Chapter 7 - THE MAN IN THE HOSPITAL ROOMThe Boston medical center was surrounded by private security.
Lorenzo arrived at 9:40 p.m. in an unmarked sedan.
David accompanied him, while Isabella and Meline remained at the safe house under protection.
He had no intention of giving Mateo what he wanted.
But he had no intention of leaving Nicholas behind either.
The hospital's third floor was nearly empty.
A nurse stood outside room 317.
She looked up when Lorenzo approached.
"Mr. Moretti?"
"Where's my son?"
"He's resting."
"Open the door."
She hesitated.
Lorenzo showed her the photograph of Nicholas.
"That's my child."
The nurse swallowed and unlocked the room.
Nicholas was sleeping beneath a white blanket.
A small stuffed bear rested beside his pillow.
Lorenzo approached slowly.
His son looked so much like Meline that it hurt.
He had her delicate nose, her soft lips, and the tiny wrinkle between her eyebrows.
But when he opened his eyes, Lorenzo saw himself.
"Daddy?"
The word nearly destroyed him.
Lorenzo knelt beside the bed.
"Hey, buddy."
Nicholas stared at him.
"Are you the man from my picture?"
Lorenzo froze.
"What picture?"
"The one Mommy keeps."
A tear slipped down Lorenzo's cheek.
"Yes."
Nicholas studied him.
"Are you really my daddy?"
Lorenzo nodded.
"I am."
The little boy reached out.
Lorenzo took his hand carefully.
"Where's Maddie?"
"She's coming."
Nicholas smiled faintly.
"She said my daddy would find me."
Lorenzo lowered his head and kissed his son's forehead.
"I should have found you sooner."
A door clicked behind him.
"How touching."
Lorenzo stood.
Mateo Moretti entered the room.
He looked almost exactly as he had five years earlier. Same dark hair, same expensive suit, same confident smile.
But there was a thin scar running from his temple to his jaw.
"Hello, little brother."
Lorenzo drew his weapon.
Mateo raised both hands.
"Careful. There are nurses outside."
"Step away from my son."
Mateo glanced at Nicholas.
"He's a beautiful boy, isn't he?"
Lorenzo said nothing.
"Three years of raising him. Three years of making sure he had everything he needed."
"You stole him."
"I protected him."
"You kidnapped his mother."
Mateo smiled.
"She was an inconvenience."
Lorenzo moved forward.
Mateo pointed toward the ceiling.
Small red lights blinked inside the security cameras.
"Every camera in this wing is recording. Shoot me, and the footage goes straight to the authorities."
Lorenzo kept his weapon trained on him.
"What do you want?"
"Your signature."
Mateo placed a folder on the table.
It contained a transfer agreement giving him control of the Moretti family's holding company.
"Sign it, and Nicholas walks out of here."
"And Isabella?"
"She gets her treatment."
"And Meline?"
Mateo smiled.
"She gets to come home."
Lorenzo looked at him.
"She has a home."
"Does she?"
Mateo approached the bed.
Nicholas immediately moved closer to Lorenzo.
"Don't touch him."
Mateo stopped.
"Interesting. He already knows who you are."
Lorenzo looked at the folder.
Then he noticed something strange.
The medical consent form had been signed by someone using Meline's name.
But the signature was not hers.
"Who signed this?"
Mateo shrugged.
"Your wife."
"She never would."
"Then perhaps you should ask her."
A second door opened.
Dr. Hargrove walked in.
He carried a medical chart.
"Everything is prepared."
Lorenzo turned toward him.
"What have you done to my son?"
"Nothing irreversible."
"Get out."
Hargrove ignored him.
"The procedure is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The boy is an excellent match."
Lorenzo looked at Mateo.
"You told me Isabella needed stem cells."
"She does."
"Then why is the procedure happening tonight?"
Mateo's smile vanished.
Before he could answer, the hospital lights flickered.
The room went dark.
A gunshot rang out.
Nicholas screamed.
When the emergency lights came on, Mateo was gone.
May you like
And Dr. Hargrove was lying on the floor.
But the hospital bed was empty.
