AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“None that he has mentioned or that we have been able to unearth,” Felinus said. “As I said, he isn’t the type to accept help and has remained practically off grid for his entire adult life. His childhood records have been sealed, though he revealed to me last night that he was in foster care starting at the age of ten.”
A line appeared on Esposito’s forehead. “And he is how old?”
“Just turned twenty-five this last month,” Felinus answered, allowing the Don to come to the same conclusion that Felinus had on the drive over.
“A Casualty Orphan,” he murmured then shook his head. “If all of this is true, how has no one claimed him before now? The treaty binds us all to care for Casualty Orphans whenever they are found. Whatever Issac has told Little Volkov, Volkov’s son has eyes. How could he not know of the things you have told me after seven years?”
Felinus set his cup down, choosing his words carefully before he spoke. “Issac is a gifted liar,” he explained. “I watched him convince a store employee that he was simply forgetful and irresponsible with his things when she became concerned about my insistence on tracking the phone I purchased for him without hesitation or stutter. If I didn’t know the truth, I would have believed him. I have no doubt that he has told many similar lies to Little Volkov over the years, and Little Volkov has chosen to believe him, not because he lacks the intelligence to see through them but because of the nature of the lies and having no reason to doubt them.”
“And how are you sure that he has not lied to you,” Esposito asked him, pouring himself another coffee, “knowing how gifted of a liar he is.”
“I am sure he has lied to me,” Felinus said. “At the very least by omission. But no one can hide every tick. Issac Maus has the ability to see more than he lets on. He can spot a front and tell when people are tailing him without giving his notice away. It is clear to anyone who knows what to look for that someone taught him to do this but he doesn’t seem to have active contact with that person and, I believe, may be hiding from them.”
“Why would he hide from someone like that,” Esposito asked, picking up his coffee.
“I could not say, Don.” Felinus was not about to speculate on such things to the Don until he’d had time to look into it himself. “I only know that Issac Maus has no interest in our world. I believe that is, in part, the reason he has refused Little Volkov’s friendship. He made Little Volkov’s connections even if he didn’t know the full extent of it, and he will not risk being dragged in with favors he knows he can’t pay back.”
Esposito sighed slowly. “If that is true then we have truly failed him,” he said, shaking his head. “O’Hare had gone to great lengths to ensure Casualty Orphans would be taken care of without fear of being forced into our world.” He paused. “Have you met O’Hare before?”
“The Irish have avoided me as a general rule since I became Il Gatto.” He smiled, perhaps more smug than he should have allowed himself. “I believe I make them nervous and I’ve overheard a few refer to me as a Reaper when they thought I wasn’t in earshot. Besides that, I have not been asked to join any meetings where O’Hare may be.”
“Hm, I should introduce you,” Esposito mused. “I think the two of you would get along. But first, the Russians must be placated. However, it will take more than a simple retraction of a liar’s word to convince them.”
“Snake has already been collecting information to that shows Issac never stayed in the Russian Ring exclusively,” Felinus said. “Shelters use sign-in sheets so if we can find them we can show that he would go back and forth between our ring and theirs. Snake has already located five years of work history that proves Issac plays jump rope with the border, including my warehouse over the summer push this year which is how he ended up back there when the cold snap hit. It’s not that far from the campus if you don’t have to follow roads.”
“Can he have it together by tonight?”
“Snake thrives under a deadline,” Felinus said confidently. “He might not be able to track every instance, but he will find enough to make the point.”
“Good,” Esposito said. “I will contact the Pakhan, and arrange a sit down with him and his boys. Adrian is every bit as reasonable and level-headed as his father. Once they understand the true nature of the situation, they will retract their claim against you. But I must warn you, they may wish to step in to offer their own support once they know he is very likely a Casualty Orphan that slipped by.”
Felinus spread his hands. “I have no objections to the Russians offering their support,” he said honestly, “but Issac may. Despite what it may look like, I have very little control over what he does. He is stubborn and strong-willed. He accepts my help because I have been honest about my intentions and have not hidden what I am. I am also sure that whoever he is hiding from is not part of the Family so he is not concerned about the protection I’ve promised him coming with conflicts.”
“You think he may be hiding from the Russians?”
Felinus took a moment to think about that, once more careful with his words. “If he was,” he said finally, “I do not think he would have allowed Little Volkov to be this close. But the Russians do not structure themselves as the Family and the Clover do. To say it was impossible would be an assumption I am unwilling to make, but I’m equally unwilling to say they are completely in the clear of concern. I only know that Issac has not rejected my protection and he knows I am part of the Family.”
“I can see your reasoning,” Esposito said, “but we will not stand in their way to make the offer either. We must act in good faith.”
“Of course, Don,” Felinus agreed. “I will not stand in anyone’s way unless Issac expresses he wishes to be left alone. The fight he had with Little Volkov rattled him and I do not wish to see him like that again.”
Esposito’s lip twitched into almost a smile. “I look forward to meeting this boy,” he said. “Where is he now?”
Felinus looked at his watch. “Brutus should be taking him to school now,” he said. “I had intended on introducing him to you last night at your restaurant but,” he felt a smile tug on his lips and had a hard time keeping it to himself, “Issac has a way of keeping me on my toes, regardless of how well I believe I’ve planned for his next move.”
The Don chuckled softly. “It takes a special sort of man to keep someone like you on his toes. Do not delay in introducing me too long, il mio gatto. We will have this all cleared up by tomorrow morning. For now, let us eat properly.”
* * *
Brutus and that article might be onto something, Issac thought, the breadstick snapping between his teeth as he turned the page of his notes. It was just after his first class and he was not too proud to admit that he was hiding from Dimitri in a secluded courtyard.
It didn’t surprise him that Dimitri had tried to pretend that last night didn’t happen. It was one of the things Issac usually liked about him- but if Dimitri thought it was going to work this time, he was in for a day full of disappointments. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t purposefully ignored Dimitri as he sat in their usual seats in Young’s class. Issac had hung back to look over the list of traditional Italian dishes Brutus had talked about that morning until the TA pulled the door closed. The look of hurt and disappointment on Dimitri’s face when Issac sat in the row behind him right as Young came in, trapping Dimitri in the front row by himself, had been extremely satisfying.
He bet Dimitri was sitting at their usual table now, hoping that Issac’s habits overrode his anger.
The breadstick snapped again as he held it between his lips and teeth and dug in the insulated bag for one of the yogurt drinks.
His pocket meowed to the tune of an old cat food commercial he only vaguely recalled. He pulled it out to see the animation of the cat grooming itself.
