Chapter 8 - Justice Served
The tactical team flooded the room, their weapons drawn, flashlights cutting through the darkness. Officer Vargas and several other officers threw Brenda to the ground, securing her in handcuffs as she shrieked and cursed.
Detective Alvarez stepped into the room, her gun aimed directly at my mother, who was still gasping in shock, her wrist held tightly in my grip.
"Step away from her, Miguel," Alvarez said gently.
I let go of my mother's wrist. She stumbled back into her leather chair, her face pale, her chest heaving as she stared at the handcuffs being brought toward her.
"You can't do this!" Doña Carmen screamed, her aristocratic composure completely shattered. "Do you know who I am? I will have your badges! I will sue this entire department!"
"Save it for the judge, Mrs. Torres," Detective Alvarez said coldly, pulling my mother's hands behind her back and clicking the cuffs into place. "You are under arrest for attempted murder, kidnapping, domestic abuse, fraud, and extortion. You have the right to remain silent."
As they dragged my mother and sister out of the house in handcuffs, a crowd of neighbors gathered on the street, whispering and pointing. The great, untouchable Doña Carmen was being paraded in front of the community she had spent her life trying to impress, exposed for the monster she truly was.
I walked out of the house into the cool night air, clutching Valeria's grandmother's rosary tightly in my fist.
I felt a massive weight lift from my chest. For the first time in my life, I was truly free of her.
I drove back to the hospital, the city lights blurring past. When I walked into Valeria’s room, she was awake, holding Santiago against her chest, rocking him gently.
I walked over and placed the silver rosary into her palm.
May you like
She looked at it, then up at me, tears welling in her eyes. "You're safe."
"They're gone, Vale," I said, wrapping my arms around both of them. "They're in jail. It's over. We are safe."
