A nurse had brought her a sandwich and a carton of juice.
She had barely touched either.
"Are you his daughter?" the nurse asked gently.
Sofia shook her head.
"No."
"His niece?"
Another shake.
"Then why are you waiting?"
The little girl looked through the glass doors.
"Because he was alone."
The nurse smiled sadly.
Marco heard the answer.
He turned away.
He had served Alessandro for sixteen years.
He had stood beside him during negotiations, funerals, celebrations, and wars.
He had watched men tremble when Alessandro entered a room.
Yet he could not remember the last time anyone had worried about the boss simply because he was alone.
***
Elena arrived at the hospital shortly before noon.
Her face was pale with panic.
She had returned to the staff lounge and discovered that Sofia was missing. After searching the entire mansion, she had learned that her daughter had been taken to the hospital with Alessandro Moretti.
She had nearly collapsed when she heard the name.
Everyone in the city knew who Alessandro was.
Some people admired him.
Others feared him.
Most knew better than to speak about him.
Elena hurried down the corridor.
"Sofia!"
The little girl jumped from her chair.
"Mommy!"
Elena dropped to her knees and embraced her.
"What happened? Are you hurt? Why did you leave the lounge?"
Sofia shook her head.
"I found Mr. Alessandro."
Elena closed her eyes.
She was relieved that her daughter was safe, but another fear had begun replacing the first.
She looked toward Marco.
"Please forgive her. She didn't mean to cause trouble. I told her to stay in the lounge, but—"
"Your daughter saved the boss."
Elena stopped.
"What?"
Marco studied her.
"She found him after he collapsed. She called me and stayed beside him until we arrived."
Elena looked down at Sofia.
The little girl seemed confused by the sudden attention.
"I just helped him, Mommy."
Elena hugged her again.
"Of course you did, sweetheart."
Marco waited until the embrace ended.
"Mr. Moretti is stable. He'll want to see the girl when he wakes up."
Elena hesitated.
"I don't think that's necessary."
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want her involved in anything connected to your family."
The words were quiet.
But they carried a history Marco did not understand.
He studied her face.
"You have nothing to worry about."
Elena looked directly at him.
"People always say that before something goes wrong."
For the first time, Marco wondered whether Elena Bellini knew more about the Moretti family than she had ever admitted.
***
Alessandro woke shortly after three in the afternoon.
The room was quiet.
A monitor displayed his heartbeat, while sunlight filtered through the curtains.
His first thought was that he had survived.
His second was the little girl.
He turned his head.
Marco was standing beside the window.
"You're awake."
Alessandro swallowed.
"Girl."
Marco approached the bed.
"She's safe."
"Where?"
"Outside. Her mother arrived."
Alessandro tried to sit up.
Marco placed a hand against his shoulder.
"Don't. The doctor said you need rest."
"Bring her."
Marco nodded.
He opened the door and spoke to the nurse.
A few seconds later, Sofia entered.
She was no longer wearing her cardigan. Her hair had been brushed, and Elena had changed her into a clean dress.
The girl stopped beside the bed.
"Hello, Mr. Alessandro."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he held out his hand.
Sofia approached.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Because of you."
She smiled.
"My mommy says you should drink water when you're sick."
Alessandro glanced toward Elena.
She stood near the doorway.
Her expression was guarded.
"You're Elena Bellini?"
"Yes, sir."
"Your daughter was brave."
"She was only trying to help."
"That is more than most adults would do."
Elena lowered her eyes.
"Thank you."
Alessandro looked back at Sofia.
"What do you want?"
The little girl tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"Anything. A toy. A doll. Something nice."
Sofia considered the offer.
Then she shook her head.
"I don't want anything."
Alessandro frowned.
"Nothing?"
"I want you to get better."
For several seconds, he did not speak.
Then something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
It was not the polite expression he used during business meetings.
It was not the cold smile that frightened his enemies.
It was small, almost unfamiliar.
A genuine smile.
Marco noticed.
So did Elena.
And both understood that something had changed.
***
Later that evening, Alessandro asked Marco to investigate the circumstances surrounding his collapse.
The security footage was displayed on a tablet.
Alessandro watched himself enter the sitting room.
Then he watched himself fall.
Marco paused the footage.
"Look here."
A reflection appeared in the glass cabinet.
A man.
Wearing a dark suit.
With a distinctive silver watch.
Alessandro recognized it immediately.
"Vittorio."
Marco nodded.
Vittorio Romano had been part of the organization for twenty years.
He had served Alessandro's father before transferring his loyalty to the son.
He knew the mansion.
He knew the security protocols.
He knew which doors were locked and which guards could be bribed.
Most importantly, he knew Alessandro's medical routine.
"Find him," Alessandro said.
Marco nodded.
"Alive?"
Alessandro looked at the paused image.
"Until I understand why he was standing behind me."
Marco understood.
The investigation would begin immediately.
But before he left, Alessandro spoke again.
"Elena Bellini."
Marco turned.
"What about her?"
"Find out everything."
Marco hesitated.
"She's an employee. Her record is clean."
"Then confirming that should be easy."
Marco nodded.
He left the room.
Alessandro looked toward the window.
For the first time in years, he was not thinking about the organization, the money, or the men who wanted his position.