Chapter 12 - The AssignmentSebastián's father lowered the knife.
"Nobody move."
Grant aimed at him.
"You are under arrest."
His father laughed.
"You don't understand."
"Drop the weapon."
Instead, he pointed at Valeria.
"Ask her who recruited her."
Sebastián looked at his wife.
"Tell me."
Valeria's eyes filled with tears.
"I was recruited by my mother."
"To do what?"
"To investigate your family."
His father nodded.
"Exactly."
Valeria stepped forward.
"That doesn't mean I was working for them."
"You were," he said.
"No."
"You accepted the assignment."
"I accepted an investigation."
"You married my son."
"Because I loved him."
"And you found the ledger."
Valeria went silent.
Sebastián felt betrayed all over again.
His father continued.
"You were assigned to monitor the Alcázar family."
Sebastián stared at her.
"How long?"
"Three years."
His voice broke.
"Since before we met?"
"Yes."
His father looked at him.
"Now do you understand why the child matters?"
Sebastián turned.
"What does our baby have to do with her assignment?"
Valeria whispered:
"Everything."
She finally admitted the truth.
"When I entered your life, I was searching for evidence."
"Of what?"
"The identity program."
Sebastián frowned.
"The program that created Adrián."
"And you?"
Valeria nodded.
"Me too."
Grant stepped closer.
"What?"
Valeria looked at him.
"My mother was one of the first participants."
Grant went pale.
"Then you're genetically linked."
"To the system."
Sebastián stared at her.
His father nodded.
"Valeria's bloodline was designed to interact with the financial network."
Sebastián felt sick.
"And our child?"
Valeria placed a hand over her stomach.
"Combines both bloodlines."
His father whispered:
"The first true master key."
Nobody spoke.
Then Sebastián's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said:
"I know you've found the original ledger."
Sebastián recognized it.
Vega.
"What do you want?"
"The baby."
"No."
"Then your wife dies."
Sebastián looked at Valeria.
"You're bluffing."
Vega laughed.
"We already have someone."
Sebastián frowned.
"Who?"
The call switched to video.
Rebeca appeared.
She was tied to a chair.
Her face was bruised.
Behind her stood Adrián.
Sebastián's eyes narrowed.
"Where is my mother?"
Adrián smiled.
"She has been very helpful."
Rebeca looked directly at him.
"Don't give them the ledger."
Vega took the phone.
"Bring me the child."
"No."
"You have one hour."
"Or?"
"Your mother dies."
Sebastián looked at Rebeca.
She shook her head.
"Let me."
Valeria grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Sebastián stared at the screen.
His mother had lied to him.
Manipulated him.
Possibly helped destroy his father's life.
But she was still his mother.
"What happens if I refuse?"
Vega answered:
"Then she dies."
The call ended.
Silence.
Sebastián turned to Grant.
"Can you save her?"
Grant shook his head.
"Not in an hour."
His father looked at Sebastián.
"Your mother made her choices."
Sebastián stared at him.
"So did you."
Then he looked at Valeria.
"We're going."
"Where?"
"To Vega."
Valeria shook her head.
"That's exactly what he wants."
Sebastián looked at the ledger.
"No."
He opened the black book.
"That's exactly what I'm going to let him think."
Inside the final section was a map.
One location was circled.
An underground facility beneath the city.
Beside it was a handwritten warning:
DO NOT ENTER ALONE.
Sebastián looked at Grant.
"We're going."
Grant frowned.
"To die?"
Sebastián closed the ledger.
"No."
May you like
He stared at the location.
"To find out who has been controlling all of us."
