Chapter 4 - The Man Who Stole Fourteen YearsSalazar entered slowly.
He didn't look like a criminal.
He looked like a retired officer.
That was what made him terrifying.
“You've grown up.”
Lucía stared.
“You know me?”
“I've watched you.”
Helena stepped in front of her.
“You won't touch my daughter.”
Salazar smiled.
“I never wanted to hurt her.”
“You threatened her.”
“I threatened Daniel.”
“Same thing.”
Salazar looked at the box.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“You don't understand what is inside.”
“I understand enough.”
Salazar's expression hardened.
“Your husband ruined everything.”
“My father.”
Salazar paused.
“Your father was a brave man.”
“Then why did you kill him?”
“I didn't.”
Lucía froze.
“You didn't?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Salazar looked at Gabriel.
“Ask him.”
Gabriel raised his weapon.
“Don't listen to him.”
Salazar smiled.
“Still protecting Daniel?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
Salazar continued.
“Gabriel was there.”
Lucía looked at him.
“What happened?”
Gabriel finally spoke.
“I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“I trusted Salazar.”
Silence.
“Fourteen years ago, I gave him Daniel's location.”
Lucía felt betrayed.
“You said you didn't.”
“I didn't know what he intended.”
“And when you found out?”
“I tried to stop him.”
“Too late.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Yes.”
Salazar interrupted.
“Your father escaped.”
Lucía stared.
“What?”
“He survived.”
“Where is he?”
Salazar smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
Helena looked around.
“What did you do with him?”
“Nothing.”
“You're lying.”
Salazar pulled out a phone.
He pressed a button.
A video appeared.
Daniel.
Older.
But alive.
He was sitting in a room.
Lucía's knees weakened.
“Dad?”
Daniel looked toward the camera.
“Lucía.”
She covered her mouth.
He smiled.
“My little girl.”
She began crying.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because I wanted you alive.”
Salazar turned off the video.
Lucía screamed.
“Where is he?”
“Give me the box.”
“No.”
“Then he stays where he is.”
Lucía looked at Helena.
Her mother shook her head.
“Don't.”
Salazar smiled.
“You have until sunrise.”
Then he walked away.
But Gabriel grabbed his arm.
Salazar turned.
“You shouldn't have come here.”
Gabriel whispered:
“You're finished.”
Salazar laughed.
“Not yet.”
Then he disappeared.
The police arrived minutes later.
The box was secured.
But Daniel was still missing.
Lucía refused to give up.
She examined the recording again.
There was background noise.
A bell.
Then water.
She recognized it.
“The old monastery.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“What?”
“The bell.”
She knew the place.
An abandoned monastery near the coast.
They drove there.
Inside, they found a hidden room.
Daniel was there.
Alive.
Older.
Weak.
But alive.
Lucía ran into his arms.
He held her tightly.
“My daughter.”
She cried against his chest.
“You came back.”
“I promised.”
Helena stood nearby, crying.
Daniel looked at her.
“You protected her.”
“I tried.”
“You did.”
Then Daniel looked at Gabriel.
“You made mistakes.”
Gabriel nodded.
“I know.”
“But you came back.”
Gabriel lowered his head.
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Salazar won't stop.”
Lucía asked:
“Why?”
Daniel answered:
“Because the box isn't the real evidence.”
“What is?”
May you like
He pointed toward the floor.
“The truth is inside the wall.”
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