Chapter 125

• DANTE'S POV
• The cold, white light of the waiting room in Ospedale Sant'Andrea contrasted with the feverish heat rising through my body. Each passing second felt like a step closer to hell. Sitting, my eyes fixed on the door separating the waiting room from the corridor leading to the operating room, I saw the clock as a relentless enemy. Don Salvatore was in there, between life and death, while Catarina, the most talented and loyal surgeon in our family, fought to save his life. The tension in the air was palpable, as if it could explode at any moment.
• My associates were strategically scattered throughout the hospital, vigilant. But my concern wasn't just about the surgery. We knew that Don Salieri's men could show up at any moment. Four hours had passed, and my patience was exhausted. I stood up abruptly, signaling for two of my men to accompany me. The receptionist, a young woman with wide eyes, watched us with a mix of fear and determination.