CHAPTER11 — THE HARBOR
Chapter 11 - CHAPTER11 — THE HARBOR
The harbor smelled of salt, diesel, and rain.
Jodi stood beside Hector beneath the shadow of an abandoned warehouse.
She had stopped asking whether they should trust anyone.
There was no one left to trust.
Inside the building, Hector's father was alive.
At least that was what Victor claimed.
Jodi held a small recorder in her coat.
Elena had given it to her before they left.
"Your father left this for you," Elena had said.
Jodi hadn't listened.
She was afraid.
Now she pressed play.
Daniel Russo's voice filled the darkness.
"If you're hearing this, Jodi, then I failed to keep you away from the truth."
Jodi's eyes closed.
"I need you to know something. I didn't raise you because you were Victor's daughter. I raised you because you were Hector's."
Hector heard the recording.
He looked at her.
Daniel continued.
"Your mother loved you. I loved you. But love wasn't enough. Victor would have used your bloodline to control both families. So I made myself the villain."
The recording stopped.
Jodi wiped her eyes.
"Why would he make us believe he was dead?"
Hector answered.
"Because a dead man can't be used as leverage."
A light turned on inside the warehouse.
Victor appeared behind the glass.
He looked older than Jodi expected.
He had Hector's eyes.
And Jodi's.
Victor smiled.
"My daughter."
Jodi felt sick.
"Where is Hector's father?"
"Alive."
"Let me see him."
Victor shook his head.
"First, you give me what belongs to me."
"The inheritance?"
"No."
He looked at Hector.
"Her."
Hector stepped forward.
Victor laughed.
"You still don't understand."
Then a second door opened.
An elderly man was pushed into the light.
Hector stopped.
His father was alive.
But he was barely standing.
Victor said, "Your father knew the truth."
Hector stared.
"What truth?"
The older man looked at Jodi.
Then at his son.
"I was the one who ordered Daniel to take her."
Hector's face changed.
Jodi felt something inside her collapse.
"Why?"
The old man spoke slowly.
"Because I knew Victor would eventually come for her."
Hector shook his head.
"You lied to me for twelve years."
"I was trying to save you."
"By making me hate the wrong man?"
His father lowered his eyes.
"I was afraid."
Victor smiled.
"Fear is what built this family."
Then the warehouse lights went out.
A single gunshot sounded.
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When the emergency lights returned, Victor was gone.
And Hector's father was dead.
