Chapter 5 - A Child Born in the Dark
I had seen blood in places no man should ever visit.
On marble floors.
Inside wrecked cars.
Across the white shirts of men who had trusted me with their lives.
But seeing blood beneath my pregnant wife was different.
It stripped every ounce of power from me.
For the first time in years, being Dante Rossi meant absolutely nothing.
I couldn't command a baby to wait.
I couldn't threaten a contraction into stopping.
I couldn't buy back the six months I'd lost.
"Grace, look at me."
Her eyes fluttered.
"I'm scared."
"I know."
"What if something happens to him?"
I pressed my forehead against hers.
"You're both coming home with me."
She gave a small, painful laugh.
"We are home."
I looked around the cell.
"No."
I kissed her cheek.
"This isn't home."
Two paramedics entered with a stretcher.
Behind them came a woman with short brown hair and a dark emergency jacket.
"Dr. Rebecca Shaw," she introduced herself.
"Obstetrics."
I had ordered Nico to bring a physician from outside our family's medical network.
Rebecca dropped to her knees beside Grace.
"Grace, I'm going to examine you."
My wife caught her wrist.
"Did Elena Rossi send you?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"No."
"Promise?"
"I don't work for Elena Rossi."
Grace looked at me.
I nodded.
"She's here because I called her."
Only then did Grace release the doctor's wrist.
Rebecca assessed her quickly.
Her expression remained controlled, but I noticed the brief look she exchanged with the paramedic.
"How long have you been bleeding?"
Grace closed her eyes.
"Maybe twenty minutes."
"Have you felt the baby moving?"
"Yes."
"Recently?"
She nodded.
"Before the pain started."
Rebecca turned toward me.
"We need to move her immediately."
"Is our son all right?"
"We won't know until we examine him properly."
That wasn't the answer I wanted.
It was the only honest one she could give.
We carried Grace through the corridor.
Samuel followed us, clutching his rabbit.
When he hesitated at the stairs, I reached back for his hand.
"Come on."
He stared at me.
"Am I allowed upstairs?"
The question hit harder than any accusation.
"Samuel, you're allowed wherever you need to be."
He took my hand.
Together, we climbed out of the darkness.
At the top, my mother was waiting.
She stood beside the grandfather clock, surrounded by three servants.
Her expression changed when she saw Grace on the stretcher.
Not relief.
Not concern.
Anger.
"She's not supposed to be moved."
Rebecca kept walking.
"She's experiencing a medical emergency."
Elena stepped into her path.
"I am responsible for her treatment."
I moved between them.
"No, you're not."
My mother looked at Samuel.
Her face drained of color.
"Where did you find him?"
I stared at her.
"So you know who he is."
Elena said nothing.
Samuel hid behind my leg.
"Don't let her take me."
I put a hand on his shoulder.
"She won't."
My mother's mouth tightened.
"Dante, that child is dangerous."
I almost laughed.
"He's seven."
"You have no idea what his existence means."
"Then explain it."
"Not here."
"Explain it now."
She leaned close enough that only I could hear her.
"If that boy leaves this estate alive, everything your father gave you could disappear."
I looked into her eyes.
"You think I care about the money?"
Her silence answered.
I stepped aside.
"Take Grace to the ambulance."
Rebecca nodded.
Grace reached for me as they passed.
"Dante."
I hurried beside her.
"Right here."
"Don't let your mother near our baby."
"Never again."
She held my hand until the paramedics wheeled her through the front entrance.
Cold autumn air filled the foyer.
Outside, emergency lights flashed across the white stone walls.
And beyond the fountain, Nico's men had secured the driveway.
For one fleeting moment, I believed the worst was over.
Then Nico approached.
"We've got a situation."
"What?"
"The south tunnel."
I looked toward the distant tree line.
"What about it?"
"Someone opened the emergency gate from inside."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Where's my mother?"
Nico glanced back.
Elena had disappeared.
I turned toward the front entrance.
The ambulance doors were closing.
Grace watched me through the window.
I ran toward her.
"Go!"
The ambulance pulled away.
I climbed into the escort SUV.
Before we reached the estate gates, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a small hospital bassinet.
Inside was a folded white blanket.
Beneath it sat a silver bracelet engraved with the name ROSSI.
The message underneath contained eight words.
Bring Samuel back, or your son never comes home.
I looked up at the ambulance ahead.
My wife was in labor.
May you like
My mother was gone.
And someone already knew exactly where our child would be born.
