Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT THE ROSSI EMPIRE BLED
Chaos erupted.
Guards shouted.
Glass shattered.
Lorenzo pulled Hunter behind a marble column.
“Stay down.”
Leo was upstairs.
Hunter panicked.
“My baby!”
“I'll get him.”
“No!”
She grabbed Lorenzo's arm.
“I'm coming.”
They ran.
Bullets tore through the hallway.
Lorenzo shielded Hunter with his body.
They reached the nursery.
Leo was gone.
Hunter screamed.
“No!”
The crib was empty.
A window stood open.
Lorenzo's face became terrifyingly calm.
“They took him.”
Hunter collapsed.
“No.”
Lorenzo caught her.
“We're getting him back.”
“How?”
He looked at Matteo.
“Lock the city.”
Within minutes, every Rossi operative moved.
Bridges.
Tunnels.
Airports.
Private docks.
Every route out of New York was watched.
Then Hunter noticed something.
A blue thread caught on the window latch.
She touched it.
“I know this.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“Where?”
“Mrs. Rossi's coat.”
They followed the trail.
It led to an abandoned chapel beneath the old Rossi warehouse.
Inside, Sophia waited.
She held Leo.
Hunter nearly attacked her.
“Give him to me!”
Sophia cried.
“I couldn't.”
Lorenzo raised his gun.
“Put my son down.”
Sophia shook her head.
“I was trying to save him.”
Then Dr. Vale stepped from the shadows.
Hunter froze.
He smiled.
“You finally found us.”
Lorenzo aimed.
“You're dead.”
Vale laughed.
“Not yet.”
He raised a syringe.
“One step closer and your son dies.”
Hunter stepped forward.
“Take me instead.”
Lorenzo grabbed her.
“No.”
Vale smiled.
“That is exactly what I wanted.”
Hunter looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because your milk contains antibodies.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Leo's blood has been altered since birth. Your body was the only thing keeping him alive.”
Hunter finally understood.
They had never wanted to kill her.
They needed her.
Vale continued.
“Your son died because we couldn't stabilize the treatment.”
Hunter's eyes filled.
“You used Noah.”
“Yes.”
Lorenzo fired.
The bullet struck Vale's shoulder.
Chaos erupted.
Sophia grabbed Leo.
Hunter rushed forward.
Lorenzo fought two men at once.
Then Antonio appeared.
He shot Vale.
Vale fell.
Antonio turned toward Lorenzo.
“It's over.”
Lorenzo raised his weapon.
“No.”
Antonio smiled.
“Not yet.”
Then Sophia whispered,
“Lorenzo.”
May you like
She looked terrified.
“Your father is alive.”
