Chapter 4 - The Public Enemy
Ramon stared at the innocent child in absolute, horrifying disbelief, completely unable to process the cruelty of the mother's choice.
Little Mia whimpered softly, rubbing the raised scarred tissue on her arm as if it suddenly burned with intense heat.
The grim reality of their desperate situation crashed down upon Ramon like a crushing physical weight.
Julian was a merciless monster who would literally cut the screaming child apart just to retrieve his stolen, incriminating data.
They could not risk staying out in the open, vulnerable and exposed, for another single minute.
Ramon drove them to his most heavily fortified underground safehouse located securely beneath an old shipping warehouse in the industrial district.
Upon their arrival, his private medical team immediately began treating the severe, bloody rope burns around Clara’s neck.
Ramon aggressively ordered his men to lock down the entire city block and establish a heavily armed, impenetrable perimeter.
He poured himself a stiff glass of dark whiskey, trying desperately to process the absolute insanity of the morning's events.
He approached Clara's sterile bedside and asked why she would ever risk her own child's life to steal from a cartel boss.
Clara explained through her uncontrollable tears that she was desperately trying to negotiate the release of her kidnapped husband.
Julian had taken her husband hostage a year ago to ensure she kept quietly cooking his illegal books.
Suddenly, the encrypted television monitor mounted on the safehouse wall flickered to life with bright, flashing colors.
A breaking news bulletin flashed across the screen accompanied by urgent, blaring emergency sirens.
Ramon turned his attention to the television and felt all the oxygen violently leave his lungs.
High-definition security footage clearly showed Ramon’s face at the site of a massive, devastating bombing in the city center.
The tragic bombing had just occurred thirty minutes ago, precisely when Ramon was driving the SUV through the distant mountains.
The somber news anchor announced to the world that Ramon Ortega was now the most wanted domestic terrorist in the country.
Julian had masterfully orchestrated a flawless deep-fake frame job to permanently destroy Ramon's reputation and business.
Before Ramon could even begin to process the shocking news, his encrypted cell phone began to vibrate violently in his pocket.
He answered it cautiously, bringing the device to his ear without saying a single word.
May you like
Julian’s cold, mocking voice echoed loudly through the small, tinny speaker.
"Now the police will do my dirty work for me, old friend."
