Chapter 147 A touch of paranoia

Chapter 147 A touch of paranoia
Carlino's POV

I sat slumped in the rigid plastic chair outside the ICU, the echo of my restless boots tapping a frantic, endless rhythm against the sterile floor. The paperwork was done, but the waiting was so much suffocating. The heavy door finally swung open, and the doctor stepped out. I shot up instantly, my jaw clenched.

"She has lost a lot of blood," he said, pulling off his gloves. "She needs an urgent transfusion. What's her blood type?"

"O positive," I replied without a second's hesitation.

The doctor nodded. "Thank you. We'll pull a match from the blood bank." He turned and hurried down the corridor.

I sank back into the chair, rubbing my temples. I knew everything about Lina. Every single detail. Her favorite food, the exact dress that made her smile, her preferred drink, the cakes and snacks she bought when she was stressed—I had researched it all meticulously after we parted. It wasn't just memory, it was an obsession. Recalling her blood type was second nature.

Aiden’s heavy footsteps broke the silence as he walked back into the wing. I didn't say a word. I just fixed him with a hard, expectant stare, waiting for his report. It took him exactly two seconds to fold under the pressure.

"Apparently," Aiden began, shifting his weight, "the crash was exactly what it looked like, an accident. We spent two hours breaking the guy down, trying to find a handler or a motive. He kept insisting his brakes just failed. And believe me, boss, he was telling the truth. He's terrified."

I sat perfectly still, processing the words in total silence. If it was a hit, it would mean treason within the syndicate. Nobody in their right mind would court a death sentence by targeting me or anyone under me. Still, a clean record on paper wasn't enough. I needed Niel to dig deeper from the inside.

"Okay," I said, my gaze drifting back to the frosted glass of the ICU door where Lina lay unconscious. "Let him go."

"Sure, boss," Aiden nodded, turning on his heel.

"Aiden," I called out, my voice dangerously calm. He stopped. "Go back to New York alone. Take care of the meeting. I'll catch up once Lina wakes up. Give me the car keys, then take a cab to the airport."

"Understood, boss."

A wave of irritation hit me. "Stop calling me boss."

He blinked, confused. "But you said—"

"Yes, I am your boss," I snapped, my brows furrowing into a harsh glare. "But right now, drop the title. Call me Carlino like you always did."

He gave a tight nod, handed over the keys, and left without another word. I guess the edge in my voice finally registered.

Then the weight of reality hit me. Lina's parents. They had no idea their daughter was currently fighting for her life in a hospital bed. Someone had to tell them. I’d just sent Aiden away, which meant… fuck. I had to be the one to deliver the news.

But I couldn't move yet. Not until I knew she was stable.

Seeing her broken like that had shattered something inside me so fast I hadn't even had the chance to process the pain. Now, left alone with the silence of the corridor, my thoughts began to swallow me whole.

What if... God. I couldn't even finish the thought. What would I have done if she had died today? How would our girls survive without her?

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialed Niel.
"Niel. Check the inner circle," I commanded the moment he picked up. "Find out if anyone has been whispering my name or moving pieces against me. I need to be absolutely certain. I don't care if it sounds like paranoia."

"Carlino, nobody is stupid enough to conspire against you," Niel replied, his voice detached. "Besides, what brought this on?”

"Lina was in an accident. Just... do what I asked. And if you can't manage it—"

"No, of course I will," Niel cut me off smoothly. "I'll get back to you as soon as I have something."

\~~~

An hour later, the doctor returned, the tight line of his mouth finally relaxing into a small smile. "She's stable now. We're going to keep her under observation for a day or two."

A massive wave of relief washed over me, the crushing tension that had been pinning my shoulders down finally slipping away.

"Would you like to see her now?" he asked.

"No," the word tore out of my throat before I could stop it. I cleared my throat, forcing my composure back into place. "No. I... I have something urgent to take care of. I'll be back."

"Very well," his voice followed me as I turned and walked toward the exit.

