“As long as that child breathes, you have a reason to fight for what you built.”

“If you ever want to see him grow up, you know what the price is.”

“Step back into the ring, or I will put the boy out of his misery myself.”

The line went dead with a sharp click.

Giovanni threw the phone onto the passenger seat.

He stared straight ahead at the dark highway, his jaw clamped tight.

“He did the blackout,” I said, the truth hitting me like a physical blow.

“Marcus Vance,” Giovanni said, his voice flat.

“My former lieutenant.”

“He shut down the power to a pediatric ward just to get to my son?”

“Yes,” Giovanni said.

“The backup generators were sabotaged.”

“He knew the chaos would force us to move Luca.”

“And they were waiting at the exits,” I said.

“Exactly,” Giovanni said.

“But we outmaneuvered them.”

The SUV accelerated, the tires spraying water against the metal undercarriage.

Luca stirred in my arms, whimpering softly as he clutched my shirt.

I checked his forehead; it was still dangerously warm, but his breathing was steady.