Chapter 4

Marco picked me up on discharge day.

The car took a route I didn't know. Marco said it was Mr. Morello's arrangement.

I pushed open the estate's front door. Luca was sprawled in a leather armchair in the center of the hall. His new wife sat at the far end of the sofa.

Elena De Luca. I'd seen her name on the wedding invitation.

She was focused entirely on polishing the ring on her finger, her own family's crest, and didn't spare me a single glance. My arrival registered zero.

She wore an ivory silk robe, completely at ease, like she was in her own home. Which, of course, she was. The De Luca family had traded a daughter for control of the southern docks. The Morello family had traded a wedding for access to the southern shipping corridor. Both sides walked away satisfied.

I felt as exposed as I had the day Morello men had thrown me and my mother out through the front gate, every eye in the place watching us with contempt.

What was Luca doing? He'd just gotten married, and already he was bringing his mistress in front of his wife?

I instinctively stepped back toward the door.

Luca gave a short laugh. "What are you standing there for? Come here."

I stopped, not understanding.

He drummed his fingers on the armrest. "Come here. Get on your knees."

"You didn't finish what you started at the hospital. Now you can."

My head snapped up. He couldn't be serious.

Elena was still in the room. Marco hadn't left. Two bodyguards stood in the corners. With all these people watching, he wanted me to do that.

Luca's voice was quiet and precise, dropping me into ice.

"Do I have to say it twice? Or would you like me to show our audience the video from that day?"

Elena finally noticed the tension. She gave me one faint look, not curiosity but mild notice, and the skin on my face burned.

"Disgusting," she said flatly. Then she picked up her ring and walked upstairs.

I'd just started to breathe again when Luca grabbed me and pulled me into the inner room without a word.

I landed on the bed, clutching my aching arm. The anger in his eyes startled me.

"Anna. You take the money, you deliver. Do you not understand that?"

He had me pinned, jacket thrown aside, the collar of his shirt hanging open, a knife scar visible on his collarbone.

"When I tell you to do something, you don't ignore me. What did I just ask you to do out there?"

"You want to keep your dignity? You can't have the money and the dignity both, Anna. The world doesn't work that way."

I went rigid, shaking from his words.

Luca reached for my collar. I grabbed his hand.

"Don't—"

"Don't?" He looked at me like I'd said something amusing. "Don't you dare say that to me, Anna. Don't you ever say that to me."

My phone went off where it had fallen on the floor. The specific ringtone I'd set for the hospital. It was Rosa's ward. Something had happened. Something had happened to Rosa.

I shoved him off and lunged for the phone. He grabbed me back, harder.

I couldn't break free. I bit down on his shoulder. When he flinched and his grip loosened, I hit the floor and answered.

What the doctor said on the other end made the room tilt.

"I have to get to the hospital. Luca, please, take me. Please take me to the hospital."

I was on my knees on the floor, grabbing his leg, tears making a mess of my face.

Whatever he saw in me then stopped him. He pulled me upright and put me in the car.

When we got to the hospital, Rosa had just come out of surgery. She still had tubes in her. I was afraid to touch her.

Tears dropped onto the blanket one by one.

"Rosa. Mama's here. Mama's right here. You're going to be okay."

Rosa wasn't out of danger yet. I stayed at the hospital for the next two days. Luca didn't leave either.

He asked me something during that time. I had no strength left to answer.

When the doctor finally said family could go in, I followed the nurse to get into the isolation gown.

Luca fell a step behind. Marco pulled him aside.

"Boss. This is you and the girl's paternity report."