Chapter 1 - The Punctured Bag
The mafia boss was supposed to die that night.
Everyone inside the estate had already accepted it.
Lorenzo Moretti had been unconscious for eleven days, his fragile body surrounded by heart monitors in the luxurious master bedroom that had been transformed into a private ICU. Doctors had warned the family that his condition was deteriorating.
Then the IV pole crashed.
Saline spilled across the marble floor.
Beatrice Higgins dropped to her knees, clutching something beneath her beige apron.
Sebastian Rossi appeared in the doorway.
“What happened here? You could have killed him!”
Beatrice looked up, breathing hard.
“I’m sorry... my knee gave out.”
Sebastian stepped into the room.
“If Don Moretti dies because of your stupidity, you won’t leave this estate.”
Beatrice lowered her eyes.
But her hand tightened around the object hidden beneath her apron.
The punctured IV bag.
Dr. Caldwell rushed toward the bed.
“Wait.”
He examined the replacement bag.
His face changed.
“Look at the seam... it’s punctured.”
Silence filled the room.
Beatrice looked toward Lorenzo.
His fingers moved.
The heart monitor stabilized.
“He’s waking up,” she whispered.
Sebastian turned sharply.
Beatrice slowly stood between him and the bed.
Her fear disappeared.
“It’s over, Sebastian.”
For the first time that night, Sebastian looked afraid.
Because he knew exactly what was inside the bag Beatrice was hiding.
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And he knew what would happen if Lorenzo opened his eyes.
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