Nobody Told the New Nurse Which Patient to Avoid—So She Healed the Mafia Boss First
Chapter 6
Adrian’s father had died eight years earlier.
But his influence still controlled the family.
His name was Marcus Cole.
He had built the Cole organization through illegal gambling, smuggling, extortion, and political corruption.
Adrian had hated him.
But when his mother was threatened, Adrian took over.
He told himself it was temporary.
It wasn’t.
Power became easier than fear.
Violence became easier than negotiation.
Soon Adrian became worse than the man he had replaced.
At least that’s what everyone believed.
Nora listened quietly.
“What happened to your mother?”
“She tried to leave.”
“Your father stopped her?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Adrian looked at his hands.
“He arranged an accident.”
Nora’s voice softened.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t stop him.”
“You were young.”
“I was twenty-two.”
“You were still his son.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“That was the problem.”
Nora looked at him.
“Then why are you different with Emma?”
His expression softened immediately.
“She knows nothing.”
“What do you mean?”
“She thinks I’m a businessman.”
“And you want to keep it that way.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want her to become me.”
Nora reached toward his chart.
“She deserves a father.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Do I deserve to be one?”
She didn’t answer immediately.
Finally:
“That’s not my decision.”
He smiled faintly.
“Good answer.”
That night, Nora discovered another anomaly.
Adrian’s blood work showed a toxin not associated with the sedative.
She called the laboratory.
The toxicology specialist confirmed it.
Someone had been slowly poisoning Adrian for weeks.
Not enough to kill him immediately.
Enough to weaken him.
Enough to make his death look natural.
Nora returned to his room.
“You need to stay alive.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“That’s usually implied.”
“No.”
She held the lab results.
“Someone has been poisoning you for weeks.”
His face hardened.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
He looked at her.
“Then find out.”
Nora stared.
“Are you ordering me?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“You don’t take orders well.”
“Neither do you.”
He smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“You should leave.”
“Why?”
“Because I have one last enemy.”
“Who?”
“My brother.”
Nora froze.
“Daniel?”
Adrian nodded.
“He isn’t working alone.”
“Who is helping him?”
Adrian hesitated.
Then:
“Victoria.”
Nora stared.
“But she’s your wife.”
“Not anymore.”
“Then why isn’t the divorce final?”
“Because she threatened Emma.”
Nora understood.
She sat beside him.
“Does Emma know?”
“No.”
“Where is she?”
Adrian looked down.
“I don’t know.”
Nora felt her heart sink.
“What?”
“My sister stopped answering me.”
“Clara?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe she took Emma somewhere safe.”
“No.”
His voice became quiet.
“Someone took both of them.”
Nora’s stomach dropped.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“And you haven’t told anyone?”
“I don’t trust the police.”
“Then tell me.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You’ve already done too much.”
Nora reached for his hand.
“I’ll decide that.”
He stared at their hands.
Neither moved.
Then Adrian whispered:
“Why are you doing this?”
Nora answered honestly.
“Because you’re still a patient.”
“That can’t be the only reason.”
She looked at him.
“It isn’t.”
Their eyes met.
For the first time, neither pretended there was nothing between them.
Then a phone rang.
Adrian answered.
A child’s voice came through.
“Daddy?”
His face went pale.
“Emma.”
A man’s voice replaced hers.
“Bring the nurse.”
Adrian stood despite the pain.
“Where?”
The voice laughed.
“Finally.”
Then:
“We want the woman who saved your life.”
