Chapter 3 - THE HOSPITAL LOCKDOWN
By midnight,
the fourth floor of Boston General had become a fortress.
Every nurse who entered Luca’s room was vetted by Marco.
The food was brought in from one of Giovanni’s private restaurants.
Even the cleaning staff had been replaced by people Giovanni trusted.
Luca was sleeping peacefully in a high-tech crib,
his small hand clutching a stuffed bear I had brought from home.
The VIP suite was larger than my entire apartment.
It had leather sofas,
a kitchen,
and a view of the city lights.
Giovanni sat by the window,
watching the rain wash against the glass.
He had removed his jacket,
his white shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal the tattoos on his forearms.
Symbols of the life I had tried to escape.
“You should sleep,”
he said,
not turning around.
“I can't sleep while you're standing there looking like you're planning a coup.”
“I’m not planning a coup,
Lauren.”
“I’m planning a relocation.”
My heart skipped.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Luca and I are fine where we are.”
“Fine?”
He turned,
his face illuminated by the lightning outside.
“A woman insulted you today.”
“A bureaucrat held my son’s life in her hands and chose to play power games.”
“That happened because you were alone.”
“That will never happen again.”
“I can take care of myself,
Giovanni.”
“You couldn't even pay the co-pay without shaking,”
he pointed out,
gesturing to my discarded purse.
“I was scared for my son!”
“And I am scared for him now,”
he countered.
“Because I have enemies,
Lauren.”
“And now that the world knows Luca exists,
he is the biggest target I have.”
The reality of his words hit me like a physical weight.
I had kept the secret to protect Luca from the mafia.
But by revealing it to save his life,
I had placed him right in the center of the crosshairs.
“They didn't know before,”
I whispered.
“They know now.”
“My pilot said at least three different people were taking photos of the helicopter.”
“The news will have the name 'Moretti Heir' on the front page by morning.”
I looked at Luca,
so small and innocent.
“What have I done?”
“You saved his life,”
Giovanni said,
walking over to me.
He placed his hands on my shoulders.
“And I will save his future.”
“But you have to trust me again.”
“Trust is a hard thing to give to a man who handles problems with a silencer,”
I said.
Giovanni’s eyes darkened.
“I handle problems with whatever tool is required.”
“Tonight,
the tool was a helicopter and a checkbook.”
“Tomorrow,
it might be different.”
The door chimed softly.
Marco entered.
“The administrator is in the office,
boss.”
“She’s waiting for your...
consultation.”
Giovanni’s grip on my shoulders tightened for a second before he let go.
“Stay with Luca.”
“Don’t leave this room.”
May you like
I watched him walk out,
and I knew that Marla Hensley was about to learn that some mistakes can't be fixed with an apology.
