Chapter 4 - The Alibi
"Attempted murder?" I repeated, my voice cracking entirely with shock.
The younger police officer stepped completely into my ruined living room, pulling out silver handcuffs.
"Tyler Hale was brutally beaten in the hotel parking garage exactly twenty minutes ago," the officer stated coldly.
"He is currently in a medically induced coma at Chicago General."
I pulled Lily tightly behind my legs, my heart racing uncontrollably.
"I wasn't even there!" I yelled frantically.
"Witnesses saw you publicly threatening him in the ballroom just before the vicious attack."
The officer reached out aggressively to grab my arm.
Before his fingers could even touch me, Giovanni stepped smoothly between us.
"Do not touch my wife," Giovanni commanded, his voice a low, terrifying rumble.
The two officers immediately stepped back, their hands instinctively dropping to their holstered guns.
"And who exactly are you?" the older officer demanded nervously.
"Giovanni Fierro," he answered simply.
The name instantly hung incredibly heavy in the small, tense room.
Both officers went completely pale, suddenly looking very unsure of themselves.
"Mr. Fierro, we actually have a sworn statement from his current wife, Vanessa," the officer stammered.
"She explicitly claimed Jessica hired extremely dangerous men to kill him."
Giovanni let out a harsh, absolutely humorless laugh.
"Vanessa is an incredibly desperate, lying woman."
He reached into his tailored suit jacket and pulled out a heavy gold money clip.
"My wife was with me in my private vehicle during the entire time of the alleged attack."
"We need actual proof of that, sir," the younger officer insisted weakly.
"My driver, my six security guards, and the hotel's underground parking cameras will all officially verify her absolute innocence."
Giovanni stared fiercely down at the terrified policemen.
"If you attempt to wrongfully arrest my wife tonight, I will personally ensure you both spend the rest of your pathetic careers writing parking tickets in the freezing snow."
The officers quickly exchanged a very nervous, defeated look.
"We will deeply review the security footage first thing in the morning," the older officer finally conceded.
They literally backed out of my ruined apartment, practically running down the hallway to escape him.
I collapsed completely onto the torn sofa, pulling Lily tightly into my lap.
"Thank you," I whispered quietly to Giovanni.
He didn't smile, nor did he look even slightly relieved.
"We are totally out of time, Jessica. Grab the bag right now."
I didn't argue with him anymore.
I quickly packed a single duffel bag with Lily’s clothes, her absolute favorite books, and my nursing scrubs.
We walked entirely surrounded by his massive armed guards down to the armored SUV.
Lily fell fast asleep against my shoulder the second we drove away from my ruined apartment.
"Who actually beat Tyler?" I finally asked, breaking the heavy silence in the dark car.
"The ruthless men he aggressively owes money to," Giovanni answered smoothly.
"They used you as the absolute perfect scapegoat to collect their debt."
I stared blankly out the tinted window at the passing city lights.
"If he dies, Vanessa will absolutely take all of his assets, and she will never stop coming after Lily and me."
Giovanni reached over casually and placed his large, warm hand firmly over mine.
"Vanessa is not your biggest problem right now, Jessica."
I turned my head quickly to look at him.
"Then who is?" I asked nervously.
"My father," Giovanni replied simply.
The armored SUV smoothly passed through a massive set of wrought-iron gates.
We drove slowly up a very long, winding driveway perfectly lined with ancient, expensive trees.
A completely massive, incredibly beautiful stone mansion suddenly appeared in the dark distance.
"Why is your father a problem?" I asked softly.
"Because he officially runs the entire Fierro syndicate, and he expects me to forcefully marry the daughter of a rival family tomorrow."
The vehicle parked smoothly in front of the grand entrance.
Giovanni turned directly to face me, his grey eyes intensely serious.
"When we walk through those front doors, you have to absolutely convince him that you are truly the love of my life."
"And what happens if he honestly doesn't believe me?" I asked, trembling slightly.
Giovanni gently unbuckled my seatbelt.
"Then he will ruthlessly eliminate you, because you are actively ruining his massive business merger."
The heavy car door was suddenly opened from the outside by a guard.
Giovanni stepped out first, offering me his strong hand.
"Ready, darling?" he asked, his voice suddenly full of fake, terrifying warmth.
I grabbed his hand and stepped out into the freezing Chicago air.
We walked up the massive stone steps and directly through the grand double doors.
A terrifyingly powerful older man was waiting silently in the massive foyer.
He slowly turned around, glaring entirely at me with pure hatred.
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"So," his father said coldly.
"This is the pathetic little nurse who is going to destroy our entire family empire."
