Chapter 5 - The Sister Who Wanted the Baby
Clara Ortega had the face of a woman who belonged in a boardroom.
Elegant suit.
Pearl earrings.
Gray hair.
Perfect posture.
She walked into the church holding a silver cane.
Adrian recognized her immediately.
His aunt.
He had not seen her since he was a child.
“You.”
Clara smiled.
“Hello, Adrian.”
He raised his weapon.
“Stay away from my family.”
Clara laughed softly.
“You finally have one.”
She looked at Elina.
“Pretty girl.”
Elina stepped closer to Sofia.
Clara's gaze moved to Leo.
“There he is.”
Her expression became almost tender.
“The heir.”
Adrian's grip tightened.
“What do you want?”
“His bloodline.”
“No.”
“The Ortega inheritance isn't financial.”
Adrian stared.
“What inheritance?”
Clara smiled.
“The Blackridge archives.”
Sofia stepped forward.
“Enough.”
“You've hidden long enough.”
“You killed people.”
“And you saved too many.”
Clara raised her cane.
Armed men entered the church.
Adrian's security team was outside.
They had been separated.
Clara had planned everything.
She wanted Leo.
Adrian moved toward her.
“Try it.”
Clara shook her head.
“I'm not here to fight.”
“What then?”
“To offer a trade.”
Elina whispered:
“Which is?”
Clara looked at her.
“Your mother.”
Everyone became still.
“I want Sofia.”
Adrian said:
“No.”
“Then I take the boy.”
“No.”
“Then you lose both.”
Sofia looked at Clara.
“You always were a coward.”
Clara's smile vanished.
“You're the one who ran.”
“I survived.”
“You abandoned your daughter.”
Sofia's face broke.
“No.”
Clara nodded toward Elina.
“You left her with another woman and pretended it was protection.”
Elina looked at Sofia.
“Is that true?”
Sofia took a breath.
“Yes.”
Elina felt hurt.
“You left me?”
“To keep you alive.”
“You could have told me.”
“I wanted you to have a childhood.”
Elina's eyes filled with tears.
“I grew up thinking my mother didn't love me.”
Sofia's face crumbled.
“I loved you enough to disappear.”
Clara clapped slowly.
“What a beautiful tragedy.”
Adrian moved.
He threw a knife.
Clara's guard ducked.
Gunfire erupted.
Sofia ran with Leo.
Elina followed.
They reached a side door.
Adrian shouted:
“Go!”
Elina grabbed Sofia's hand.
They ran into the night.
But Clara's men chased them.
The women hid beneath an abandoned train station.
Sofia held Leo.
Elina crouched beside her.
“Tell me everything.”
Sofia nodded.
“Your father was my brother.”
Elina absorbed it.
“So I'm an Ortega.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Blackridge killed everyone who carried the Ortega name outside the main family.”
Elina looked toward Leo.
“Then why does he trust me?”
Sofia smiled through tears.
“Because he knows your blood.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Family recognizes family in strange ways.”
Footsteps approached.
Sofia handed Elina the baby.
“Take him.”
“Mom?”
“Take him and run.”
“No.”
“You need to.”
Elina clutched Leo.
Sofia stood.
A man appeared.
Not Clara.
A younger man.
He raised a gun.
Then stopped.
“Ms. Sofia?”
Sofia stared.
“Who are you?”
“Gabriel.”
Adrian's father's name.
Elina froze.
“Gabriel Ortega?”
The man shook his head.
“His son.”
Adrian had no idea his father had another son.
The man lowered his weapon.
“I was sent to help.”
“By whom?”
“Your grandmother.”
Elina stared.
“Grandmother?”
Gabriel nodded.
“She has been waiting for you.”
Then a second set of footsteps appeared.
Adrian.
He found them.
He looked at Sofia.
Then at Elina.
Then at Leo.
“You're all right.”
Elina nodded.
Adrian looked at Gabriel.
“Who the hell are you?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Your brother.”
May you like
Adrian stared.
The family secrets had just become even darker.
