Chapter 16 - THE TRAP AT THE HOSPITAL
Three days later, Emma was admitted to a hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain.
The doctors assured her that the baby was alive and that the symptoms could be related to stress, but they wanted to monitor her overnight.
Rosa stayed beside her bed.
"You're going to be all right," she whispered.
Emma nodded, though fear tightened her throat.
Then a nurse entered carrying a clipboard.
"Mrs. Romano, we've received authorization to transfer you to a private facility."
Emma frowned.
"I didn't request a transfer."
The nurse looked confused.
"The order came from your husband."
Rosa stepped between them.
"She is not going anywhere."
The nurse checked the paperwork again.
"I'm sorry. I thought everything had been approved."
Emma reached for her phone, but the screen showed no service.
A moment later, two men appeared outside the room.
One wore a hospital security uniform. The other kept his hand inside his coat.
Emma recognized the second man from a photograph in her father's folder.
Victor Russo's driver.
"Rosa," she whispered.
Rosa pressed the call button.
The door opened.
Before the men could enter, Dante appeared behind them with Marco and two hospital security officers.
"Step away from my wife," Dante ordered.
The driver reached inside his coat.
Marco moved first, knocking the man's arm aside while the hospital guards forced him against the wall.
The second man ran.
Dante ignored him and hurried to Emma's bedside.
"Are you hurt?"
Emma stared at him.
"You followed me."
"I didn't know you were here until Marco received a call from the doctor. Someone altered your transfer order."
"How did you get past security?"
"I didn't. I was already downstairs meeting your lawyer when the call came."
Emma looked at Rosa, who nodded.
Dante stepped back.
"I won't ask you to forgive me. I only want to make sure you're safe."
She studied his face.
For the first time since the dinner, he looked less like a man accustomed to giving orders and more like someone who had discovered how helpless he could be.
"Victor knows about the baby," Emma said.
"Yes."
"Then stop trying to manage this alone."
Dante nodded.
"I've contacted federal investigators. I've given them copies of the financial records and my father's files."
Emma blinked.
"You've turned yourself in?"
"I've told them what I know. I will answer for what I did."
She looked down at her stomach.
"Then do one more thing."
"Anything."
"Let me decide who gets to see my child."
Dante swallowed.
"You're right."
Outside the room, an alarm sounded.
May you like
Marco rushed back to the doorway.
"Boss, Victor's people are moving. They've taken Sofia."
