Chapter 15 - The Oily Messenger
The afternoon sun was warm as Mariana parked her sedan outside her parents’ house to pick up Lucía after school. Standing by the front gate was an unfamiliar man in a cheap suit, tapping on the iron bars with a silver pen.
“Can I help you?” Mariana asked, walking purposefully down the sidewalk.
The man turned around, flashing an oily, practiced smile. “Ah, you must be Mariana. I’m Attorney Morales—no relation to your brother, I assure you.”
“You’re Sergio’s new appellate lawyer,” Mariana stated, not breaking her stride. “And you’re trespassing on private property.”
“I’m just a messenger,” the lawyer said smoothly, holding up his hands. “Sergio knows he made mistakes. He wants to settle outside of court. He’ll sign away all future claims to the estate if you drop the harassment charges regarding the letters.”
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Mariana stopped two feet away from him, her gaze unwavering. “Tell Sergio he can keep his claims. Tell him the estate belongs to his victims now. And tell him that if he ever sends another letter, another messenger, or even thinks about my daughter again, I’ll make sure he never sees the sun outside concrete walls.”
The lawyer’s smile vanished. Without another word, he adjusted his tie and walked briskly back toward his grey sedan.
