A DANGEROUS VOW

EPISODE 14 — THE THREAT

The corridor was empty.

The guard returned a few moments later, breathing heavily.

"Donna, he got away."

Bianca looked at him.

"Who was he?"

"I don't know. He disappeared through the emergency exit."

Bianca looked toward her mother's room.

"Did you see his face?"

"Not clearly."

Her hands tightened around her bag.

Someone had lured her to the hospital.

Someone had known exactly which words would make her panic.

And whoever had done it had been close enough to enter the hospital without being noticed.

Her mother reached for her hand.

"Bianca, tell me what's happening."

Bianca forced a smile.

"Nothing, Mom. There was just a misunderstanding."

Sofia didn't look convinced.

"You look frightened."

"I'm fine."

Before Sofia could answer, the door opened.

Two hospital security officers entered.

"We're sorry, Miss Moretti. We're checking the cameras."

Bianca nodded.

"Please do."

Her guard stepped aside and made a phone call.

"Don Romano needs to know."

Bianca heard him.

She immediately turned.

"Don't tell Lorenzo yet."

The guard stared at her.

"Donna, I have to."

"I said don't."

"Bianca."

She froze.

She knew that voice.

Lorenzo stood in the doorway.

His expression was frighteningly calm.

Bianca's heart sank.

"How did you get here so fast?"

"I was informed."

He walked into the room.

His eyes moved from Bianca to Sofia, making sure she was unharmed.

Then he looked at the guard.

"Report."

The guard explained everything.

Lorenzo listened without interrupting.

When he finished, Lorenzo asked,

"Did anyone touch your mother?"

"No."

"Did anyone threaten you?"

"No."

"Did you see the man?"

"Only from a distance."

Lorenzo nodded.

Then he looked at Bianca.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She lowered her eyes.

"I didn't want to cause a problem."

His jaw tightened.

"Someone deliberately brought you here."

"I know."

"And you thought keeping it from me was a good idea?"

"I didn't want you to worry."

Lorenzo stared at her.

"Bianca, you're my wife."

The words came out before he could stop them.

She looked up.

Lorenzo seemed to realize what he'd said.

He continued more quietly.

"If someone comes after you, I need to know."

Bianca nodded.

"Okay."

---

OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL

Lorenzo stood beside the car while his security chief approached.

"We checked the cameras."

"And?"

"The man entered through the staff entrance."

"Who gave him access?"

"We're investigating."

Lorenzo's expression hardened.

"Find him."

"We will."

"Before Ferraro knows we've found him."

His security chief hesitated.

"Do you think Ferraro ordered this?"

Lorenzo looked toward the hospital.

"I don't know."

"Then who?"

Lorenzo said nothing.

Because there was something that bothered him more.

The man hadn't tried to hurt Bianca.

He had only wanted to frighten her.

That meant the goal wasn't murder.

It was a warning.

And Lorenzo knew exactly what that meant.

Someone was testing how far they could push him.

---

ROMANO MANSION

Bianca returned to the mansion with Lorenzo.

She expected him to go straight to his office.

Instead, he followed her upstairs.

She turned.

"Why are you following me?"

"Because we're talking."

"I thought you had work."

"I do."

He closed the bedroom door.

Bianca looked at him.

"What?"

Lorenzo remained silent for a moment.

Then he asked,

"Are you afraid?"

She hesitated.

"A little."

He nodded.

"I expected that."

Bianca sat on the edge of the bed.

"I keep thinking about my mother."

"She's safe."

"But what if next time she isn't?"

Lorenzo sat across from her.

"Then we make sure there is no next time."

Bianca looked at him.

"How?"

"Security."

She sighed.

"That's not enough."

"I know."

For once, Lorenzo didn't argue.

Bianca stared at him.

"You really think Ferraro did this?"

"I think Ferraro is capable of it."

"And if he did?"

Lorenzo's expression became cold.

"Then he'll regret it."

Bianca studied him.

There was something different about him now.

Not the cold Don everyone feared.

A man who was genuinely angry because someone had frightened her.

She looked away.

"Thank you."

Lorenzo stood.

"You don't need to thank me."

He reached the door.

"Lorenzo?"

He stopped.

She smiled faintly.

"Goodnight."

He looked back at her.

"Goodnight, Bianca."

---

FERRARO'S OFFICE

Ferraro was reading a report when De Luca entered.

"The hospital plan worked."

Ferraro looked up.

"Did anyone touch her?"

"No."

"Good."

De Luca frowned.

"You wanted her frightened?"

"I wanted Lorenzo's attention."

"And?"

"He came immediately."

Ferraro smiled.

"Exactly."

He closed the report.

"Now we know something important."

"What?"

"Bianca is no longer just Lorenzo's wife."

De Luca waited.

Ferraro looked toward the window.

"She's his weakness."

---

THE NEXT MORNING

Bianca walked into the dining room and stopped.

Everyone was already there.

Alessandro.

Elena.

Lorenzo.

And several members of the Romano family.

Alessandro looked serious.

"We need to discuss something."

Bianca sat beside Lorenzo.

"What happened?"

Alessandro looked at her.

"After what happened at the hospital, the family believes you need additional protection."

Bianca sighed.

"I already have guards."

"More."

She glanced at Lorenzo.

He didn't say anything.

Bianca looked back at Alessandro.

"I don't want to live like a prisoner."

"You won't."

"Then what?"

Lorenzo finally spoke.

"You'll have a driver."

"I already have one."

"A second one."

"Why?"

"Because the first one will have to take a different route every day."

Bianca stared at him.

"You're serious."

"Very."

She sighed.

"Fine."

Alessandro smiled faintly.

"Good."

But before anyone could continue, a servant rushed into the room.

"Don."

Lorenzo looked up.

"What?"

The servant handed him an envelope.

"No name. It was left at the main gate."

Lorenzo opened it.

Inside was a single photograph.

Bianca and her mother at the hospital.

On the back, four words had been written.

SHE ISN'T SAFE YET.

The room went silent.

Bianca stared at the photograph.

Lorenzo's hand tightened around it.

Then he looked toward his security chief.

"Seal the gates."

The man immediately moved.

Lorenzo turned to Bianca.

"From this moment on, you don't go anywhere alone."

Bianca swallowed.

"Whoever is doing this..."

Lorenzo looked at the photograph again.

"...just made a very serious mistake."

He had spent years protecting the Romano empire.

Now someone had threatened the woman who had accidentally become part of it.

And Lorenzo Romano had never been known for forgiving threats.