Page 62

VLAD

" I 've got eyes on it," I call out.

Since Ellis Island isn't exactly the most welcoming place for outsiders, and the security cameras that are around have a restricted area of coverage, I'd had to switch to a Plan B. I'd sent drones to get some footage.

I know it's a risky avenue, but I'm also not about to barge inside unprepared. I need to at least have an idea of the layout of the hospital, and the surrounding terrain.

"Already?" Sisi gets out from her chair, coming to my side to look at the screen.

"Three of the drones made it inside. Two were shot down," I explain, "we have to hope these are going to get enough footage before they're found too."

It's very likely that they are already looking for them, since the previous ones should have alerted them to the potential presence of others. Still, I'm hoping we can get something.

"Won't this put them on their guard?"

"It's a risk I have to take," I reply grimly. "It's not ideal, but I would never go in blindly."

She nods, continuing to watch the screen.

The remaining drones provide us with an additional hour of footage before they are also shot down. But that hour is our only insight into what goes on inside the hospital, so Sisi and I start carefully analyzing each frame, making a scheme of the building and what to expect inside.

From what we can see, though, the hospital is anything but abandoned , with shiny new equipment on all levels. Since we'd sent the drones at night, there hadn't been many people wandering the halls, but the few we'd caught on camera we'd been able to identify.

"These are all immigrants," I note as I compile a list of the faces we'd spotted.

"Immigrant doctors and nurses," I continue as I sift through the data.

"It makes sense, since some wouldn't be able to get their qualifications recognized to work in an official hospital.

Although it's a little ironic, since the hospital itself used to be an immigrant building," I chuckle.

"Do you think they know what's happening?"

I purse my lips, nodding.

"Yes. But this is likely the only type of work they could find that doesn't ask them for their certifications," I say as I show her where some of these people are coming from. "It's smart. Get personnel from war-torn countries so they have no way to provide documentation."

"Isn't this another form of trafficking?" she asks thoughtfully, and a smile pulls at my lips.

"Only if they are taken from their countries. If they were hired when they've already settled here, then no."

"Interesting," she notes, biting the end of her pen. "What do you think, then? Are they sourcing them from here, or are they trafficking them?"

Pushing the files we'd printed on the personnel we'd identified toward her, I point to some of the dates.

"These people have been missing for years in their respective countries. And there's no record of them ever being in the US. My guess is that they were brought over with the incentive of starting a new life, but then they were roped into the business."

"I don't feel sorry for them." She shrugs. "They've known about the stuff Miles' been doing on children and they've never thought to speak out?"

"I don't think we should judge them outrightly.

If someone ever thought to speak out, they wouldn't be alive anymore.

This is too deep. Even if someone were to compile evidence and show it to the authorities, how would they know who to show it to?

There are too many people involved in all chains of command.

The system is simply rotten to the core. "

"But isn't this like fighting with windmills then? We end Miles' reign, but who's to say there won't be another Miles just taking his place?"

"That's what you get when you reach the belly of the beast. You cut one head, another grows in its place. It's never truly over. Especially when it comes to something as profitable as this. Where there is demand, there will be supply."

"I get that," she sighs, "but it makes me feel helpless, and I don't like it."

"I wish I could shield you from all the horrors of the world, Sisi," I turn to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "but I can't. The only thing I can do is vanquish any danger that might threaten you," I pause, "and make sure you're strong enough for when I'm not there."

Her hand reaches out for mine as she gives me one of her stunning smiles.

"I'm strong because you're with me," she says quietly, "I don't want to think of a time that you won't be with me, Vlad. Because that's out of the question."

I grunt, because I could not fathom a moment without her either. But no matter how much I'd like to be with her forever , the truth is that this lifestyle might take me out eventually.

Even I am not invincible.

Hell, the fact that I've made it this far it's astounding. But while the odds might not always be in my favor, for Sisi I'm willing to go through hell and back to ensure that she'll never have to shed a tear for me.

We continue to watch the footage in silence, until Sisi points to the screen, stopping the video.

"I think there's something underground," she notes, her finger on a small vent at the bottom of the building.

