Chapter 4 - THE LITTLE GIRL WHO SAW TOO MUCH
Lorenzo had been taking medication for a heart rhythm condition for nearly two years.
It wasn't life-threatening when properly managed.
But the prescription required careful monitoring.
Camila had insisted on organizing his pills.
She said she worried about him.
He'd found the gesture touching.
Now his daughter sat trembling in his arms, telling him she'd seen her mother tampering with the medication.
"What did you see, sweetheart?"
Isabella wiped her cheeks.
"Mommy had two bottles."
Lorenzo kept his voice gentle.
"Two?"
She nodded.
"One had your name. The other didn't."
He looked at Sophie.
Her expression had hardened.
Isabella continued.
"She poured some pills into the other bottle. Then she put different ones in yours."
Lorenzo felt cold.
"When?"
"Yesterday."
He swallowed.
"Did she see you?"
Isabella nodded.
"She told me not to tell."
"What did she say?"
The little girl's lip trembled.
"She said if I told you, you'd get sick because of me."
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
His daughter had spent twenty-four hours believing she might kill her father by speaking.
He held her face gently.
"Listen to me, Bella."
She looked up.
"Nothing that happens to me is your fault."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
He kissed her forehead.
Then turned toward Sophie.
"We need the medication."
She nodded.
"I know where Camila keeps it."
They moved quickly.
Nico remained in the hallway, frightened but cooperative.
Lorenzo instructed him to contact an independent emergency service and remain with Isabella.
He also made sure the child's safety was the priority.
Sophie retrieved the pill bottles from Camila's dressing room.
Lorenzo photographed them and secured them for medical examination.
He did not know what had been changed.
But he knew he would never again allow someone else to manage his health without oversight.
They returned to Isabella.
The little girl held Sophie's hand.
"Miss Sophie?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Are we leaving?"
Sophie knelt.
"Yes."
"Will Daddy come too?"
Sophie looked toward Lorenzo.
"That's the plan."
Isabella nodded.
Then whispered:
"Good."
They reached the west garage.
The maintenance passage opened behind a row of storage cabinets.
Lorenzo's car was parked nearby.
But before they could move, headlights swept across the windows.
Three black SUVs entered the courtyard.
Lorenzo froze.
Sophie looked toward the vehicles.
"Who's that?"
He recognized the lead car.
Santino's.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
WELCOME HOME, ENZO.
Lorenzo stared at the screen.
A second message followed.
May you like
BRING THE MAID. LEAVE THE GIRL.
And for the first time that night, he understood that Santino had been watching them all along.
