She rolled her shoulders back and spoke in a tone that signified her finality. “Yes. I’m aware. I know it’ll be difficult, but it’s the right thing to do.”
I gave the USB to Marco, who passed it along to one of his men and gave them orders to get it to the right people.
I turned back to Julianna. “Where is Felipe now?”
“In the panic room. I can open it for you.”
“Did he call for any reinforcements?” I asked.
“He has people who work outside of the city. They’re likely on their way here. Around sixty or so.”
“Relay that to our men at the entrance. Take whoever you need,” Marco ordered behind me.
I grabbed my gun once more. “We have no problem doing what you’ve asked, Julianna. But if you’re leading us into a trap?—”
“I know, and I’m not. I can’t… I won’t live like this any longer. We’re both getting something out of this.” Her gaze was firm, filled with determination.
I exchanged gazes with Marco, and he nodded in agreement. Julianna was telling the truth. I knew it just as well as I knew my name. I was all too familiar with that look in her eyes. She reminded me far too much of myself, and I had to push away the sudden flash of empathy filling me.
I never wanted anyone to go through what I went through. I knew it happened, that the world was filled with monsters, but it was completely different seeing the same trauma and tragedy reflected in a stranger’s eyes.
If I would have been in a similar position when I was younger, gotten my hands on information of my father’s dealings, and someone would have knocked on my door who could kill him, I would have done anything,giventhem anything to escape.
Her need for freedom and power and control over her own life made me feel connected to her, and I hated that even with all of that, I still had to be wary.
I didn’t know Julianna, and while her pain spoke to me on incredibly deep levels, it didn’t change the fact that she was the daughter of my enemy and currently guiding us through Felipe’s pompous house. Even if she wasn't leading us into a trap, it didn't mean Felipe hadn't already planned one for us.
We stopped in front of an unassuming section of wooden walls, with an expensive piece of artwork in a golden frame. Julianna pushed a part of the wall, and a small piece of the paneling slid up, revealing a hand and eye scanner. She leaned forward, allowing the machine to scan her, then typed something on a keyboard, and another part of the wall opened, revealing a screen recording from inside the room.
Felipe was on the phone, a gun next to him while his hands moved furiously in the air. Paloma, Julianna’s mother and Felipe’s lover, tried to press a piece of cloth to his leg to stop the bleeding, but he shoved her away.
When Julianna turned to us, her face was cold, devoid of all emotion. “As you can see, they’re the only two people in this room. I’ve disabled the defense mechanisms. I’ll walk in first, so you know I’m telling the truth.”
She went to press a key, but I put my hand out in front of her. “Why did your parents go to the panic room without you?”
There was a small flicker in her eyes. Her shoulders drooped, and her voice wavered. “Because I wasn’t important enough to save.”
My heart broke for her, for all the pain and misery she must have gone through. I wanted to pull her into my arms, and tell her it was okay. I wanted to protect her, in the same way I wished someone would have protected me.
But I couldn’t. Not until this was over.
Marco’s fingers stroked the back of my spine. A small, simple movement, but one to remind me he was there, that I wasn’t alone, that I had his support.
I looked at the screen once more. Panic rooms, especially of this caliber, often had a button to lock and unlock the door inside. Between that, and Julianna’s parents' lack of care about her, I had to ask, “If your father thinks we took you hostage and are forcing you to open the door, would he shoot through you to save himself?”
“Yes,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes, but she turned away before they fell. “See this red dot here, next to him? This is the button to lock the room again. He likely has a code word for his reinforcements. I don’t know it, so yes, he will shoot first, even if it’s me.”
I gave her a single nod, then turned to Marco. “I have an idea.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And I’m not going to like it.”
I gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand. “It’ll be fine. We’ll have Julianna call out to Felipe when she opens the door, let him get his gun ready, and aimed upward. Then, I will shoot him from the ground.”
“You’ll have a split second to get off that shot, Lina.”
“I know, and I can do it.” I squeezed his hand again.
He sighed, then leaned in close and whispered, “If you get hurt, I will punish you.”
