Page 14 of The Rescuer

A good man to have as a friend, Brian thought after listening to everything Baldassare told him about the Irish Mafia boss. The librarian informed the teenager about his intention of approaching O’Hara on an alliance between the organization he ran and the Old World Mafia. Maybe, he said, the man was different from the other Irish gangsters.

Brian was at the library on the first day of his full-time schedule with tens of thoughts intersecting in his mind. Among other things, he remembered Baldassare said something about Reardon’s only weak spot being a male prostitute or escort he frequently visited. According to his sources, the Irishman hadn’t see him for the last six months, which was strange.

The librarian wondered who the mysterious male sex worker could be and what could have happened to make Reardon stop seeing him when a discreet cough brought him to reality. “How much do you want to let Edwin go?” The man from across the counter gestured to the briefcase in his hand. “I have five hundred thousand here. Do you think it’s enough?”

Black hair, dark-blue-eyes with an intense stare, sharp jaw, seductive lips, and more. “Excuse me, what did you just say?” Brian stared at the guy in disbelief. “Where do you have this idea from? Me wanting to sell Edwin, I mean.”

“I’ve heard it through the grapevine that you killed the motherfucker who had the boy and now you own it.” The man spoke in a professional tone like he negotiated a deal. “Allow me to introduce myself. Reardon O’Hara, doing business with you is a pleasure.”

“Brian Cavallieri, happy to meet you.” The librarian took the other man’s extended hand and shook it energetically. “Look, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. It’s true I intended to pay you a visit and discuss a partnership, but it’s not about Edwin. He’s not for sale, not now, not in the future, because he is…”

“Your top moneymaker.” Reardon cut the librarian short, then examined him in silence for a few seconds. “I never thought you’d come to work in this line of business, you know.” He sighed. “It’s my fault, too. I should’ve continued to keep an eye on you after you found this job, but the circumstances…” The man shrugged. “I understand. You want more. I'm willing to give you two million. Bring the boy here, and I’ll call my men to bring the rest of the money. I'm a man of my word.”

Brian shook his head. “No, you don’t.” He inhaled sharply. “I’m not selling Edwin because he’s my brother.” He took another sharp inhale. “He had a very hard time accepting that our family is part of the Mafia, and I want to talk to him first. Any hasty decision would—”

“Wait a minute!” Reardon raised a hand, abruptly stopping the librarian. “Did I hear it right? Did you just say Edwin is your brother?” He frowned, eyes dangerously narrowed. “Do you have any proof to back your claim up? In my heart, I know you’re telling the truth, but when you’ve been literally shot through the heart by those you trusted the most…”

“Take a look.” Brian showed the other man a picture of Edwin and Edward together. “This is Edwin’s twin, who was kidnapped at fifteen and also trafficked for sex.”

Reardon’s eyes went wide with shock. “Bring him here, please! I want to see him.” After a few moments of silence, he added. “Don't tell him anything. Just bring him here. If he says no, it's no.”

Brian took his phone and messaged Malaspina, then shook his head. “Edwin is going to kill me. He'll be madder than a hornet, and it will be all your fault.”

About an hour later, Edwin stepped into the library with a worried expression, the guard hot on his heels. “What—” Ha gasped in surprise at the Irishman’s sight. “You…here? Where have you been all this time? I missed you so much, and I thought…” Unable to continue, he started to sob.

“I've been shot and spent almost six months on a hospital bed.” Reardon took Edwin in his arms and kissed the top of his head. “It's a long story, but all that matters is that I'm back and I came for you, as promised. Let's go home.”

CHAPTER 10

“You’ll have to talk to my older brother here first.” Edwin smiled through tears of happiness. “He is very protective of all of us and tends to be stubborn.”

“Hey, I'm right here, little bro,” Brian said playfully, his heart melting at the sight his brother and the Irishman were offering.

“Can I take him home?” Reardon asked in a pleading voice. “I promise to treat him right and take care of him.”

“Are you okay with this?” Brian turned to his younger brother, then to the Irishman. “Where is this home of yours?” he winked.

“Reardon was the only man who saw me as a person, not as a sex toy,” Edwin said in a whispered, melancholic voice. “His hands were always gentle and his kisses soft.”

“You can take him on two conditions.” Brian’s expression became serious when he spoke again. “One, you’ll have to treat my brother right, and two, I want us to see him regularly, and by us, I mean all our family: me, my husband, our parents, our brother Edward and his husband.”

“Of course you can see him,” Reardon answered with a nod and a smile. “Also, my darling is free to visit you and the extended family whenever he wants.” He protectively draped an arm around Edwin’s shoulders and drew him closer in an equally affectionate and possessive gesture.

One hour later, they were at Edwin’s parents’ house, packing his belongings because he’d decided to move in with Reardon that very day. Brian spent a long time with his mother on the phone, trying to calm her down as she had a hard time trusting that suspiciously looking man who was taking Edwin away from them.

The librarian’s explanations alone didn’t put the woman at ease; she only relaxed when Malaspina, who she saw as incapable of telling a lie, confirmed his boss’s words. Marisa softened even more when Reardon gave her his phone number and address, assuring her in a polite voice that she could come and see her son anytime.

The little familial crisis once solved, Brian let out a sigh of relief and went back to his work, starting to check the situation of the books. Noticing that some of the high-school kids were way behind on returning them, the librarian shook his head and made a mental note to talk to the principal. It was the only part of his job he didn’t like, but sometimes, he was left with no choice.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Brian’s spine, and he raised his head, gasping in shock at the sight of the ghost standing right in front of him. Other specters were grouped right behind the spirit facing the librarian, who immediately noticed the remarkable resemblance between the ghastly apparition and Reardon O’Hara.

He’s dying and he knows it,was Brian’s first thought, his heart breaking for the man who, at least apparently, was making his brother Edwin, so reserved and melancholic, happy. Taking a better look, the librarian noticed an aura of sorts surrounding the spirit and the hole he had in his heart.

It was the first time Brian had seen inside a ghost, so he suspected that Reardon, or whoever the specter was, belonged to a special category. The presence of the other specters intrigued the librarian to no end, especially since all of them seemed to ignore him, focused solely on their leader.

It all took only a few short seconds, then the spirits, Reardon included, vanished as unexpectedly as they appeared, leaving Brian with an overwhelming sense of sadness.It’s not fair, he thought,Edwin seemed so happy in that man’s presence, and now he is going to be taken away from him. I wonder if life would ever give him a break?The librarian ran a hand over his face, sighing tiredly.

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