"Looks clear," Diego murmured, leading her to a service entrance. He punched a code into a keypad, and the door unlocked with a soft click.
Inside, the apartment was sparsely furnished but clean. A young man Sarah didn't recognize met them in the hallway, relief clear on his face when he saw Diego.
"Boss," he greeted quietly. "He's in the back bedroom. Doctor's been here, but..."
The unfinished sentence said everything. Diego nodded grimly, heading toward the bedroom with Sarah following.
Marco lay on a hospital-style bed, his normally imposing frame looking diminished. Bandages covered his chest, spotted with blood despite recent changing. His breathing was labored, skin ashen.
"Don Diego," he managed when he saw them. "You came."
"Of course I came," Diego moved to his side. "What happened?"
"Ambush," Marco wheezed. "Outside your grandmother's house. I was checking... security protocols." He coughed, wincing in pain. "Men in suits. FBI credentials."
Diego's jaw tightened. "Did you re
