Don't Shoot the Messenger

20 - Answers

*edited 

Macello POV 

I regained control of my temper before the polizia arrived to take statements. Her security has caught up to us and are guarding the room. Hearing the dispute outside, I reluctantly detached from her and opened the door.

"What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?"   "We were notified of a patient being brought in to the emergency room covered in blood. We need to get a statement."   "She is still unconscious. She was abducted and drugged and no one enters except verified Hospital staff. Period. If you want a statement, I had some security keeping an eye on her at a discrete distance. You can get statements from them and from the owner of the shop from which she was abducted. You will not be getting any statements from Claire today. You can contact us in the future through my lawyers."

I almost reached for my pocket before remembering that I had taken off my jacket.  Weatherman had one of the cards for the law office to give them. My shoulder holster and body armor was on full display as well... "Do you have a permit for that?" The officer nodded to my weapon.  "Talk with my lawyer; I'm in no mood to deal with you right now."   "If you are concerned for her safety,  you must want us to  find those responsible. We need as much information as possible to do that."    "I have not refused you access to information; I referred you to other sources. The Dr may confirm that she is not yet awake, she cannot answer anything right now. I have had a stressful day and my temper is not the best. It is time for you to leave." Eventually, they do.

Finally Claire was cleared to be released. We brought her to the penthouse I had leased and Valeria cleaned her up. She would not wake with traces of blood on her skin or hair. I had seen that lingerie made her uncomfortable, so the guest room I kept stocked for her had nothing racy or revealing in the drawers. The most seductive nightgown was dark blue with silky material that would fall to her feet and a side slit. I chose a white satin pajama set for Valeria to dress her in and left the room. I also assigned her to watch over Claire and notify me as soon as she shows any sign that she may wake soon. 

Knowing that she would wake up in time (and that she was protected here by my own people) put my heart at ease. I still had to deal with the threat against her. I was going to find out who was behind this, and when I did... I would only tell her that the threat was over and she was safe. She never needed to see this part of me. She knew I had done terrible things, but she did not need to know more than that.

Don Romano was generous enough to offer a location to interrogate the uomini morti. While part of me wanted to stay by her side until she woke, the greater part of me needed to get answers and find my enemy. Someone had tried to remove her from my life by force, and I would return the assault with interest. She would not be completely safe until I did. 

The questioning has been going on for some time without me.   Vitto updates me when I arrive:

"We got some interesting intel.  There was a reason you drew fire when you showed your face. The men were told it was a rescue operation, to save Claire from you. According to them, she does not know you are Mafia. You are deadly dangerous, and she is likely to get hurt or worse if she remains with you much longer. She is too naive to recognize the danger she is in and would not believe it... That sort of thing. They knew not to expect cooperation from her."