THE NURSE BROKE THE MAFIA BOSS’S ONE FORBIDDEN RULE—THEN DISCOVERED WHY HIS FIRST WIFE NEVER LEFT THAT ROOM ALIVE

I stood frozen in the damp grass, shielding Mia’s small body behind my legs as Marcus leveled his gun at my heart. The cold Chicago wind whipped around us, carrying the metallic scent of fresh blood from his brother’s shoulder wound.

"Marcus, don't do this," I pleaded, my voice remarkably steady despite the terror threatening to snap my knees. "You’re a good man. You saved Dominic. You helped us hide."

"I helped you hide so Anthony couldn't find the girl," Marcus said, his hands trembling slightly. "My brother, Leo... he’s the one who brought the kid here. He was supposed to kill Elena four years ago for Anthony. But he couldn't do it. He let her go. He hid her and the kid. When Anthony found out they were still alive three weeks ago, he forced Leo to bring the girl here to smoke Elena out."

Mia peeked around my leg, looking at the bleeding man on the ground. "He’s the one who gave me cookies when I was in the dark," she whispered.

Marcus swallowed hard, a tear cutting through the dirt on his cheek. "I can't let Dominic find out Leo betrayed him, even if it was under Anthony's orders. Dominic will kill him. I have to deliver you to Anthony to buy my brother's freedom."

Answer one: Marcus brought Mia into the house to protect her from Anthony, while trying to save his brother. Open one: Can I talk Marcus down? Open two: Where is Dominic?

"You think Anthony is going to let either of you live?" I challenged, taking a slow step forward. "He poisoned his own brother. He hired mercenaries to kidnap him. The moment you hand us over, he'll slaughter you both to tie up loose ends."

Marcus hesitated. His eyes darted between me, Mia, and his groaning brother.

That second of doubt was all I needed.

I reached into my scrub pocket, pulled out the small aerosol can of medical adhesive remover I always carried, and sprayed it directly into Marcus's eyes.

He screamed, dropping the gun and clutching his face.

I dove for the weapon, snatching it from the grass. I aimed it at him, my hands shaking violently. "Where did the fake cops take Dominic? Tell me, or I swear to God I'll shoot you where you stand."

Marcus, kneeling and rubbing his burning eyes, pointed toward the industrial district. "Pier 44. The old Caruso shipping warehouse. Anthony is going to execute him there."

Reversal: Marcus wasn't the ultimate villain. He was a desperate pawn. And Elena? She was still out there, alive.

"Call Dominic's loyal men," I ordered Marcus. "Tell them where to go. If you want any chance of redemption, you save your boss."

I grabbed Mia and ran toward my sedan. I didn't wait for backup. I drove like a madwoman through the empty city streets, running red lights, the heavy gun resting on the passenger seat.

When we reached Pier 44, the warehouse was dark, save for a single floodlight near the loading dock. Two fake cops stood guard outside.

I couldn't take them in a firefight. I put the car in gear, slammed my foot on the gas, and drove my sedan straight through the rusted corrugated metal doors of the warehouse.

Metal shrieked. Sparks flew. The car slammed into a stack of wooden pallets and stalled.

I scrambled out, gun raised, coughing through the dust.

Under a single hanging bulb in the center of the warehouse, Dominic was tied to a chair, bleeding heavily from a cut above his eye.

But the person standing over him, holding a pistol to his head, wasn't Anthony.