"What happened?"
"Not here. Room first."
She touched both babies one more time. "Mama will be back soon. I love you."
In her room, the door closed, I told her.
"Marco escaped two hours ago. Coordinated assault on the prison—professional mercenaries, multiple breach points. He killed four guards. He's out."
Color drained from her face. Her hand went to her still-swollen stomach.
"He knows we're here?"
"We have to assume yes. FBI's locking down the hospital and moving you to a secure location as soon as you're cleared."
"The babies—"
"Stay in NICU. It's the most secure area—restricted access, cameras everywhere. Rodriguez is positioning armed guards at every entrance." I took her hands. "They're safer there than anywhere."
"I just had them two days ago. And now I have to leave them?"
"Just until we neutralize the threat."
"How long?"
"I don't know, amore."
She sank onto the bed, and quiet tears streamed down her face. Not loud sobs—just silent devastation while she processed that Marco was destroying even this—the first days with our newborns.
I sat beside her and pulled her carefully against my chest.
Rodriguez entered thirty minutes later with a tactical plan.
"We're moving you to a secure FBI facility within the hour. A medical team will accompany you to monitor your recovery. The babies stay here under armed guard until they're cleared for transport."
"How long until they can be moved?" I asked.
"Minimum seventy-two hours for Ezio, longer for Eva with her respiratory needs. Could be a week."
A week of our newborns in NICU while we hid. The thought was unbearable.
"What about visiting?" Valentina asked, voice small.
"We'll arrange secure transport for brief visits. But every time you come to the hospital, you're exposed. Marco knows you just gave birth—he'll expect you here."
"So I leave them?" Her voice rose. "I just don't see my children while they're fighting for every breath?"
"We're working on a solution—"
"There is no solution!" Valentina stood, wincing at the pull on her incision. "Either I stay and risk Marco finding us, or I hide while they're alone and terrified. Those are my options?"
Rodriguez's expression was sympathetic but firm. "Until we locate Marco, yes."
The injustice hit like a physical blow. We'd done everything right—testified, cooperated, helped dismantle Marco's empire. And we were still paying the price.
I needed a moment to think. I pulled out my phone, walked to the hallway, and called Domenico.
"I need you to do something," I said quietly.
