Page 113 of Beautiful Desire

“Do not worry about that. We will not get caught. I promise. Okay?”

Ignoring what I just said, he continues on where he left off as if I didn’t speak. “If we get caught, they will kill meandmy mama, Turo. I cannot lose her.”

Placing both of my hands on his shoulders, I shake him gently and make sure he’s listening to me. “I give you my word, we will not get caught. If anything happens to us, I will take the blame and you and your mama get on that plane.”

“NO! I will-”

“Yes. Get on that plane. Got it? I will figure out a way to meet you. Yes?”

Reluctantly, he nods his head, and I squeeze his shoulders before stepping back.

Holding the passport out to him once again, I ask, “Now, do you want to know what your new name is?”

This instantly puts a smile on his face, and he snatches it out of my hand. Since we both still have a slight Italian accent when we talk, I needed us to have Italian names still, but Italian-American ones.

“Vincent Longo?” he reads out loud as he looks up at me.

Opening my own, I turn it so he can see mine. “And I am Anthony Longo. This way, we can officially be brothers. Well, more like twins. I had to make us twins since we are both the same age. Even though I am three months older than you. Starting tomorrow, we are twins and have the same birthday.”

I barely get to finish my sentence before he catapults into my arms, giving me a big hug and thanking me over and over. Wrapping my arms around him, I hug him back. A wave of happiness washes over me as reality sets in that we’re not only leaving, but we’ll officially be brothers. Pulling back, I see him look away as he wipes at the corner of his eye.

“Mama? She has one too, yes?” he asks me hesitantly.

Reaching in my back pocket again, I pull out the third and final passport and hand it to him.

Reading out loud, he says, “Francesca Longo. We are all a family.”

He continues to stare at the name on the page in front of him.

Come tomorrow, we will really be a family. Massimo and his mother have been more of a family to me than my own, and I would do anything for them. After losing my mom when I was a young boy, Massimo’s mom became my second mother.

Mass and I were always playing with one another, and I was always sneaking into the maids’ quarters after my father left to be with them. She would read us bedtime stories and sing to us. She tended to me when I was sick or injured and always gave me hugs and kisses on my forehead when no one was looking. She brought so much love and light to a house full of darkness. My life would have turned out completely different if it wasn’t for her.

Feeling tears of my own well in my eyes, I clear my throat before checking the time on my new gold Rolex. Knowing we don’t have much time left, I get down to business. Crouching down to the metal box on the ground, I reach inside and grab a couple of wads of cash. Standing up, I spin around and see that Massimo is still looking at his mother’s new passport.

Shoving the hand with money in his face, I say, “Here, take this.”

Lifting his head up, he finally notices what’s right under his nose and jumps back, dropping the passport in the process.

“Dio mio, Turo! Where the hell did you get that? Put it away,” he says frantically as he looks around, making sure no one is here and we’re still all alone.

Rolling my eyes, I shake the money in my hand and repeat myself. “Take this. It is yours. In case we get split up for any reason tomorrow, I want you and your mom to still be able to get away. I will leave the passports buried here, but at least you will have money to pay for a taxi and plane ticket.”

He’s still looking at the money with wide eyes and like it’s going to bite him. Backing away, he raises his hands in a surrender motion, shaking his head.

“No, Arturo. Do you know what your papa will do to someone like me if I am caught with that much money?”

My stomach churns, and I instantly feel nauseous just thinking about that, because yes, Idoknow what will happen to him if he got caught, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried too. Not wanting him to know I have the same fears, I lower my hand, and I see him instantly relax.

“Fine, but you will come here tomorrow before we meet up to get your half, then. Got it?”

“Oh, thank you, Turo. Yes, yes. I got it.”

“Make sure you take your half and both of the passports tomorrow before meeting me. And remember, do not tell your mama until it is time. Yes?”

“Yes,” is all he says.

Glancing at my watch again, I know he needs to be going so his mother doesn’t start to worry about him. “Go. I will clean up here. Tomorrow. Do not forget, and do not be late.”

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