Chapter 4 - The Shadow Empire’s Protection
Sixty seconds later, the private elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Dr. Sterling was shoved out into the lobby by two heavy-set Vance operatives. His expensive glasses were crooked, his tie pulled loose, his face flushed with indignation and terror.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Sterling shrieked, looking around at the thirty armed men surrounding the lobby. “I am the Chief of Surgery! You can’t treat me like this! Call the police!”
Julian stepped forward, pulling his leather gloves off, one finger at a time.
When Dr. Sterling’s eyes landed on Julian’s face, the doctor’s knees buckled. He grabbed the reception desk to keep from falling.
“Mr… Mr. Vance…” Sterling stammered, his voice turning into a high-pitched whine. “I… I didn’t know you were in the building! The hospital board was expecting your quarterly donation next month—”
“Dr. Sterling,” Julian interrupted, his voice calm, flat, and chilling. “You just ordered a discharge notice for a patient on the pediatric floor.”
Sterling blinked, looking confused, then glanced over at Lena sitting on the bench.
“Her?” Sterling sputtered, sweat pouring down his forehead. “Mr. Vance, she’s a non-paying civilian! She couldn’t provide the baseline insurance authorization or the deposit! It’s hospital policy—”
“This hospital is owned by the Vance Foundation,” Julian said smoothly, stepping close enough for Sterling to smell the tobacco, expensive cologne, and iron radiating from his coat. “Which means every brick, every bed, every scalpel, and every breath you take in this building belongs to me.”
Sterling went dead pale. “I… I didn’t know she was affiliated with you, sir! She didn’t say anything!”
“She doesn’t need to say anything,” Julian said, extending a finger toward Lena and Lily. “That woman saved my life last night. And that little girl is now under the personal protection of the Vance family.”
Julian turned to Marco.
“Fire Dr. Sterling. Revoke his medical license across the state. If I ever see his face within five miles of a hospital again, put him in the river.”
“No! Please, Mr. Vance! I have a family!” Sterling screamed as two guards seized him by the arms, dragging him kicking and yelling through the rear service doors.
Julian didn’t even glance back. He turned toward the hospital elevator, signaling to his underboss.
“Call Dr. Harrison,” Julian ordered Marco. “Fly him in on my private jet from Johns Hopkins immediately. I want the finest pediatric surgical team on the East Coast in this building within two hours.”
“Already done, Boss,” Marco replied, bowing his head. “Dr. Harrison’s team is airborne.”
Julian walked back over to Lena.
He leaned down, gently lifted sleeping Lily out of Lena’s arms, wrapping the child inside his heavy cashmere coat to shield her from the lobby air. Lily stirred slightly, rubbing her small face against Julian’s crisp lapel, letting out a soft sigh, feeling completely safe in the arms of the most feared man in New York.
Julian looked at Lena, holding his hand out to her.
“Come, Lena,” Julian said softly. “Your daughter is going to live.”
Lena looked at his hand—large, powerful, marked by violence, yet extended to her with a gentleness she had never known in her entire life.
May you like
She placed her small hand in his.
As they walked toward the private VIP elevator, flanked by thirty armed guards, Lena felt the dark, crushing weight of her old life evaporate forever.
