CHAPTER 7 — "The Ghost's Greatest Lie"
Maria couldn't breathe.
The tunnel seemed to spin around her as she stared at the man standing only a few feet away.
"My... father?"
The stranger smiled warmly, almost like a loving parent seeing his daughter after many years.
"I've waited a long time for this moment."
Maria's voice trembled.
"My mother told me you died before I was born."
The man slowly nodded.
"That's exactly what she wanted you to believe."
Daniel stepped protectively in front of Maria.
"Don't listen to him."
The Ghost laughed quietly.
"Still trying to play the hero?"
He snapped his fingers.
Within seconds, armed men emerged from every corner of the tunnel, aiming assault rifles directly at Daniel and Maria.
Neither of them had any chance of escaping.
The Ghost calmly walked closer.
"You've probably spent your whole life wondering why your mother was always afraid."
Maria remained silent.
"It wasn't because she feared me."
He paused.
"She feared the truth."
He reached into his coat and removed a small silver locket.
Maria's eyes widened.
She instantly recognized it.
Her mother had worn that exact necklace in every childhood photograph.
"Where did you get that?"
The Ghost gently opened the locket.
Inside was an old picture of him and Maria's mother, smiling together while holding a newborn baby.
"You."
Maria's hands shook.
"This picture is real."
"It was taken the day after you were born."
Daniel frowned.
"It proves nothing."
The Ghost ignored him.
"Twenty-four years ago your mother stole something from very powerful people."
"They wanted it back."
"When she refused..."
"They ordered our entire family executed."
Maria whispered,
"What did she steal?"
The Ghost looked directly into her eyes.
"Evidence."
"Evidence capable of destroying the richest criminal network on Earth."
Daniel suddenly shouted,
"He's lying!"
The Ghost turned slowly toward him.
"Am I?"
He tossed another folder onto the ground.
Photographs scattered across the tunnel floor.
Bodies.
Burned houses.
Explosions.
Government officials shaking hands with cartel leaders.
International bankers.
Military officers.
Judges.
Politicians.
The corruption stretched across multiple countries.
Maria stared in horror.
"This can't be..."
The Ghost quietly replied,
"This is only a tiny fraction."
"Your mother and I tried to expose them."
"We failed."
"So we disappeared."
Daniel slowly picked up one of the photographs.
His face turned pale.
The Director appeared in it.
Standing beside one of the syndicate's founders.
Daniel looked up in disbelief.
The Ghost smiled.
"Now you understand."
"The Director isn't hunting me."
"He's hunting the evidence."
Before Daniel could respond—
A loud explosion shook the tunnel entrance.
Concrete rained from the ceiling.
Floodlights suddenly illuminated the darkness.
The Director's voice echoed through loudspeakers.
"Ghost!"
"This tunnel is surrounded!"
"Release Maria!"
The Ghost smiled.
"Perfect timing."
Then he turned toward Maria and quietly whispered,
"Now you'll finally discover who the real monster is."
And before anyone could stop him—
He pressed a hidden switch in the wall.
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The floor beneath Maria collapsed.
She screamed as she plunged into complete darkness.
