Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15: THE MERCURY RISING
By 4:45 PM, the federal indictment against Grupo Salazar was officially dropped due to "insufficient and corrupted evidence." The corporate media called it a miraculous legal defense. Wall Street called it a bloody slaughter.
Vance Global’s board surrendered completely, signing over their distribution rights to us for pennies on the dollar to avoid a systemic collapse.
I stood in my father’s office, watching the sunset paint the Empire State Building in shades of gold and violet. For the first time in two years, I felt like I could breathe. The Rivas family was gone. The American threat was neutralized.
"We did it, Valeria," my father said, raising a glass of tequila. "The empire is secure. Your mother’s legacy is protected."
"Why don't I feel happy, Dad?" I asked, looking down at my hands. They were still shaking.
"Because power doesn't bring happiness, mi amor," Ricardo said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It brings peace. It brings safety for Leo. That’s all that matters."
The glass doors opened, and Sofia Vance walked in. Her face was completely white, her phone trembling in her hand.
"Valeria... Ricardo... you need to see this," she gasped, her voice cracking.
She turned on the office television. The breaking news banner flashed across the screen: MASS ESCAPE AT ALMOLOYA PENITENTIARY IN MEXICO.
The news anchor’s voice was frantic: "A highly coordinated paramilitary strike hit the maximum-security facility less than an hour ago. Explosives breached the southern wall. Three high-profile inmates have escaped, including former billionaire tycoon Santiago Rivas."
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My heart plummeted into a bottomless abyss.
"No," I whispered, my knees buckling. "No, no, no..."
