Chapter 6 - THE EMPIRE BENEATH THE EMPIRE
The Rossi family was known publicly for shipping, construction, hotels, and private security.
The criminal empire existed beneath those businesses.
Gambling.
Weapons.
Protection.
Money moved through companies that appeared legitimate.
But Elena had discovered a third structure.
A private medical network.
Rossi Medical Holdings controlled clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, and emergency transport companies across six states.
The network held genetic records for thousands of patients.
It also handled confidential treatments for politicians, judges, executives, and criminals.
Whoever controlled those records controlled more than money.
They controlled secrets.
Camilla had built the network with Lorenzo’s father.
When he died, Lorenzo inherited majority ownership.
Elena changed the succession agreement after Leo’s birth.
If Lorenzo died, became incapacitated, or lost custody, the medical network would pass into a protected trust for Leo.
Camilla would lose control permanently.
If Leo died first, Lorenzo’s half-brother Enzo inherited.
“That is why they were starving him,” I said.
Lorenzo stood beside Elena’s recording.
“They needed him to die slowly.”
“Natural weakness.”
“Complications after losing his mother.”
“No obvious murder.”
Dante opened another file.
The trust contained an additional clause.
If Leo disappeared and Lorenzo was charged with harming him, temporary control passed to Enzo immediately.
I looked toward Lily’s blanket.
“They were going to blame me for kidnapping Leo.”
“And you for killing him.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“My men would hunt you.”
“Police would hunt me.”
“Enzo would take the network while I fought to prove Leo was still alive.”
“And once the transfer became permanent, they would kill him.”
The plan had required a grieving woman with milk.
Someone vulnerable.
Someone easy to describe as unstable.
Camilla had manufactured me.
Dr. Reed entered.
“Leo is awake.”
I returned to the room.
He accepted me immediately.
The relief on his face hurt.
I wondered whether my daughter would have opened her eyes that way.
I hated myself again.
Then I remembered what Dr. Reed said.
Love was not a limited resource.
Feeding Leo did not take anything from Lily.
It gave meaning to what my body was already carrying.
Lorenzo sat across from me.
“I can arrange safe housing.”
“For me?”
“For you and anyone you care about.”
“There is no one.”
The answer came too quickly.
My mother died when I was nineteen.
My father had disappeared before I could remember him.
Derek isolated me from friends one argument at a time.
Lily had been the person I planned to build a family around.
Now she was gone.
Lorenzo looked toward Leo.
“There is him.”
“He is your son.”
“He is alive because of you.”
I did not answer.
Dante entered again.
His face was grim.
“Bianca woke up.”
The nurse was frightened and confused.
She admitted drinking wine after Victor offered it.
She denied tampering with the bottles.
She had noticed Leo became weaker only after feeding.
She told Dr. Vale.
He accused her of incompetence.
Then Camilla threatened to report her nursing license.
Bianca began secretly switching bottles.
For one day, Leo improved.
That night, Victor caught her.
He forced her to drink the drugged wine.
“Did she see who refilled the hidden reservoir?” Lorenzo asked.
Dante nodded.
“She saw Enzo.”
Camilla’s son had personally poisoned the bottle warmer.
Lorenzo stood.
A gunshot sounded from the eastern wing.
Then another.
Dante’s radio crackled.
“Enzo escaped.”
“He took Camilla.”
“And Dr. Vale is missing from the basement.”
Lorenzo looked toward the crib.
The mansion lights went out.
A red emergency message appeared on every screen.
INFANT ABDUCTION ALERT.
The nursery doors locked automatically.
May you like
Then the mansion speakers announced my name.
“Maya Carter has taken Leo Rossi.”
