Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
balthazar
Crammed into the back seat of Brogan’s truck, I’m still a little bit in shock, I think. Not only did I not expect to see Deo again, I definitely didn’t think he and his grandmother would show up right before I boarded a plane.
Deo is next to me, his head bowed slightly and his hands folded in his lap. I want to hold him and tell him how sorry I am that I kept this from him, and how the only thing I want is to stay here with him, but the words sound shallow in my mind.
I have one more secret, and I figure now is as good a time as any to reveal it.
“Um, Deo?”
He glances over at me. “Yeah?”
“My name isn’t actually Balthazar Cassiano. I created that identity to hide from my boss.”
He blinks several times. “What?”
“Balthazar is my great-grandfather’s first name, Americanized. He was Baldassare. Cassiano is my grandmother’s maiden name.”
“Uh-huh. So what is your name?”
“Mike Franco.”
His brow crinkles as he stares at me. “Mike Franco? Yeah, no. That is so bland.”
I almost laugh. “Bland?”
“Doesn’t fit you at all.”
Nonna turns around in her seat to face us. “Your name is Balthazar Cassiano from now on.”
“She heard us?” I whisper.
“She hears everything,” Deo whispers back.
“Mike Franco is about to die,” Nonna continues.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“You’ll see.”
Brogan turns down a street and pulls into a parking space in front of a popular coffee shop. The sun is rising, turning the sky from black to a light gray, and as night becomes day I’m tentatively optimistic about my future. Thirty minutes ago, I was on my way to my own funeral.
The four of us enter and find a table in the corner. Brogan gets everyone’s drink orders and goes to the counter while Nonna leans across the table in a conspiratorial pose.
“Here’s what we need to do. Mike needs to die, and the boss needs to believe it.”
Deo glances nervously at me before asking, “How are we gonna do that, Nonna?”
“I have some connections from the old days. Haven’t used them in a while, but I know how to find them. What’s the boss’s name?”
“Vincenzo Galliano.”
Nonna’s eyes widen. “Galliano? As in the Galliano crime family run by the notorious Aldo Galliano?”
I nod. “That’s the one. Vincenzo is Aldo’s great-grandson.”
“Who is that?” Deo asks.
“That Mafia movie your zio likes?” Nonna says. “That’s based on Aldo’s life.”
“Oh shit. I didn’t know.”
“They used different names,” Nonna explains, “but everyone knows it’s about how the Galliano family rose to power on the East Coast.” She rubs her hands together. “Is Vincenzo as formidable as the rest of his family?”
I nod. “He won’t hesitate to hurt people close to me to get what he wants.”
Brogan returns with a tray of coffees and passes them out. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing much,” Deo says. “Just that Balt works for the most violent crime family in existence.”
“Ooh. So what’s the plan?”
Nonna digs in her handbag and produces a small notebook and a pen. “First, I need Vincenzo’s contact information.”
“He goes by Vin, but what are you gonna do? You’re not going to call him, are you?”
“I’m not, no, but someone is. How else will we get the word out?”
“I don’t understand.”
Nonna purses her lips and shakes her head. “You really don’t understand the inner workings of this kind of thing, do you?”
“I handled the money, Nonna. I didn’t sit in meetings and go out around town with them. Until this rumor started, I was just a background guy.”
She nods. “Do you know who started the rumor?”
“Not exactly, but I think it was this guy they call Fat Back. His real name is Anthony Muso. I’m almost positive he started it because he doesn’t like me.”
“Why not?” Brogan asks.
“Years ago, he heard I was gay and made a move on me, but the guy is married with, like, five kids. After I declined, he was pretty hostile and threatened me if I ever told anyone about that interaction.”
Nonna puts her hand on mine where it’s resting on the table. “Did you actually take any money?”
“No. Vin got involved with this dude from Philly who was bad news and had all these investment opportunities I felt were too risky. I tried to tell Vin, but he was adamant that I process the requests. I did my research and decided one of the so-called businesses was too high profile and could attract attention from the Feds. I tried to reason with Vin but he wouldn’t hear me out.
So I made the decision to fudge the books, make it look like I processed his checks, but I moved the money to a safe account in Vin’s name.
I kept a trail of everything I did, and I planned to tell him when the whole thing inevitably blew up, but then this rumor started and he wouldn’t listen.
