Chapter 9 - The Father’s SinLorenzo had spent his entire life believing his father was honorable.
Now every memory felt poisoned.
The family dinners.
The lessons.
The warnings.
The final conversation.
All of it.
Could his father really have handed Daniel to Victor?
Nora looked at him.
“Lorenzo.”
He didn't answer.
“You can't let him manipulate you.”
“I need proof.”
“Then get it.”
The timer on the screen showed six minutes.
Lorenzo looked at the camera.
“Leo.”
The speakers crackled.
“Finally.”
“Send proof.”
Leo laughed.
“You still think you control this?”
“No.”
Lorenzo's voice became colder.
“I think you made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You told me where they are.”
A pause.
Leo realized it.
Lorenzo had been tracing the broadcast signal.
He turned to his security team.
“South district.”
They moved.
Nora stayed beside him.
“You're going.”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
She grabbed his hand.
“You asked me earlier whether I wanted to leave with Leo.”
He looked at her.
“I said no.”
Her voice trembled.
“I didn't say I trusted you.”
“I know.”
“But I'm still here.”
Lorenzo stared at her for a moment.
Then nodded.
They found the building.
The hostages were real.
The timer was not.
It had been an illusion.
Leo had already left.
But there was a message waiting for Lorenzo.
An old videotape.
His father's face appeared.
“I know what I did.”
Lorenzo couldn't breathe.
His father continued.
“I betrayed a young man who trusted me.”
Nora watched.
“I believed I could protect my family by helping Victor.”
Lorenzo's fists clenched.
“I was wrong.”
The recording showed Daniel.
Alive.
Afraid.
Then another person entered the room.
A woman.
Lorenzo recognized her.
Nora.
But she looked different.
Drugged.
Barely conscious.
Lorenzo turned toward her.
“You were there.”
Nora stared at the screen.
“I don't remember.”
The recording continued.
His father spoke.
“Daniel asked me to protect his sister.”
A pause.
“I failed.”
Then the screen showed a final image.
The man standing in the shadows.
His face became visible.
Lorenzo stared.
It was his father's younger brother.
His uncle.
A man believed to have died twenty years ago.
Nora whispered:
“Who is that?”
Lorenzo's face went pale.
“Mateo.”
“Your uncle?”
“Yes.”
“He's alive?”
Lorenzo nodded.
And then the room's lights turned off.
A voice spoke from behind them.
“Good.”
They turned.
May you like
Mateo was standing in the doorway.
Holding a gun.
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