I zoom in, noting the bars and the fact that there seems to be something there.

"Might be where he houses his project, if he keeps the hospital strictly for transplants."

"What are we going to do, then? We can't just barge in." She bites her lip, looking at me worried.

"No. We're going to need help," she frowns and I clarify, "backup. I've already spoken with your brother and he's willing to help. Enzo and Nero are in too, so our combined forces should be enough."

"But it's still federal ground. How are you going to get around that?"

My lips twitch.

"I'll be jumping the gun a little," I add, amused, when I see my phone blink with a confirmation message from Nero.

"I'll be using Meester," I tell her, and her eyes widen.

"How come this is the first time I'm hearing this?" She raises an eyebrow, almost offended.

"Because I've been trying to finalize the plans with Nero and your brother and make sure it's a viable alternative."

"Explain." She leans back, her arms crossed over her chest.

"The island is clearly well protected and they will see us coming immediately. We need a trump card to get in there undetected."

"And how will you convince Meester to get you on to the island when he's been trying to kill you for the last few weeks?" she asks skeptically.

"Nero's got it covered," I chuckle. "He has his precious daughter currently in his possession. In fact, we'll be doing a video conference with Meester once we get to your brother's house, and I'm sure it's bound to be very convincing."

"Damn," she whistles, "that's not a bad idea."

But then she frowns.

"How old is his daughter?"

"She's probably in her mid-twenties." I shrug. "But don't worry about her too much. She's not innocent either."

"What do you mean?"

"In restricted circles they call her the black widow.

She's been married three or four times, and all her husbands ended up dead under mysterious circumstances.

All within a short while of the marriage, too.

I hear Meester's been trying to find her another husband for a long time, but no one is brave enough to marry her. "

"She sounds interesting." Sisi grins. "I want to meet her."

"And you will. We're heading to your brother's tomorrow morning."

With a rough understanding of the island and the hospital, we call it a day.

"I didn't realize the basement had a different entrance," Sisi says, her arm tightening on mine.

We'd compiled all the information we could find about the hospital, so now the only outstanding issue is planning the attack.

I'd spoken with Nero on the phone last night, and while he'd had some minor issues with Meester's daughter, he'd assured me he'd be here today and we'd be able to jumpstart the plan.

"I think Marcello sealed the entrance from the house," I reply, telling her about the rather dissolute history of the basement. "He probably didn't want Claudia or Venezia to venture there by accident."

Heading to the back of the house where a trap door leads to the basement, I feel the hairs on my body stand up, my head whipping around in the direction of the roof.

One step and I have Sisi thrusted behind me just as a bullet hits me straight in the forehead.

A paint bullet.

My mouth opens, but no sound comes out. Not when Sisi swats my hand aside, plopping herself in front of me and laughing to her heart's content.

"You're all blue," she can barely speak as she bends over, holding onto her stomach, tears at the corner of her eyes from too much laughter.

As if this wasn't enough, the basement door opens to reveal Marcello and Catalina followed by Adrian, all chuckling at my expense.

But if Adrian is here…

I look up just in time to see Bianca jump from the windowsill of the first floor, landing on her feet and smirking at me.

"You." I grit my teeth, unable to even muster any type of retort, since who's going to take a blue man seriously?

The paint is smeared all over my face and dripping down my suit, making me an official honorary smurf.

"Well," she starts, an amused expression on her face, "you got your wish." She shrugs, casually strutting back to her husband. Or is it her former husband?

"When did I ask to be painted blue?" I mutter dryly, raising my hand and wiping some of the goo from my eyes.

Sisi is still laughing by my side, but when she sees that I'm not exactly amused, she quickly takes out a napkin, helping me get some of this shit off my face.

"Oh, I don't know," Bianca rolls her eyes dramatically, "maybe when you called me sobbing and asking me to kill you stealthily, so that you wouldn't see it coming?"

I frown.

"I did that?"

"You're a moron," she immediately replies, whipping out her phone and playing a recording.

Just put me out of my misery, B! Before I do something worse… Like go after her.