Chapter 27 - The Stalling Tactic
Daniel groaned, spitting blood onto the wooden floorboards as he forced himself up onto his knees. "Don't sign anything, Val. The moment he has the money, he’ll kill us all anyway."
"Shut up!" one of the mercenaries barked, kicking Daniel viciously in the ribs. Daniel collapsed, gasping for air.
Valeria’s mind raced. She knew Daniel was right. Ricardo was a sociopath; he left no loose ends. But she also knew that Alejandro Vargas and the cartel hit squad were currently hunting Ricardo. She just needed to buy time.
"Okay," Valeria said, her voice shaking slightly as she played the role of the terrified, broken wife perfectly. "Okay, I'll sign it. Just don't hurt him anymore."
Ricardo smiled triumphantly. "Smart girl. The Valdés women always were too emotional for their own good."
Valeria walked slowly toward the coffee table. She picked up the pen, her hands deliberately trembling to stall for precious seconds. She looked at the signature line.
"I need to read the terms," Valeria stalled, pretending to squint at the fine print. "I need to ensure Sofia's safety is guaranteed in this contract."
"You are in no position to negotiate!" Ricardo snapped, losing his patience. He raised the suppressed pistol and aimed it directly at Aunt Elena’s head. "Sign the paper right now, or the old woman loses her brains."
"Stop!" Valeria cried out, pressing the pen to the paper.
She began to write her name, moving at an agonizingly slow pace. V... a... l...
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Suddenly, the deafening roar of high-powered engines echoed from the driveway outside. The sound of multiple heavily armored SUVs screeching to a halt on the gravel shattered the tense silence of the living room.
Ricardo frowned, looking toward the front window. "Who the hell is that? I told the perimeter team to hold their positions!"
