Chapter 2 - The Inner Circle
The private medical wing on the third floor of the Newport mansion had been converted into a fully equipped surgical suite years ago, designed for moments exactly like this when a hospital visit would draw too many questions from federal authorities.
The heavy oak doors were bolted shut from the inside.
Alice worked with clinical precision, her hands steady despite the adrenaline crash setting into her muscles. With the assistance of the two agency paramedics, she managed to secure two large-bore IV lines, stabilizing Stefano’s blood pressure while Dr. Voss administered whole blood transfusions from the estate’s private refrigerated supply.
Outside in the carpeted hallway, Nero lay sprawled directly across the threshold, his massive body blocking the doorway completely. No one dared step over him.
"He's stabilizing," Alice announced, peeling off her blood-smeared surgical gloves and dropping them into the biohazard bin. She wiped a stray strand of hair from her forehead, leaving a smudge of soot across her cheek. "The laceration missed the renal artery by less than an inch, but the blood loss was catastrophic. If he wakes up within the next twelve hours, he’s going to be in severe shock."
Dr. Voss scowled, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses as he stripped off his gown. "You overstepped, nurse. That dog should have been put down the moment we entered the hall. He’s a liability."
"That dog is the only reason your boss isn't currently a corpse on the floor," Alice retorted sharply, her exhaustion giving way to professional indignation. "And if you try to approach the bed while the dog is guarding the threshold, you'll find out just how effective that liability is."
Before Voss could respond, heavy footsteps echoed up the grand staircase.
Danny Falcone appeared at the end of the corridor, flanked by two armed guards. His expression was grim, his suit jacket ruined by smoke and rain. He stopped a few feet away from Nero, looking down at the massive mastiff with deep, hard respect.
"How is he?" Danny asked, his eyes fixing on Alice.
"He'll live," Alice said, stepping out of the surgical suite into the hallway, carefully stepping over Nero’s outstretched front paw. The dog's eyes tracked her movement, but he remained calm. "Provided he doesn't contract an infection from the smoke inhalation and gets uninterrupted monitoring for the next twenty-four hours."
Danny nodded slowly. He pulled a thick envelope from his inner breast pocket and held it out. "You weren't scheduled to be on this detail. The agency sent you for routine supply delivery. Why didn't you run when the west wing caught fire?"
Alice looked at the envelope, then up into Danny's hard, weathered face. She didn't take the money.
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"Because a man was dying on the floor," Alice said quietly. "And running away never saved anyone I cared about."
Danny stared at her for a long, calculating moment. Then he slowly lowered the envelope. "Get some rest in the east guest suite, Ms. Brennan. You're not leaving this house tonight. None of us are."
