Page 25 of The Rescuer

With a warm smile brightening his face and making his eyes shine, Brian remembered the first time he met the beautiful creature. Every inch the stud, from the hooves to the long, thick, shiny mane and tail, was pitch black. His somewhat arrogant attitude, the way he threw his head backwards, the short huffs he let out made the librarian feel an irresistible pull to the horse.

Legend — that was his name, Luca said — had a restlessness in his long, supple legs, and Brian took it as an invitation to a ride, but his friend advised against it. According to the Sicilian, the horse had a very difficult temper, and no one at the farm managed to tame him, that being the main reason why the owner decided to sell him.

Brian stopped the car in the veterinary clinic’s parking lot, went to the reception to be registered as a visitor, then headed to the exit that took to the field where Legend was waiting for him. He listened intently, huffed a few times, nodded, and let out a long neigh, expressing his joy at the sight of the man who saw him as an equal partner that needed to be respected, not dominated.

Just like the first time they met, Brian slowly came next to Legend, ran a hand over his face, kissed his forehead, patted his neck, then mounted him. They started with a trot, gradually speeding up until the horse unleashed his inner wild spirit, running free, with the librarian leaning on him, almost becoming one.

Although that was only the second time they interacted, Legend sensed when it was enough for Brian, and gradually slowed down until he was trotting again, stopping from time to time to snack on the fresh, bright-green, succulent grass. Once in a while, he let out soft huffs of contentment and turned his head to the rider, as if he were assuring the man everything was fine.

An hour later, lungs still filled with the field’s strong, fresh air, Brian was headed to his car in the library’s parking lot when he saw Tanner pacing outside the building. The librarian frowned; in the few months since he knew the man, he never saw him this agitated. Most likely, the guard was bringing news, and judging on his expression, it wasn’t good.

“Boss, I've heard Luca is marrying Martino off with a guy who has a blood contract with the family.” Tanner abruptly started. “Is this true? I mean, he can't. Martino is only seventeen, and that Vergara guy is thirty-five or something. It's crazy. All the guards say so.” The man stopped to catch his breath, then continued in an almost pleading voice. “Tell me Luca won't agree to it, please!”

“No, he won't allow it.” Brian stopped to choose his words. “There is a contract but someone else has it. He didn’t come forward yet.” Putting some distance between him and the guard, the librarian called Luca. “We have another problem and it's not Ottavio. I'll meet you with Don Calogero. I'll bring Malaspina and Dominic.” As an extra precaution, he spoke in Sicilian.

“What's the new problem?” Luca answered in his native dialect. “And you are wrong, my friend, it’s Ottavio again. It will always be him.”

“Giorgio's brother took up the blood contract on Martino.” Brian cleared his throat. “I don’t know how my guard found out.” He avoided using Tanner’s name for the time being.

“I’m heading to the Educator’s house,” Luca laconically spoke. “We’ll meet there. Bring the guard with you, he might have other interesting things to tell us.”

Twenty minutes later, the librarian was in Don Calogero’s house’s living-room, repeating what Tanner told him. “What?” The old mafioso roared, anger boiling inside him. “How dare he once The Council and The Coppola deemed his contract fake?”

Brian ran a hand over his face, speaking in Sicilian. “I know. This is what my guard heard.” He turned to Luca. “He still thinks you’re Martino’s brother. He was concerned and mentioned this. I don't know who told him.” The librarian switched to English, looking at Tanner, who stood next to the door, in a respectful attitude. “Where'd you hear this?”

“Two of the Steel Raiders’ members were talking. They were furious because the guy's brother tried to harm the kids indirectly.” Tanner shrugged. “These two didn't know very much, either. Mafia stuff, they said.”

At that point, Luca’s mask fell off, showing his vulnerable core. He went to the librarian and hugged him. “Hold me a little more, I need it,” he whispered brokenly.

CHAPTER 17

Brian stood and pulled the young Sicilian to his chest, softly rubbing his back. “Anything you need. You know I'll fight for Martino.”

“Thank you, my friend.” Luca sighed in contentment, putting his head on the librarian’s shoulder. After a few moments, he raised his head. “I'll fight to the bitter end. But these are the Vergara family, they play dirty, we have to be prepared for everything.”

“I'll hide you both if necessary.” Brian looked into the other man’s eyes, his voice filled with savage determination. “I’ll call all the favors and even break the laws if I’d have to, but I’ll keep you both out of harm’s way.”

“You have it in you, young Cavallieri.” Don Calogero slowly shook his head, eyes shining with admiration and paternal affection. “Had you lived in the times of the Templar Knights, the soldiers would have followed you in battle without thinking twice.”

“Your words mean everything to me, Don Calogero.” Brian spoke in a thick voice, then paused for a bit, reflecting on their next move. “I think we should send word again that their contract is a fake. It will buy us time. I'll talk to War. Maybe he knows what books I should look at.”

“You learned a lot from our War.” Don Calogero smiled and nodded his approval. “You are all about strategy. Excellent idea!”

Brian nodded and spoke in an excited voice. “I'll see if Dominic can fabricate more of that special brand of paper and have Don Giovanni write a letter that the blood contract is Luca’s.”

“That's brilliant!” Don Calogero spoke with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands in excitement. “I'll send word to all the Dons who abide by the Laws. They will reject Achillio Vergara's claim.”

“Dom can do anything. You haven't see his skills yet.” Luca’s voice was a little bit livelier than before, but only until a thought made him frown. “Wouldn’t The Council find it suspicious? I mean, so many letters on the same subject in such a short time?”

“On the contrary, child.” Don Calogero spoke in a calm voice. “The members of the current Council were surprised Don Giovanni didn’t send more additional notes to the contract.”

“Now that everything is clear, we’ll need the contract so everything adds up when Don Giovanni writes the letter.” Brian sighed in relief.

“Let's go home. I have it there.” Luca spoke flatly, becoming tense again in spite of the other two men’s assurances.

Brian nodded and followed his friend out of Don Calogero’s house. “I just need Dominic to supply the paper. When Don Giovanni writes through me, it will be in his own hand. No one will dispute it,” he said a few minutes later in the car while driving to Luca’s house.

The Sicilian didn’t reply; he stared blankly ahead, indifferent to what happened around him, trying to imagine how his life would be without Martino in it but couldn’t. After great efforts, he managed to blink away the tears threatening to slide down his pale cheeks and pulled himself together enough to be a good host and invite the librarian into his home.

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