Chapter 5 - Blood and Iron
The blast threw Alejandro backward, his head striking the hardwood floor. His ears rang, a high-pitched whine drowning out the chaos. Smoke filled the corridor, thick and acrid.
He forced his eyes open, coughing as he scrambled to his feet.
"Valeria! Sofía!" Alejandro screamed, his voice tearing at his throat.
He rushed through the smoking doorway. The luxurious bedroom was in ruins. The blast had shattered the furniture and blown out the windows, letting the howling storm inside.
But tucked in the corner, shielded perfectly by a heavy overturned oak armoire, was Valeria. Her body was curled entirely over Sofía, protecting the child from the debris.
Alejandro fell to his knees beside them, his hands shaking as he pulled the wood away. "Are you hurt? Valeria, talk to me!"
Valeria looked up, her face covered in dust, a small cut on her forehead, but her eyes were fierce. "We're okay. Sofía is safe."
Sofía peeked out from under her mother’s arms. She wasn't crying. She looked at Alejandro with those dark, observant eyes. "You said you wouldn't let the bad men get us."
"And I won't," Alejandro promised, kissing her forehead.
A shadow moved in the doorway.
Hector stood there, coughing, holding a silver-plated revolver. His mercenaries were dead or incapacitated, but the old man was desperate. He pointed the gun directly at Alejandro.
"It ends today, Alejandro. The company is mine," Hector snarled, pulling the hammer back.
Alejandro stood up, placing his body entirely between Hector and his family. He didn't raise his gun. He just stared at his uncle with a look of absolute, terrifying pity.
"You're right, Hector. It does end today."
Before Hector could pull the trigger, a red laser dot appeared on his chest. Then another on his forehead.
Mateo and three heavily armed estate guards stepped out from the smoke behind Hector, their assault rifles leveled at the older man.
"Drop the weapon, Hector," Mateo said, his voice cold as ice.
Hector looked around, realizing he was completely outflanked. His hand trembled. The arrogance that had fueled him for a decade finally crumbled. The gun clattered to the floor.
"You think this is over?" Hector spat as Mateo zip-tied his wrists. "The board will never let you—"
"I bought out the board three days ago," Alejandro interrupted, his voice echoing in the ruined room. "I knew someone was embezzling funds from the shipping accounts. I just didn't know it was you until tonight. By tomorrow morning, you will be stripped of your shares, your assets will be frozen, and you will be handed over to the federal authorities for attempted murder. You are nothing."
Hector was dragged away, screaming curses that were swallowed by the storm outside.
Alejandro turned back to Valeria and Sofía. He dropped his weapon and fell to his knees, pulling them both into his chest. For the first time in seven years, he breathed in completely.
May you like
The nightmare was over.
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