Chapter 1 - THE GIRL WITH MY EYES
The moment Marco told me the men who attacked Enzo were asking about Elena Vasquez, I knew the shooting near the Chicago River hadn't been random.
Someone was hunting my family.
A family I hadn't even known existed.
"Who told them about the girl?" I asked.
Marco glanced toward the blood collection bag hanging beside my chair.
"We don't know yet."
"Then find out."
"Luca, we need to get you somewhere secure."
I looked through the glass toward the operating room.
Seventeen years.
Seventeen years of believing Sofia Bennett had walked away because she couldn't love a man like me.
Seventeen years of believing I would never become a father.
And now a girl with Sofia's eyes and my face was bleeding to death twenty feet away.
"I'm not leaving," I said.
Marco stepped closer.
"Whoever attacked Enzo may come here."
"Then make sure they don't get inside."
The nurse beside me looked terrified.
I softened my voice.
"How much longer?"
"We're finishing the collection, Mr. Mancini."
I nodded.
My entire life, people had associated my name with violence.
Tonight, for the first time, I wanted it associated with saving someone.
When the collection ended, a hospital staff member took the blood away for the required testing and processing.
I pulled my sleeve down.
Then I looked at Hannah.
"Does Elena have family here?"
Her expression changed.
"Her mother was brought in after the crash."
My heart stopped.
"Her mother?"
Hannah nodded.
"She's being examined in the emergency department. Her condition isn't critical."
I stood so quickly that Marco reached for my arm.
"Sofia Bennett?"
Hannah stared.
"How did you know?"
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Sofia.
Alive.
In the same hospital.
I had imagined seeing her again a thousand times.
Sometimes she apologized.
Sometimes I demanded answers.
Sometimes I simply held her and refused to let go.
But never had I imagined our reunion would happen while our possible daughter fought for her life.
"Take me to her."
Hannah hesitated.
"Mr. Mancini, I can't disclose private patient information without authorization."
I looked toward the surgery doors.
Then lowered my voice.
"Please tell her Luca Mancini is here. Let her decide whether she wants to see me."
Hannah studied me.
Then nodded.
Twenty minutes later, she returned.
"She's willing to speak with you."
My chest tightened.
I followed her through the emergency department.
Then I saw Sofia.
She lay against a raised hospital bed, a white bandage near her temple.
Her dark hair was shorter.
There were faint lines around her eyes.
But she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever loved.
When she saw me, her face drained of color.
"Luca?"
I stopped in the doorway.
"Sofia."
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me since I saw Elena.
"Is she mine?"
Sofia closed her eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Luca..."
"Please."
My voice broke.
"Don't lie to me."
She looked directly at me.
And whispered:
"Yes."
The world went silent.
I gripped the doorframe.
"Elena is your daughter," Sofia continued.
"She's been your daughter for seventeen years."
I couldn't speak.
I had a daughter.
A child who had taken her first steps without me.
Learned to read without me.
Celebrated birthdays without me.
A girl who'd probably asked about her father.
And I hadn't even known her name.
"Why?" I whispered.
Sofia began crying.
"Because someone told me they'd kill her if you ever discovered she existed."
I stepped closer.
"Who?"
She looked toward the hallway.
Her terror was immediate.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood turn cold.
"The same person who arranged the ambush that nearly killed Enzo."
