At 6:30 on a freezing Thursday morning, my sister called to tell me our father had passed away. There was only one problem. Dad was sitting three feet away from me at my kitchen table, wearing a navy flannel robe, sipping fresh coffee, and stealing bacon from my plate like he had been doing every morning for the past two days.

Julian stared down at me with a sickeningly sweet smile on his face.

The cartel assassin was slumped unconscious against the steering wheel of the crashed van.

Julian casually stepped into the back of the van and cut my zip-ties with a pocketknife.

"You should really thank me for saving your life, Clara," Julian sneered.

I rubbed my bruised wrists, glaring at him with pure hatred.

"You are the reason the cartel is trying to kill us in the first place," I spat.

Julian laughed his signature breathy laugh.

"It was a flawless plan, honestly."

He admitted that he had drugged my father's coffee two days ago to copy his fingerprints.

"Serena and I wanted the empire, but we didn't want to wait for the old man to die naturally."

I felt a sickening wave of disgust wash over me.

"Does Serena know you are working with the cartel?" I demanded.

Julian's smile faded into a look of absolute, chilling arrogance.

"Serena is the one who negotiated the deal with Don Alejandro."

My own sister was a ruthless criminal mastermind.

Julian aggressively grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the wrecked van.

"We just needed the cartel to eliminate your father so we could inherit the clean assets."

He dragged me toward his sleek Mercedes parked on the side of the road.

"But now that you and your father ruined the fake death, we have to improvise."

Julian shoved me into the passenger seat and locked the doors electronically.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.

Julian started the engine and smiled darkly.

"We are going to the family estate for a little reunion."

He explained that Serena was currently holding my father hostage at the mansion.

They planned to torture him until he revealed the location of his hidden safety deposit box.

Julian sped down the highway, completely ignoring the speed limit.

I looked desperately around the luxurious car for any potential weapon.

My eyes landed on a heavy glass cologne bottle sitting in the center console.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

I waited until Julian approached a sharp curve in the mountain road.

I grabbed the heavy glass bottle and smashed it violently against his temple.

Chapter 5 - The Double Cross