Chapter 11 - The Trap Victor Couldn't Resist
Two hundred million dollars appeared in the account at 10:00 a.m.
Victor checked it eleven minutes later.
The signal bounced through servers in five countries.
But Detective Bennett's cybercrime team found the mistake.
Victor had used a satellite connection.
Location:
Baja California.
He was less than two hundred miles away.
Alejandro wanted to go.
Bennett refused.
“This is not a movie.”
“He's my father.”
“He's a murder suspect.”
“He threatened my daughter.”
“Which is exactly why you're staying here.”
Gabriel agreed with her.
For once, Alejandro listened.
Mexican authorities coordinated with U.S. investigators.
They located Victor near Ensenada.
But Victor wasn't alone.
He had taken Daniel.
Not as a partner.
As insurance.
When police surrounded the property, Victor released a video.
Daniel sat tied to a chair.
Victor stood behind him.
“You betrayed me.”
Daniel was crying.
“I did everything you asked.”
“Until you didn't.”
Victor looked into the camera.
“Alejandro, you have one hour.”
Alejandro stared at the screen.
“Come alone.”
Bennett cursed.
Victor continued.
“Or your sister becomes a widow.”
Camila began shaking.
Alejandro immediately stood.
“No.”
Bennett blocked him.
“He wants you emotionally compromised.”
“He has Daniel.”
“Daniel helped him attack your wife.”
Camila looked at her brother.
Alejandro saw the conflict in her face.
Daniel had betrayed her.
Betrayed all of them.
But she still loved him.
“Please.”
That was enough.
Alejandro went.
Not alone.
Bennett arranged everything.
A tracking device.
A tactical team.
Mexican federal police nearby.
Gabriel insisted on accompanying him as far as the perimeter.
“You're enjoying this brother thing too much,” Alejandro said.
Gabriel almost smiled.
“You're terrible at it.”
The meeting location was an unfinished resort overlooking the Pacific.
Victor stood on the upper floor.
Daniel was tied near the edge.
Alejandro walked in.
Victor smiled.
“My son.”
“Don't call me that.”
“It is what you are.”
“Tomas Aranda was my father.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“He raised you with my money.”
“No.”
Alejandro stepped closer.
“He raised me with something you never had.”
“What?”
“A conscience.”
Victor laughed.
Then pointed a gun toward Daniel.
“You came here to insult me?”
“I came to give you what you wanted.”
“The audit?”
“Canceled.”
Victor studied him.
“Proof.”
Alejandro held up his phone.
Victor moved closer.
Exactly as Bennett had predicted.
He needed to verify the document personally.
While Victor examined the screen, Daniel suddenly threw his weight sideways.
Victor lost balance.
Alejandro lunged.
The gun fired.
Glass shattered.
Daniel screamed.
Victor struck Alejandro across the face.
They fought.
Not elegantly.
Not heroically.
Two furious men crashing through unfinished walls and construction debris.
Victor was older but desperate.
Alejandro finally drove him against a concrete column.
Victor laughed through blood.
“You hit like me.”
Alejandro punched him again.
“No.”
Police sirens approached.
Victor heard them.
His expression changed.
“You betrayed me.”
Alejandro stepped back.
“I learned from the wrong father.”
Victor ran toward the balcony.
Daniel shouted:
“He has another gun!”
Victor turned.
Gabriel appeared at the doorway.
“Stop!”
Victor stared at him.
For one strange moment, father and son looked at each other.
Then Victor raised the weapon.
Alejandro moved between them.
“Don't.”
Victor smiled.
“Still protecting everyone.”
His finger tightened.
A shot rang out.
Victor dropped.
Detective Bennett stood behind Gabriel.
Her weapon remained trained on him.
Victor was alive.
The bullet had struck his shoulder.
Police swarmed him.
As they dragged him away, he looked at Alejandro.
“You'll regret this.”
Alejandro watched him disappear.
“No.”
May you like
For the first time in weeks, he believed it.
He wouldn't.
