Chapter 5 - The Price of Mercy
Anthony Moretti was found alive in an abandoned private clinic outside Chicago.
Weak.
Dehydrated.
But alive.
Elena stood outside his hospital room as Damian emerged.
For the first time since she'd met him, his control was gone.
"My brother asked what year it was."
Elena didn't know what to say.
So she didn't try.
Damian leaned against the wall.
"Eight months."
"You found him."
"Because of you."
"Because Warren talked."
"Because you made him."
Elena folded her arms.
"You're doing the envelope thing again."
"No."
"Good."
"This time it's not money."
That worried her more.
"What is it?"
Damian looked toward Anthony's room.
"A job."
She blinked.
"What?"
"The Moretti Foundation funds three community clinics."
"I didn't know you had a foundation."
"Most people don't."
"And?"
"The South Side clinic needs a director."
Elena laughed.
"I'm twenty-six."
"You're competent."
"I'm an ER nurse."
"You made a corrupt surgeon confess using basic logic."
"I irritated him."
"Exactly."
Despite herself, Elena smiled.
Then Marco appeared.
"Boss."
His expression killed the moment.
"What?"
"Doyle knows Anthony is alive."
Damian straightened.
"Where is he?"
"We don't know."
Elena's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
St. Agnes.
She answered.
"Marsh."
A frightened voice came through.
"Elena?"
It was Sophie, a young nurse from her unit.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a man here asking about you again."
Elena looked at Damian.
"Lock the nurses' station."
"I can't."
"Why?"
Sophie whispered.
"Because he's standing beside me."
The line went dead.
Elena's face drained.
"Doyle."
Damian was already moving.
"No."
Elena followed.
"She's involved because of me."
"You're staying here."
"No."
"Elena."
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Remember the bench?"
He stopped.
"You didn't ask me to stay."
Her voice softened.
"But I did."
Damian stared at her.
Elena continued.
"Now I'm asking you not to leave me behind."
Twenty minutes later, they entered St. Agnes through a secured service entrance.
The emergency department had been partially evacuated.
Elena knew every corridor.
Every stairwell.
Every locked medication room.
She led Damian and Marco through the basement.
They found Sophie tied inside a supply room, frightened but unharmed.
Elena freed her.
"Where did he go?"
"He said he wanted Damian upstairs."
Damian looked toward the ceiling.
"It's a trap."
Elena nodded.
"Then don't give him what he expects."
They used the hospital's old service corridors to reach the administration wing.
Doyle was waiting.
He looked almost disappointed when Elena entered beside Damian.
"The nurse."
Elena stared at him.
"Apparently."
Doyle smiled.
"You should've left him on that bench."
"Probably."
Damian stepped forward.
"Leave her out of this."
"Why? She's your weakness now."
Damian's expression didn't change.
"You're wrong."
Doyle looked at Elena.
"Am I?"
Elena answered first.
"Yes."
She walked forward.
"Because weaknesses are things people hide."
Doyle frowned.
Elena continued.
"He walked through the front door with me."
Damian glanced at her.
Doyle's attention shifted for one second.
That was enough.
Marco and hospital security moved simultaneously.
Within seconds, Doyle was trapped.
Police were already arriving outside.
Doyle stared at Damian.
"You'll kill me eventually."
Damian looked at Elena.
Then back at him.
"No."
Doyle laughed.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't care what you believe."
Damian stepped aside as officers approached.
"You wanted to prove I'm nothing but a monster."
His eyes moved briefly toward Elena.
"Tonight I'm going to disappoint you."
Doyle was arrested.
Elena watched him disappear down the corridor.
Then she turned to Damian.
"You let him live."
"Don't sound so surprised."
"I am."
Damian looked at her.
"Someone recently reminded me that pragmatism keeps people alive."
Elena smiled.
"Smart woman."
"Extremely annoying woman."
May you like
"That too."
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