Chapter 5 - The Hostage
Dominic smiled warmly as Tessa froze in the doorway of the hospital room.
He looked perfectly relaxed in his expensive tailored suit, casually sipping a cup of coffee.
"Come inside, Tessa," Dominic said smoothly, gesturing to the empty chair beside him.
Tessa felt the heavy envelope of cash pressing against her ribs beneath her coat.
She stepped into the room slowly, her eyes locked onto the glowing monitors keeping her sister alive.
"What are you doing here?" Tessa asked, forcing her voice to remain completely steady.
"I came to check on sweet little Sarah," Dominic replied, gently patting the sleeping girl's hand.
"It is incredibly expensive to keep someone alive in a coma, isn't it?"
Tessa clenched her fists, knowing exactly what this ruthless man was implying.
"Vincent told me you are a very practical woman," Dominic continued, standing up slowly.
He walked over to the vital sign monitor and carelessly unplugged one of the sensor cables.
The machine began to beep frantically, causing Tessa's heart to jump into her throat.
"I will plug it back in when we have an understanding," Dominic promised with a wicked grin.
"What do you want from me?" Tessa demanded, tears of helpless frustration filling her eyes.
"Vincent survived the sniper, which means my contractors are completely incompetent," he sighed.
Dominic reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, pre-filled medical syringe.
The clear liquid inside the plastic tube looked entirely harmless, but Tessa knew it was pure death.
"He trusts you, and he lets you handle all of his medications," Dominic explained quietly.
He pressed the deadly syringe forcefully into Tessa's trembling palm.
"Inject this into his intravenous line tonight, and it will trigger an untraceable heart attack."
Tessa stared at the weapon in her hand, feeling completely sick to her stomach.
"If you refuse, I will personally come back here and turn off every single machine in this room," he threatened.
He plugged the monitor cable back in, silencing the annoying alarms instantly.
Dominic straightened his silk tie and walked slowly toward the hospital door.
"You have until midnight to make yourself a very rich and happy woman," he whispered as he left.
Tessa collapsed into the chair, sobbing as she looked at her defenseless sister.
She had the money to pay the bills, but Dominic's men would simply kill them anyway.
She wiped her tears, realizing there was only one way to survive this absolute nightmare.
She had to return to the mansion and tell Vincent everything.
Tessa rushed out of the hospital and took a taxi directly back to the Corvino estate.
She snuck past the heavily armed guards and quietly entered Vincent's destroyed bedroom.
May you like
She expected to find him plotting his revenge from his custom leather wheelchair.
Instead, the wheelchair was completely empty, and Vincent was nowhere to be found.
