Chapter 2 - I Woke Up in Adrian Moretti’s Private Medical Suite, and the Mafia Boss Sitting Beside My Bed Told Me the Bullet Had Never Been Intended for MeThe first thing I heard was rain.
The second was a machine beeping.
The third was a child's hands moving.
I opened my eyes.
Sophie was sitting beside my bed.
She immediately noticed.
Her face lit up.
She signed:
You're awake.
I nodded.
I tried to sit.
Pain exploded through my side.
Sophie immediately pushed me back down.
Don't.
I smiled.
You're bossy.
She laughed.
A man's voice came from the corner.
“She gets that from me.”
I turned.
Adrian stood near the window.
He had changed clothes.
Dark sweater.
Rolled sleeves.
No jacket.
No tie.
But the authority hadn't disappeared.
It was still there.
He looked exhausted.
“You're in my private medical suite.”
I swallowed.
“How long?”
“Seven hours.”
I looked at Sophie.
She's okay?
He nodded.
“She's fine.”
Then he walked closer.
“You took a bullet meant for her.”
I didn't answer.
“Why?”
I looked at Sophie.
Then back at him.
“I didn't think.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“I saw the laser.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“You moved before my security team saw it.”
I shrugged.
“My mother taught me to pay attention.”
He studied me.
“What was your mother's name?”
“Laura.”
“Laura Carter?”
I nodded.
His expression changed.
“You're her daughter?”
“Yes.”
He stepped backward.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then:
“I knew your mother.”
My blood went cold.
“How?”
“She worked with my wife.”
My heart stopped.
His wife?
I knew Adrian had been married.
His wife had died years earlier.
But I knew nothing else.
“What did she do?”
“Medical outreach.”
“Was she deaf?”
“Yes.”
I stared.
He looked toward Sophie.
“Your mother helped teach my daughter sign language after my wife died.”
I turned toward Sophie.
Her hands moved.
She taught me too.
I smiled.
That explained everything.
Adrian watched us.
“Your mother used to come to the house.”
I shook my head.
“I didn't know.”
“She died?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
He looked away.
There was something in his face I couldn't identify.
Regret.
Maybe guilt.
Then he asked:
“Why are you working nights at a bakery?”
I laughed softly.
“Because it pays my rent.”
“You have other skills.”
“Everyone has skills.”
He stared.
“Your mother taught you ASL.”
“Yes.”
“She also taught you emergency response.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She volunteered at hospitals.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes.”
His face became cold.
“What did you find?”
A pause.
“Repeat that.”
Another pause.
“Don't touch anything.”
He hung up.
I asked:
“What happened?”
He looked at me.
“The shooter left the building.”
“But?”
“He wasn't alone.”
He showed me a photograph.
A man standing across from the bakery.
I didn't recognize him.
Then Adrian showed me another.
My blood ran cold.
The man was standing beside my apartment building.
The picture had been taken two days earlier.
I stared.
“That's my building.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We don't know yet.”
Then another photograph.
Me.
Leaving the bakery.
Another.
Me.
Taking the train.
Another.
Me.
Buying groceries.
I felt sick.
“Someone's been watching me.”
Adrian nodded.
“For at least three months.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“That is what I'm trying to find out.”
I looked at Sophie.
She was watching me.
Her hands moved slowly.
Don't leave.
I signed:
I'm not going anywhere yet.
Adrian saw.
“You're staying here.”
“I have a job.”
“I'll pay whatever you lose.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I wasn't asking.”
I smiled weakly.
“And I'm not accepting.”
For the first time, Adrian almost smiled.
Then he said:
“You may be the first woman in years who isn't afraid of me.”
“I am terrified of you.”
He laughed.
“Good.”
“I just don't let fear make decisions for me.”
His expression changed.
He understood.
Then Sophie climbed onto the bed and touched my hand.
She signed:
Daddy is safe when you're here.
I looked at Adrian.
He stared at his daughter.
Then at me.
Something changed in his eyes.
He didn't say it.
But I understood.
He didn't just want to protect me because I saved his daughter.
He wanted me close because Sophie trusted me.
May you like
And perhaps...
because he did too.
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