All Chapters of FORCED MARRIAGE: The Italian Mafia's Obsession : Chapter 141 - Chapter 147

I spent the rest of the night writing the proposal on my computer. I drafted it carefully, listing every piece of equipment I had seen in poor condition: the broken baby scale, the only two remaining blood pressure monitors, the complete lack of an electrocardiograph, the dim surgical light, the rusty beds, and much more.I also added an estimated budget for each item, as well as recommendations for trusted suppliers in Italy. I wanted the proposal to be perfect. I wanted Luca to see that it wasn’t a whim, but an urgent need that could save many lives.I worked until late into the night. Luca came in from time to time, bringing me a cup of hot tea or simply looking at me with affection. He didn’t interrupt me; he just let me concentrate. And when I finally finished, I looked at the document with pride.“Are you done?” Luca asked from the doorway.“Yes. It’s the complete proposal, with the list of equipment and the budget.”Luca entered and sat beside me. He read the proposal carefully

When we arrived at the mansion, I saw several luxury cars parked in the garden. There were several men in black suits standing by the entrance, and I could hear deep voices from inside the living room. Luca seemed a little uneasy when he saw the bustle.“My father is in a meeting with his men.”I nodded, without giving it too much importance. I just wanted to go to the room and lie down for a while. The day had been exhausting, both physically and emotionally.But as we crossed the living room, Serafina appeared among the group of men in black suits. She walked elegantly, her red dress swaying, with a sweet smile on her face. She approached Luca and took his arm.“Luca, darling,” she said in a honeyed voice, “tomorrow I have to go to Rome. There’s an important matter I need to resolve. Can you take me? I don’t want to go alone.”“I have to take Camila to the United States tomorrow. She has important matters to resolve there.”“Important matters? Ah, does Camila still have to arrange h

“Luca, your father is still alive. He’s being treated. But we have to transfer him to a larger hospital that has specialist cardiologists.”“The nearest hospital with cardiology specialists is in Palermo. It’s three hours by road. With his critical condition, I don’t know if he’ll withstand that journey,” Luca said.I thought for a moment. I’m a doctor, and I know that time is everything in a heart attack. Every minute lost can make the difference between life and death.“First I’ll try to stabilize him. I can administer emergency medications to keep his blood pressure and heart rate stable, but I need adequate equipment.”“What do you need? I’ll get whatever it is,” Luca said.“First, I need access to the ICU of this small hospital. Second, I need medications like epinephrine and amiodarone to treat the arrhythmias. Third, I need a functional cardiac monitor. Fourth, I need a medical team to help me stabilize him. If I have all that, I can keep your father stable long enough to trans

I flinched. The gunshots were clear, real, and terrifyingly close. I looked toward the main entrance of the hospital and saw a group of armed men stride in with purpose. They were dressed in black, their faces partially covered by balaclavas, and their weapons trained on anyone who dared to move.“Tutti a terra! Subito!” one of them shouted in Italian.Everyone dropped to their knees or flattened themselves on the floor at once—including me. My heart pounded hard, my chest felt tight, and my mind raced, searching for any way to escape or fight back.“Non fate movimenti bruschi! Questo ospedale sarà evacuato! You have one hour to clear the building!” the man shouted again. They ordered the hospital evacuated within the hour—and if it wasn’t, they would blow the place up.I tried to stand. I tried to resist.“What are you doing?! This is a hospital! There are patients who can’t move! There are wounded people!”They ignored me. One of them pointed his gun at me, and I felt the cold metal