Chapter 13 - NO MORE ORDERS
Bell's team moved before Vittorio finished the sentence.
“Police. Keep your hands where we can see them.”
He shoved the table toward Elena and ran for the service door.
The briefcase fell open. Money scattered across the carpet.
Elena stumbled, catching herself against a chair as the earpiece slipped loose.
She heard shoes, shouting, a crash from the corridor.
Then the service door slammed shut.
She knew that door. Its latch had stuck for months. Staff kept a folded towel beside it because managers refused to fix it.
Vittorio had pulled it closed behind him.
Now he was trapped in the narrow serving passage between two locked fire-rated doors, yanking at a handle that wouldn't turn from his side.
A detective moved Elena back while another officer approached through the kitchen.
There was no grand speech when they brought him out.
Only a furious old man with his hands restrained, demanding to know who had authorized this.
Elena didn't look at the money.
“My baby,” she said, then caught herself. “Lucia. Where is Lucia?”
Bell was already on the phone.
At the hospital, two men in transport uniforms had arrived with paperwork for a move to a private facility. The ward nurse checked the order and refused to release Lucia without confirmation from her treating team.
Lorenzo was beside the crib when the call came.
One of the men insisted the family office had approved everything.
“I'm her father,” Lorenzo said. “And she's staying here.”
Hospital security held the men for police.
Lucia never left the ward.
When Bell relayed the news, Elena bent forward with both hands on her knees.
She hadn't realized she was holding her breath.
Vittorio watched her.
“You think he becomes a good man because you caught a worse one?”
Lorenzo arrived after Rosa and the medical staff assured him Lucia was safe. He stopped at the lounge doorway, taking in the cash, the overturned table, Elena's white face.
Vittorio turned toward him.
“Tell them who built everything you own.”
Lorenzo didn't answer.
“Tell them what you've done.”
This time, he did.
“I will.”
His uncle's expression faltered.
Lorenzo stepped aside so the officers could take him through the door.
Then he approached Elena, stopping before he touched her.
“May I?”
She nodded.
He held her while she shook.
Over his shoulder, Bell stood with another investigator. Her expression told Elena that catching Vittorio had not ended the consequences.
“Lorenzo,” she said. “We need to talk about the records you gave us.”
May you like
He closed his eyes for one second.
Then he let Elena go.
