Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO RUN
Deep beneath the monastery, Marisol switched off the radio.
Her hands trembled.
Valentina leaned against her shoulder.
"Mamá..."
"Are we going home?"
Marisol forced herself to smile.
"We'll go somewhere safe."
Paulina slowly sat against the stone wall.
Blood had soaked through her coat.
She looked weaker by the minute.
Isabella knelt beside her.
"You're losing too much blood."
Paulina shook her head.
"I deserve worse."
Isabella reached for her hand.
"No."
"You deserve the truth."
Paulina stared at the older woman.
"Why didn't you stop looking for me?"
Isabella smiled sadly.
"Because mothers don't stop."
Paulina closed her eyes.
For the first time in years, she cried without hiding it.
Ramón returned after checking the tunnel.
"We need to move."
"Federal agents are on their way."
Marisol looked at him.
"Can we trust them?"
Ramón hesitated.
"I trust exactly three people."
He looked at Diego's mother.
Then at Marisol.
Then at the sleeping child.
"And none of them wear a badge."
Marisol looked toward the tunnel leading outside.
"I'm not going to headquarters."
Ramón frowned.
"Gabriel expects you to."
"Exactly."
She looked down at Valentina.
"I'm done letting them decide where my daughter goes."
Paulina slowly reached into her pocket.
She removed a small silver key.
"I know another place."
Ramón looked at it.
"What is that?"
"My father called it Vault Seven."
"Only he, Gabriel... and I knew it existed."
"It contains every original record they never wanted anyone to see."
Marisol's eyes widened.
"The real DNA report?"
Paulina nodded.
May you like
"If Gabriel hasn't destroyed it yet."
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