Chapter 4 - The Recovery of the Don
Three weeks passed in a tense, silent lockdown across the Duca estate.
The news of Vincent Romano’s attempted coup had been kept entirely within the inner circle. Vincent had been removed from the property under the cover of night, his faction dismantled, and his assets seized by Marco Bruno.
Down in the subterranean medical suite built beneath the estate’s west wing, Don Lorenzo Duca slowly returned from the brink of death.
Dr. Ricci had worked miracles, stabilizing the internal bleeding and repairing the severed artery in his shoulder. For twenty days, Lorenzo had laid in a semi-conscious state, feverish and weak, but his formidable strength slowly dragged him back to reality.
On the twenty-first day, Lorenzo opened his eyes fully. The fever was gone.
He sat up in the medical bed, his chest wrapped tightly in white bandages. Standing at the foot of his bed was Marco.
"How is the household?" Lorenzo asked, his voice weak but regaining its characteristic iron firmness.
"Secure, Don Lorenzo," Marco replied, bowing his head slightly. "Vincent’s network has been eliminated. The regional bosses have fallen back in line. The syndicate is yours again."
Lorenzo looked toward the window, where the autumn sun was casting golden rays across the floorboards. "And the girl? The maid's daughter?"
"Sophia and Emma have remained in the servants' wing under my personal protection," Marco said softly. "Sophia tried to resign twice, thinking she had dragged you into danger by coming down those stairs."
Lorenzo let out a low, rough laugh that turned into a slight cough. "Resign? The woman who saved my life wants to resign?"
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He swung his legs over the side of the bed, pushing past Dr. Ricci’s protestations as he stood up, steadying himself on Marco’s shoulder.
"Bring them to my study," Lorenzo commanded. "Now."
