else’s conscience.
Dominic was Alexander’s cousin, a polished fixture at family meetings and charity dinners. He had always been charming to Nina in the way some men were charming to staff: warmly enough to appear kind, distantly enough to remind them of their place.
He looked at the syringe, then at Nina.
‘This has gone far enough,’ Dominic said.
Marcus turned. ‘What has?’
Dominic ignored him. ‘Keller, administer it.’
Nina felt cold spread through her body.
There it was.
Not proof a court could hold, not yet, but proof the heart understood instantly.
Keller stepped forward.
Nina did not move.
Then Alexander’s hand closed around her wrist.
The grip was weak, but it was real.
Nina looked down.
Alexander Romano opened his eyes.
They were bloodshot, fever-bright, and completely awake.
His gaze moved to Dominic.
‘You should have waited until I was dead,’ he said.
The room changed shape around those words.
Keller lowered the syringe. Dominic went still. Marcus reached into his briefcase with the calm speed of a man who had been waiting for the final piece of a trap to step into place.
Nina could barely breathe.
Alexander had heard. She did not know how much, but the way his fingers rested against her wrist told her he had heard enough.
Dominic recovered first.
‘You are confused,’ he said. ‘You have been delirious for days.’
‘I was delirious yesterday,’ Alexander replied, his voice rough. ‘I was weak this morning. Now I am awake.’
Keller tried to speak, but Marcus cut him off.
‘Put down the syringe, Doctor.’
‘This is outrageous.’
‘No,’ Marcus said. ‘Outrageous was your decision to carry unlabeled substances into a secured residence while discussing emergency transfer provisions with Mr. Dominic Romano.’
Dominic’s face tightened.
Marcus placed a small recorder on the bedside table.
‘You called my office at four twelve this morning,’ he said to Dominic. ‘You asked how quickly medical incapacity could trigger temporary voting control of Alexander’s shares.’
Dominic gave a dry laugh. ‘Because I was concerned about the company.’
Alexander looked toward the mantel. ‘Nina. Behind the clock.’
She moved automatically, lifting the old gold clock with both hands. Behind it was a tiny black camera, no larger than a matchbox.
Keller’s skin went gray.
Alexander’s mouth curved without warmth.
‘I built this house to survive betrayal,’ he said. ‘I forgot betrayal could share my blood.’
The door opened behind Dominic.
Bruno, Alexander’s head of security, stepped inside with two men behind him. One held Keller’s leather medical bag sealed in a clear evidence pouch. The other held a tablet displaying security footage from the hall outside Alexander’s room.
Keller backed away.
‘You have no right—’
‘To inspect medication brought into my home by my physician?’ Alexander asked. ‘I do.’
Marcus tapped the recorder. ‘To document a suspected poisoning attempt against my client? We do.’
The word poisoning struck the room like thunder.
Nina’s knees almost weakened, but she stayed upright.
Dominic looked at Alexander with hatred finally showing through the polish.
‘You were going to destroy everything Father built,’ he snapped. ‘You were moving the family too far into legitimate business. Cutting off old alliances. Making enemies out of people who made us powerful.’
Alexander struggled to sit up.
Nina moved without thinking, helping him lean against the pillows. He
