Chapter 3 - The Backup Drive
Daniel dropped to his knees.
The backup drive was wedged beneath the fallen security cabinet.
Ricardo moved first.
He brought the bat down toward it.
Daniel threw himself forward and grabbed the drive.
The bat struck his shoulder.
He rolled across the tile, clutching the device against his chest.
“Give me that,” Ricardo said.
Daniel got up.
His left arm hung strangely.
“Why?”
“No private family footage leaves this house.”
Mariela walked toward him.
“You think a recording changes anything?”
“It changes prison time.”
Her face twitched.
Just once.
Daniel saw it.
Teresa grabbed Mariela’s elbow.
“Stop talking.”
Mariela pulled away.
“No. I’m tired of everyone acting like Camila and her little brat are victims.”
Daniel moved so quickly that Teresa gasped.
He stopped inches from his sister.
“Say that again.”
Mariela smiled.
“Which part?”
Ricardo stepped between them.
“You need to leave.”
Daniel backed toward the side door.
“Gladly.”
Ricardo blocked his path.
Daniel looked toward the front entrance.
Teresa moved to lock it.
For one sickening second, Daniel understood.
They weren’t planning to let him leave with the drive.
He glanced at the kitchen window.
Too narrow.
The courtyard door was behind Ricardo.
His phone was still in his pocket.
He pressed the emergency shortcut without looking.
The call connected silently.
At the hospital, I answered.
“Daniel?”
No response.
Then I heard Ricardo’s voice.
“You’re going to hand me that drive.”
I sat upright.
“Daniel?”
A crash exploded through the phone.
I ran into the hallway.
“Call the police!” I shouted at the nearest nurse.
Back at the house, Ricardo had shoved Daniel against the counter.
Mariela grabbed for the drive.
Daniel twisted away.
Teresa screamed when the drive flew from his hand.
It skidded beneath the dining table.
All four of them dropped their eyes toward it.
Mariela ran.
Daniel caught her around the waist.
They hit the floor.
She elbowed him in the mouth.
Blood filled his mouth.
“You always chose her!” Mariela screamed.
“She’s my wife!”
“I was your sister first!”
Daniel froze.
The confession hung there.
Too raw.
Too honest.
Mariela shoved him away and crawled for the drive.
Teresa reached it first.
She held it tightly.
“Mom,” Daniel said.
Teresa stared at him.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Please don’t make me choose.”
“You already did.”
Police sirens rose outside.
Ricardo cursed.
Mariela looked toward the window.
“What did you do?”
Daniel wiped blood from his lip.
“I called someone who doesn’t care that you’re family.”
The front door shook under a heavy knock.
“Police!”
Teresa looked at the drive in her hand.
Then she slipped it into the pocket of her robe.
When officers entered, she raised both hands.
The drive was gone.
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And Teresa calmly told them Daniel had attacked the family first.
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