Chapter 4
The Offer
Julian’s day at St. Vincent’s Hospital was as chaotic as ever. The emergency room buzzed with activity; nurses rushing between beds, monitors beeping incessantly, and the constant hum of voices filling the air. Julian moved through it all with practiced ease, his hands steady and his mind focused.
He sutured a deep laceration on a construction worker’s arm, diagnosed a case of appendicitis, and managed to calm a panicked mother whose toddler had swallowed a coin. It was just another day in the life of an ER doctor, and Julian was good at his job. But today, his mind kept drifting back to the events of nearly a month ago.
As he washed his hands in the sink, his thoughts wandered to Enzo Moretti. The memory of that night was etched into his mind; the blood, the fear, the way Enzo’s dark eyes had locked onto his as he revealed who he was. Julian had known, even then, that he was in over his head.
But what had haunted him most were the two men who had come to take Enzo away. They had been terrifying, their presence suffocating, and Julian had been certain they would kill him to tie up loose ends. And yet, they hadn’t. They’d left him alive, and he hadn’t heard a word from them, or Enzo, since.
Why am I still alive?
Julian thought, drying his hands on a paper towel.
They could’ve killed me. They should’ve killed me. So why didn’t they?
The question gnawed at him, a constant undercurrent to his thoughts. He had spent the past few weeks looking over his shoulder, jumping at every unexpected sound, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But nothing had happened. Life had gone on as usual, and Julian had started to wonder if maybe, just maybe, he’d gotten lucky. Maybe Enzo and his men had decided he wasn’t worth the trouble.
But deep down, Julian knew better. People like Enzo Moretti didn’t just let things go. There had to be a reason he was still breathing, and that thought terrified him.
???
By the time Julian’s shift ended, he was exhausted. He changed out of his scrubs, grabbed his coat, and headed home, the weight of the day, and the past month, settling heavily on his shoulders. His apartment was a small, modest space, but it was his sanctuary. Or at least, it had been. Now, it felt like a place where danger could be lurking around every corner.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside, flipping on the light. The familiar sight of his living room greeted him, the worn rugs, the cluttered coffee table, the stack of unpaid bills sitting on his desk. Julian sighed, running a hand through his hair. The bills were a constant reminder of the life he couldn’t escape. His mother’s medical debt, his student loans, the credit card bills; they were a mountain he couldn’t climb, no matter how hard he worked.
He tossed his keys on the counter and headed to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. But as he turned around, he froze.
Enzo Moretti was sitting on his couch.
Julian’s heart stopped, the glass slipping from his hand and shattering on the floor. Water splashed across the tiles, but Julian barely noticed. His entire focus was on the man in front of him. Enzo looked as imposing as ever, dressed in a tailored black suit, his dark eyes sharp and calculating. He leaned back casually, one arm draped over the back of the couch, as if he owned the place.
“You should mind your surroundings,” Enzo said, his voice calm and smooth. “It’s a dangerous world out there.”
Julian’s mouth went dry. “How…how did you get in here?”
Enzo raised an eyebrow. “You think a flimsy lock would stop me?”
Julian’s mind raced, his pulse pounding in his ears. This was it. This was the moment he’d been dreading. Enzo had come to tie up loose ends, to silence the witness. Julian’s hands trembled as he took a step back, his eyes darting to the door. But before he could move, Enzo spoke again.
“Relax, Doctor. If I wanted you dead, you’d already be dead.”
The words did little to calm Julian’s nerves. “Then what are you doing here?”
Enzo stood, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. He walked over to Julian’s desk, picking up one of the unpaid bills and glancing at it. “You’re in quite a bit of debt,” he said, his tone almost conversational. “Medical bills, student loans… it’s a lot for one person to handle.”
Julian’s stomach churned. “What do you want?”
Enzo set the bill down and turned to face him. “I’m here to offer you a job.”
Julian blinked; certain he’d misheard. “A job?”
“Yes. I need a personal doctor. Someone who can patch me and my associates up without asking too many questions. You’ve already proven you can handle yourself under pressure. I think you’d be a good fit.”
Julian stared at him, his mind struggling to process the words. “You want me to work for you? As your… doctor?”
Enzo nodded. “You’d be well compensated. Enough to clear your debts and then some. All you have to do is be on call when I need you.”
Julian shook his head, taking another step back. “No. No way. I’m not getting involved in your… your world. I’m a doctor. I save lives. I don’t patch up criminals.”
Enzo’s expression darkened, and for a moment, Julian thought he’d gone too far. But then Enzo smiled, a cold, humorless smile that sent a shiver down Julian’s spine. “You think you have a choice?”
Julian’s eyes flicked to the stack of bills on his desk, the numbers glaring up at him like a death sentence. He thought about his mother, about the life she’d sacrificed to give him a chance. He thought about the years of hard work, the sleepless nights, the endless grind, and how it still wasn’t enough.
Enzo stepped closer, his voice low and steady. “You’re drowning, Julian. I’m offering you a lifeline. All you have to do is take it.”
Julian’s hands clenched into fists, his mind warring with itself. He wanted to say no, to tell Enzo to leave and never come back. But the weight of his debts, the crushing reality of his situation, pressed down on him like a vise.
“I… I can’t,” Julian whispered, his voice barely audible.
Enzo tilted his head, studying him. “Can’t? Or won’t?”
Julian didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The truth was, he didn’t have a choice. Not really. And Enzo knew it.
The mafia boss stepped back, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Think about it. But don’t take too long. I’m not a patient man.”
With that, Enzo walked to the door, pausing only to glance back at Julian. “Oh, and Doctor? You should really change your lock. Anyone could come in.”
Then he was gone, leaving Julian standing in the middle of his apartment, his heart racing and his future hanging in the balance. He looked at the stack of bills on his desk, the numbers blurring as tears filled his eyes.
Enzo was right. He had no choice, and that was the worst part.