flash
The hangover hit Mateo like a freight train at sunrise. Sunlight filtered through the velvet curtains of the luxury hotel suite, burning his eyes. Beside him, Valeria was still asleep, smelling of cheap neon cocktails and expensive perfume. Mateo groaned, reaching for his phone on the nightstand. / Chapter 4 / 20

Chapter 4 - The Rat Abandons the Ship

"Valeria?" Mateo stuttered, looking between her and the empty safe. "What are you doing? Where is the half-million in cash?"

Valeria turned around, her expression entirely devoid of the warmth and submissiveness she had displayed the night before. She put on a pair of oversized sunglasses and adjusted her fur coat.

"I’m leaving, Mateo," she said calmly. "Did you really think I was going to stay with a man who lets his pregnant wife bleed to death while popping champagne? You're toxic. The whole country hates you."

"I did that for you!" Mateo roared, stepping toward her. "I ignored her calls because of YOU!"

"No, you ignored her because you're a selfish narcissist," she spat back. "And by the way, Mr. Vance’s team paid me a visit an hour ago. They offered me full immunity from the financial fraud charges if I surrendered the cash you gave me and turned over all our text messages."

"You betrayed me?!"

"I saved myself," Valeria smiled coldly. "Oh, and Mateo? The police are on their way up the elevator. I told them where you keep the second set of off-shore ledger books."

Before Mateo could react, the door burst open. Federal agents flooded the penthouse.

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