From Scapegoat to Donna novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: The Gala Guest List

Adriana's POV

The hospital gala was held in the atrium, under the glass roof, with three hundred people and a string quartet.

Every family in the state had sent someone.

I wore the dark green dress Marta had picked out, and my scalpel sat in a strap against my thigh.

Tancredi stood beside me without his ring.

"Say it again," I said under my breath. "What do you do if it goes wrong?"

"I stay where you can see me."

"And?"

"And I don't touch anyone unless you say."

"Good."

Across the room Ignazio shook hands under a banner with the Orsini name on it.

Bianca stood at his side in white, with her braid pinned up and a glass of champagne.

She saw me and waved, and the smile reached her eyes.

At nine Ignazio took the microphone.

"My brother is recovering, thank God," he said. "In his absence I ask only that we remember what this hospital is for."

Polite applause.

"I'd also like to thank my daughter, who has covered our ICU wards since the fire. Our family's real doctor."

Bianca ducked her head, as if she were shy.

I put down my glass.

"Ignazio," I said, loud enough for the near tables. "May I say something about the hospital's dead?"

The quartet stopped, one instrument at a time.

He looked at me, and I watched him decide that refusing me would look worse.

"The Donna is always welcome," he said.

I walked to the front, and Tancredi walked three steps behind me, as I had asked.

"This week a blood bank technician died in the sub-basement," I said. "Somebody left my badge in her hand, and half this room called me the murderer."

← Chapter 15 · All chapters · Chapter 17 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend