The Mafia Don Dark Obsession

Chapter 17

Gerald walked into the private room and closed the door quietly behind him. The lights were dim. Lily lay on the bed with bandages covering parts of her face and arms. One eye was swollen and nearly shut. Her lower lip was split. Dark bruises spread across her jaw and disappeared under the hospital gown. She turned her head slowly when she heard his footsteps.

For a moment they only looked at each other.

Gerald pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. His eyes moved over every visible mark on her skin. The memory of carrying her out of that back room was still fresh. The way her body had felt too still in his arms. The blood on her face. Something heavy sat in his chest as he studied her now and he knew he was not done with Elliot yet.

“How bad is it?” he asked.

Lily’s voice came out rough and quiet. “Doctor said nothing is broken. Just deep bruises. I will heal.”

Gerald gave a short nod. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, and kept looking at her.

Lily’s gaze dropped to the blanket covering her legs. “I am sorry,” she said. “For the videos. For the shame it brought on you. People saw those things and connected them to your name.”

“Do not bother about that.”

“The second one,” she continued, still not looking at him. “The one with the two men. That was not me. I need you to know that. It was Miguela.”

Gerald’s voice stayed calm. “I said do not bother about it. It is already being handled.”

Lily finally lifted her eyes to his. “What did you do?”

Gerald did not answer. He only looked at her. The expression on his face was enough for Lily to guess. She closed her mouth and gave a small nod. She understood she should not ask again.

After a short silence she spoke once more, softer this time.

“Thank you. For getting there when you did.”

Gerald’s jaw tightened slightly. “I was investigating the source of the video. I had no idea you'd be there.”

The words hung between them. Lily watched his face, searching for more, but he gave nothing else. The room stayed quiet except for the low hum of the machines beside the bed. Gerald reached out and carefully adjusted the edge of the blanket near her arm. His fingers brushed her skin for a second before he pulled his hand back. At that same moment, his phone rang.

Gerald took it out and saw Mako’s name. He stood up and answered.

“Talk.”

“We have an address for Benson,” Mako said. “I am outside the hospital. We should go now.”

Gerald looked at Lily one last time. “Stay in this room. My men are outside. Do not leave.”

Lily watched him walk to the door. “Gerald.” He paused but did not turn around.

“Be careful,” she said. He nodded before leaving.

Mako was waiting by the black car when Gerald stepped out of the hospital entrance. The two men climbed in without wasting time. The drive to the east side of the city was quiet. Gerald stared out the window, the image of Lily’s bruised face still sitting behind his eyes. The anger had not faded. It had only settled deeper.

The apartment building was old and plain. They took the stairs to the third floor. Mako picked the lock quickly. The door opened into silence. The place was completely empty.

No furniture. No clothes. No dishes. Even the shelves had been cleared. Dust on the floor showed where things had been dragged out in a hurry. Gerald walked through every room. The bedroom. The small kitchen. The bathroom. Nothing remained.

Mako checked the closets and cabinets. “He cleaned out fast. Someone must have warned him.”

Gerald stood in the middle of the empty living room. The air felt stale. “Cameras?”

“I’ll get the guys to pull them. Street cameras too. If he had left in a vehicle, we would have to find it.”

Gerald’s phone rang again. The number was private. He answered and put it on speaker.

“Maldovo.” He said sternly.

The voice on the other end was deep and controlled. “Gerald. This is Don Megalion. I want you at my house tomorrow. There are matters we need to discuss.”

Gerald’s eyes met Mako’s. The timing of this call was too coincidental. Benson’s apartment was just emptied, and now the Don himself was calling.

“I will be there,” Gerald said.

“Good. Do not be late.” The call ended.

Gerald slipped the phone back into his pocket. The empty apartment suddenly felt smaller. Someone had moved Benson out of reach. And now Don Megalion wanted to see him face to face.

He turned toward the door.

“Let’s go,” he said. “We have work to do.”