Chapter 7 - The Sister I Never Knew
When Isabella arrived at the federal medical unit, she took one look at Tomas Salazar and went white.
“You.”
Tomas lay handcuffed to a hospital bed.
He smiled weakly.
“You’ve grown.”
Rage transformed Isabella’s face.
“You came to our house.”
Sofia stood behind Rachel.
I immediately said, “Take Sofia outside.”
“No,” Sofia protested.
“Please.”
Something in my voice made her obey.
Rachel led her out.
Isabella approached Tomas.
“You told my mother you were helping us.”
“I did help you.”
“You terrorized her for years.”
“I was ordered to find the evidence.”
“You pointed a gun at my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You threatened me.”
“Yes.”
Isabella slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Tomas did not react.
“I deserved that.”
“You deserve worse.”
“Yes.”
I stepped between them.
“He says you know where Lucia is.”
Isabella froze.
Tomas closed his eyes.
“I hoped Elena told you.”
Isabella slowly turned toward me.
“Who told you that name?”
“He did.”
She looked sick.
“So she’s real.”
“You knew?”
“My mother mentioned a Lucia once.”
“When?”
“Before she died.”
“What did she say?”
“She said if the Ortega family ever came looking for the truth, Lucia would be the final proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“I don’t know.”
Tomas opened his eyes.
“Mariana was pregnant when she went into hiding.”
I sat beside the bed.
“Tell me.”
He swallowed.
“Vale learned she planned to testify. Your father moved her to Oregon.”
“My mother disappeared for months when I was ten.”
“You were told she was caring for your grandmother.”
“Yes.”
“She was pregnant.”
The room tilted.
“Why hide the baby from me?”
“Because Vale threatened every Ortega heir.”
“Why not hide me too?”
“You were already publicly known.”
“And Lucia wasn’t.”
Tomas nodded.
“Mariana gave birth. A girl.”
“And then?”
“Your father arranged a private adoption.”
My anger exploded.
“He gave away my sister?”
“To save her.”
“Without telling me?”
“You were ten.”
“And later?”
Tomas looked away.
“He planned to tell you.”
“When?”
“After Vale was gone.”
“Vale never left.”
“No.”
Isabella sat down.
“My mother knew?”
“Elena arranged the adoption.”
Isabella covered her mouth.
“So Lucia was hidden through my family.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Tomas looked toward her.
“That’s what I don’t know.”
Isabella stood abruptly.
“My mother kept a box.”
“What box?”
“Letters. Things she refused to destroy.”
“Where?”
“I thought everything was gone.”
“Isabella.”
She looked at me.
“There was a storage unit.”
Two hours later, federal agents opened a storage facility registered under Elena Marquez’s maiden name.
Inside were boxes of old photographs.
Tax records.
Children’s clothing.
Letters.
And a sealed envelope.
FOR RAMON, WHEN HE IS READY.
My hands shook as I opened it.
My father’s handwriting.
Ramon,
If you are reading this, then I failed to fix what I broke.
I had to stop.
Gabriel stood beside me.
“Keep going.”
I read silently at first.
Then aloud.
Your mother and I had a daughter named Lucia Mariana Ortega. We hid her because Adrian Vale threatened to kill both my children if Mariana testified.
I chose fear.
Your mother never forgave me.
Neither should you.
My throat tightened.
Lucia was placed with a family named Bennett in Spokane, Washington. Her adoptive parents were good people. Elena monitored her from a distance.
I wanted to bring her home many times.
But every time I tried, another threat came.
If you find her, do not ask her to forgive me. I have not earned it.
At the bottom was a photograph.
A baby wrapped in yellow.
My mother holding her.
I stared at Mariana’s face.
She looked happy.
Gabriel turned away.
I continued reading.
And Ramon—
Do not become me.
Do not confuse protecting people with controlling their lives.
I folded the letter.
For the first time in my life, I understood my father.
And I was still angry with him.
Both things could exist.
Rachel approached.
“We located Bennett family records.”
I stood.
“Where is Lucia?”
“Her adoptive parents died six years ago.”
My heart dropped.
“And Lucia?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
Rachel handed me a tablet.
A photograph appeared.
A woman in her thirties.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
My mother’s eyes.
She worked at a community legal clinic in Portland.
Her name was Lucia Bennett.
“She’s a lawyer?”
“Domestic violence and trafficking cases.”
Gabriel almost smiled.
“Mariana would like that.”
“When can I see her?”
Rachel hesitated.
“There’s a problem.”
“Of course there is.”
“Someone accessed her address records yesterday.”
“Who?”
“Account traced to Senator Vale’s office.”
My body went cold.
“Where is Lucia now?”
“We don’t know.”
“Call her.”
“We did.”
“No answer.”
“Send agents.”
“Already moving.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman’s voice.
“Is this Ramon Ortega?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know me.”
I knew before she said it.
“Lucia.”
Silence.
Then a sharp breath.
“How do you know my name?”
“Because I think I’m your brother.”
Nothing.
Then:
“That isn’t funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
“How did you get this number?”
“Lucia, where are you?”
“Why?”
“Because someone dangerous may be looking for you.”
A door slammed on her end.
She stopped talking.
“Lucia?”
Whispering now:
“Someone’s outside my apartment.”
“Lock the door.”
“It’s locked.”
“Get away from the windows.”
A crash.
Lucia screamed.
The call went dead.
I looked at Rachel.
“Find her.”
“We’re trying.”
“Now!”
Her agents moved.
Three minutes later, a location appeared.
Portland.
Rachel called the tactical team.
I grabbed my coat.
She blocked me.
“You’re not flying there.”
“Yes, I am.”
“You’re a target.”
“So is my sister.”
“You have never met her.”
“That changes nothing.”
From the doorway, Sofia’s small voice came:
“You promised you wouldn’t let people take family.”
I looked at her.
She was right.
May you like
I turned toward Rachel.
“Get me a plane.”
