By sunrise, St. Jude’s was surrounded by reporters.

The story had leaked.

The district attorney’s pregnant wife had arrived critically injured.

Arthur Sullivan was being questioned.

Federal investigators had seized records from his residence and campaign offices.

And Dante Corvino had spent the entire night outside Nora Sullivan’s hospital room.

Chicago was about to explode with rumors.

Dante didn’t care.

He stood alone in a quiet stairwell when Marco found him.

“You know what Arthur did to Gabriel.”

“Yes.”

“Then you know what happens next.”

Dante looked at him.

“What do you think happens?”

Marco hesitated.

“For twenty years?”

“Yes.”

“We would handle it ourselves.”

Dante nodded.

“That’s what I thought too.”

“And now?”

Dante looked through the narrow stairwell window.

“Now I have a son.”

Marco said nothing.

“Nora asked me not to kill Arthur.”

“You’re going to listen?”

“I’m going to do something worse.”

“What?”

“Let him face trial.”

Marco blinked.

Dante almost smiled.

“He built his entire identity around controlling prosecutors, judges, witnesses. Imagine sitting in a courtroom where none of them belong to him anymore.”

Marco grinned.

“That is cruel.”

“I’m growing.”

When Dante returned to Nora’s room, she was awake.

“So?”

“So what?”

“Did you make your choice?”

He sat beside her.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“Arthur lives.”

Nora exhaled.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I intend to testify.”

She stared at him.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“Voluntarily?”

“Try not to look so shocked.”

“Dante, you treat subpoenas like restaurant suggestions.”

“That was the old Dante.”

“What happened to him?”

Dante looked toward the bassinet.

“He met someone smaller and more demanding.”

Nora laughed, then winced.

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“Doctor’s orders?”

“My stitches’ orders.”

The door opened.

Sarah entered.

“There are investigators outside. They want Nora’s statement whenever she’s ready.”

Nora’s smile disappeared.

Dante noticed.

“You don’t have to do it today.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Nora.”

“If I wait until I’m not scared, I’ll wait forever.”

Dante reached for her hand.

“Then I’m staying.”

Sarah hesitated.

“They may want to speak with her alone.”

“That’s fine.”

Nora tightened her fingers around his.

“No.”

He looked at her.

“Stay until they make you leave.”

So he did.

Nora gave her statement.

She described the financial records.

The threats.

The coercion surrounding her marriage.

The night she copied the ledger.

And the confrontation that ended with her fleeing into the storm.

She gave names, dates, account numbers, and everything she remembered.

When it was over, she looked exhausted.

The investigator closed her notebook.

“Mrs. Sullivan, this will be difficult.”

Nora looked at Dante.

Then at her son.

“I’ve already survived difficult.”

The investigator nodded and left.

Dante stood.

“Sleep.”

“Bossy.”

“Yes.”

Nora closed her eyes.

“Dante?”

“What?”

“What happens to us?”

He paused.

“Nothing today.”

Her eyes opened.

“That’s surprisingly mature.”

“I’m capable of growth.”

“Debatable.”

He smiled.

“You heal. Our son gets stronger. Arthur faces what he did.”

“And after that?”

Dante leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“After that, you decide.”

“Decide what?”

“Whether you want me.”

Nora stared at him.

“You’re not going to decide for me?”

“No.”

A small smile appeared.

“Definitely growth.”

He started toward the door.

“Dante?”

He looked back.

“His name.”

“What about it?”

“I haven’t chosen one.”

Dante glanced toward the baby.

“You choose.”

“I thought we could choose together.”

He stopped.

For perhaps the first time in his adult life, Dante Corvino had absolutely nothing to say.

Nora smiled.

“Sit down, Corvino.”

He obeyed.

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