Chapter 3 - the hospital lockdown
Within ninety seconds, the entire east wing of Baltimore Mercy Hospital was placed under a silent, impenetrable lockdown.
Marco Romano walked down the secured hallway, pulling a encrypted satellite phone from his navy suit jacket. Five heavy armored SUVs pulled into the subterranean ambulance bay below, while four more suited Romano enforcers took positions at the stairwells.
Inside the private room, Catherine sat on a leather armchair near the window, holding Logan in her lap. Her hands were still cold, her mind racing as she tried to process the surreal reality crashing down around her.
"Mommy, why is the tall man looking at us?" Logan asked softly, pointing his little finger at Alessandro, who was now sitting up against the headboard, a fresh white dress shirt replacing his hospital gown.
"He's... he's just resting, baby," Catherine murmured, kissing Logan's soft brown hair.
Dr. Harris finished disconnecting the poisoned IV line, placing the contaminated bag inside a sealed evidence container.
"The order for that saline bag came from the main pharmacy desk on the third floor," Dr. Harris reported to Marco as the head of security re-entered the room. "The digital signature belonged to an orderly named Miller... but Miller reported off sick four hours ago."
"An insider," Marco growled, his jaw setting like concrete. "Someone bought off hospital security."
Alessandro swung his legs over the side of the hospital bed. Despite the weakness in his muscles, he stood up, his massive, broad frame towering over the room. He wore tailored gray trousers provided by Marco, his broad chest still showing the edges of his tattoos through his unbuttoned shirt.
"Alessandro, you cannot stand up," Dr. Harris urged, stepping forward. "You were clinically dead fifteen minutes ago!"
"I am standing," Alessandro stated coldly, his voice leaving no room for argument. He walked with slow, deliberate steps toward Catherine, stopping directly in front of her chair.
He crouched down, bringing his rugged, handsome face level with little Logan's.
"What's your bear's name, little man?" Alessandro asked, his terrifying demeanor softening into something surprisingly gentle.
Logan held the bear up proudly. "Captain Bear. He protects Mommy when it's dark."
A faint, rare smile touched Alessandro’s light stubble. "He did a good job tonight, Captain."
Alessandro then looked up into Catherine's brown eyes. The intensity of his gaze made her breath hitch.
"David Winters was my friend, Catherine," Alessandro revealed softly. "He came to me five years ago because he discovered that his own federal handlers were corrupt. They were feeding information to a rival syndicate—the Vance family—who wanted to wipe out the Romanos and take over Baltimore."
Catherine swallowed hard, her rosy skin flushing warm despite her fear. "If David knew that... why didn't he come home to me?"
"Because the night he gave me this ring," Alessandro explained, holding her eyes, "his car was rammed off the bridge. I pulled him out of the water myself... but he was in a coma for six months. When he woke up, his memory was shattered. He didn't know who he was... or who you were."
Catherine gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "He... he lived?"
"He lived," Alessandro confirmed low. "And to keep you and your baby safe from the Vance family, I placed him in a secure, private medical facility under an assumed name in Vermont."
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Before Catherine could digest the earth-shattering news, Marco’s radio chirped sharply.
"Boss," Marco said, his voice urgent. "We have eyes on the parking garage security feed. Two unmarked vans just entered the lower gate. Vance enforcers are in the building."
