Chapter 4 - The Ghost of the Valdés Empire
The newcomer didn’t hesitate. Before Daniel could recover from the shock, the man lunged forward, tackling Daniel away from the balcony edge. The knife clattered to the floor.
"Get the police!" the man roared to the terrified homeowners.
With a powerful heave, he reached over the railing, grabbing Elena’s wrists just as her final finger slipped. He pulled her up with brute strength, dragging her onto the concrete floor of the balcony. But as he did, a sickening rip echoed. Rosa’s hand lost its grip on Elena's pants.
"Rosa!" Elena screamed, crawling to the edge.
But Rosa didn't fall to the street. She had managed to land hard on a thick bundle of internet cables running along the side of the building, hanging on for dear life. Down below, sirens wailed. The police had finally arrived.
Seeing the flashing red and blue lights, Beatriz grabbed Daniel’s arm. "Daniel, we have to go. Now!"
Daniel glared at the stranger, his eyes burning with hatred. "This isn't over, Gabriel," he spat, revealing the man's name, before he and his mother fled through the back stairwell.
Elena lay gasping on the floor, clutching her belly. She looked up at her savior. Up close, his resemblance to Daniel’s late father was terrifying.
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"Who... who are you?" Elena stammered.
The man knelt beside her, his expression softening but his eyes haunted. "My name is Gabriel Valdés. I am the man they tried to erase. And if we want your baby to survive the night, we need to leave before the police ask questions they aren't equipped to handle."
