Chapter 3 - The Shadow in the Closet
When the man you sleep next to becomes the monster you run from.The lock on the bathroom door held, but only barely.
"Valeria?" Alejandro’s voice came from the other side, low and unnervingly calm. "Is everything okay in there, mi amor? I heard a noise."
Valeria quickly shoved the tracking device into her pocket, hid the scissors, and threw a silk robe over her shoulders. She turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her face to mimic a sudden illness.
She unlocked the door.
Alejandro stood in the doorway. In the dim light of the hallway, his face was cast in deep shadows. He looked down at her hands, then over her shoulder into the bathroom.
"Just a bit of nausea," Valeria said, forcing a weak smile. "I think the seafood we had yesterday didn't agree with me."
Alejandro reached out, his hand wrapping around the back of her neck. His grip was warm, but it felt incredibly tight—just like the collar of the blue dress.
"You should rest," he murmured, his thumb brushing against her collarbone. "We have a big charity gala tomorrow night at the Museo Soumaya. Everyone who is anyone in Mexico City will be there. I want you to wear the blue dress. It’s time we showed the world what a perfect family we are."
"Of course," she lied, her eyes locked onto his.
The next morning, the moment Alejandro left for "Santa Fe," Valeria acted. She didn't call the police. In Mexico, when cartel money is involved, you never know which precinct is on the payroll.
Instead, she drove straight to the Kramarenko guest house in Valle de Bravo, three hours outside the city.
The house was abandoned, surrounded by thick pine forests. She found Natalia waiting for her in a rusted SUV, looking pale and sleep-deprived. Together, they pried open the floorboards in the dusty master bedroom of the guest house.
Deep within the dark recess beneath the wood, they found a metal lockbox.
Inside was a hard drive, a stack of ledgers, and a final, horrifying piece of evidence: a video recording from a security camera in Alejandro's private office.
Valeria pressed play on her laptop.
The video showed Alejandro arguing with Natalia Kramarenko. But there was a third person in the room—a powerful, high-ranking politician who frequently appeared on the front pages of the country's national newspapers.
In the video, the politician nods, and Alejandro hands Natalia Kramarenko a glass of champagne. Minutes later, she collapses.
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But it was what Alejandro did next that broke Valeria’s heart into a million pieces.
He didn't look panicked. He looked at his watch, dialed a number, and said, "It's done. Prepare the blue dress. It's time to find the next target."
