Chapter 5 - The Woman Holding the GunSebastián stared at Valeria.
Her hair was disheveled.
Blood streaked her cheek.
One sleeve was torn.
Her hand trembled around the gun.
But her eyes were steady.
"Valeria..."
"Don't."
She backed away.
Mercer raised his weapon.
"Put the gun down."
Valeria didn't even glance at him.
"He's lying."
"Who?"
"Your father."
Sebastián looked at the speaker.
The recording was still running.
His father's voice had stopped.
Mercer asked:
"Who took you?"
Valeria's expression hardened.
"Someone your mother hired."
"Where?"
"In the old surgical wing."
Sebastián stepped toward her.
She raised the gun.
"Stay back."
"I thought you were dead."
"I nearly was."
"Who rescued you?"
Valeria looked toward the dark hallway.
"I rescued myself."
Sebastián saw the blood on her wrist.
"You're hurt."
"I'll survive."
He looked at the gun.
"You have never pointed a weapon at me."
"I know."
"Then don't start now."
Valeria's eyes filled with tears.
"This isn't about you."
"Everything is about me right now."
"No."
She glanced at the Red Ledger.
"This is about our child."
Sebastián looked down.
The page was still open.
PRIMARY ASSET.
"What does that mean?"
Valeria lowered the gun slightly.
"It means our baby is not just an heir."
"What is he?"
She stared at him.
"Evidence."
Mercer stepped forward.
"Explain."
Valeria finally lowered the weapon.
"Years ago, I worked on a financial crime case involving the San Gabriel Foundation."
Sebastián listened.
"We found money moving through hospitals, banks, shell companies, and political committees."
"Your family's money," Sebastián said.
"Not exactly."
She looked at the ledger.
"Your family's name was the shell."
"What was underneath?"
"A private organization that controlled the flow of money."
"Who?"
"The people who decide which politicians survive scandals."
Mercer stiffened.
"You mean a criminal network."
"I mean a network that has existed for generations."
Sebastián turned another page.
Names appeared.
Judges.
Police chiefs.
Senators.
Executives.
Doctors.
Then something caught his eye.
A photograph.
His mother.
Standing beside a man Sebastián had never seen.
Valeria looked at it.
"He is the founder."
"Who is he?"
She hesitated.
"Look at the name."
Sebastián read it.
Esteban Vega.
He knew the name.
Everyone did.
Vega was the chairman of the largest financial institution in the country.
He had donated billions to hospitals.
He had appeared on magazine covers.
He had hosted presidents at private dinners.
"He owns half the city."
Valeria shook her head.
"He owns more than half."
Mercer looked at the photograph.
"Where is he now?"
Valeria pointed to the next page.
Sebastián turned it.
A list of transactions.
One line was highlighted.
PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION: E. VEGA
Then another.
TARGET: VALERIA MENDOZA
Then another.
OBJECTIVE: TERMINATE ACCESS
Sebastián's blood ran cold.
"Terminate access."
Valeria looked directly at him.
"They weren't trying to kill me because I was your wife."
"Then why?"
"Because I found the original ledger."
"Where?"
She pointed at the book.
Sebastián frowned.
"This is the original."
"No."
Valeria shook her head.
"This is a copy."
Mercer swore.
"Where is the real one?"
Valeria looked at Sebastián.
"I hid it before I married you."
He stared.
"You had it the entire time?"
"No."
"Then who does?"
Valeria whispered:
"Your mother."
Sebastián went pale.
"My mother?"
"She took it from me three years ago."
"Then why haven't they killed her?"
"Because Rebeca doesn't know what it contains."
Mercer looked at the photograph again.
"Then Vega does."
Valeria nodded.
"He knows everything."
Sebastián's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
"Sebastián."
"Who is this?"
"Someone trying to keep your baby alive."
"Where is my mother?"
"Look behind you."
Sebastián turned.
The doorway was empty.
Then the voice whispered:
"She's not the person you should be afraid of."
The call ended.
Sebastián's phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared.
His mother was sitting in a cell.
Across from her was a man.
Sebastián recognized him.
His father.
Alive.
But the photograph contained something worse.
His father's hand was resting on Rebeca's stomach.
And beneath the photograph were three words:
May you like
THE BABY IS HIS.
Valeria dropped the gun.
