Chapter 17 - A Ghost From the Past
Two months of profound, uninterrupted peace followed the passing of the law.
But true peace is often tested by the lingering shadows of the past.
Valeria was sitting in her office, reviewing the architectural blueprints for the newest safe house, when her private, encrypted cell phone buzzed.
"Ms. Valeria,"
The head of security for the foundation said, his voice tense and strictly professional.
"There is a woman at the main front gate. She is demanding to see you, and she refuses to leave."
"Who is it?"
Valeria asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"She claims her name is Patricia Morales. She says she is your former mother-in-law."
Valeria stopped breathing for a fraction of a second. Patricia. The woman who had lived in the same mansion, the woman who had watched Adrián terrorize her, and who had chosen to look the other way, sipping her tea while Valeria bled.
"Do not let her into the building,"
Valeria commanded, her voice dropping to a freezing, lethal whisper.
"I will come down to the gate myself. Have two armed guards stand beside me."
"Understood, ma'am,"
May you like
The security chief replied instantly.
Valeria stood up from her desk. She did not tremble. She did not feel the old, suffocating terror. She only felt a cold, righteous anger.
