At the hospital, I'm forced to wait while they examine her. Minutes drag by like hours. Finally, a doctor approaches.
"Mr. Mariano?" she says. "I'm Dr. Romano. I've been treating your wife."
"How is she?" I ask, voice rough with emotion.
Dr. Romano's expression is serious. "Mrs. Mariano has sustained several injuries. Significant bruising around her neck, consistent with strangulation. Her right shoulder was dislocated, which we've reset. She also has a mild concussion and bruising on her torso."
Each word feels like a physical blow. The image of someone hurting Vittoria, choking her, fills me with barely contained rage.
"When will she wake up?" I ask, struggling to keep my voice steady.
"She regained consciousness briefly," Dr. Romano explains. "But we've sedated her for pain management. She should be fully awake in a few hours."
I nod, processing this. "Can I see her?"
Dr. Romano leads me to Vittoria's room. The sight of her lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to monitors, makes mychest tighten. Her neck is mottled with bruises, her arm in a sling. She looks so young, and so fragile.
I sink into the chair beside her bed, taking her uninjured hand in mine. "I'm sorry, Tori," I whisper, guilt crushing me. I should have protected her better. I should have known something like this could happen.
As I sit there holding her hand, listening to the steady beep of the heart monitor, my phone buzzes. A text from Lorenzo:
Security footage recovered. You need to see this.
I frown, wondering what could be so urgent. I don't want to leave Vittoria's side, but if Lorenzo thinks it's important, it damn well is.
I press a gentle kiss to Vittoria's forehead before stepping out. "Watch her," I growl to the guards stationed outside. "No one enters this room without my explicit permission."
I find a quiet corner and call Lorenzo. "What is it?" I demand as soon as he picks up.
"Father," Lorenzo's voice is tense. "We've identified Vittoria's attacker from the security footage. It's... it's Domenico Costa. Her father."
The world stops for a moment as his words sink in. Domenico Costa. Vittoria's own father.
That bastard. I fucking knew he hurt her; I just didn't think he'd be stupid enough to do it again.
"Send me the footage," I say, voice dangerously calm. "And put out the word. I want Domenico Costa found. Alive."
I end the call and return to Vittoria's room, my mind racing. How long has this been going on? How many times has that monster hurt her? The fear I sometimes saw in her eyes... it all makes sense now.
I retake my seat beside her bed, gently stroking her hair. "I'm so sorry, Tori," I whisper. "I should have protected you better. But I promise, he will never hurt you again."
The meeting that I had with that bastard has obviously not been heeded. I warned him to stay away from my wife. He acted affronted as though he had no idea of what I was talking about, but I saw through the bullshit facade, I knew he’d been hurting my wife, I thought he’d have listened to me when I told him our business would end if he went anywhere near her again.
He obviously didn’t take me seriously, now he’ll pay the price for it.
Hours pass before Vittoria finally stirs. Her eyes flutter open, confusion clouding her gaze as she tries to focus on her surroundings.
"Tori?" I say softly, leaning forward. "How are you feeling?"
She tries to speak, but only a raspy croak comes out. I quickly grab the water cup from the bedside table and help her take small sips.
"Better?" I ask after she's had some water.
She nods weakly, wincing at the movement. "What... what happened?" she whispers.
I study her face carefully. "You were attacked in the restaurant bathroom. Do you remember anything?"
Fear flashes in her eyes before she quickly looks away. "I... I fell," she says, her voice barely audible. "I was dizzy and fell."
