The prestigious Sacred Heart Hospital buzzed with its usual late-evening activity—doctors making rounds, nurses checking vitals, visitors saying their goodbyes before visiting hours ended. No one noticed the new face among the nursing staff.The assassin moved with practiced ease through the third-floor corridor, her stolen scrubs fitting perfectly, her fake ID badge swinging from her neck. She'd infiltrated hospitals before—they were surprisingly easy targets. Too many staff, too many shifts, too much chaos. One more nurse blended in seamlessly.She consulted the small notepad in her pocket, double-checking the target information Vasquez had provided. Ricardo Vega. Third floor. Likely in or near the ICU waiting area with his comatose daughter.The assassin smiled beneath her surgical mask. This would be easier than expected.Meanwhile, Diego had made his decision. His jaw set with grim determination as he started toward the ICU entrance, his limp barely noticeable as adrenaline overr

Draya's hands trembled at her sides as the impossible choice crystallized before her with brutal clarity. She wasn't used to this—not getting what she wanted. The Vincent family always got what they wanted. Always. Through money, influence, strategic positioning, or sheer force of will.But this was different.Every path led to the same destination: losing Diego.If she let him act now—let him assault those officers and get himself arrested—she'd lose him to prison and his own guilt. If she helped him reach Esperanza and his wife woke up to tell the truth about Luca's assault, she'd lose him to his beautiful, loyal spouse. If she stopped him and Esperanza died, she'd lose him to grief and self-hatred.There was no winning move on this board.Unless...Unless Esperanza simply didn't wake up. If Diego tried and failed to reach her. If medical science couldn't save her. If she slipped away quietly in her coma. Then Diego would be free. Broken, yes. Guilty, certainly. But free. And Draya

The hallway erupted into chaos as security personnel flooded the third floor. Radios crackled with urgent communications. Medical staff pressed themselves against walls, trying to stay out of the way. The pounding on Esperanza's door intensified as officers prepared to breach.No one noticed the nurse in the perfectly pressed scrubs moving through the crowd with practiced ease.The assassin's eyes tracked Ricardo Vega like a predator watching prey. The older man stood near the commotion, his attention fixed on the barricaded door where his son-in-law had just assaulted two officers. His face was drawn with worry and confusion. His guard was completely down.Perfect.The assassin slipped through the crowd, clipboard in hand, looking every bit the harried nurse responding to an emergency. She moved close to Ricardo, using the chaos as cover."Sir, you need to move back," she said in accented English, her voice professionally concerned. "This area isn't safe."Ricardo barely glanced at h

The realization hit Diego like a mace to the face.Ricardo Vega—the man who'd welcomed him into his family, who'd trusted him with his daughter's life, who'd stood by him when everyone else had doubted—was dead. Just gone. Slumped in a chair like he'd simply dozed off from exhaustion.But he wasn't sleeping. He was dead.The fight drained from Diego's body like water from a punctured barrel. His hands went limp at his sides. The dark mist seeping from his left glove dissipated. Even the murderous rage toward Luca faded into something hollow and empty."No," Diego whispered. "No, that's not... he can't be..."The cops saw their opportunity. Three of them rushed forward, grabbing Diego's arms and forcing him face-first to the floor. His bad leg twisted painfully, but he barely registered it. The cold linoleum pressed against his cheek as his arms were wrenched behind his back."Don't resist! Stop resisting!"The metallic click of handcuffs echoed in Diego's ears as they locked around hi

Diego's eyes remained fixed on Ricardo Vega's body as the medical examiner approached. Even through his grief and rage, his trained mind was working, analyzing, questioning.Something didn't add up."Wait," Diego called out to the examiner. "Let me see him. Just for a moment."The examiner looked to the officers uncertainly. One of them shrugged. "He's already cuffed. What harm can it do?"They allowed Diego to approach, still handcuffed, flanked by two officers. He leaned down, studying Ricardo's neck with the practiced eye of someone who'd seen death in all its forms.There. A tiny puncture wound on the left side of the neck, barely visible. So small it could have been mistaken for an insect bite or a scratch.But Diego knew better."This wasn't Luca," Diego said quietly."What?" One of the officers frowned. "You were just screaming that he did it.""I was wrong." Diego's jaw clenched. "Look at this wound. Single puncture, perfectly placed on the carotid artery. No hesitation marks,