PART 4: Shadows at the Hospital Door
PART 4: Shadows at the Hospital Door
Underworld enemies track the wounded waitress.
Before I could form a reply, the heavy oak door of my private hospital room clicked open with a sharp, echoing snap.
Dominic straightened up instantly, his hand sliding casually toward his jacket pocket with the lethal grace of a trained predator.
Dr. Marcus Vance, the chief of trauma surgery who had operated on my shoulder, stepped into the room, holding a digital tablet.
He took one look at Dominic Valentine standing over the bed and stopped dead in his tracks, his face turning pale.
“Mr... Mr. Valentine,” the doctor stammered, swallowing hard. “I... I didn't realize you were still visiting the patient.”
“Is there a problem with her recovery, Doctor?” Dominic asked, his voice dropping into a low, freezing register that made the physician flinch.
“No! No, none at all!” Dr. Vance hurried to reassure him, tapping nervously on his tablet screen. “Her vitals are stabilizing. The rotator cuff repair went smoothly. She just needs rest.”
“Then why are you here?” Dominic pressed.
“Ah... well, there’s a pair of detectives from the 4th Precinct downstairs,” the doctor explained hesitantly, looking between Dominic and me. “They’re asking to speak with Ms. Chen regarding the diner shooting. They want an official statement about the armed gunmen.”
I frowned, looking past the doctor toward the hallway.
“Detectives?” I repeated. “Local police?”
Dominic’s jaw tightened into a hard line.
“The 4th Precinct has been in the pocket of the Moretti syndicate for over a decade,” Dominic muttered darkly, his eyes narrowing. “They aren't coming here to take a statement, Lily. They’re coming to find out why two of my hit squad targets ended up dead in a diner while my daughters walked away untouched.”
“You think the cops are tied to the men who shot up the diner?” I asked, my heart pounding against my ribs.
“I don't think, I know,” Dominic stated flatly. “And if those detectives walk into this room right now, they’ll realize you know more than you should—or worse, they’ll try to tie up loose ends.”
The handle of the hospital room door began to turn slowly.
Metal clicked against latch.
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Dominic didn't hesitate. He stepped across the room in two strides, locked the door from the inside with a solid click, and turned back to face me with absolute, unyielding resolve.
“Rest, Lily,” Dominic commanded quietly, pulling his heavy jacket back on. “Let the king of Brooklyn handle your local police department.”