He trusts Fat Back like a brother. I knew my only chance to save my ass was to get out of town. ”
Deo is watching me, clutching his coffee cup and holding it to his mouth, but his expression is passive, so I can’t tell what he thinks of my admission.
“Okay.” Nonna taps her pen on the paper. “We can work with that. First thing you need to do is get proof of where the money is.”
“I have that. It’s printed out in a folder with all the access information. I almost mailed it to Vin, but I know him, and he would still think I stole it.”
“Exactly,” Nonna agrees. “And that’s going to work to our advantage. We’ll clear your name and then kill you off so you can be free once and for all.”
“Kill him off.” Brogan gasps. “Nonna. What do you mean?”
Nonna sips her coffee, her brown eyes twinkling as a slow smile spreads across her face. “We’ve only done this once before, but it worked. It’s how we got your grandfather free of any ties.” Her smile grows. “We’re going to fake your death.”
“No way. Vin will never fall for that.” I exhale slowly. “As much as I appreciate—”
“Listen, son,” Nonna says sternly, “I have a lifetime of experience with guys like Vin. I know what I’m doing.”
I nod, holding my tongue. “I’m listening.”
“I have a cousin in Chicago. He knows how to, shall we say, procure a corpse.”
“Nonna,” Deo whispers, “we can’t kill someone.”
“Of course not. The corpse already exists. We’ll make a few modifications to it and get it delivered right to Vin’s doorstep. Parts of it, anyway.”
My head is spinning. “How does this work?”
“We’ll need your ID—Mike Franco’s, that is—and some personal effects that Vin would recognize. Do you have anything like that?”
I nod. “I have a gold watch he gave me on my five-year anniversary of working for him.”
“Perfect. My cousin will know exactly how to make the corpse believably you so it will be officially declared to be Mike Franco.”
“And how does Vin find this out?”
“Easily. You’re going to send him a letter detailing everything you told us, from what Fat Back did to where you put the money to protect Vin. Then we’re going to tip off the authorities on the other business dealings so an investigation starts, which will prove to Vin you were right all along.”
“Why does he have to die then?” Deo asks. “If we prove he’s innocent, it’ll be okay.”
“If it’s okay, Vin will expect Balt to return to work, but with an added layer of suspicion. Trust me, kid, if we want Balt to be free, we have to do it this way.”
I nod, thinking over her plan. It’s pretty genius, actually. I considered faking my death more than once, but didn’t know how I would pull it off in a way that would make Vin believe it.
“I’m in.”
Nonna smiles. “When we get back home, you start working on the letter to Vin and the documents. I’ll contact my cousin, and we’ll get the ball rolling.”
“This is wild,” Deo mumbles as we get out of our seats. “Like, movie level wild.”
“Where do you think they get the inspiration for those movies?” Nonna asks.
“So, Nonna.” Brogan drapes their arm around their grandmother’s shoulder. “Are you low-key telling us that Grandpa faked his death?”
“Widowed me at thirty-two in a barn fire. We had a funeral and everything.”
“I take it your grandfather didn’t die young?”
Deo shakes his head. “He only died a few years ago and he was almost ninety.”
“My cousin is a genius.” Nonna pats my back. “Trust me.”
“I do.”
We drive back to the family compound with a plan that has me feeling hopeful in spite of how off the wall it is. There’s a chance I can stay with Deo, if he wants me to. I guess I should be brave enough to ask.
“Deo?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for coming and helping me out.”
He nods, biting his bottom lip. “This is a lot to process.”
“I know.”
“Not just you, but finding out Nonna is an OG.”
“OG?”
“Original gangster.”
“Got it.” I squeeze his knee. “Good to have in your corner.”
“For sure.”
When he doesn’t say anything else, I continue. “After this is resolved, I’ll understand if you want me to find a new place to stay. Maybe we can start over and get to know each other in a deeper way.”
Deo stays quiet, looking down at his hands. I guess his silence is my answer. I blew it with him. My only chance is to hope he’ll let me prove I can be good for him.
“Deo?”
“We’ll talk when we’re alone.”
I nod, saying nothing else.
