Chapter 1 - The Baby in Victor’s Arms
Sofia Romano heard her newborn scream before she saw Victor Hale lift him from the bassinet.
“Victor!”
She tried to stand.
Pain from the delivery tore through her abdomen, forcing her back into the sleeper chair.
Victor didn’t stop.
He pulled the crying infant against his chest and headed straight for the hospital lounge door.
“Dad! Please, save my baby!”
The door flew open.
Lorenzo Romano walked in.
At sixty-three, Lorenzo didn’t move like an old man when someone threatened his daughter.
He caught Victor by the arm, twisted him away from the doorway, and took the baby from him before Victor could react.
“Claire.”
Nurse Claire hurried forward.
Lorenzo placed his grandson safely into her arms.
Sofia immediately reached for the infant.
Then Julian stepped between Lorenzo and the bassinets.
“That is my wife and child. Stay out of this.”
He grabbed Lorenzo by the lapels and shoved him.
Lorenzo caught himself.
“What exactly is your brother doing with my grandson?”
Julian answered with a punch.
Lorenzo moved aside.
The fist missed.
His counter-punch sent Julian backward into the refreshment cart.
Bottles, cups, and coffee containers crashed across the floor.
Victor suddenly lunged toward another bassinet.
Lorenzo intercepted him and shoved him into a folding chair.
The nearby luggage stands collapsed.
“Stop!” Claire shouted.
Sofia held her baby tightly.
Two other newborns in the lounge began crying.
Julian pushed himself up.
Victor struggled beneath the overturned chair.
Lorenzo planted himself between them and the babies.
Then he noticed something.
Julian looked at Bianca.
Not at Sofia.
Not at his son.
At his mother.
Bianca Hale had been standing near the blanket rack the entire time.
Her elegant cream suit looked perfect.
Her face didn’t.
It had gone white.
Lorenzo slowly approached the two brothers.
“Now, tell me who is waiting for him downstairs.”
Nobody answered.
Sofia stared at her husband.
“Waiting for who?”
Julian looked away.
Victor cursed under his breath.
Bianca whispered, “Don’t say anything.”
That was all Lorenzo needed.
He took out his phone.
Before he could dial security, Nurse Claire spoke.
“Mr. Romano…”
Her voice was shaking.
“There’s something you need to see.”
She reached into the pocket of her scrubs and pulled out a folded hospital transfer form.
Sofia’s son’s name was printed across the top.
The destination wasn’t another hospital department.
It was a private neonatal transport company.
And according to the form, Sofia had personally authorized her baby to leave the building twenty minutes earlier.
Sofia stared at her own signature.
“I never signed that.”
Lorenzo looked at Julian.
Julian said nothing.
Then Claire pointed to the bottom of the page.
May you like
A transport representative had already checked in.
He was waiting at the service entrance downstairs.
