Nobody Told the New Nurse Which Patient to Avoid—So She Healed the Mafia Boss First
Chapter 9
The bullet had lodged near Adrian’s liver.
Removing it without imaging would be dangerous.
Leaving it would be worse.
Nora improvised.
She stabilized him.
Controlled the bleeding.
Used an old portable ultrasound Marcus had forced someone to bring.
She found the bullet’s position.
But she needed more help.
“Daniel.”
He entered.
“Get me surgical forceps.”
“From where?”
“Hospital.”
He stared.
“If Marcus finds out—”
“He’ll kill Adrian.”
Daniel looked at his brother.
Then at Nora.
He left.
Hours passed.
Nora operated.
Not fully.
She couldn’t.
But she created enough space to control the bleeding.
Adrian survived.
Barely.
When he woke, the first thing he saw was Nora asleep in a chair beside him.
He smiled faintly.
“Stubborn.”
Nora woke.
“You’re alive.”
“Apparently.”
“You’re welcome.”
He tried to sit up.
She pushed him down.
“Don’t.”
“Where is Marcus?”
“Gone.”
“Emma?”
“Safe.”
“Clara?”
“Safe.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Good.”
Nora watched him.
“You knew?”
“Knew what?”
“That Marcus was alive.”
He looked at her.
“No.”
“Then how did you know to trust Daniel?”
“I didn’t.”
She shook her head.
“Daniel helped me.”
Adrian looked surprised.
“He did?”
“Yes.”
“He must have had a reason.”
“He did.”
Nora explained.
Daniel had discovered Marcus was alive six months earlier.
He had tried to expose him.
Marcus threatened him.
So Daniel obeyed publicly while secretly gathering evidence.
Adrian was silent.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he thought you would kill Marcus.”
“I might have.”
Nora looked at him.
“That would have made you exactly like him.”
Adrian stared.
She continued.
“You don’t have to become your father just because he raised you.”
He looked away.
For the first time, she saw something vulnerable in his face.
“I’ve done bad things.”
“I know.”
“People have died because of me.”
“I know.”
“You should hate me.”
“I don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve seen you with Emma.”
His eyes softened.
“She brings out the part of you your father couldn’t destroy.”
Silence.
Nora reached for his hand.
Adrian held it.
Then he whispered:
“I don’t want to lose you.”
Her heart skipped.
“You won’t.”
A phone rang.
Adrian answered.
Victor.
His voice said:
“Marcus has Victoria.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Where?”
“Don’t ask.”
“Tell me.”
“Old family estate.”
The line went dead.
Nora stood.
“We need to go.”
Adrian tried to rise.
“You’re staying here.”
“No.”
“Nora.”
“You’re injured.”
“You just saved my life.”
“Exactly.”
He stared.
She continued:
“I’m not letting you die after all that work.”
A tiny smile appeared.
“You really don’t take orders.”
“No.”
They left.
At the estate, they found Victoria tied to a chair.
But Marcus was nowhere.
Instead, a video began playing.
Marcus stood in front of the camera.
“You’ve always wondered why I chose Adrian.”
He smiled.
“Now you’ll know.”
The video showed a young Adrian.
Then another child.
A little girl.
Then Nora recognized the woman holding the child.
Her own mother.
Nora froze.
“My mother…”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
The video continued.
Marcus was speaking to Nora’s mother.
She was crying.
“You promised you’d protect my daughter.”
Marcus answered:
“I will.”
Nora’s face went white.
Her mother had known Marcus Cole.
And worse—
She had made a deal with him.
