PART 2
“What happened?” Luke asked, but Dr. Bennett did not answer quickly.
She looked at him the way people looked at men like him when they suspected power had arrived too late.
“She was found in a rented room in Queens,” the doctor said. “No heat. Almost no food. A neighbor called after hearing her collapse.”
Luke’s jaw tightened. “She has money.”
“Not according to what we found in her bag.”
Marco stepped forward and handed him Elena’s purse, sealed in a hospital evidence pouch. Inside were three things: an expired bank card, a folded ultrasound photo, and a letter with the Mercer family crest.
Luke’s blood went cold before he even opened it.
The handwriting belonged to his mother.
Elena,
Luke knows about the pregnancy. He does not want the child. Leave New York quietly, or I will make sure everyone believes you trapped him for money.
Luke read the words once.
Then again.
The room seemed to tilt.
“No,” he whispered.
Marco’s face darkened. “Boss…”
Luke remembered the divorce. His mother’s warnings. The threats against Elena. The way his uncle had smiled and said, “Cut her loose, or she’ll be buried with your weakness.” Luke had believed he was protecting her by making her hate him.
But while he had been watching enemies outside the gate, his own blood had locked the door behind her.
Elena stirred.
Her lashes trembled. Her fingers curled over her stomach.
Luke moved to her bedside, every ruthless piece of him breaking into something useless and human.
“Elena,” he said, voice rough. “I’m here.”
Her eyes opened barely, unfocused and glassy.
For one second, she looked at him like he was a dream.
Then fear crossed her face.
“No,” she breathed. “Don’t let them take my baby.”
Luke froze.
“Who?” he asked softly.
Her lips trembled.
“Your mother said… if I ever came back… the child would disappear.”
The monitor beeped faster.
Luke turned slowly toward Marco, and the man understood before a word was spoken.
“Find her,” Luke said.
But before Marco reached the door, a nurse rushed in, pale and shaking.
“Mr. Mercer… there’s a woman downstairs claiming to be Elena’s emergency contact.”
Luke’s eyes sharpened.
The nurse swallowed.
“She says she’s your wife.”
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