Chapter 3 - A Father’s Price Tag — The Twisted Transaction in the Shadows
The taxi ride back to the neighborhood was a blur of passing trees and dusty streets. Elena kept her arm tightly around Sofía, who was staring blankly out the window, exhausted from crying.
Elena’s mind was a battlefield. The urge to run, to take Sofía and board the first bus out of the state, fought against a cold, consuming desire for vengeance. But she knew she had to play it smart. Don Ramiro was a powerful man in their small town—he paid off the local police, owned half the commercial properties, and had connections that reached far beyond their dusty streets. If they ran without a plan, they would be hunted down.
"We have to act normal," Elena whispered to Sofía as the taxi pulled up a block away from their home. "We cannot let Arturo know that we went to the clinic. Do you understand me, Sofía? Not a word. Not a look."
Sofía nodded slowly, her eyes hollow.
When they walked through the front gate, the heavy wooden door of their house was already unlocked. Elena’s heart skipped a beat. It was only two in the afternoon. Arturo shouldn't be home from the repair shop yet.
As they stepped into the living room, the smell of cheap beer and stale cigarettes hit them. Arturo was sitting on the worn-out sofa, his work boots thrown on the floor, a half-empty bottle in his hand. His eyes, bloodshot and dark, locked onto them the moment they crossed the threshold.
"Where the hell have you two been?" Arturo growled, standing up. His massive frame seemed to fill the small room, casting a long shadow over Elena and Sofía.
"We went to the market," Elena said, her voice surprisingly steady, though her hands were clenched into tight fists inside her apron pockets. "Sofía felt dizzy, so we sat in the park for a while."
Arturo took a slow, deliberate step toward them. He looked at Sofía, his eyes narrowing as he scanned her pale face and swollen eyes.
"Is that so?" Arturo sneered, walking around them like a predator circling its prey. "Because I called the shop, and my buddy said he saw you two getting into a taxi near the private clinic on Juárez Street. You think I’m stupid, Elena? You think you can waste my hard-earned money behind my back?"
He stepped closer to Sofía, reaching out a rough hand to grab her chin. Sofía flinched, shrinking back against her mother.
"Leave her alone, Arturo!" Elena snapped, stepping between them.
Arturo’s face darkened, a vein pulsing in his temple. He raised his hand, pointing a thick, dirty finger at Elena’s face.
"You watch your mouth, woman. I rule this house. If I find out you’ve been sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, you’re going to find out exactly what happens to wives who don't know their place."
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He spat on the floor, grabbed his beer, and slammed his way out of the house, leaving the front door swinging on its hinges.
Elena grabbed Sofía’s hand and rushed to their bedroom. She locked the door behind them, her chest heaving. They were out of time. Arturo knew they had been to the clinic. It wouldn't take him long to realize the truth was out.
