Chapter 5

Sophia's crying was the most calculated thing I'd ever heard. Even God seemed to have had enough.

A crash, and the door flew open as a man pushed inside. A black pistol pressed against Sophia's forehead. His other gun aimed at my heart.

Victor shot to his feet but held still. His guards were crowded outside the hall, just as frozen, because the man with the guns was Carlos Reyes, DEA agent, husband of the informant Sophia had killed. He was there for revenge, and no one was faster than his trigger finger.

Carlos didn't fire. He looked at Victor. "Tell me which one of them is the killer. I was told the woman who took my wife's life is in this room. I don't kill the innocent. So talk."

My stomach dropped. Sophia had blamed me for the assault, blamed me for the depression, and I'd taken the fall for the crash.

I fixed my eyes on Victor. "I'm not asking you to defend me. Just don't lie."

Sophia was already shaking, barely able to get words out. "Victor... I love you... whatever I've ever done wrong, it was for you... if you want me to die in your wife’s place, I'll do it..."

Carlos's eyes cut toward me. "So the killer is you. Correct?"

I was shaking with anger. "I am not the killer. Victor. Tell the truth."

Victor said nothing.

Carlos's patience ran out. "Say it now, or I shoot both of them."

"Don't, wait, put the gun down—"

"Shut up. Say it."

"It's Delora! It was her!"

Victor's hand was pointing at me.

"Ha... haha..."

The room went silent. My laughter was the only sound.

From the day I walked into that federal building, I had not shed one tear. Now the dam broke completely. I was drowning in it, the sheer weight of how wrong I'd been.

Victor. I, Delora Moretti, have made exactly one mistake in my life worth regretting. Loving you.

But Carlos didn't fire. He paused, something shifting in his face. Victor moved fast, grabbed Carlos's arm, and the guards poured in and stripped him of both guns.

As he was dragged out, Carlos looked back at me. His eyes said it plainly: “I know who the real killer is. God, how pitiful you are.”

Once the room was quiet again, Victor rubbed his temple and explained himself.

"Delora, I wasn't throwing you to him. It's just, if something happened to you, the Moretti and Caruso families both have grounds to take revenge. Legitimate grounds. If Sophia had been shot, I wouldn't even have a right to claim her body. She's already so damaged—"

Sophia stepped forward and looped her arm through Victor's. "You don't need to apologize," she said sweetly. "If I'd been born into a family like your wife's, I'd surely be more generous and selfless."

Everything about it turned my stomach. I leaned forward and threw up.

Victor pulled away from Sophia and rubbed my back, wiping my mouth gently. Sophia went still, jaw clenched, eyes burning with something ugly.

"I know you're shaken from what just happened," Victor murmured. "I'll get the doctor to add something mild to your drip. You can be as angry at me as you want. I'll stay right here. And if Carlos had killed you, I would've made him pay for it, and then followed you."

What a beautiful thing to say. His hands were so gentle that for a moment, if this had been before, I might have believed him again. But sincerity has a shelf life. It can't survive waiting forever.

I parted my lips. Said two words.

"Get out."

Victor didn't get angry. "Okay. If you don't want to look at me, I'll go. I'll get the doctor. Call me when you need me."

Sophia followed him to the door. On her way out, she turned and looked at me, and what was in her eyes was pure venom.