Chapter 3 - Shadows of Betrayal
The next twenty-four hours were a masterclass in tension. Clara kept her composure, administering the untainted, hand-prepared nutrients to Leo while pretending to follow the standard protocol.
By morning, the results were undeniable. For the first time in ten days, Leo did not lose weight. In fact, he gained a crucial, miraculous two ounces.
When Dominic saw the digital scale, he closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against the glass of the incubator. Clara watched him, her chest aching with a strange, warm emotion. Beneath the terrifying armor of the Chicago syndicate leader was a man desperately clinging to the only piece of his family he had left.
"He's fighting," Dominic whispered.
"He's winning," Clara corrected gently, placing her hand over Dominic's on the glass. He didn't pull away. Instead, his fingers turned, slipping into hers, holding her hand with a tight, desperate gratitude.
But the peace was short-lived.
At 2:00 a.m. the following night, Clara was reviewing the shift logs when she noticed a discrepancy in the staff scheduling. Dr. Alston had signed off on a high-alert medication delivery to the NICU—but the delivery wasn't scheduled until the morning.
"Clara."
She looked up to see Marco, Dominic’s trusted underboss and lifelong friend, standing at the desk. Marco was a handsome man with a sharp suit and an easy smile, though his eyes were always scanning the room.
"Yes, Marco?"
"Dominic wants me to check on the baby's vitals. How is our little prince doing?"
"He's stable," Clara said, keeping her voice neutral. But as Marco leaned over the desk, she smelled something.
It was a faint, sweet scent.
Cyanoacrylate. The exact chemical base of the sterile medical adhesive used to seal the punctured IV bags.
Clara’s blood ran cold.
Marco was Dominic’s right-hand man. He had been at the hospital every day, comforting Dominic, organizing the guards, and—crucially—he had unrestricted access to the entire VIP wing.
"Is something wrong, Nurse Hayes?" Marco asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"No," Clara said, forcing a warm, tired smile. "Just exhausted. I'm going to go check on Leo's IV line."
She stood up and walked toward the NICU, her heart hammering. As soon as she was out of Marco's sight, she pulled out her phone and sent a single text to Dominic: It's Marco. He has the adhesive on him right now.
May you like
Before she could finish typing her location, a heavy hand grabbed her from behind, pulling her into the dark, unused storage closet near the service elevator. A hand slammed over her mouth, and the cold metal of a silenced pistol pressed against her temple.
"You're too smart for your own good, Clara," Marco whispered in her ear.
