surprises Ottavio had in store for him.

---