CHAPTER 2 — THE GIRL IN THE RAIN
Outside the hospital, the little girl—Sophie—stood alone in the rain.
Waiting.
Inside, chaos erupted. Security teams moved through corridors. Orders were shouted. The building felt like it was closing in.
Esteban turned to Yohandra.
“We have to leave.”
She shook her head weakly. “I can’t run…”
A crash echoed outside the room.
They were close.
Too close.
Yohandra pulled something from under her pillow—a small bracelet.
“For her,” she whispered.
Esteban took it, his throat tight.
“I’ll come back for you.”
Yohandra looked at him with exhausted sadness.
“No… come back for the truth.”
Another crash.
The door would break any second.
Esteban looked out the window.
Then back at Yohandra.
Then made his choice.
He turned toward the window.
“I love you,” he said.
“I never stopped loving you,” she whispered back.
And he jumped.
Sophie turned as black-suited men surrounded the hospital entrance.
She stepped back—but didn’t run.
A man’s voice came from behind her.
“Hello, Sophie.”
She turned slowly.
And saw him.
The man who had controlled everything from the beginning.
Her grandfather.
He crouched slightly.
“You’ve done well,” he said gently.
Sophie held up the torn photograph.
“My mom is inside,” she said.
May you like
“I know,” he replied.
“And your father is coming.”
