Chapter 3 - The Man at the Kitchen Door“Stop him.”
Dominic didn't shout.
He didn't have to.
Two bodyguards immediately moved.
The man at the kitchen door froze.
“Sir…”
Dominic stared at him.
“What were you doing back there?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“I was checking the kitchen.”
Dominic took one slow step forward.
“Why?”
The man didn't answer.
I kept holding the baby.
His breathing was shallow.
Every instinct I had from nursing school came rushing back.
But there was something else now.
A memory.
A warning.
I had seen that bodyguard before.
Not tonight.
Three days earlier.
He had come into Bellavita.
He hadn't been with Dominic then.
He had been sitting alone near the bar.
Watching.
Not drinking.
Watching.
My manager had told me never to make eye contact with Moretti's people.
I hadn't listened.
And now I remembered something.
That man had asked me a strange question.
“Do you work here every night?”
At the time, I thought nothing of it.
Now my blood ran cold.
Dominic turned toward him.
“Open your hands.”
The bodyguard slowly raised them.
“Sir, I swear—”
“Your pockets.”
The man hesitated.
That was enough.
One of the other bodyguards grabbed him.
A small plastic packet fell from his jacket.
It hit the floor.
Nobody moved.
Dominic looked down.
Then at the man.
“What is that?”
Silence.
The bodyguard shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Dominic's voice became colder.
“You're going to answer me.”
Before the man could respond, sirens screamed outside.
Paramedics rushed through the doors.
I stepped back.
They took the baby from my arms.
For the first time all night, I felt useless.
I watched them work.
Dominic stood beside me.
His hands were clenched.
“You saved him.”
“I don't know that yet.”
He looked at me.
“You noticed.”
I didn't answer.
“You noticed when everyone else didn't.”
I looked toward the ambulance doors.
“My son died because everyone kept saying there was more time.”
Dominic's eyes softened for half a second.
“Your son?”
“Leo.”
“What happened?”
I looked at him.
“He was born with a heart defect.”
Dominic said nothing.
“He didn't make it.”
A long silence passed.
Then he asked:
“Why did you come toward my son?”
I looked at the ambulance.
“Because I know what helpless sounds like.”
Dominic stared at me.
And somewhere outside, the ambulance doors slammed shut.
The baby was rushed away.
But before Dominic followed—
his phone rang.
He answered.
Nobody spoke on the other end.
Dominic's expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
Then his face went pale.
“Say that again.”
He listened.
May you like
And whispered:
“That's impossible.”
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