Chapter 5: A King's Wrath
875 Words
The piercing sound of the heart monitor echoed through the private hospital corridor.
Aurora sat motionless outside the operating room, her hands stained with Marco's blood.
Every few seconds, she stared at the red light above the operating room doors.
SURGERY IN PROGRESS.
The words felt heavier with every passing minute.
Around her, dozens of armed men stood silently against the walls.
No one spoke.
No one even looked at one another.
Fear had settled over the De Luca family.
Not because of the attack.
Because Marco Vitale had been shot.
He wasn't just Alessandro's adviser.
He was his closest friend.
The man who had stood beside him since childhood.
Aurora stole a glance at Alessandro.
He stood near the large window overlooking Rome.
His back was straight.
His hands rested inside his trouser pockets.
His expression revealed nothing.
Yet somehow...
His silence frightened everyone more than shouting ever could.
One of the guards approached cautiously.
"Boss..."
Alessandro didn't move.
"What?"
"We've captured two of Riccardo's men."
"And?"
"They're refusing to talk."
A dangerous calm settled over Alessandro.
"Take me to them."
The guard hesitated.
"The doctor said—"
"I wasn't asking."
"Yes, Boss."
Aurora watched him disappear down the hallway.
Something told her whoever those prisoners were...
They were about to regret surviving.
Deep beneath the hospital...
A hidden steel door opened.
Inside was a soundproof interrogation room.
Two masked men sat tied to metal chairs.
Their faces were bruised.
One spat blood onto the floor.
"So..."
"The great Alessandro De Luca finally arrives."
Alessandro slowly removed his black leather gloves.
His gray eyes remained fixed on the prisoners.
"Who gave the order?"
Neither man answered.
Instead...
One laughed.
"You've become weak."
Alessandro raised an eyebrow.
"Have I?"
"You risked everything..."
"...for a woman."
Silence.
Then...
Alessandro pulled out a chair and calmly sat opposite them.
"I'll ask once more."
"Who gave the order?"
The second prisoner smiled.
"You already know."
"Riccardo."
"Exactly."
"So why ask?"
Alessandro leaned forward.
"Because I want to know who inside my organization told him where to find Aurora."
The room fell silent.
The prisoners exchanged a quick glance.
It lasted less than a second.
But Alessandro noticed.
"So..."
"There is a traitor."
Neither man spoke.
Alessandro stood.
He walked toward the door.
The prisoners smiled.
One whispered,
"Running away?"
Without turning around, Alessandro spoke to the guards outside.
"Bring in Dante."
A moment later...
The steel door opened again.
A massive German Shepherd walked into the room.
The dog stopped beside Alessandro, its eyes fixed on the prisoners.
The laughter disappeared instantly.
One prisoner swallowed hard.
"You wouldn't..."
Alessandro calmly scratched the dog's head.
"I don't enjoy torture."
"I prefer honesty."
He looked at the two men one final time.
"You have sixty seconds."
Then he walked out.
The heavy steel door slammed shut behind him.
Seconds later...
Terrified screams echoed through the underground corridor.
None of the guards flinched.
They had heard those screams before.
Upstairs...
Aurora wandered into the hospital chapel.
The room was empty.
Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows, painting the marble floor with shades of blue and gold.
She slowly knelt before the altar.
"I'm not even sure if You can hear me," she whispered.
"But if You can..."
"Please save Marco."
"He doesn't deserve this."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"And if someone has to suffer..."
"Let it be me."
A quiet voice answered behind her.
"Always carrying other people's burdens."
Aurora turned.
Alessandro stood at the chapel entrance.
For a moment...
Neither of them spoke.
She quickly wiped away her tears.
"I didn't know you believed in prayer."
"I believe in hope."
He replied.
"They're not always the same thing."
Aurora studied him.
"There was sadness in your eyes."
His expression hardened again.
"You imagined it."
"No."
"You were worried."
He looked away.
"When you lead thousands of people..."
"...every life matters."
"Especially Marco's?"
A long silence followed.
Finally...
"He once took a bullet meant for me."
Aurora's heart softened.
"And today..."
"He almost did it again."
Before she could respond...
The operating room doors burst open.
A surgeon hurried toward them.
Everyone in the hallway immediately stood.
"Mr. De Luca."
Alessandro stepped forward.
"He's alive."
A collective sigh of relief spread through the corridor.
"But..."
The doctor's smile faded.
"The next twenty-four hours are critical."
"If he survives until tomorrow..."
"...he'll recover."
Aurora closed her eyes in relief.
Thank God.
Alessandro simply nodded.
"Thank you, Doctor."
As the surgeon walked away...
Marco was wheeled past them.
His face was pale.
Machines surrounded him.
Yet as he passed Alessandro...
He managed the faintest smile.
"Told you..."
"I'm hard..."
"...to kill."
Alessandro almost smiled.
"Don't make me test that."
For the first time since the attack...
Laughter echoed through the corridor.
It was brief.
But it reminded everyone of something important.
Hope was still alive.
Far across the city...
Riccardo Moretti stood before a wall covered with photographs.
Each picture showed someone connected to Alessandro.
His advisers.
His soldiers.
His business partners.
Then...
He pinned Aurora's photograph in the center.
He smiled.
"The queen has entered the board."
He picked up a red marker.
Slowly...
He drew a circle around her picture.
Then he whispered,
"Checkmate is only a matter of time."
- Writer
