Page 9 of The Rescuer

His sister’s words made Bartholomew Sr. flinch imperceptibly, but he managed to control his emotions. “Well, sis, I’m not a doctor, so I can’t give you an answer.” The man smiled. “Brian took a group of kids Joris’s age under his wing; he’ll tell you more on the subject. Maybe in the company of those teens, my nephew would feel better.”

Zara slowly shook her head. “I doubt that very much. My son is very shy around strangers, and given the current circumstances, I don’t think he would be interested in socializing. On the contrary, he would like some alone time.” The woman left her seat. “Speaking of Joris, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go to check on him.”

Bartholomew Sr. nodded in understanding, a kind smile softening his stern features.More stubborn than a mule, he thought after his sister left the room. Nausea, frequently throwing up, eating only certain foods… the man saw Brian, Bart, and Winston — Trent’s husband — experiencing those symptoms a lot over the last decade, and he recognized the telltale signs of male pregnancy right away.

Bartholomew Sr. let out a long sigh. His sister Zara had a difficult character, at least that’s how he remembered her from thirty years earlier before she ran away to Argentina with that handsome fellow, Augustin Van Necker. For the sake of Joris and his unborn child, the man hoped she changed; otherwise, it would be very hard for her to accept that her son was the one who was carrying the baby.

Bartholomew Sr. tilted his head backward and let out a long sigh. He would have to rebuild the relationship with his sister from scratch, and it wasn’t going to be easy. Zara was an intelligent and strong-willed woman, a fighter, and fiercely protective of her son, but she rarely let people help her, especially when the help came as suggestions or advice.

Brian’s father-in-law was curious to see how his sister and his son’s husband would collaborate. Bartholomew Sr. was among the first who knew about the librarian’s true origins and his connection to the Old World Mafia. However, it wasn’t his story to tell, so he kept that information from his sister for the time being.

Besides, the man didn’t know anything about the system of alliances within the Argentinian Mafia and wasn’t sure exactly what the nature of the relationships between it and the organization Brian belonged to was. This was another reason why he decided to not share the info with Zara.We’ll see how things will turn out.Bartholomew Sr. sighed internally, then smiled. Suddenly, he missed his grandchildren very much.

Meanwhile, at the library, a few sheets of paper in hand, Brian was smiling. The post came half an hour earlier, bringing news from Raven, who had yet to learn how to use a computer and a digital phone. Written in a less choppy style with fewer grammatical errors, the letter was a report of everything the boy had done since he returned to Sicily.

Although Luca offered to buy him a house or even a farm in the States, Raven refused, preferring to return to his native island. His half-brother accompanied him and bought him the one farm he’d dreamed about, the one with an orange orchard, olive trees, and land for crops. The workers were handpicked by the teenager himself and were among the best from that part of Sicily.

As a supreme irony, Raven hired his uncle and cousins to work at the farm; the idea of being the employees of the one they treated worse than an animal was humiliating enough for the men, so they didn’t need another punishment. That section of the letter made Brian smile;the kid is definitely Luca’s brother, he thought.

“Hey, handsome, what are you smiling at?” Bart’s sweet, sexy, and somewhat bratty voice made the librarian raise his head and grin. “Or is it a who?” The blond brought his hand to his husband’s crotch, lightly pressuring his palm against it.

“Yes, it’s a who.” Brian’s grin became wider as he showed his soulmate the sheets of paper. “I’ve got news from Raven; Luca enrolled him in a good public school, and he’s making great progress. He also became a farm owner.”

“Send him congratulations from me, too, when you write him back.” A smile brightened Bart’s face, reaching his cobalt-blue eyes. “You told me this was his biggest dream.” The man changed the subject after a brief pause. “My mother called; she misses her grandkids. How about visiting my folks today after school? I’m sure Trent’s and Win’s kids, especially Andie and Vern, will be happy to see their cousins.”

Brian huffed out a laugh. “You know what’s funny? Your dad called me in the morning. He said he wanted to talk to me, and I promised him to go there right after work.”

“Oh, babe, but that’s perfect!” Bart exclaimed in an enthusiastic voice. “You go there, do the grown-up talking with my father, then I come with the kids straight from the school and we spend the night there. Mom always keeps spare pajamas and toothbrushes for us and the kids, plus tomorrow is Saturday, and—”

“Family breakfast; how can I forget?” A bright smile lit Brian’s face, and he took his husband’s hand between his. “That day will forever stay engraved in my heart. And, if you are still waiting for my answer to your idea, it’s a big yes.”

“Good.” A sly smile crept on Bart’s lips. “Now, eat your ravioli or it will get cold.” He leaned over the counter and seductively whispered in Brian’s ear. “If you are good, you’ll get a reward tonight; it’s not the first time we’re doing it in my parent’s house, and it won’t be the last.”

***********

“Welcome, son, and thank you for coming.” Bartholomew Sr. greeted the librarian with a fatherly smile. “Allow me to introduce to you my younger sister, Zara, who was married to one of Argentina’s most famous bankers, Augustin Van Necker.” He turned to the woman. “Sis, this is my dear son-in-law, Brian, the one I told you about.”

“I’m happy to meet another family member.” Zara’s voice was rather cold and a bit arrogant as she extended a hand. “As for the situation my brother alludes to, no offense, mister, but I won't put the safety of my son in the hands of a mere librarian. What do you know about these things?”

“Zara’s husband was not only a banker but also a gang leader, and his rivals killed him a few days ago. My sister barely escaped alive and came to me asking for help. She has a son, Joris, the same age as Gabriele. He’s the one who needs protection.” Bartholomew Sr. sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, son. I shouldn’t make promises in your name, or at least I should have informed you earlier about this…situation.”

“Please, dad, don’t worry. We’ll find a way to solve all the problems.” Brian gave his father-in-law a reassuring smile, then turned to the woman. “No offense taken, ma’am. Have you heard the name Cavallieri before?”

“My husband mentioned it with veneration. He used to say the Mafia world would be a better place, would they still be around. The last descendants of the Templar Knights. Why do you ask?” Zara’s voice had a certain solemnity to it.

“The last name on my birth certificate is Knight, but my real last name, that of my ancestors, is Cavallieri. I only found out less than a half a year ago who I am and what my place in the world is.” Brian inhaled sharply. “I don’t know how much your husband told you about his family, but he still has living relatives whose support you and your son can count on.”

“Is it true? Your son is really married to a Cavallieri?” Zara turned to her brother, then to the librarian. “No, Agustin didn’t talk very much about his family since he broke up with the girl they chose for him.”

“Baldassare, the last direct male descendant of the family’s main branch, who is also the Council of The Ten’s War, and his father’s sister, Donna Lucrezia Sforza-Van Necker.”

Zara smiled through tears when she heard the names. All hope was not lost.

CHAPTER 7

Two weeks later

“Joris has a little peanut. He puked in the grass. Dad puked in the grass, too, when he had smol beans.” Blaise came running in his grandfather’s office, his expression a mix of worry and delight.

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