Chapter 13

POV: Karol Kensington

Just an hour ago, I was with Ciro. But when the news said someone leaked our private medical files, Ciro paused our trip. He brought me back here to the stadium. He wanted me to see my family's trap with my own eyes.

He was right.

I stood in the middle of the big room. Guards stood in a tight circle around me. Behind them, all the nurses, doctors, and trainers I had worked with for years were watching. They whispered to each other. They looked at me like I was garbage.

The TV screens in the lobby played the news over and over. The news said I was a traitor. It said I sold Ciro's files for money. Valeria had framed me perfectly.

"You bring shame to this family," my mother, Esperanza, said. She crossed her arms. "You sold the medical files to the press? 

I looked past her. Valeria stood by the side. She wiped a fake tear from her eye. She acted like a sad, broken sister for the staff.

"I didn't sell this family, nor did I sell any medical files," I said quietly. I looked right at my mother, then at Valeria. "You sold me."

"Take her out," my mother ordered the guards. "She is not allowed here anymore."

Two big men grabbed my arms. They pushed me hard toward the glass doors.

"Don't touch me," I said. I pulled away and walked by myself.

I pushed open the doors and stepped into the freezing rain. I thought the parking lot would be empty. But a bright white light flashed in my eyes. Then another.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

A huge crowd of reporters was waiting for me. Valeria must have called them. They were packed tight behind a metal fence like hungry wolves.

"Karol! Did you sleep with Ciro for a job?"

"Did you put acid in his knee brace?"

"How much money did the enemy pay you?"

People shoved microphones in my face. Heavy cameras hit my shoulders. They screamed ugly lies at me. I could not breathe. I put my head down and pushed through the crowd. The rain soaked my shirt. I was freezing, but I kept moving.

I finally reached my car. I grabbed my keys, pulled the door open, threw myself inside, and locked the doors fast.

But I was not safe.

The crowd surrounded my car. They smashed their faces against the glass. They hit the windows with their hands and cameras.

It was so loud. The car shook back and forth from the people pushing it.

I was trapped. If I drove, I would run someone over. If I stayed, the windows would break.

Suddenly, a loud crack made me jump.

A huge spiderweb crack spread across my front window. Someone had thrown a heavy rock. This was not just news anymore. It was a riot. I closed my eyes, waiting for the glass to break and fall on my head.

Instead of breaking glass, I heard a giant engine roar. Tires screamed on the road.

I opened my eyes. Ciro’s huge, black SUV crashed into the parking lot. It did not slow down. It smashed right into the metal fences, and the reporters screamed and dispersed a little. 

The SUV hit the brakes and stopped right next to my door.

Mateo jumped out into the rain. He looked deadly. He did not say a word to the screaming crowd. He just reached into his coat and showed them a black gun tucked in his belt.

The crowd got totally quiet and backed away fast.

Mateo pulled my car door open.

"Time to go," Mateo said calmly.

He grabbed my arm tight and pulled me out of my car. He dragged me through the rain and pushed me into the back seat of the big SUV.

I fell against the soft leather seats, breathing hard. I was soaked, shaking, and so scared.

Then, a big, warm hand grabbed my cold fingers.

I looked up. Ciro was sitting next to me in the seat. He pulled me close to his chest. He looked out the window at the crowd, then down at me.

Mateo jumped into the driver's seat and hit the gas. We sped away from the stadium, leaving my old life behind.

I leaned my head back to relax. But before I could take a deep breath, Mateo looked in the rearview mirror. His dark eyes met Ciro's.

"Sir," Mateo said. His voice was serious. "The reporters didn't throw that rock at her car."

Ciro’s jaw got hard. He pulled me tighter against him. "Who did?"

"The two black trucks following us," Mateo said.