Chapter 7 - The Trap at the Clinic
Working at the Vance Community Clinic gave Lena her purpose back.
For two weeks, she spent her days treating children, elderly patients, and injured workers from the South Side. Her two guards, Marco and Dino, stood discreetly outside the clinic doors, ensuring her safety.
Rhett visited her every evening, taking her out to quiet, high-end dinners or driving her along the snow-covered shores of Lake Michigan. Their bond grew deeper, stronger, forged by shared trauma and an unyielding passion.
But the peace was short-lived.
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, a heavy snowstorm hit Chicago, knocking out power lines across the South Side.
The clinic was running on emergency generators. Most of the staff had gone home early, leaving Lena and Dr. Vance to treat a few remaining patients.
Around 6:00 PM, an ambulance pulled into the alley behind the clinic, its red lights flashing through the dim snow.
Dino, one of Rhett's guards, stepped out to inspect the vehicle.
As he approached the rear doors, they flew open. Two armed men in black masks stepped out, firing silenced pistols. Dino collapsed onto the snow before he could draw his weapon.
Marco, hearing the muffled shots, rushed out into the alley, drawing his gun, but was ambushed from behind by two more men.
Inside the clinic, the back door burst open.
Lena spun around from the supply counter, holding a tray of bandages.
Standing in the doorway was Boyd Carter, his face bruised and swollen, holding a heavy iron pipe. Beside him stood Leo Castiglione, flanked by three armed thugs.
"Hello, daughter," Boyd sneered, his eyes filled with bitter hatred. "Look at you, dressed in fancy clothes, playing nurse while your father was rotting in a ward."
Lena backed away, her heart cold with horror. "Boyd..."
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"He paid my bills, Lena," Boyd spat out, gesturing to Leo. "The Castiglione family knows how to treat a man with respect. Not like that mafia bastard Moretti!"
Leo Castiglione stepped forward, a cold, predatory smile on his face. "Grab the girl," he ordered his men. "And call Moretti. Tell him if he wants his sweet little nurse back, he comes to the old rail yard alone."
