Chapter 3 - The Corridors of Power
The Maybach tore through the rainy midnight streets of Boston like an iron bullet.
Sophia sat in the leather passenger seat, her knuckles white as she squeezed her own hands together.
Dante drove himself.
His head of security followed two car lengths behind in a black SUV.
"Julian Hale doesn't waste time," Dante remarked, eyes fixed on the wet asphalt reflecting the neon streetlamps.
"He knew the moment I took you out of the ballroom that his first strike had failed."
"He is using your mother as an insurance policy."
"If anything happens to her, I will burn his world to ashes," Sophia whispered, the raw hatred in her voice surprising even herself.
Dante glanced sideways at her.
"Anger is useless unless it has a structure, Sophia."
"Right now, you are a maid accused of grand larceny."
"Your word against Julian Hale's foundation is worth nothing in a courtroom."
"Then why are you helping me?" Sophia demanded, turning to look at his sharp profile.
"You don't care about a maid."
"You don't care about my mother."
"You only care about your shipping terminals."
Dante took a sharp turn onto Commonwealth Avenue, the tires gripping the slick pavement without a sound.
"I care about debts," Dante replied coldly.
"Five years ago, your father David left a sealed envelope in my father’s private safe."
"My father died before he could read it."
"When Julian Hale made his move tonight, he mentioned a specific phrase: 'The Leviathan Ledger.'"
"That phrase was only written in one place: your father's personal notebooks."
"They didn't just frame you tonight to freeze my assets, Sophia."
"They did it to see if you had the missing piece David hid before he died."
Before Sophia could process his words, the Maybach pulled into the emergency bay of Saint Jude’s Memorial Hospital.
Red and blue emergency lights were not flashing; instead, two private black ambulances were idling near the loading dock.
Four men in grey tactical suits were standing near the service elevator.
Dante cut the engine and stepped out into the pouring rain.
He did not carry an umbrella.
Sophia jumped out and ran after him, the cold rain soaking through her thin cotton uniform in seconds.
The lead security guard stepped into Dante's path as they entered the glass sliding doors.
"Private transfer in progress, sir."
"You cannot enter this ward."
Dante didn't slow his stride.
He grabbed the guard by the throat with one hand, slammed him back against the concrete pillar of the entrance, and leaned in close.
"Do you know whose name is on the deed of this hospital wing?" Dante whispered.
The guard choked, trying to pry Dante's fingers loose.
"Moretti," the man wheezed.
"Then move before I break your collarbone," Dante said, shoving him aside like a bag of garbage.
Sophia ran down the tiled corridor toward Room 412.
Her mother’s room.
Two men in white medical coats were unhooking the digital monitors from Maya Bennett’s bed.
Maya lay there, frail, her skin grey and papery, her eyes fluttering open with exhaustion.
"Mom!" Sophia screamed, lunging into the room.
One of the transport workers stepped between them, his hand reaching into his coat jacket.
"Step back, young lady."
A shot echoed down the hospital corridor.
Sophia screamed and covered her ears.
The transport worker froze as the plaster wall three inches from his ear exploded into fine dust.
Dante stood in the doorway, a sleek black pistol lowered at a forty-five-degree angle, smoke drifting from the suppressed barrel.
"Take your hands out of your pockets very slowly," Dante commanded.
The room became completely still except for the steady, rhythmic beep of Maya’s heart monitor.
"Mr. Moretti," the lead transport driver said, holding his hands open.
"We were contracted legally by the Hale Medical Trust."
"The Hale Trust does not possess power of attorney over this patient," Dante said, stepping into the room.
"I do."
Sophia stared at Dante in utter shock.
"You what?" she breathed.
Dante pulled a folded document from his inside pocket and dropped it onto Maya’s bedside table.
"Twenty minutes ago, my legal council filed an emergency guardianship petition backed by an unconditional debt assumption."
"All past and future medical expenses for Maya Bennett have been paid in full by Moretti Global."
"She is now under my direct personal protection."
The transport workers exchanged nervous glances.
They knew when an assignment had collapsed.
Without a word, they backed out of the room, leaving the equipment wires dangling.
Sophia fell to her knees beside her mother’s bed, taking Maya’s frail, cold hand in hers.
"Sophia..." Maya murmured, her voice weak as dry leaves.
"They were asking... asking about the blue book."
"They said you were in jail."
"I'm here, Mom."
"I'm right here."
Tears finally broke through Sophia's defenses, spilling down her cheeks and washing away the dried blood on her lip.
Dante stood by the window, staring out into the rain-soaked night.
"She can't stay here," Dante said, his voice flat and impersonal.
"Julian Hale knows this location."
"He will try a different lever tomorrow."
"Where can she go?" Sophia asked, wiping her eyes with trembling fingers.
"My private estate in the Berkshires."
"There is a full medical clinic on the grounds."
"And what about me?" Sophia asked, standing up to face him.
Dante turned around, his eyes locking onto hers with a darkness that made her skin prickle.
"You are coming back to the estate with me."
"Starting tomorrow morning, you are no longer a maid in my house."
"You are my personal assistant."
May you like
"And tomorrow night, you and I are attending the Laurent Charity Gala together."
"As an answer to their little magic trick."
