Chapter 2 - The Woman Behind the Secret
I woke up to the sound of someone crying.
At first, I thought it was my mother.
Then I realized I was underwater.
Not literally.
Everything around me felt distant and muffled.
Machines beeped beside my bed.
My throat burned.
My ribs felt as if someone had driven a truck over them.
I tried to move.
Pain exploded through my body.
A voice immediately whispered, "Don't move."
My eyes opened.
Dominic Rossi was sitting beside me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
He looked different from the man I remembered at the gala.
No tuxedo.
No polished expression.
Just a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms.
He looked exhausted.
"You saved my mother," I whispered.
He leaned closer.
"You saved mine."
I tried to remember.
The gun.
The ballroom.
Isabella.
Then everything disappeared again.
"How long?"
"Thirty-six hours."
My eyes widened.
"Thirty-six?"
"You had seven bullets removed."
I swallowed.
"Seven?"
"Yes."
I stared at the ceiling.
"That's... excessive."
For the first time, his mouth almost smiled.
"You're joking."
"I think so."
The door opened.
Isabella walked in.
She looked at me and immediately began crying.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I had barely known her.
Yet she hugged me like family.
"I'm glad you're awake."
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"Because of you."
I glanced toward Dominic.
Something about his expression made me uneasy.
There was something he wasn't telling me.
I just didn't know what.
Then the door opened again.
Enzo entered.
His expression was grim.
"Dominic."
"Not now."
"It's important."
Dominic stood.
I watched them exchange a look.
Then Dominic turned to me.
"I need to handle something."
"Is it Costa?"
His eyes sharpened.
"How do you know his name?"
"I heard someone say it."
That wasn't entirely true.
I'd heard it in fragments.
But I had also noticed how everyone became afraid when his name was mentioned.
Dominic walked out.
I looked at Isabella.
"Who is Victor Costa?"
She sat beside me.
"Someone who wants my son dead."
"Why?"
"Power."
That answer felt too simple.
She looked toward the door.
"Emily, there are things you need to know."
My heart began beating faster.
"About what?"
"Your mother."
I froze.
"My mother?"
Isabella nodded.
"Your mother knew Dominic's father."
I stared at her.
"What?"
"Her name appeared in his private records."
My mouth went dry.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because my mother never mentioned him."
"Maybe she was protecting you."
The door opened.
Dominic returned.
His face was cold.
"Enough."
Isabella stood.
"No."
"Mother."
"She deserves to know."
Dominic looked at me.
I had never seen anyone look so conflicted.
"What happened to my mother?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"Then why are you acting like that?"
He didn't answer.
I pushed myself slightly upward.
Pain tore through me.
Dominic immediately stepped forward.
"Don't."
"Tell me."
"You're not strong enough."
"I've been shot seven times."
His jaw tightened.
"Exactly."
"Then stop treating me like a child."
Silence.
Finally, he sat down.
"Your mother received payments from my family."
My blood turned cold.
"What kind of payments?"
"We don't know."
"How much?"
"Enough to keep her alive."
I stared at him.
"My mother doesn't take charity."
"I didn't say it was charity."
That sentence stayed between us.
Then my phone appeared on the bedside table.
There were seventeen missed calls.
All from an unknown number.
Dominic saw the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
"Don't answer."
I reached for it.
He stopped my hand.
"Emily."
"Why?"
"Because whoever is calling already knows you're awake."
The phone stopped.
Seconds later, a text appeared.
Ask Dominic what happened in 1999.
I looked at him.
He didn't move.
"What's 1999?"
Nothing.
"Dominic?"
He stood.
"Where is your mother?"
"Cleveland."
"I'll send security."
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"I don't need your permission."
"You don't get to control my life because you put a ring on my finger while I was unconscious."
Isabella's eyes widened.
Enzo looked down.
Dominic went completely still.
I looked at the ring.
"What is this?"
He didn't answer.
"Why am I wearing your ring?"
Finally, he said, "Because I needed the Rossi family to have a legal reason to protect you."
I laughed weakly.
"You married me to protect me?"
"Yes."
"That's insane."
"Probably."
"And you thought I would agree?"
"You weren't conscious."
I stared at him.
"Exactly."
For the first time, Dominic looked ashamed.
"I'm sorry."
That surprised me.
He didn't defend himself.
Didn't threaten me.
Didn't pretend it was normal.
"I made the decision because Costa will kill anyone who thinks you're vulnerable."
"Then protect me without marrying me."
"I tried."
"And?"
He looked toward the door.
"Someone inside my family sold your location."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
"Someone inside the Rossi organization gave Costa your schedule."
I stared at him.
"Who?"
"We don't know."
A loud crash came from the hallway.
Enzo pulled his gun.
Dominic moved between me and the door.
Isabella backed away.
The lights suddenly went out.
Someone screamed.
Then the hospital fire alarm began.
Dominic grabbed my bed.
"Stay down."
"What's happening?"
"Someone came for you."
Gunfire erupted outside.
Dominic's men returned fire.
He looked at me.
His voice was calm.
But his eyes weren't.
"Emily, listen carefully."
"What?"
"The person who ordered your shooting isn't Victor Costa."
My heart stopped.
"Then who?"
Dominic looked at Isabella.
Then at the dark hallway.
"The person who wanted you dead..."
He paused.
"...is someone who knew your mother twenty-six years ago."
May you like
And somewhere inside the hospital, a man quietly smiled.
Because he had just received confirmation that the second attempt was already underway.
