The afternoon sun hung lazily over Mexico City, its warmth spilling across the quiet public park Andrew had grown fond of over the past few weeks. Unlike the hotel room that often reminded him of everything he had lost, the park offered something different. Normality whereby children chased pigeons across the stone walkways. An elderly couple played chess beneath a jacaranda tree. Street musicians filled the air with soft melodies that blended naturally with the rustling leaves. Andrew sat on his usual bench beneath the large oak tree, his laptop balanced on his knees. His headphones rested loosely around his neck as he finished responding to a client's email. The remote job had become more than just an income. It had become proof... proof that he could build an honest life. Proof that he wasn't the man Don Marcelo had once controlled. He saved his work and stretched his shoulders about to take a breath... When all of a sudden, just then a shadow fell across hi

Three days passed without incident. At least, that was how it appeared on the surface. Andrew buried himself in work, determined to keep building the life he had promised Juliana he would create. Raphael quietly increased the security around his sister without telling her, while Emiliano instructed his own men to keep an eye on the city for any unusual movement from the Marcelo family. As for Harrera... He simply disappeared, no word from him and also no blocked roads. No unexpected encounters. It was as though he had simply accepted Juliana's answer and moved on. Even Juliana found herself thinking about it. "Maybe he really meant what he said..." she thought one morning as she walked through the estate gardens. "Maybe he only wanted closure." She couldn't have been more mistaken. Late that Saturday afternoon, Juliana decided she wanted a little freedom. Not another visit to Andrew. Not today. Instead, she convinced Raphael to let her spend an hour at a sm

The hotel room was unusually quiet. Andrew sat at the small desk beside the window, the soft glow from his laptop illuminating his face as he reviewed another client's project. Two weeks had passed since his conversation with Harrera in the park. Two weeks and despite the warning... nothing had changed, he still worked every day. He still spoke with Juliana every evening. He still dreamed of the future they had promised each other. Outside, Mexico City buzzed with its usual life, completely unaware that another storm was quietly approaching. Andrew rubbed his tired eyes before saving his work. His phone vibrated. A message from Juliana. Lunch tomorrow? I'll bring your favourite again. A smile crept onto his face. Only if you promise not to spend three hours cooking. Her reply came almost immediately. No promises. He laughed under his breath. Just then... A knock echoed from the door. Andrew glanced at the clock. He wasn't expecting anyone. Perh

He had learned long ago not to dismiss instincts without reason. Especially when they came from someone who knew the person involved. He rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We won't jump to conclusions." "But..." his gaze hardened almost imperceptibly, "...we also won't ignore the questions." Juliana nodded slowly. For the first time since finding the letter... she then realized that grief wasn't the only emotion growing inside her. So was doubt, and sometimes... doubt was the beginning of the truth. ****** Darkness, well that was the first thing Andrew became aware of after being dragged from the hotel. Not the complete absence of light, but the kind that swallowed the edges of a room until everything blurred into endless shadows. A dull ache pulsed behind his eyes. His mouth felt dry. His shoulders protested as he shifted slightly against the cold metal chair beneath him. He opened his eyes slowly. The room was unfamiliar. Concrete walls. A s

Night settled over the Andreas estate like a heavy blanket. The grand mansion, usually alive with conversation and movement, seemed unnaturally subdued. Even the guards at the front gate spoke in hushed voices, sensing the tension that had settled over the household. Inside her bedroom, Juliana sat curled up in the armchair by the window, Andrew's phone resting in her lap. She had not eaten dinner. She had barely spoken since returning from the hotel. Her thumb absentmindedly brushed across the dark screen. She wasn't waiting for it to ring. She knew it couldn't. She was waiting for it to somehow explain itself. A soft knock came at the door. "Juli?" It was Raphael. She didn't answer. After a few moments, he quietly opened the door just enough to look inside. His heart ached. His little sister looked like someone who had lost not only the person she loved, but also the certainty she once had about the world. Raphael walked in carrying a tray. "I b