A picture comes through. It’s an image of a driver’s license for Elio Valenci. A buzz in my head drowns out my thoughts. I stare, frozen.
Then I call Noah.
“What the fuck is that?” I demand.
He’s silent for a second. Then his gruff voice comes through. “That’s Elio Valenci. Son of Piero Valenci, cousin of Ernesto Atolli. Do you know him?”
I start shivering. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“How do you know him, Andre?”
“That’s not his name.”
Noah says, “Rafael mentioned the name Elias Rose. I haven’t yet found anything on that. Is that how you know him? As Elias?”
I don’t reply. I can’t seem to speak.
Noah sighs through the phone. “Can I come see you?”
I shake my head then realize that Ihaveto speak. “No.”
“Andre—”
“No.”
A long silence follows. Then Noah says, “Elio Valenci has never been a public figure of the family. It’s unusual, given that he’s Piero’s only child. It wasn’t clear to me from talking to Rafael whether you are aware that Piero was a member of the Society. He would have frequented the Island.”
I must be panting because Noah says, “Take a deep breath, Andre.”
“Fuck you,” I gasp.
“Deep breath—now.”
I do it.
“Again,” Noah orders.
I do it.
Noah gives me silence for a moment. He lets me hear what he’s said. He lets me reorient to that reality. The Island. Where Rafael and I and so many other boys lived in a huge, luxurious resort that allowed Society members—mafia, corrupt politicians, rich businessmen—to meet and talk. Strike deals. Fuck us.
My brain tries to white out, but I have to focus. I have to stay in this reality.
“Let me come see you,” Noah says.
“No.”
Noah sighs through the phone again. “Call me if you need me.”
The call drops, but I sit there in the dark with the phone at my ear for a long time.
Then I get up.
I gather a few things, but most of what I need is at the warehouse.
I take the elevator two floors down. I let myself into Elias’s apartment. I walk through to his bedroom.
He’s where I left him, drugged on the bed. His head is turned slightly to the side. His lips are parted. He’s so beautiful. He looks so innocent. I’ve always know that he’s not, that he’s too dark for innocence, but he doesn’t look like a liar. He doesn’t look like a fraud.
