Chapter 6 - The LedgerThe monster underneath the sea turned out to have a name.
Project Meridian.
Gabriel found the term buried in records dating back eighteen years.
It wasn't a shipping operation.
It wasn't money laundering.
It wasn't even primarily a criminal enterprise.
It was something far larger.
The Salcedos had been using private shipping routes to move people, weapons, and stolen assets between countries while financing political campaigns through shell companies.
But Meridian was different.
Meridian involved bloodlines.
Mariana stared at the files.
“You're telling me my family selected people based on genetics?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Not exactly.”
He placed another document on the table.
“This is why Lucía Varela was killed.”
The name struck Mariana like a physical blow.
Her biological mother.
“Lucía was a scientist.”
“A genetic researcher.”
“What did she discover?”
Gabriel opened a scanned report.
A list of names appeared.
Children.
Birth dates.
Medical histories.
Next to some names was a black symbol.
Mariana saw Mateo's name.
Her entire body froze.
“Why is my son here?”
Gabriel swallowed.
“Because Meridian didn't end eighteen years ago.”
Mariana stared at him.
“It continued.”
“Yes.”
“Who continued it?”
He hesitated.
“Your father.”
“No.”
“Esteban inherited your grandfather's operation.”
“He's a businessman.”
“He is.”
Gabriel pointed at another document.
“And this is his real business.”
Mariana looked.
A hidden network of shell companies.
Private clinics.
Research facilities.
Adoption agencies.
Medical contractors.
Her hands began shaking.
“They were looking for children.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Gabriel looked at Mateo.
“Because some children carry a genetic marker your mother's research proved was valuable.”
“To whom?”
Gabriel's voice dropped.
“People rich enough to pay for a second life.”
Mariana stared.
Then understood.
“You said the boy in the photograph was me.”
“Yes.”
“Why would they hide me?”
“Because Lucía found out what they were doing with the children.”
Mariana's throat tightened.
“What were they doing?”
Gabriel looked at the door.
He seemed suddenly afraid.
Before he could answer, the lights went out.
Mateo screamed.
Rosa grabbed him.
Gabriel drew a pistol.
Mariana froze.
A sound came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone was inside the house.
Gabriel motioned for silence.
Three steps.
Then five.
A door opened.
Wood creaked.
Gabriel pointed toward a hidden panel.
“Inside.”
Mariana grabbed Mateo.
“But you—”
“Go.”
“No.”
“Mariana.”
His voice left no room for argument.
She opened the panel.
A narrow tunnel appeared.
She pulled Mateo inside.
Rosa followed.
Gabriel remained behind.
The door closed.
Darkness.
Mariana held her son against her chest.
Above them, footsteps moved through the house.
Then a gunshot.
Mateo buried his face in her shoulder.
Mariana nearly screamed.
Another shot.
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“Gabriel.”
A pause.
“I know you're down there.”
Mariana stopped breathing.
The voice continued.
“Tell Mariana that her father sends his love.”
Gabriel didn't respond.
The man laughed softly.
Then:
“And tell her the ledger is already in our hands.”
Mariana looked at the folder she had carried into the tunnel.
Her eyes widened.
She opened it.
Empty.
Every page was gone.
Except one.
A single sheet.
At the bottom was a handwritten sentence.
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE WRONG FAMILY.
Mariana stared.
Then the paper began to burn.
A chemical soaked through it.
She dropped it.
The edges curled black.
Gabriel appeared at the far end of the tunnel.
Blood covered his shirt.
“Run.”
Mariana stared.
“What happened?”
“It's not the Salcedos.”
“What?”
Gabriel coughed.
“They're not the ones controlling Meridian.”
“Then who is?”
Gabriel looked at Mateo.
And said the name of the most powerful man in Europe.
“Your grandfather.”
Mariana went white.
“My grandfather is dead.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“No.”
“He died fifteen years ago.”
May you like
Gabriel's eyes darkened.
“He buried the wrong body.”
