Chapter 2 - The Man at the Hospital
Dante reached St. Vincent Medical Center before the ambulance doors had fully closed.
Marco followed him through the emergency entrance.
A detective stepped forward.
“Mr. Moretti?”
“Where is my wife?”
“She’s being evaluated.”
“I asked where.”
“Trauma bay three.”
Dante moved past him.
The detective blocked his path.
“You can’t go in there.”
Dante looked down at the man.
Usually that look ended conversations.
Not tonight.
“Then bring me the doctor.”
A physician appeared minutes later.
“Mr. Moretti?”
“Yes.”
“Your wife is alive.”
Dante’s shoulders lowered half an inch.
That was the only visible reaction.
“She has a fractured arm, several cracked ribs, a concussion, and multiple cuts. We’re monitoring her closely.”
“Can I see her?”
“Soon.”
Dante nodded.
Marco leaned against the wall.
“Dante.”
Dante didn’t look at him.
“I dismissed her.”
“You didn’t know.”
“She told me.”
“You thought—”
“She told me someone was following her.”
Marco fell silent.
Dante finally turned.
“And I told her she was imagining shadows.”
Detective Callahan approached carrying an evidence bag.
Inside was Elena’s damaged phone.
“We found something.”
Dante looked at it.
“What?”
“A message supposedly sent by your brother.”
Marco stepped forward.
“I didn’t send anything.”
“We know.”
Callahan placed a printed screenshot on the table.
“The message came through a spoofed number. Whoever sent it wanted Mrs. Moretti to believe your brother had contacted her.”
Dante read the words.
Dante needs you out. East corridor. Now.
His jaw tightened.
Callahan continued.
“We also found damage to the rear window.”
“What kind?”
The detective hesitated.
“Consistent with deliberate impact from an outside projectile. We’re still processing it.”
Dante looked toward the trauma doors.
“So this wasn’t an accident.”
“We’re treating it as a targeted incident.”
Marco’s expression hardened.
“Who knew Elena would be at the gala?”
“Too many people,” Dante said.
Callahan studied him.
“Mrs. Moretti may know more.”
The doors opened.
A nurse approached.
“Mr. Moretti? She’s awake.”
Dante entered alone.
Elena looked impossibly small beneath the hospital blanket.
Her left arm was stabilized.
A bandage covered her forehead.
She turned when she heard him.
Dante stopped beside the bed.
“Elena.”
She looked away.
That hurt more than anything she could have said.
He pulled a chair closer.
“I’m here.”
Her eyes returned to him.
“You weren’t.”
Two words.
Quiet.
Devastating.
Dante said nothing.
“You thought I was being dramatic.”
“I was wrong.”
“You always think I’m being dramatic.”
“I know.”
Her eyes filled, but her voice remained steady.
“I begged you.”
Dante leaned forward.
“I know.”
“I said I was scared.”
“I heard you.”
“No. You heard noise interrupting your meeting.”
He had no defense.
So he offered none.
Elena turned toward the window.
“Luca was there.”
Dante froze.
“What?”
“At the car.”
“Elena, look at me.”
She did.
“Luca Ferrante came down the embankment.”
Dante’s expression emptied.
“He said I should have stayed at the gala.”
“Are you certain?”
Her face changed.
Dante immediately realized his mistake.
He stood.
“No. Forget I asked that.”
“You still don’t believe me.”
“I do.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because Luca has been beside me for nine years.”
“And I’ve been your wife for six.”
Dante stared at her.
Elena’s voice dropped.
“Which one matters more?”
He had no quick answer.
And that answer was enough.
“Leave.”
“Elena—”
“Please.”
Dante walked to the door.
Her voice stopped him.
“He said something else.”
Dante turned.
“He said, ‘Remember who didn’t believe you.’”
Dante’s hand tightened around the door handle.
Something inside him changed.
Not rage.
Something colder.
He stepped into the hallway.
Marco was waiting.
“Well?”
Dante closed the door behind him.
“Where is Luca?”
Marco checked his phone.
“He left Bellafiore fifteen minutes after us.”
“Find him.”
“What happened?”
Dante looked through the glass at his wife.
“Luca tried to kill Elena.”
Marco stared at him.
“Dante—”
“And he knew I wouldn’t believe her.”
That realization was worse.
Luca had not simply targeted Elena.
He had used Dante’s own arrogance as part of the plan.
Dante took out his phone.
“Lock down everything.”
“The house?”
“Everything.”
“And Luca?”
May you like
Dante looked at Marco.
“Bring him to me alive.”
