Chapter 7
Mallory rose with difficulty.
Lorenzo did not touch her.
He watched.
Every step.
Every hand movement.
Every glance.
She moved toward the medical cabinet beside the crib, using the wall for balance. Hunter shifted away instinctively, keeping Leo protected and angled so Lorenzo remained between them and the door.
Mallory entered a code.
The cabinet beeped.
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“You still have access.”
She looked ashamed.
“Nursery staff code.”
“Who else knows it?”
“Too many.”
Wrong answer again, but honest.
The cabinet opened.
Inside were sterile syringes, feeding supplies, sealed medical packets, labeled infant care items, and emergency nutrition equipment. Nothing was used onscreen. No treatment revealed. No diagnosis given.
Mallory took only sealed items and placed them on the changing table.
“I can prepare something from unopened stock in front of you.”
Lorenzo nodded once.
Hunter watched closely.
She did not understand the supplies, but she understood sealed packaging.
Leo shifted against her, making a tiny sound.
Hunter looked down instantly.
“Shh. I have you.”
Lorenzo turned at the sound, and his face softened with fear.
“Leo?”
“He’s tired,” Hunter whispered.
Mallory looked over.
“He needs medical review immediately.”
“The door is locked,” Hunter said.
Mallory swallowed.
“Yes.”
Lorenzo moved to the nursery window.
Sealed glass.
Security-grade.
Long Island darkness beyond.
No balcony.
No outside access.
A fortress.
A prison.
His own design.
The intercom crackled again.
“Lorenzo, step away from her.”
He looked toward the speaker.
“Say my son’s name.”
Silence.
Hunter’s eyes lifted.
Mallory froze with a packet in her hand.
Lorenzo repeated, calm and deadly.
“If you are protecting him, say his name.”
The silence stretched.
Then the voice said, “The baby.”
Lorenzo’s expression hardened.
Hunter felt the answer like ice.
The person outside did not love Leo.
Maybe never had.
The red light continued pulsing above the door.
Lorenzo turned to Mallory.
“Prepare the sealed feed. Hunter watches. I watch you both.”
Hunter blinked.
He trusted her enough to watch.
Not completely.
But differently now.
She nodded.
Then, from the hallway, another sound came.
A keycard sliding.
May you like
Someone was trying the door manually.
Read Chapter 8 👉 Because the unseen woman could not say Leo’s name, and that told Lorenzo the threat was closer to power than love.
