THE CARTEL BOSS’S SON ATTACKED EVERY NANNY WHO CAME NEAR HIM… UNTIL A POOR MAID KNEELED DOWN AND UNCOVERED THE SECRET THAT WAS DESTROYING HIM

The escape tunnel finally began to angle upward, the stagnant, damp air slowly growing cooler and fresher. Valeria could faintly see the pale moonlight bleeding through the cracks of a heavy wooden trapdoor up ahead. They had finally reached the exit near the old abandoned highway.

“We are almost there, Mateo,” Valeria whispered, her lungs burning from the exertion. “We just have to push this door open and run into the forest.”

She set the boy down gently and climbed the three stone steps leading to the heavy trapdoor. She pressed her bruised shoulders against the rotting wood and pushed with all her remaining strength. The door groaned loudly and flipped open, spilling bright, silver moonlight into the dark tunnel.

Valeria pulled herself up onto the wet grass, turning around to reach down for Mateo.

But a massive, heavy combat boot suddenly stepped hard onto her wrist, pinning her firmly to the ground.

Valeria screamed in pain, looking up into the cold, dead eyes of Héctor. He stood above the tunnel exit, surrounded by four heavily armed mercenaries. The traitor smiled, a chilling, soulless expression, casually spinning a suppressed pistol in his scarred right hand.

“You are a very resourceful little maid,” Héctor said smoothly, pressing his boot harder against her fragile wrist. “I am genuinely impressed you made it this far. But the game is officially over.”

Mateo peaked his head out of the tunnel, freezing in absolute terror at the sight of the scarred man. He didn't scream this time. He simply stared, trembling violently.

“Hello, little bird,” Héctor mocked, pointing the heavy pistol directly at the four-year-old’s head. “It’s time to go see your lovely mother.”

“No!” Valeria shrieked, ignoring the searing pain in her pinned arm. She threw her entire body weight forward, desperately trying to shield the child with her own body.