"Excuse me sir, visiting hours are over. You're welcome to come back tomorrow morning at ten-"

"Silence." Enzo put his hand up, interrupting the employee behind the front desk. "My name is Lorenzo Conti, and I am here to see Rosalinda Rossi. You will direct me to her room now."

This Enzo was the same one from the meeting we attended with the rest of his "company". Someone had threatened his family again, and he wasn't going to play games or beat around any bushes.

The poor woman did as he instructed with a trembling voice. I did feel sorry for her. I knew how intimidating Enzo could be, but I couldn't worry about her feelings at the moment. We had to find out what happened to Rosie.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a disheveled Fiero with his head between his hands in a dim waiting room. The uncomfortable plastic chairs creaked as we sat down on either side of him. No one spoke. It wasn't until a doctor entered the waiting room that the silence was broken.

I pressed myself as close to Enzo as I physically could. He reached an arm behind him to hold my hand comfortingly.

Not all doctors are bad Nora. Rosie needs help. Doctors help people.

I screwed my eyes shut and I took deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth. This whole place smelled liked bleach and death. I had to keep it together for Rosie.

"Sir." The doctor greeted Fiero. We all stood in response. "It looks like somehow; your fiancé has been poisoned. We're not sure how the poison entered her system, but from the labs our phlebotomist drew, we were able to identify the poison and we'll be able to treat her."

Relief flooded through my body at the man's words. Rosie was going to be okay. My family is going to be okay.

"What did you guys do today? Anything out of the normal routine?" Enzo questioned Fiero after the doctor left.

"We stayed home all day. She started feeling ill early this morning. I wasn't even able to get her to eat anything all day." Fiero answered.

The elevator doors dinged open again and Raffaelo and Gino joined our little huddle.

"Hey, we came as soon as we heard. What's going on?" Gino asked no one in particular. Enzo explained the situation.

I glanced over at Fiero, and I could tell he was breaking down. He had his head tipped back against the wall and his eyes were closed with his brow furrowed. His breathing was heavy and I could almost see his strength leaving him.

I went and sat in the plastic chair next to him. "She's going to pull through. Rosie is strong. One of the strongest people I know." I commented. I didn't want to show him how worried I was.

He opened his eyes and sat up straight. I hoped I hadn't overstepped my bounds. He probably didn't want to hear what I thought about everything.

Before I could keep fretting, he placed his hand on my head and gave it a pat.

"Thanks kid."

When I looked over at Enzo he smiled at me warmly, like he was pleased with my interaction with his best man.

"What did she eat yesterday that could have made her sick?" Gino inquired.

"What?" Fiero raised his head.

"Well, if you said she hadn't had anything at all today, what could she have ingested yesterday that would have caused this?" it seemed like Gino was growing irritated that our minds weren't working as quickly as his.

"That doesn't make sense." I chimed in and four sets of eyes snapped to me, making me a bit nervous.

"What do you mean sweetheart?" Enzo encouraged.

I wrung my hands in my lap before saying, "Fiero came tour house early yesterday to pick me up for my happy birthday party. Rosie and I spent all day together and ate the same things. If she ate something bad yesterday, why aren't I sick too?"

The men mulled over my words and discussed among themselves. I began tuning them out, since I didn't have anything else intelligent to add to the conversation. My head was nodding forward as I fought sleep when Fiero stood up abruptly.

"We didn't all eat the same thing last night. You and I had beers," he gestured to Enzo, "Nora wanted fruit juice, but Rosie drank from the bottle of wine we ordered from the restaurant!"

"There must still be another rat in the restaurant then!" Gino growled.

"Does that mean Varlam did this?" I asked quietly, shrinking into myself. Even with the gun on my waist, I knew what a nightmare Varlam could be more than anyone, and I wouldn't be stupid enough to underestimate him.

"We can't rule that out kid." Fiero said, rubbing his hand down his unshaven face.

Rosie got sick because of you, you stupid girl. Why should she have to suffer for your selfishness? You know you don't belong with them. They're too good for you.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out my inner demons the best I could. I must not have done a very good job, because Tank hopped up onto the seat next to me and nudged my chin with his head.

"It's okay Tank. I'm okay." I said to assure Tank, but I knew I was more trying to convince myself. I gave the German Shepard a scratch between the ears to calm his unease and mine.

"Excuse me, I have to take this call." Raffaelo put his phone to his ear and began walking down the hallway.

The three remaining men were in business mode again. If this was Varlam, he was becoming bolder, and getting closer to our family. My knee was bouncing, and my bottom lip had been chewed raw. I couldn't just sit here anymore.

"I saw a coffee machine downstairs; can I go get everyone a drink?" I asked Enzo quietly.

"You're thirsty sweetheart? Let's go get you something." He stood from his chair and offered me his hand but I didn't take it.

"You need to stay here and talk about business things. I can go get drinks for everyone." I insisted. "I just want to take a little walk and clear my head a bit." He thought for a moment more before pulling out his wallet and handing me some cash.

"To the drink machine and straight back baby." He said raising his eyebrows in warning at me.

"Yes sir." I saluted playfully.

"And take Tank with you." He whistled in the dog's direction and nodded towards me. Tank must have understood because hopped off of his chair and came to my side. "Come straight back." He repeated and pulled me in for a kiss before letting me go.

The hallways were empty, with the exception of a nurse here or there. The lights were all dimmed, leaving just enough light so I didn't run into any walls. Now that I was away from the boys, the hospital felt creepy. It was nearly silent besides the occasional IV pump going off. Goosebumps ran down my arms and every noise had me looking over my shoulder. Tank must have felt something too because his ears were moving in all directions and his eyes were taking in every detail of his surroundings. I took his tail in my hand for a bit of extra courage.

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw Raffaelo standing at the top of a staircase, still on the phone. I was about to call out to him but Tank stopped walking and he pinned his ears to the back of his head glaring directly up at Raff. I was no expert on dogs, but I read Tank's behavior clearly and trusted his judgement. I tiptoed so we were positioned under the staircase he was standing on and listened in on what he was saying.

"I put it in the wine just like you said. How the fuck was I supposed to know Lorenzo wouldn't drink any of it!" he growled angrily.

Raffaelo tried to poison Enzo.

I could hear my blood rushing in my ears. It all made sense. The valet at the restaurant wasn't the rat. It was Raffaelo. He was the reason the sniper showed up at the restaurant, and the reason our car wasn't in the alleyway waiting for us as Enzo had instructed. He probably told the Russians I was at the meeting so they could have that branding rod hand delivered to me, and now he had poisoned Rosie. He only left the others when they figured out the poison must have come from the restaurant. I thought about that look of annoyance that crossed his face when Enzo snapped at him in the surveillance room. I thought it was strange, but everyone was so stressed that day, I let it go. I should have said something.

I took some deep breaths. It sounded like he had gone further up the stairs to finish his conversation. I looked down the hallway, but it was still deserted. I wasn't going to risk saying anything in case he was still in earshot. Grabbing Tank's tail again, I stepped out of my hiding spot. I had to tell the boys and fast before anyone else got hurt.

A hand shot out and bruising grip wrapped around my bicep before I could take another step.

"it's rude to eavesdrop Nora."