Chapter 9 - ELENA’S WARNING
Doctors rushed in.
Rosa screamed Elena’s name until Tomas wrapped both arms around her and held her back.
Bruno barked once, then stood perfectly still, eyes locked on the room.
I had seen men die.
I had seen blood turn floors slick.
But nothing had ever made me feel as useless as watching a seven-year-old fight for one more breath while machines argued with God.
After ten minutes, the monitor steadied.
A doctor came out soaked in sweat. “She’s stable. But no more stimulation. No questions. No visitors except parents.”
Mara grabbed my sleeve before I could object. “She gave us a name.”
“Lily.”
“We already had Lily.”
“No,” I said. “Elena wasn’t identifying her. She was warning us.”
Tony’s phone buzzed.
His face changed.
“What?” I asked.
“Channel 9 just got a fire alarm. Entire building evacuated. Nurse Mercer’s sister isn’t answering.”
Harlan moved fast.
Too fast.
That meant someone in the hospital had called him.
I looked around.
Doctors.
Nurses.
Security.
Visitors.
Any one of them could be his.
Then I noticed a man near the vending machines.
Gray coat. Baseball cap. No drink. No snack.
Watching Elena’s room.
I moved.
He saw me coming and ran.
Tony cursed and followed.
The man shoved through a stairwell door. I hit it two seconds later and heard footsteps pounding downward.
Second floor.
First floor.
Basement.
The man burst into the loading bay and reached for his waistband.
Bruno came from nowhere.
He hit the man like a truck.
The gun skittered across concrete.
The man screamed as Bruno pinned him by the coat, jaws inches from his throat.
I picked up the gun.
“Who sent you?”
He spat blood. “I’m nobody.”
“Then nobody dies badly.”
His eyes flicked to Bruno.
“Harlan,” he said. “He said make sure the girl doesn’t wake up again.”
Tony arrived breathing hard.
I crouched. “Where is Lily Shaw?”
“I don’t know.”
Bruno growled lower.
“I don’t know!” he cried. “But there’s a transfer tonight. Before midnight. Kids, women, everyone. He’s clearing the warehouse because of the drive.”
“Where?”
The man squeezed his eyes shut.
Tony pressed the gun to his knee.
“Where?”
“Red Hook,” he sobbed. “Pier 31.”
Midnight trade at College Point.
Real transfer at Red Hook.
Harlan thought he was clever.
May you like
But he had made one mistake.
He forgot Bruno could smell fear.
