Chapter 10 - The Viper’s Return
A tall silhouette stepped into the pool of flashlight beam. She wore high-collared combat fatigues, her silver-streaked hair tied back in a severe, military bun. Holstered across her chest were twin Berettas, their grips worn from years of use.
""Valeria,"" Luca whispered, lowering his weapon just a fraction of an inch, though his tension remained coiled and ready to strike.
""Put that away, Luca, before you hurt yourself,"" she said smoothly, stopping ten paces away. Two heavily armed operatives flanked her, weapons pointed firmly at the floor, not raised in aggression.
Elena watched in confusion and dread. ""Who is she?""
""Your aunt,"" Luca said between gritted teeth. ""The middle sibling. The one who supposedly died in a car crash in Milan eight years ago.""
""Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated, darling,"" Valeria smiled, though the expression didn't reach her predatory gray eyes. She looked down at Elena, her gaze lingering on the infant. ""So, this is Julian's grandson. Remarkable. He has our mother’s chin. And her wretched vulnerability.""
""Why are you here, Valeria?"" Luca demanded, stepping sideways to obscure her view of the baby. ""Hector paid twenty million to clear this compound. Don't tell me you took his contract.""
""Hector is a dinosaur grasping at ash,"" Valeria sneered disdainfully. ""He thinks he can rule the coast with cheap thugs and forged adoption papers. I didn't take his contract, Luca. I took his life.""
She tossed something heavy into the shallow, murky water at Luca's feet.
It rolled to a stop against Luca’s boot. Elena choked back a gasp of pure horror, instinctively turning her head away. It was Hector’s solid platinum signet ring, severed cleanly along with the finger that wore it.
""Mateo is currently fleeing toward the private airstrip in a panic,"" Valeria continued, crossing her arms. ""He thinks he can make it to South America. My men are tracking his jet's transponder right now.""
Elena felt a strange, chilling relief, quickly overshadowed by a new, darker dread. Valeria wasn't a savior; she was a predator that had just eaten the older wolf.
""Then what do you want?"" Luca asked, his grip on his gun never wavering.
May you like
""The same thing everyone wants,"" Valeria said, tilting her head toward the baby. ""The boy’s thumbprint on the blind trust papers. Give me the child, Luca, and I will let Julian's little girl live a long, comfortable life in the countryside. Refuse...""
Valeria's two guards slowly raised their assault rifles, leveling them squarely at Elena’s chest.
