Chapter 10 - THE MOTHER’S CHOICE
Elena stopped breathing.
Vincent pressed the weapon against the back of Valentina’s chair.
Mrs. De Los Santos looked irritated rather than frightened.
“Put the gun down.”
Vincent shook his head.
“You tried to shoot me.”
“You are no longer useful.”
“I know where the original stones are hidden.”
Mrs. De Los Santos paused.
Captain Cross looked toward him.
“What original stones?”
Vincent smiled.
“The royal collection.”
“The jewels Daniel discovered six years ago.”
Alexander stared at him.
“My father said they were returned.”
“Your father lied.”
Mrs. De Los Santos raised her pistol.
“Tell me where they are.”
Vincent tightened his grip on Valentina’s chair.
“Guarantee my safety.”
Cross laughed.
“You do not have safety.”
“You have information.”
Elena scanned the warehouse.
Noah waited above.
Milo had reached the enclosure.
The other children watched him quietly bend the damaged lock.
Valentina noticed too.
She kept Vincent’s attention on herself.
“My dad was braver than all of you,” she said.
Vincent leaned toward her.
“Your father was a fool.”
“He knew he could not win.”
“He won,” Valentina replied.
“You are all still afraid of him.”
Vincent’s face twisted.
He raised his hand.
Elena shouted,
“Stop!”
Everyone turned toward her.
“I know where the memory card is.”
Noah’s eyes widened above them.
Elena continued.
“I hid it before leaving the store.”
Mrs. De Los Santos studied her.
“Where?”
“In the antique mirror.”
Vincent frowned.
“We searched the compartment.”
“There is another compartment behind the lower frame.”
Alexander understood what Elena was doing.
There was no second compartment.
She was giving Noah time.
Mrs. De Los Santos pointed her pistol at Elena.
“You will take us there.”
“Release my daughter first.”
“No.”
“Then you get nothing.”
Cross stepped toward Valentina.
“I can make the child talk.”
Elena looked directly at him.
“You already killed her father.”
“You will not touch her.”
Cross smiled.
“You are not in control.”
A loud metallic snap came from the enclosure.
Milo opened the gate.
The children ran.
Chaos erupted.
One guard turned toward them.
Noah jumped from the walkway and landed on him.
Alexander struck the second guard.
Elena rushed toward Valentina.
Vincent fired.
The bullet struck the chair leg.
Valentina fell sideways.
Elena threw herself over her daughter.
Mrs. De Los Santos fired at Vincent.
He staggered backward and dropped his weapon.
Cross grabbed the false ledger and ran toward the loading bay.
Noah untied Valentina.
“Can you run?”
She nodded.
Mrs. De Los Santos blocked the exit.
Her pistol pointed at Elena.
“You should have stayed silent like your husband.”
Valentina slipped one hand into her sneaker.
She pulled out the memory card.
Mrs. De Los Santos stared.
Valentina held it above a drain in the warehouse floor.
“One step closer and it is gone.”
Mrs. De Los Santos smiled.
“You will not do it.”
May you like
Valentina opened her fingers.
The memory card fell.
