Nobody Told the New Nurse Which Patient to Avoid—So She Healed the Mafia Boss First
Chapter 3
Nora had never been good at ignoring things.
That was probably why she’d become a nurse.
She noticed small details.
Changes in breathing.
Slight shifts in facial expression.
A patient’s hand trembling before he admitted he was scared.
And now Adrian Cole’s reaction to three letters.
N.B.
She didn’t ask again.
Instead, she checked his medication.
Everything seemed normal.
Then she noticed one dose.
A sedative.
Too high.
She checked the chart.
The order had been signed by Dr. Marcus Bell.
She asked the pharmacist to verify it.
The pharmacist looked uncomfortable.
“That dose is unusual.”
“Could it be accidental?”
“Possible.”
“But?”
He lowered his voice.
“Not for someone with his blood pressure.”
Nora’s stomach tightened.
She returned to Room 417.
Adrian was asleep.
Too deeply.
She checked his oxygen.
Low.
“Nobody gives that dose again.”
She called the doctor.
No answer.
Then the door opened.
A tall man in an expensive black suit entered.
“You’re the new nurse.”
Nora looked up.
“Who are you?”
“Daniel Cole.”
Adrian’s younger cousin.
She had seen him outside the hospital.
Always surrounded by men.
Always smiling.
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“How is he?”
“Stable.”
“Good.”
He approached the bed.
Nora noticed Adrian’s pulse suddenly increased.
Even unconscious, his body reacted.
Daniel noticed too.
“He hates hospitals.”
Nora said nothing.
Daniel smiled.
“You should get used to the family.”
“I don’t know your family.”
“You will.”
He placed a hand on Adrian’s shoulder.
Adrian’s eyes opened immediately.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel smiled.
“Checking on you.”
“Get out.”
Daniel laughed.
“Still difficult.”
He looked at Nora.
“Make sure he gets plenty of rest.”
Then he left.
Adrian stared at the door.
“You don’t trust him.”
Nora said it quietly.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t care if I recover.”
Nora glanced at the medication chart.
“He’s also visiting too often.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You noticed.”
“I notice everything.”
A long silence.
Then Adrian asked:
“Why did you become a nurse?”
Nora looked surprised.
“That’s random.”
“Answer.”
“My mother.”
“What about her?”
“She got sick.”
Adrian’s expression softened slightly.
“I was fourteen when she died.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She was in and out of hospitals.”
Nora smiled sadly.
“One nurse treated her like a number.”
“What happened?”
“My mother was terrified.”
Nora looked at Adrian.
“Then another nurse sat beside her for forty minutes.”
“And?”
“She held her hand.”
Adrian said nothing.
“That nurse couldn’t save my mother.”
Nora’s voice softened.
“But she made her feel less alone.”
Adrian looked away.
“That’s why I became a nurse.”
A moment passed.
Then Nora saw something.
A photograph slipped from Adrian’s jacket.
A little girl.
About ten years old.
Standing beside him.
Nora picked it up.
“Your sister?”
Adrian took it carefully.
“My daughter.”
Nora froze.
“You have a daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“Who has her?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Someone I don’t trust.”
“Daniel?”
“No.”
He looked toward the window.
“My former lawyer.”
Nora studied him.
“Why would a lawyer take your daughter?”
“He doesn’t have her.”
“Then what?”
Adrian’s voice became quiet.
“He controls the person who does.”
Nora frowned.
“What’s her name?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Emma.”
He looked at the photograph.
“She thinks I’m dead.”
Nora felt something shift inside her.
The most feared man in the city wasn’t worried about money.
He was worried about his daughter.
Then Adrian grabbed Nora’s hand.
“Listen to me.”
She looked at him.
“Do not let anyone know I told you about her.”
“Why?”
“Because if they know you care…”
He paused.
“…they’ll use you.”
A knock came at the door.
Nora released his hand.
A man entered carrying flowers.
Adrian’s face changed instantly.
“Don’t.”
The man smiled.
“Hello, Adrian.”
Nora looked between them.
Adrian whispered:
“That’s the man I told you about.”
