Chapter 15 - Rafael’s Death

Elena’s chair scraped hard against the floor.

“What did you say?”

Luis spoke slowly now, as if every word weighed something.

“Dad did not die from a heart attack.”

Mateo closed his eyes.

Rafael Morales had collapsed beside his truck fifteen years earlier. The county coroner called it cardiac arrest. Elena had believed it because Rafael had high blood pressure and refused to see doctors.

Inside the clubhouse, Elena whispered, “No.”

Luis continued.

“I saw Earl Mercer meet him behind the feed warehouse that night. They argued. Dad had the ledger. Earl hit him. Dad fell. He was still breathing.”

Elena began to cry.

“Why didn’t you help him?”

“I tried.”

“You left.”

“Because Deputy Shaw’s father arrived. He put a gun in my face. He said if I talked, you and Mateo were next.”

Judge Vale slammed a hand down. “Enough.”

Luis ignored her.

“I ran. Then I started collecting what I could. Financial records. Shell companies. Land transfers. I worked for Pike because it kept me close.”

Pike’s voice shook with anger. “You ungrateful son of a—”

“Elena,” Dana whispered into the receiver, “ask who ordered the fire.”

Elena heard the instruction through the tiny earpiece.

She wiped her face.

Then she asked, “Who burned my bakery?”

Silence.

Pike answered too quickly. “Wade acted alone.”

Luis said, “No, he didn’t.”

A chair moved.

Vale: “Luis.”

Luis: “You told Pike to scare her before the hearing.”

Vale: “Careful.”

Luis: “And Pike told Wade.”

Pike cursed.

Dana pointed at the recording monitor.

That was conspiracy.

Current.

Clear.

Enough for warrants.

She signaled the tactical team.

Then the audio cut out.

Mateo leaned forward. “Why did we lose sound?”

The technician tapped the board.

“Signal jammed.”

Dana’s face hardened.

Inside the clubhouse, there was a loud crash.

Then Elena screamed.

Mateo was out of the van before Dana could stop him.

He reached the clubhouse door just as it flew open.

Luis stumbled outside holding his side.

Blood spread across his shirt.

May you like

SHE WAS ATTACKED WITH A GOLF CLUB—THEN ONE RED BUTTON EXPOSED A DEADLY S...

Her mother-in-law tried to smash her skull with a golf club. But the real nightmare began when her husband walked through the door...

My Mother-in-Law Slapped Me While I Was Pregnant at Christmas—But She Ne...

My mother-in-law slapped me across the face in front of the entire family. I was eight months pregnant, standing in the middle of...

Billionaire’s Wife Kicked a Waitress in Front of 300 Elites—One Slap Exp...

The billionaire’s wife tried to kick a waitress in the face in front of 300 wealthy guests. But seconds later, she whispered three...

He grabbed Mateo’s arm.

“They know she’s wired.”