Chapter 3 - THE NURSE WHO WOULD NOT LOOK AWAY
Grace Bennett had seen powerful men before.
Politicians.
Billionaires.
Celebrities.
Men who believed hospital rules should bend because their names appeared on buildings.
She had learned to treat them the same way she treated everyone else.
As patients.
But Dominic Moretti was different.
Not because he frightened her.
Because he seemed more concerned about the little boy than his own injuries.
Grace entered Leo's room carrying a small stuffed bear.
The boy sat upright in bed.
An oxygen tube rested beneath his nose.
His left arm was bandaged.
He watched her silently.
“Good morning, Leo.”
No answer.
She placed the bear beside him.
“I thought you might like a friend.”
Leo looked at it.
Then whispered:
“Where's Uncle Dom?”
Grace smiled gently.
“He's getting better.”
Leo's eyes filled.
“Is he dead?”
Her heart tightened.
“No, sweetheart.”
Leo swallowed.
“People keep dying.”
Grace sat beside him.
“Who died?”
He looked down at the black cross in his hand.
“My daddy.”
Grace waited.
Then he whispered:
“And maybe Mommy.”
She felt cold.
“Why do you think that?”
Leo's lips trembled.
“The bad men took her.”
Grace leaned closer.
“What bad men?”
He looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
“The ones with the silver bird.”
Grace frowned.
“Silver bird?”
Leo nodded.
“On their coats.”
Grace remembered something.
The bodyguards who accompanied Vanessa Bellini wore small silver falcon pins.
She had noticed them because the design was unusual.
Her stomach tightened.
“Leo, did you see those men at the warehouse?”
He nodded.
“Mommy told me to hide.”
Tears slipped down his cheeks.
“She said Uncle Dom would come.”
Grace took his hand.
“He did.”
Leo shook his head.
“But the fire came.”
Grace left the room and immediately called the attending physician.
Then she contacted hospital security to report the child's disclosure through proper channels.
She didn't question Leo further.
He was traumatized.
He needed trained professionals.
But she knew enough to understand that the child might be a witness.
And witnesses were vulnerable.
Especially when powerful people wanted them silent.
That evening, Vanessa approached Grace near the nurses' station.
“Miss Bennett.”
Grace looked up.
“Yes?”
Vanessa smiled.
“I understand you've been spending time with the boy.”
“I'm part of his care team.”
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Children say strange things after trauma.”
Grace said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“It's important not to encourage fantasies.”
Grace looked directly at her.
“His medical team will determine the appropriate care.”
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“You're making yourself very inconvenient.”
Grace felt a chill.
Then answered calmly:
“My job isn't to be convenient.”
Vanessa stared.
May you like
And for the first time, Grace understood that the woman in front of her wasn't merely jealous.
She was afraid.
