Chapter 2 - The Mother's Awakening
Sarah woke up to the sound of soft classical music and the smell of fresh lavender.
She slowly opened her eyes, expecting to see the moldy ceiling of the public overflow ward.
Instead, she was staring at a massive crystal chandelier hanging from a vaulted ceiling.
She was lying in a luxurious, king-sized hospital bed wrapped in heated silk blankets.
Panic instantly gripped her chest as she frantically searched the massive room for her daughter.
"Mia!" Sarah called out, her voice raspy and weak.
"She is entirely safe," a deep, calm voice answered from the corner of the room.
Adrian Moretti was sitting in a leather armchair, casually reading a financial newspaper.
Mia was asleep on a velvet sofa nearby, covered by Adrian’s expensive cashmere coat.
Sarah pulled the silk sheets up to her chin, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Why are you doing this for us?" Sarah asked, her voice shaking with fear.
Adrian folded his newspaper and looked directly into her terrified eyes.
"Your daughter walked into a room full of armed killers today because she was afraid you would lose everything."
"She looked me dead in the eye and told me she was doing your job."
"I respect loyalty, Miss Carter, and your daughter has more courage than most men I employ."
Sarah let out a heavy, shaking breath, burying her face in her trembling hands.
"I didn't have a choice," Sarah sobbed quietly.
"I owe a terrible man a lot of money, and if I lose my job, he promised to take Mia away from me."
The temperature in the luxurious hospital room seemed to drop by ten degrees instantly.
Adrian slowly leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"What is this man's name?" Adrian asked, his voice completely void of emotion.
Sarah hesitated, terrified of the violent world she had accidentally stumbled into.
"Tommy Rossi," Sarah whispered, shivering at the mere sound of his name.
Adrian recognized the name immediately.
Rossi was a low-level loan shark who operated three blocks away from Adrian’s main shipping port.
He was a filthy, greedy rat who preyed on desperate single mothers and vulnerable immigrants.
"How much do you owe him?" Adrian asked.
"Ten thousand dollars," Sarah cried. "It was for my mother's funeral, but the interest keeps doubling every week."
Adrian stood up slowly, adjusting the cuffs of his perfectly tailored suit.
"You no longer owe Tommy Rossi a single dime."
"Rest now, Sarah, because you and your daughter are under my personal protection."
Adrian walked out of the VIP suite, closing the heavy wooden door softly behind him.
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He pulled a secure phone from his pocket and dialed Marcus.
"Bring the car around," Adrian ordered. "We are going to pay Tommy Rossi a little visit."
