Chapter 4 - PATRICIA’S WARNING
Patricia held the knife low.
Not like someone cooking.
Like someone afraid.
Julian moved in front of Mariana.
“Put it down.”
Patricia shook her head.
“You shouldn’t have come back.”
Julian stared at his little sister.
The same girl he used to carry on his shoulders.
The girl he once defended from bullies.
Now she stood six feet away with a knife.
“Patricia.”
“You ruined everything.”
“I ruined everything?”
“We had a plan.”
Mariana whispered, “She means the sale.”
Patricia shot her a look.
“Shut up.”
Julian said, “What sale?”
Patricia breathed hard.
“The mansion.”
“Why?”
“Because we need the money.”
“You already stole over a hundred thousand dollars.”
Her face twisted.
“You think that was enough?”
Julian almost laughed.
“For what?”
Patricia looked toward the hall.
Arturo appeared behind her.
“Put the knife down,” he said.
She looked at him.
“You said he wasn’t coming back until December.”
Julian froze.
Arturo’s eyes sharpened.
That sentence gave him away.
Julian stepped forward.
“How did you know my schedule?”
Arturo said nothing.
Julian pointed at him.
“How did you know?”
Eulalia appeared.
“Because I told him.”
Julian turned.
“You told him?”
Eulalia walked into the storage room.
“I had access to your emails.”
Mariana gasped.
Julian’s face went blank.
“What?”
“When you left, you gave me passwords.”
“For the bank account so you could confirm transfers.”
“You used the same password everywhere.”
Julian stared at her.
His own mother had read his emails.
Blocked messages.
Tracked his contract.
Eulalia continued.
“You weren’t supposed to return yet.”
Julian looked at Patricia.
“Put the knife down.”
Her hand shook.
“Mom promised me this house.”
“It was never hers to promise.”
“It’s in her name.”
“Fraudulently.”
Arturo spoke quietly.
“That would be difficult to prove.”
Julian looked at him.
“Not if the notary talks.”
For the first time, Arturo flinched.
Mariana noticed.
“Which notary?” she asked.
Julian smiled without humor.
“Exactly.”
Arturo moved closer.
“Careful.”
Julian said, “You forged a title transfer.”
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“So is planning to declare me dead.”
Arturo’s face went cold.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
“No.”
Julian glanced at his mother.
“I think I finally do.”
Suddenly, Dieguito screamed outside.
“MOM!”
Mariana ran.
Julian followed.
A stranger had grabbed Dieguito by the arm near the patio gate.
Julian sprinted.
The man tried to drag the boy toward a black SUV.
Julian tackled him from behind.
Both crashed into the pavement.
Dieguito ran to Mariana.
The stranger punched Julian in the ribs.
Julian rolled.
Blocked the second punch.
Drove his shoulder into the man’s chest.
Guests scattered.
Someone screamed for police.
The stranger broke free and ran toward the SUV.
Julian grabbed his jacket.
It tore.
Something fell from the pocket.
A photograph.
The SUV sped away.
Julian picked up the picture.
It showed him.
In Saudi Arabia.
Walking out of his work camp.
Date stamped two months earlier.
Someone had been watching him overseas.
Julian turned the photo over.
May you like
Four words were written on the back.
MAKE SURE HE STAYS.
