Page 1 of The Billionaire's Destiny

Screech.

The car jerked hard to the right, and I clung to the handrest.What’s happening?We swerved into a new lane and raced toward the highway’s exit, still miles from the Marini Estate in Florence.

The partition was down in the car, and I called out to Zane. “What’s going on?”

“Rocco’s at the hospital.”

My heart jumped into my throat as fear rose in my veins. “Did you find out why?”

“No. I told Rick we’re on our way.”

We raced toward the Santa Maria Nuevo Hospital exit, as if desperate to outrun the fading sunlight. My eyes were locked on the road, but anxiety twisted inside me with every mile.If he’s at the hospital, he must be hurt, and it must be serious.

I lowered the window and craned my neck to see a way out of traffic as my mind kept coming up with the worst possibilities, and I had to stop. Rocco always believed in faith, so I tried to hold on to that hope and trust that he was okay. Still, every second made it harder to breathe. The air felt thick with grief and shadowed by Luca’s death.

“I can’t lose Rocco, too,” Olivia croaked, sniffling beside me.

“We won’t,” I muttered.

Olivia’s fingers found her rosary, her lips moving in a silent prayer. I craned my neck, searching the road ahead and watching as traffic crawled near the exit. We slipped into another lane for the ramp, the hospital signs promising we were close.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get there,” Zane called back to us. However, the traffic was at a standstill, with minutes passing before we could advance an inch, and more cars joined the road behind us, boxing us in. The sidewalks were mostly clear except for tourists lined up outside galleries or seated outside the front of cafes.Maybe I could run ahead?

I bent down, retied the laces on my sneakers, and called out to Zane. “How about I jog there and meet you both in the emergency room?”

Olivia tutted. “No, that’s a bad idea. We all should go together.”

“Mrs. Marini’s right, Adelina. There could be a lot of press, and I’ve been ordered not to leave you alone.”

Zane’s warnings and Olivia’s worry couldn’t keep me still. “I’ll be fine. I speak Italian, and my father isn’t here. Please. I swear I’ll call if anything happens, but I have to go now.” My voice rose with determination.

Olivia touched my arm. “Calm down.”

“I am calm, and I’ll steer clear of the press. But Rocco’s there, maybe hurt or alone.”He needs me.

We sat unmoving as minutes dragged by.

I clenched my jaw. “I’m going.”

Olivia fidgeted with her rosary, and flicked her gaze at me. “Okay, Adelina. Go on ahead.” Her sudden shift caught me off guard, and I turned to see a gentle smile on her lips.

Buzz.My phone vibrated in my bag. I paused to check.Private number? A reporter again?I let it go to voicemail. “Zane?”

He exhaled sharply and unlocked the door. “Call me the second you arrive.”Ding.He held up his index finger and reached inside his coat for his phone. “Paul? Yeah.”

Not Rocco.

“See you there,” I called and climbed out, closing the door behind me.

I glanced both ways, then broke into a jog toward the sidewalk, my eyes fixed on the sign overhead:Santa Maria Nuevo Hospital 1.6 K.M.

I set off at a brisk pace, weaving down the sidewalk toward the hospital. A few blocks on, the reason for the gridlock revealed itself: two cars were tangled in a crash, and officers and tow trucks swarmed the scene. I fired off a quick text to Zane.

Adelina: Car accident. Police and tow trucks ahead. Almost there.

The emergency room sign,Pronto Soccorso,was in view. Through the glass doors, I spotted the reception and hurried inside.

A group of security personnel and hospital staff appeared. Everyone was moving around at once, blocking the front desk. One of the officers stopped and approached me.