By the time we get back, the sun is shining, bouncing off the snow to create a bright landscape. I wish I felt as relaxed as I’d like to be returning to this place I’ve grown fond of, but I shouldn’t get comfortable. For all I know, I’ll be sleeping on the couch from now on.
Brogan drives us to the cottage and the four of us file from the car to the living room. Nonna takes a seat on the couch and digs her phone out of her handbag.
“Get your things together, Balt. I’ll make some calls.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What can I do?” Brogan asks.
“You and Deo are on standby. After I talk to my cousin, I’ll have an action plan for us.”
“Got it.”
Deo follows me to the bedroom. My shoulders tense as I wait for him to tell me he doesn’t want me around anymore. I finally developed feelings for someone and it’s going to end in disaster because of my stupid choices.
“Did you mean what you put in the letter?” Deo asks, closing the door behind him and leaning against it.
“Every word.”
He nods, but his eyes are downcast. “The part where you said you had real feelings for me. You weren’t just saying that to soften the blow thinking you’d never see me again, right?”
“No, Deo. That was the truth.” I sit on the edge of the bed across from him.
“When I met you that night in the airport, I thought you were gorgeous and that something about your personality lit up the room. Then I learned how sensual and addictive you are. Coming here, I’ve learned that you’re also determined, intelligent, and deeply caring.
” I swallow hard as he looks up at me. “I didn’t want to put this in the letter because it felt cruel, but now that there’s a chance… ” My words trail off.
It’s a slim chance this is going to work and get Vin off my back for good, but it’s a chance worth taking.
“Go on.”
“If we can pull this off and I can be free of my former life, then I want to ask you if I can stay. I want to help you reach the highest of heights, because I know you will. I want to be your partner in life.”
His breath catches. “Balt…”
“I guess what I’m saying is, if you’ll let me, I’d like to love you. I know I can. I can be the man you deserve.”
“Are you saying…?” He shakes his head. “Be clear.”
“Deo.” I reach out and grab his wrist, slowly pulling him closer to me. “I’ve fallen for you. Completely. As much as I didn’t want to, I took off to keep you and your family sheltered from the mess I was in because there was no way I would let anyone harm you.”
“You’ve… fallen for me?”
I nod. “I’m completely in love with you, Deo. I can only hope you’ll give me another chance to show you how amazing we can be together.”
“You’ve already done that.” He steps closer until he’s between my legs, and drapes his arms around my neck. “We came into this whole thing believing it was temporary fun, but you turned out to be the man of my dreams.”
My jaw drops.
“I wasn’t going to tell you. I didn’t want to make it weird, you know?
” He chuckles. “But when I read your note this morning, I knew my feelings were much stronger than I realized. The idea of never seeing you again, or worse, something bad happening to you was too much to bear. Then Nonna came in and set all of this in motion, but all I wanted the entire time was to see your face again and know you were safe. Everything else is gravy.”
“Does that mean you’re not upset with me?”
“I’m not upset with you.” He tousles my hair. “What you did was brave. Not only trying to save your boss from his own arrogance, but doing what you could to keep us safe. How could I be mad about that?”
“I kept the truth about who I was from you.”
“Who wouldn’t in your situation? I don’t think it would’ve worked out well if you’d told me that night in the hotel that you were running from the Mafia.”
“No.”
“And since then, I’ve learned who you are at your core. You didn’t have to do any of the things you did to help my family, but you did. You didn’t have to be so amazing and sweet, but you were. I know in my heart that I’ve seen the real you all along. I fell in love with the man you are.”
Sliding my hands up his back, I hold his gaze. “You…you’re in love with me?”
“Yep. Despite all my efforts not to catch feelings, here we are.”
I laugh softly. “Same. I’m crazy for you, Deo. You’re more than I ever hoped for for myself.”
He bends and kisses me softly. “So does that mean you’ll stay?”
“If you’ll have me, I’d love to.”
“Of course I’ll have you. You still owe me some lacy things. Besides, I haven’t explored all the possible edging we can do together.”
“Mm, don’t make me horny right now. We still have to kill me off.”
“Kill Mike off. Balt is alive and well.” Deo kisses me again, lingering as he tickles the nape of my neck. “I like that name. Mike is so pedestrian.”
“I like it too. It feels like me.”
“What do you say we get the stuff together for Nonna and get this monkey off our backs?”
“Excellent plan.”