Elena pulled the phone from her apron as though it had burned her fingers.

“That isn’t mine.”

The screen displayed no name, only a blocked number.

Alejandro held out his hand.

“Answer it.”

“I’ve never seen this phone before.”

“Put it on speaker,” he said.

Elena touched the screen.

A woman’s voice came through before she could speak.

“Did he drink it?”

Nobody moved.

The caller continued, “Elena, answer me.

Is Alejandro conscious?”

Alejandro’s eyes hardened.

“Who is this?”

The call ended.

The guard beside the laptop stepped forward.

“Give me the phone.”

Elena backed away.

“You heard her use my name.

Someone planted this.”

“And knew your staff code,” the guard said.

“That is an unfortunate coincidence.”

“What is your name?” Alejandro asked him.

“Luca, sir.

Luca Vieri.”

“Then listen carefully, Luca.

Nobody accuses anyone in this room without proof.”

Sirens sounded beyond the gates.

Emma pressed her face into Elena’s skirt.

“Mama, are they coming for me because I used the injector?”

Elena dropped to her knees.

“No, sweetheart.

You did the right thing.”

“Then why is everybody angry?”

Before Elena could answer, the first guard returned carrying a medical case.

He was the man who had grabbed Emma’s arm.

“My name is Gabriel,” he said, kneeling beside her.

“And I was wrong to stop you.”

He placed a new injector in Elena’s hand.

“The paramedics gave me a spare from their emergency supply.

It stays with Emma.”

Elena’s mouth trembled.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because she ran forward while I stood in her way.”

Emma touched Gabriel’s sleeve.

“Are you still mad at me?”

“No,” he said.

“I’m ashamed of myself.”

The paramedics entered and began treating Alejandro.

One examined the broken glass while another checked his breathing.

“This wasn’t an ordinary reaction,” she said.

“Someone introduced a concentrated allergen into that wine.”

Luca pointed at Elena.

“Search her room.”

“No,” Elena said.

“If you are innocent, you have nothing to hide.”

“I have a child downstairs!”

Alejandro pushed the oxygen mask aside.

“Gabriel goes with you.

Luca stays here.”

Luca’s jaw tightened.

“Sir, I’m head of internal security.”

“Then you should explain how someone erased my camera while you were on duty.”

Gabriel escorted Elena and Emma down the servant stairs.

The basement door stood open, although Elena remembered closing it.

“Someone has been in here,” she whispered.

A drawer had been pulled out.

Emma’s clothes covered the floor.

Gabriel opened the cupboard beneath the sink and froze.

“What did you find?” Elena asked.

He lifted a small silver vial with a folded paper tied around it.

“I have never seen that before.”

Luca appeared in the doorway behind them.

“I thought Mr.

Moretti ordered you to remain upstairs,” Gabriel said.

“He changed his mind.”

“No,” Alejandro said from the corridor.

He stood between two paramedics, one hand braced against the wall.

Luca’s face stiffened.

“Sir, you should be resting.”

Alejandro looked at the vial.

“Open the paper.”

Gabriel unfolded it.

A transfer receipt showed fifty thousand dollars paid into an account bearing Elena Carter’s name.

Elena covered her mouth.

Alejandro took the receipt and looked directly at her.

“Tell me why someone paid you two days before they tried to make sure I never woke up.”

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Elena stared at the account number.

“Because Elena Carter isn’t the only name I once used.”