The Broken Legacy of a Protective Mother and a Shadowed Empire
The device beeped twice in the quiet room.
“One hundred and four point two,” Dr. Sullivan said, his voice trembling.
“Oh God,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision.
I smoothed Luca’s damp hair away from his forehead.
“We need to get the IV started again,” Dr. Sullivan said. “He is dehydrating.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out a bag of saline and a plastic tube.
“I need a clean surface and a light,” he added.
Giovanni walked over, carrying a portable lantern from the shelves.
He set it on the table, casting a bright, white light over Luca.
“Do it quickly,” Giovanni said. “We don’t know how long those doors will hold.”
“They are reinforced steel,” I said, trying to reassure myself. “They can’t get through.”
“They have explosives, Lauren,” Giovanni said quietly. “If they want in, they will find a way.”
He walked back to the monitors, his hand resting on the holster at his hip.
I watched Dr. Sullivan’s hands as he prepared the needle.
The doctor was shaking, his fingers fumbling with the plastic packaging.