Bound by Duty

Chapter 11 I need answers

Back at the penthouse, Vincenzo was still staring at Lucia's lifeless body when Matteo and Antonio entered the room again. “We’ll find them and make them pay,” said Matteo. Vincenzo turned and glanced at them, then turned back. The bedroom door opened again. Alexandro walked in, and the moment he saw Lucia's lifeless body, he froze. For a second, he didn’t move. His eyes remained fixed on Lucia’s body. “I’m sorry, Signore.”

Vincenzo didn't respond; his eyes remained on Lucia. “What about the guards?” he asked after a long silence.

Alexandro swallowed. “We found their bodies. They were dumped at the maintenance corridor two floors below.” Vincenzo didn't react; his face remained expressionless. After several seconds, he spoke. “I want more men at the villa and the hospital too.” Alexandro gave a short nod and left the room without another word. Vincenzo looked back at Lucia, his expression softened for the briefest moment, before disappearing. “Matteo,” he called out, “Have her moved to the morgue.” Matteo nodded.

He remained silent for a second before turning toward Antonio. “I need everything about Roberto Edoardo… Every piece of information we can get. I want to know everything there is to know about him.” Antonio nodded slowly. Vincenzo continued. “And also find out whether he’s connected to the Edoardo brothers, the ones you talk about.”

“I’ll get started.” Antonio's response. Without another word, Vincenzo turned and walked out of the bedroom. Matteo and Antonio exchanged a glance before following suit. Vincenzo grabbed his coat from the back of a chair and headed toward the entrance. Just as he reached the door, Matteo stopped him. “Where are you going?”

Vincenzo didn't hesitate. “The hospital.”

“To see your father?”

“Yes”

“You know his condition is fragile.” Matteo retort

Vincenzo's hand tightened around his coat. “I need answers… I need answers, Matteo.”

Matteo sighed heavily. “Then I’ll drive.” Vincenzo turned and looked at him. “Then who's going to take care of Lucia's body?” he asked

“But you're not in the right state to drive.”

“I’ll take him,” said Antonio. They both looked at him. Then Vincenzo nodded once. “Fine, you can drive.” Matteo turned and looked toward the bedroom. “Be careful,” he said. Vincenzo didn't answer. He simply turned and walked toward the elevator. Antonio followed close behind.

The drive to the hospital felt endless. The city of Milan moved around them in blurred fragments of headlights and passing buildings. Antonio drove in silence, though he kept glancing toward the passenger seat every few minutes. Vincenzo sat rigidly beside him, one hand pressed against his mouth, his eyes fixed on the windshield. But he wasn’t seeing the road ahead. All he could see was Lucia, sitting at the edge of the bed, staring at him

“Vincenzo… what’s going on?” Antonio’s voice broke through the silence. “Vincenzo… Talk to me.” But he got no response.

Lucia’s voice crashed back into Vincenzo's head so clearly it almost felt real. “Don’t do that. I’m not a child.” His breathing became slightly uneven. “She wanted the truth,” he murmured, almost to himself.

Antonio glanced toward him briefly but said nothing. “She deserved it…” Vincenzo continued, staring ahead blankly. “And I gave her nothing.” He leaned his head back against the seat slowly, shutting his eyes for only a second, but almost immediately, he saw her. The disappointment in her face lingered like someone left standing outside a locked door, begging to be allowed in, while slowly realizing no one on the other side intended to let her in. His voice cracked slightly, “And I didn’t.”

Outside, the city continued moving normally, people crossing streets, traffic lights changing. But inside the car, Vincenzo felt trapped in his own memories. “You know I will always keep you safe.” The words kept echoing as if wanting to punish him. The car slowed at an intersection. Still, he barely noticed. All he could see now was Lucia lying on the floor, her eyes pale. The memory hit him so hard his jaw clenched painfully. The hospital finally came into view ahead. Antonio pulled the car to a slow stop near the entrance. But Vincenzo didn’t move. His hand remained curled tightly against his lap while he stared through the windshield blankly.

For a while, he simply sat there, as if trapped somewhere. Eventually, he exhaled shakily before opening the door. At the hospital, Valentino was the first to see him. He stepped forward immediately. “Vincenzo…” “I heard about Lucia,” Valentino said, placing a hand briefly on his shoulder. “I’m… sorry for your loss. How did it happen?” Vincenzo didn’t respond immediately; instead, he looked at him carefully before asking, “How did you hear about it?”

Valentino blinked. “Mother told me.”

Vincenzo didn’t break his gaze. “When?”

Valentino hesitated, “Not long ago.”

Vincenzo gave a small nod. And walked past him. He found Isabella in De Luca’s room. She turned as he entered. “Did you tell Valentino?”

Isabella frowned slightly. “Tell him what?”

“About Lucia.”

“No,” she responded.

He turned and walked out of the room again, back into the corridor. Valentino was still there. Waiting. Their eyes met, but he kept his expression neutral. Vincenzo nodded once and walked past him. He didn’t linger in the hallway. He headed straight to the doctor’s office. The door opened without a knock. The doctor looked up, slightly startled.

“Vincenzo,”

“We’re moving him,” Vincenzo said, cutting straight through.

The doctor blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“My father,” Vincenzo continued, his tone calm, “We’re taking him home.”

The doctor leaned back slightly. “That’s not advisable. He’s in a fragile state and needs constant monitoring.”

“He’ll have all of that at home.”

The doctor hesitated. “You don’t understand. If something goes wrong.”

“Something already has,” Vincenzo interrupted. “It’s no longer safe here.”

The doctor looked at him. “If we do this,” he said slowly, “I’ll need time to prepare, equipment, and stand-by nurses.”

“You have it,” Vincenzo replied.

A reluctant nod. “…Alright.”

Vincenzo went back to De Luca’s room. Isabella was there, Valentino and Angelica; all eyes turned to him. Immediately, he walked in

“We’re moving him.”

Valentino reacted immediately. “No.” “He stays here. He needs medical supervision. This isn’t something we improvise.”

Vincenzo shot back. “It’s not safe here.”

“And it’s safer moving him? Transport alone could kill him. This is a hospital, controlled and secure.”

“He’ll have better security at home, our security. This is the best move.”

“He’s right.” Isabella cut in

Both men turned to her. “We move him,” she said, her voice calm but final. “With everything happening, I won’t leave him exposed here.”

Valentino’s jaw tightened slightly. “Mother!”

“No, this is not up for debate.”

Vincenzo nodded once. “I’ll make the arrangements.” He turned and stepped out.

Angelica caught Valentino’s arm. “Come with me.” She didn’t wait for a response and pulled him aside. “What was that?” she whispered sharply.

Valentino frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your opinion,” she said. “It didn’t matter. It wasn’t even considered.”

“You’re the eldest,” she continued. “You should be the one making these decisions, not him.”

Valentino’s expression hardened slightly. Angelica insisted. “Everything is shifting, and you’re standing there letting him take control. You think this ends well for you?”

Outside the hospital, the cold air cut through the night. Vincenzo’s hand brushed briefly against his jaw, then dropped. He turned slightly, gaze drifting past Antonio, before walking past him. Antonio stood still, staring at him without saying a word.