Chapter 16 - THE LAST ESCAPE
Sofia was not supposed to be at the estate.
That was the first thing Elena thought.
Then she realized the scream came through a speaker.
Vivian had prerecorded it.
Another manipulation.
Another attempt to make Elena panic.
It almost worked.
Vivian dragged her toward a stairwell.
“Move.”
Elena obeyed.
For now.
Alejandro heard everything through the damaged wire.
“Elena.
Can you hear me?”
She could.
She couldn’t answer.
Vivian led her into the basement.
Gabriel appeared through the smoke.
“Let her go.”
Vivian laughed.
“You don’t get to become a father now.”
Gabriel raised both hands.
“You’re right.”
She stopped.
That surprised her.
“I failed you.”
Vivian’s knife remained against Elena.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“I hid you.
I lied about you.
I made you feel ashamed of something that was my shame.”
Vivian’s breathing changed.
Elena felt it.
For one second, the child inside Vivian heard the words she had wanted for decades.
Gabriel continued.
“But Elena didn’t do that to you.”
Vivian’s face twisted.
“She got everything.”
“Because I failed you.
Not because she stole it.”
Vivian began crying.
Silently.
Furiously.
“You could have said that thirty years ago.”
“Yes.”
“You could have chosen me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Gabriel’s voice cracked.
“Because I was afraid.”
The knife lowered slightly.
Elena acted.
She drove her heel down on Vivian’s foot and twisted away.
Gabriel lunged.
Vivian stabbed.
The blade entered Gabriel’s side.
He fell.
Elena grabbed Vivian’s wrist.
They struggled.
Alejandro and Daniel appeared at the basement entrance.
Vivian saw them.
She shoved Elena away and ran.
Daniel pursued.
Alejandro dropped beside Gabriel.
Elena pressed cloth against her father’s wound.
Gabriel gasped.
“I’m sorry.”
“Save your breath.”
“I don’t deserve—”
“No.
You don’t get to die apologizing.”
She pressed harder.
“You get to live and answer questions.”
He almost smiled.
“That sounds like your mother.”
“Unfortunately.”
Medical agents arrived.
Elena ran after Alejandro.
Outside, Vivian crossed the snowy courtyard toward a helicopter.
A pilot waited.
Daniel fired at the rotor mechanism.
The helicopter couldn’t lift.
Vivian jumped out and ran toward the mountain road.
Alejandro followed.
Elena reached him.
“Together.”
He nodded.
They pursued on foot.
Vivian slipped near the cliff path.
She recovered.
At the edge stood an old cable bridge crossing a ravine.
Vivian ran onto it.
Alejandro followed.
Elena behind him.
Halfway across, Vivian stopped.
The bridge swayed.
Snow whipped sideways.
She turned.
Gun in hand.
“You still choose her.”
Alejandro stared.
“Yes.”
Vivian laughed through tears.
“After everything?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Alejandro thought about it.
Then answered simply.
“Because love is not possession.”
Vivian’s face collapsed.
She raised the gun.
Elena shouted.
A shot rang out.
Not from Vivian.
Nathan’s tactical officer fired from the ridge.
The bullet struck Vivian’s weapon.
It flew from her hand.
Vivian stumbled.
A bridge plank cracked.
She fell through.
Alejandro lunged.
He grabbed her wrist.
Vivian dangled above the ravine.
She stared up at him in disbelief.
“Why?”
Alejandro strained to hold her.
“Because I’m not you.”
Elena grabbed his arm.
Together they pulled Vivian onto the bridge.
Federal agents reached them seconds later.
Vivian lay in the snow.
Handcuffs closed around her wrists.
She looked toward Elena.
“You think this ends anything?”
Elena stared down at her.
“No.”
Vivian smiled.
“Good.”
Elena continued.
“It starts everything you were afraid of.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
Vivian’s smile vanished.
Agents led her away.
Alejandro turned toward Elena.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Elena began shaking.
Adrenaline leaving.
Alejandro opened his arms.
He did not move toward her.
He waited.
Elena stepped into them.
May you like
She buried her face against his chest.
And for the first time since he had found her on the marble floor, she held him without fear.