Thirty minutes later, I was standing in front of it again. The same modest white house. The familiar flower pots on the porch seemed to stare back at me accusingly. I took a slow, deliberate breath. I was about to walk into Lina's sanctuary, and my chest was tight with a feeling I rarely experienced, hesitation. I never had nervousness. I never had doubt. But when it came to Lina, every rule I lived by unraveled.

"Okay," I muttered, exhaling sharply.

I walked into the compound. A white sedan was parked on the left, a neat trash bin sat to the right near the entrance. The front yard was a vibrant, chaotic burst of greenery, but right by the porch was her mini garden. Lavender, lilies, California poppies, and hibiscus. The air smelled fresh, sweet, and entirely like her.

I stepped onto the porch and pressed the bell. It rang three times before the locks clicked. When the door swung open, her mother stood on the threshold.

The second her eyes locked onto mine, she began to tremble. She threw her weight forward to slam the door shut, but I jammed my hand out, blocking it effortlessly.

"What the fuck? That's rude," I muttered, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

God… the house smelled like Tesoro—warm, clean, and intimately comfortable. I took a slow step forward into the hallway.

"What do you want from us?" her mother whispered, her voice thick with terror. She was shaking violently, her hands fluttering helplessly against her chest.

"I..." I started, but the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs cut me off.

"Who's at the door, Alyssa?" her husband's voice echoed. Mavien came down the last few steps and froze, shock registering across his features.
I didn't have the patience for a standoff. I needed to deliver the hit and get the hell out of here.

"Look," I said, turning back to her mother and raising a hand to placate her, but her violent flinch made me drop it immediately. They were both petrified of me. I suppose I couldn't blame them.

"Your daughter was in a severe car accident this morning. She's at Louis Ven Hospital. Are you coming with me or not?" I kept my voice cold, detached. I couldn't let them see how shaken I actually was.

The mother’s hands flew to her mouth, a gasp of pure horror escaping her lips.

"But—" she started, but Mavien cut her off.

"How..." He paused, my eyes moving lazily to meet his, trying to find a deception that wasn't there. "How can we believe a word you say?"

I scoffed, thoroughly irritated by the wasting of time. "Believing? Do you honestly think I’d walk away from my business just to come here and play a practical joke on you? Are you coming to see your daughter, or are you going to keep asking stupid questions?"

After thinking for a couple seconds, mavien placed a firm hand on his wife's shoulder. "Let's go, Alyssa."

"Mavien, no," she stammered, looking at me like I was the devil himself. "We can't just trust him—"

"I’m telling you, we are going," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You don't trust him, but you trust me, right? No buts. Let's move."

So much damn drama. I turned without another word and walked out. The moment my boots hit the porch, a heavy weight I hadn't realized I was holding loosened in my chest.

God... I hope I don't lose my mind over this girl.

\~~~

By the time we reached the hospital, the floor nurse informed us that Lina had finally regained consciousness. I escorted her parents to the wing but stepped back, letting them go into the ward alone.

I didn't want to face her like this. It was better to wait out here, verify she was truly fine from them, and leave. I had strictly warned them before they went in, not to mention that I was the one who brought them or the one who brought her to the hospital.

As I paced the quiet hallway, my phone buzzed. It was Niel.

"I cleared the entire grid," Niel reported without preamble. "Nobody from the syndicate ordered the hit. It was a genuine accident, Carlino. Like you said, you're being paranoid."

"Thank you," I said flatly.

"It's nothing compared to what you've done for me," Niel replied. "Oh, and the other day, I tried to tell you—the acting CEO just bagged a massive offshore contract."

"I already know. He forwarded the brief to my encrypted mail."

"Good. I'm glad it's moving smoothly," Niel said.

I muttered a quick reply and hung up, pocketing the phone just as the door to Lina's ward clicked open. Mavien stepped out into the hallway, his expression unreadable as his eyes found mine.

"She wants to see you," he said. "Go on in."