“Ask Malaspina or another guard to drive, you won’t be able to, when you’ll leave the clinic after.” There was a moment of silence at the other end of the line, then Alasdair continued. “Bart will be here, too. It’s all I can tell you for now, you’ll find out more as soon as you decide to drag your ass over here.”
About an hour later, Luca was in a hospital room, staring in disbelief at a very frightened, visibly pregnant Brian, cowering in a corner, arms protectively wrapped around his belly. “Sir, talk to me, please.” The Sicilian extended a hand and tentatively caressed the librarian’s long strands. “Talk to your husband, he loves you, and is very worried about you. Please.”
Brian looked between his sub and husband, eyes brimming with tears. “I'm pregnant, and you know what can happen. They knew I'd die first and they used that against me.”
“We’ll take good care of you and the baby. Doc Alasdair, me, and your husband…the two of you are safe now, I promise.” Luca spoke softly, making great efforts to keep his emotions under control. “The people who did this to you…who are they?”
“Donna Fabrizia.” Brian answered in a whispered voice, like he was afraid the evil woman could hear him. “This belongs to her.” He dug his hand into the pocket of his tattered jeans and extracted an emerald ring he put in his lover’s hand. “Show it to Graziela.”
“I will.” Luca’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “But I know this ring very well, too, and if she denies seeing it, she’ll have to answer before The Council for hiding a criminal.”
“Please, take care, that woman…” Fear and horror invaded Brian’s eyes. “You don’t know what she is capable of. I thought I knew, but I was wrong. She hurt you before, and will do it again.”
“Not this time, or ever again.” Luca spoke in a determined-filled voice. “This woman is nothing to me anymore, I’ll bring her before The Council for harming one of The Ten.” His tone softened. “Let your husband and Doc Stark take care of you and the baby, leave the rest to me and Baldassare.”
“You heard your wise friend.” Doctor Alasdair hid his emotions under a grin. “The results from the tests arrived, both you and the little one are in good health. Of course, your advanced age, of almost forty, could pose some risks and problems, but I emailed Uncle Rayne, at the Institute, and he’ll supervise you personally, so…”
“I’m here, too, babe, to take care of you and the little one.” Bart tentatively caressed his husband’s baby bump, then swallowed hard a few times. “Did you…um…think about a name?”
“Actually, I did.” Brian’s voice was serene, a bit far away, even. “Doc performed an ultrasound and said it’s a girl, so I’m going to name her Zelda.”
“I love it!” Bart exclaimed, clapping his hands like a little boy. “It’s a name fit for a princess, and she’ll be treated like one.”
For Brian, the next days passed in a haze of blood tests and sessions of questions and answers with Doctor Stark, whoneeded to know as many things as possible about the substance the librarian was injected with and for how long. Unfortunately, the man wasn’t a very reliable source of information, as the memories about the time he spent in captivity were still blurred.
However, after a time, the pictures in Brian’s head became clear, and the snippets of conversations made sense, so he could put together the film of the kidnapping and what followed after that, frame by frame. What resulted was a horror movie having that unhinged, evil woman as script writer and director.
The drug, Brian told Alasdair a few days later, wasn’t meant to harm the baby, on the contrary; Donna Fabrizia wanted the fetus to develop normally, so the librarian would want to keep the baby, even if he knew carrying a pregnancy to full term could kill him. However, since he fought hard with her henchmen every time they came to restrain him, so his rapist could have his way with him, they had to keep him subdued.
Doctor Stark kept Brian in the hospital for a week, administering him the antidote for the drug via IV, then told him he needed to be under close observation for another seven days. Although those who developed the treatment made sure it would produce no side effects, they couldn’t predict all the possible scenarios, Alasdair explained, so he preferred to have the patient there, so he could quickly intervene if the necessity would arise.
To the doctor’s shock and disbelief, Brian agreed without complaining about boss Elias and principal Peyton firing a librarian who took more days off than anyone else, even if that was doctor’s order. The man didn’t protest when Alasdairsuggested he should work less and rest more; even said he planned to ask his employers to reduce his working hours.
Even at home, Brian did everything he was told, taking Bart, Luca, and Martino by surprise. He ate, slept or would lay in bed reading, took the vitamins prescribed by the doctor, and did everything by the book. Almost nothing was left from the ever-worrying librarian, which made those around him suspect he was up to something. Making them wonder what the reason behind sudden, almost complete change was.
Indeed, Bart, Luca, Martino, and all the others were right: Brian had a plan. He wanted to carry the pregnancy to full term and bring a healthy baby girl into the world, and he was going to do his damnedest to make sure that would happen, no matter what it would involve. Donna Fabrizia planned to use his love for children like a weapon, and kill him with it, but he was going to beat the evil woman at her own game.
Just wait and see, old hag, just wait and see, the librarian thought, smiling and caressing the baby bump.
CHAPTER 11
Where are those ghosts when you need help, Brian thought, wiping the sweat off his forehead and eyeing the heavy box in front of him. Looks like I’m going to empty it one book at the time, he said to himself, shaking his head. The librarian bent down, but a sensation similar to a pat on his shoulder made him stop and straighten up.
The box started to move on its own, going where Brian needed it, then the books in it levitated, stopping on their designated shelves in the children’s literature section. The librarian let out a sigh of relief and contentment, a small smile playing on his lips. Thank you, my friends, he nodded in the direction of the spectral presences he sensed.
Hey, no problem, Oisin’s father, Desmond, telepathically replied, you know I’m here anytime there’s something heavy to carry around. I’m sorry you had to wait, but I went to visit my son for a bit. It’s that surgery I’m sure he told you about; he doubted he could save that pony’s leg, and I offered him the encouragement and support he needed.
Sweet Gianluca was taking a nap, and I visited him in his dreams, Brian got a message from Don Giovanni’s ghost. I have no words to thank you for watching over him just like I would have done, if I was alive, and for being there when Luca andMartino needed the most. A good friend values more than all the riches of the world.
Speaking of my family, it’s time for me to have a conversation withmia adorataLucrezia, who I miss more than anyone else. However, I’ll be here when you’ll need me, so don’t do things that could put you and the baby in danger. Ah, I put the papers from the counter and the desk in the back office in order, so you can easily find them when needed, Don Giovanni’s ghost’s last message sounded in the librarian’s mind.
Once his spectral friend was gone, Brian relaxed into his chair behind the counter with another small sigh of contentment. The spirits tended to be overprotective at times, especially Desmond O’Brien, Oisin’s father, but he was extremely grateful to them for everything they were doing. Poor Jamie, his assistant, was busy enough working extra hours, and the librarian didn’t want to add to their already too heavy burden.
“I was in the area with business and thought to bring you some evil fruits.” Reardon’s amused voice brought the librarian back from his thoughts.
“Oh, yes! My best friend knows exactly what I like,” Brian exclaimed, eyes shining in delight at the sight of the big bunch of bananas the other one was holding. “Thank you,” he took the fruit his friend peeled for him and bit into it, moaning almost erotically. “I swear these are so good,” the man said, mouth full, the words almost unintelligible.
“Only the best for you.” Reardon answered with a warm, affectionate smile. “I'm happy you like them.”
