Chapter 2 - the shadow in the nursery
The silence inside Bellavita turned deadly. Dominic didn't say a word, but his dark eyes were fixed on Bruno—a thirty-five-year-old security officer who had joined the Moretti detail six months earlier.
Bruno’s face drained of all color. He took one slow step backward toward the rear kitchen exit.
"Dante," Dominic growled softly.
Dante Russo moved with terrifying speed. Before Bruno could take a second step, Dante closed the distance across the marble floor, grabbed Bruno by his tactical vest, and slammed him violently against the brick wall!
Marco Bellini gasped in terror, dropping his tray onto the carpet. "Mr. Moretti! Please!"
"Clear the restaurant, Marco," Dominic commanded without looking back. "Now."
Marco rushed to the front doors, escorting the frightened patrons out into the night and flipping the lock on the glass entrance.
Clara stood near the booth, cradling Baby Leo securely against her chest as the infant rested peacefully. She looked from the empty glass vial in her hand to the trembling guard pinned against the wall.
Dominic walked up to Bruno, his towering broad frame casting a long, dark shadow over the traitor. He reached into his jacket, pulled out the empty vial from Clara's palm, and held it up under the wall sconce light.
"What was inside this vial, Bruno?" Dominic asked, his deep voice dropping into an icy, hollow register that made the blood run cold.
"It... it was just a mild digestive drop, Don Moretti!" Bruno stammered, sweating profusely. "The nanny said the baby was fussy before you left the estate!"
"Nannies don't use unlabeled pharmaceutical vials, Bruno," Clara spoke up firmly, her clear voice echoing across the room. "And digestive drops don't cause acute muscular rigidity or stomach cramping like the symptoms Leo just displayed. This was a synthetic nerve suppressant meant to cause pain."
Dominic turned his gaze back to Clara, a spark of deep respect shining in his dark eyes. "You're a nurse?"
"I studied pediatric nursing for three years," Clara revealed softly, her voice tinged with old heartbreak. "My own son passed away from a cardiac condition two years ago. I know what a baby in pain looks like."
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Dominic looked down at his peaceful, sleeping son in her arms. The ruthless Mafia Don made a swift, unshakeable decision.
"Take Bruno to the lower cellar at the estate," Dominic ordered Dante. He turned back to Clara, his intense eyes locking onto hers. "Pack your things, Clara. You are coming with me to Lake Shore Drive as Leo's personal nurse."
