Chapter 5 - The Silent Housekeeper
Lorenzo’s jaw set into stone. He turned back to Elena, who was gently cradling the baby on the soft velvet sofa.
"Elena," Lorenzo said softly. "Did Sophia see anything else when she found the bag?"
Elena looked up, hesitating for a fraction of a second before speaking. "She said... she said she heard a car door close near the service lane just before she found him. A quiet car. Expensive."
"Matteo drives a silver sedan with a modified exhaust," Lorenzo murmured, his mind piecing together the timeline. "Valentina drives a black SUV."
Suddenly, the soft chime of an encrypted cell phone rang from the hallway outside the room.
Lorenzo stepped out into the corridor. Valentina was standing near the top landing, holding her private phone against her ear with a hand that shook violently. Her face was turned toward the wall, her voice dropping to a panicked whisper.
"I told you he wasn't supposed to be brought here!" Valentina hissed into the receiver. "He found the second bracelet! If he checks the hospital logs, we are both dead!"
Lorenzo stepped up behind her, his large hand coming down over her shoulder like a heavy iron clamp.
Valentina gasped, dropping the phone onto the carpet.
Lorenzo picked up the phone, holding it to his ear. The line was still connected, but only heavy, rhythmic breathing came from the other end before the call abruptly disconnected with a sharp tone.
Lorenzo turned Valentina around to face him. Her eyes were wide, filled with pure, unadulterated dread.
"Who was on that phone, Valentina?" Lorenzo asked, his voice low, measured, and infinitely dangerous.
"Lorenzo... please," Valentina wept, falling to her knees on the hallway carpet, clutching the fabric of his trousers. "I did it for us! I did it to protect you!"
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"Protect me?" Lorenzo echoed, a dark, bitter laugh escaping his chest. "By throwing my living son into the rain behind the kitchen while you watched me mourn at his empty grave?"
"He isn't what you think!" Valentina sobbed, her hands trembling as she looked up into his cold, dark face. "That baby... that baby was never supposed to be born!"
