Chapter 4 - The Safe Room
By midnight, the Moretti mansion had turned into an armed fortress.
Heavy iron gates were locked, perimeter searchlights illuminated the manicured gardens, and ten extra security guards patrolled the wide corridors.
Adrian Moretti remained in critical condition in the private, high-security medical wing of St. Jude's Hospital, protected by four of Dante's most trusted men. The nerve agent had been identified, and an antidote was being administered, but doctors could not guarantee when—or if—he would regain consciousness.
Because of Vincent's subtle threat, Dante had refused to let Elena and Sophia leave the estate.
Instead, he moved them into the third-floor private suite—a secure set of rooms directly across from Adrian's master bedroom, equipped with bulletproof glass and reinforced steel doorframes.
Sophia was fast asleep in the center of the massive king-sized bed, holding her stuffed bunny.
Titan sat on the rug at the foot of the bed, his dark eyes fixed on the bedroom door. He refused to leave the room, refusing even the prime cuts of steak Mrs. Bellini had brought up from the kitchen. He would only accept small pieces of water biscuits fed to him directly from Sophia's small hand.
Elena sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window at the dark Boston skyline.
A quiet knock sounded at the door.
"It's Dante," a voice called out.
Elena opened the door. Dante stepped inside, carrying two steaming mugs of tea and a thick folder of documents.
"How is she?" Dante asked, gesturing toward the sleeping child.
"She doesn't understand what's happening," Elena whispered, taking one of the tea mugs. "She thinks we're staying in a castle for a sleepover."
"Good. Keep it that way," Dante said. He sat down in an armchair near the desk, rubbing his tired eyes. "I spoke with the toxicology team an hour ago. The glass contained a lethal dose of Diisopropyl fluorophosphate—an industrial nerve poison. It takes about twelve minutes to take full effect after ingestion."
"That fits," Elena said, her voice shaking. "Sophia said the man in the shiny shoes went into the study twelve minutes before the crash."
Dante nodded grimly. "Vincent claims he was in his private office reviewing quarterly shipping ledgers all morning. He says he never touched Adrian's water."
"Do you believe him?"
"It doesn't matter what I believe," Dante said flatly. "Without physical proof or Adrian waking up to identify his attacker, I can't hold Vincent indefinitely. His lawyers are already filing habeas corpus petitions with the municipal court. By eight o'clock tomorrow morning, I'll have to let him roam the house freely again."
Titan let out a low, soft whine, turning his head toward the door.
"He knows his master isn't here," Elena said softly, reaching down to stroke Titan's broad back.
"He knows more than that," Dante said, watching the dog. "Titan has never liked Vincent. Not since the day Adrian brought the dog home four years ago. Animals have a way of seeing through expensive suits."
Dante stood up and walked toward the door.
"Lock this bolt behind me, Elena," he commanded. "I have two men stationed outside your door, but I don't trust anyone in this house completely right now. If anything feels wrong, press the red panic button beside the bed."
"Dante?" Elena called out before he closed the door.
He paused. "Yeah?"
May you like
"Why are you protecting us? We're just house staff."
Dante looked back at her, his eyes serious and unyielding. "Your daughter saved Adrian's life today, Elena. In this family, loyalty isn't measured by a paycheck. It's measured in blood."
