"No."
"Did you know?"
"I was sixteen. My father had just been murdered. I didn't know what was happening inside the family."
She looked away.
"Everyone knew something except me."
Luca remained silent.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that his explanation could not repair eleven years of absence.
Elena stood.
"I need to leave."
"You can't."
She turned sharply.
"Excuse me?"
"Someone tried to kill me tonight. Someone knows your identity. If you leave this hospital alone, you may not reach your apartment."
"I've survived eleven years without your protection."
"Apparently, someone has decided those eleven years are over."
"I didn't ask for this."
"Neither did I."
She looked at him.
There was no arrogance in his voice now.
Only exhaustion.
He reached for the water beside the bed.
"Stay until morning. Vincent will arrange a secure room."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll ask Vincent to escort you home with protection."
"Why would you do that?"
Luca looked at her for a long moment.
"Because your father once saved my life."
Elena frowned.
"When?"
"When I was fourteen. I was in a car with my father. We were attacked. Marco pulled me out through the rear door while the driver was still firing."
He paused.
"I never thanked him properly."
Elena looked at the floor.
"Then perhaps you should find him."
Luca's expression changed.
"I intend to."
***
At dawn, the security footage arrived.
Vincent watched it twice.
The man in the gray suit entered through the service corridor at 9:37 p.m.
He placed the envelope near the decorative plant.
He turned toward the ballroom.
Then he removed a small device from his pocket.
He did not approach Luca.
He did not touch the wine.
He simply watched.
At 10:12 p.m., he exited through the loading dock.
Vincent paused the recording.
"Zoom in."
The technician enlarged the image.
A scar became visible near the man's ear.
Vincent recognized him.
"That's impossible."
Luca was sitting in a wheelchair beside the monitor.
"What?"
Vincent pointed.
"Daniel Cross."
Luca stared.
"He's dead."
"Apparently not."
Daniel Cross had worked for Antonio Moretti.
He had been one of Salvatore's most trusted men.
Eleven years earlier, he had been accused of betraying the family and was believed to have been killed during an operation outside the city.
Luca looked at the image again.
"Find him."
Vincent nodded.
"Alive?"
Luca's eyes remained cold.
"Preferably."
***
Elena had not slept.
She sat in a small room on the private floor, staring at the envelope.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
"Elena."
Her hand tightened around the phone.
"Who is this?"
"Someone who knew your father."
"Where is he?"
"Alive."
She closed her eyes.
"Where?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because the people who killed his reputation are still alive."
Elena stood.
"Tell me where he is."
"Your father asked me to give you a message."
"What message?"
"Don't trust the man wearing the Moretti ring."
The call ended.
Elena stared at the screen.
She looked toward the hospital corridor.
Then she remembered the gold band on Luca's hand.
A ring identical to her father's.
She walked quickly toward his room.
The door was open.
Luca was asleep.
Vincent stood beside the window.
Elena approached him.
"Where did Luca get his ring?"
Vincent turned.
"What?"
"The gold ring. Where did he get it?"
Vincent looked toward the bed.
"His father gave it to him."
"When?"
"Before he died."
Elena felt her stomach tighten.
"Did my father have one?"
Vincent was silent.
"Answer me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Vincent looked at her.
"Because Antonio gave them matching rings."
"Why?"
"Because he considered Marco his brother."
Elena took a step backward.
The message echoed in her mind.
Don't trust the man wearing the Moretti ring.
She looked at Luca.
For the first time, she wondered whether the truth about her father might be more complicated than she had imagined.
***
Salvatore Moretti arrived at the hospital at eight thirty.
He entered the private floor carrying a bouquet of white roses.
"How is my nephew?"
Vincent stepped forward.
"Stable."
"May I see him?"
"He's resting."
Salvatore looked at the door.
Then at Vincent.
"Something is bothering you."
Vincent said nothing.
Salvatore smiled.
"After all these years, you still think you can hide things from me."
"I hide nothing."
"Of course."
He placed the roses on a nearby table.
"Where is the girl?"
Vincent did not answer.
Salvatore's smile faded.
"I asked you a question."
"She's resting."
"Keep her away from Luca."
"Why?"
Salvatore looked toward the room.
"Because people like her bring trouble."
Vincent stared at him.
"She saved his life."
"That doesn't make her trustworthy."
Salvatore adjusted his watch.
"Find out what she knows."
Then he walked away.
Behind the glass door, Luca had been awake for several minutes.
He had heard everything.
He looked at Vincent.
"He's worried."
"Yes."
"About her?"
"About what she knows."
Luca slowly sat up.
"Then let's find out what he knows."
***
At eleven forty, Elena entered Luca's room.
He was sitting by the window, reading a document.
She closed the door.
"Someone called me."
Luca looked up.
"Who?"
"I don't know."