Chapter 15 - The Shot Nobody Expected
Luciana held the pistol with both hands.
Her finger hovered near the trigger.
Daniel froze.
“Put it down, sweetheart.”
Ricardo stood slowly.
“She won’t shoot me.”
Luciana’s whole body shook.
Daniel kept his voice soft.
“Look at me.”
She didn’t.
Her eyes stayed on Ricardo.
“He lied to me.”
“I know.”
“He said my mother didn’t want me.”
“I know.”
“She did want me?”
“Yes.”
The gun lowered slightly.
Ricardo moved.
Luciana flinched.
A second shot exploded.
The bullet struck the concrete beside Ricardo’s leg.
He fell backward.
Lucía and two officers burst inside.
“Drop the weapon!”
Luciana screamed.
Daniel crawled toward her.
“Don’t shoot! She’s a child!”
Lucía lowered her own gun first.
“Luciana, put it on the floor.”
The girl looked at Daniel.
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
“I fired it.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I know.”
She placed the pistol down.
Daniel pulled her into his arms.
She fought him for one second.
Then she clung to his shirt.
Police arrested Ricardo.
The first bullet had grazed Daniel’s side.
The wound was shallow.
His ribs hurt worse.
At the hospital, Valeria met her daughter for the first time in four years.
Luciana stood behind her adoptive mother.
Valeria knelt.
She didn’t reach out.
“I’m Valeria.”
Luciana stared at her.
“I know.”
“Your mother.”
“I already have a mom.”
The adoptive mother closed her eyes.
Valeria nodded.
“Yes.”
The answer cost her something.
But she didn’t argue.
“I’m glad she took care of you.”
Luciana looked at Daniel.
“Are you staying?”
Daniel looked toward me.
I stood near the doorway holding Sofia.
Sofia’s bandaged cheek rested against my shoulder.
“I don’t know yet,” Daniel said.
Luciana frowned.
Adults had already lied to her too many times.
Daniel corrected himself.
“I want to stay. But wanting something doesn’t mean I get it.”
Luciana seemed to think about that.
Then she walked toward Sofia.
She touched the edge of the yellow blanket.
“Is she my sister?”
“Yes,” Daniel said.
Sofia opened her eyes.
Luciana smiled awkwardly.
“Hi.”
Sofia stared at her.
Then handed her a plastic hospital spoon.
No one knew why.
Luciana took it anyway.
That tiny, imperfect exchange nearly broke the room apart.
Later, Lucía entered carrying a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was Teresa’s pink stuffed rabbit.
“We found something hidden in the lining.”
She removed a tiny memory card.
Daniel stared at it.
“What’s on it?”
Lucía’s expression darkened.
May you like
“A recording Teresa made the night Valeria disappeared.”
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