Shadows of Betrayal

"Mama, they're coming!" Sofia's voice crackled through the monitor.

"What's wrong, baby?" I jolted awake.

"Bad people, Mama. With guns."

"Luna, get under the bed with your sister," I commanded, my skin glowing blue.

"Security systems down!" A guard's voice shouted through my earpiece. "Three SUVs breaching the gate!"

"Status report," Nicolas barked over the comm.

"Taking heavy fire at the south entrance," Lieutenant Ramirez responded. "We're overwhelmed!"

"Hold position. I'm coming." Nicolas's voice was steel.

"Mama!" Luna screamed.

I sprinted down the hallway. "I'm coming, babies!"

"Target the children," a masked man ordered as I reached the door.

"Over my dead body." My eyes went black.

"What the hell?" One attacker raised his gun.

Dark energy crackled around me. "Drop your weapons."

"She's not human!" Another backed away.

"Last warning." The shield materialized.

Bullets ricocheted off my barrier. The twins screamed.

"Valentina?" Nicolas appeared in the doorway.

I executed his rival's signature move, taking down the last attacker.

"Where did you learn that?" His eyes narrowed.

"Not now." I grabbed Sofia. "Take Luna."

"Interesting technique," Adrian's voice came from behind us. "Lorenzo would be impressed."

I spun around. "Why are you here?"

He tapped his watch. "Tick tock."

Light bulbs exploded overhead. Metal rattled.

"Control it," Santa Muerte whispered in my mind.

I stumbled to the bathroom mirror. Blood words appeared: "The serpent sleeps beneath your feet."

"An inside job," I muttered.

"All units withdraw," Ramirez ordered over comms.

"Belay that order," Nicolas countered. "Full lockdown."

I tracked Ramirez to his office, following the ghostly traces.

"You're not going anywhere," I blocked his exit.

"What are you?" He drew his weapon.

"Someone who sees traitors." Dark energy swirled.

"Lorenzo owns this city," he sneered. "Three territories for Nicolas's head."

"Drop the gun."

"You're not Valentina." His eyes widened. "What happened to her?"

"Tell Nicolas everything." I disarmed him.

"He's everywhere," Ramirez gasped. "Always ahead."

"Not anymore." I stepped back as Nicolas entered.

"Mi amor?" His voice held questions.

"He's all yours." I let the darkness fade.

"This isn't over," Ramirez warned.

"No," I agreed. "It's just beginning."

"You were right," Nicolas pressed his gun to Ramirez's temple. "Talk."

"Kill me then." Ramirez spat blood. "Lorenzo will just send others."

"How long?" Nicolas's voice cut like ice.

"Since Valentina's accident." Ramirez's eyes fixed on me. "Things changed after she woke up."

I stepped closer. "What changed?"

"You did." His laugh turned wet. "Lorenzo said watch you. Said you weren't—"

The window exploded inward. Gunfire erupted.

"Down!" Nicolas tackled me as bullets sprayed the office.

"The twins!" I scrambled up.

"Safe room with Adrian." Nicolas returned fire. "Trust no one else."

My blood ran cold. "Adrian's with our girls?"

"Mi amor, what aren't you telling me?"

"Later." I reached for the door. "We need to—"

More explosions rocked the compound. Alarms blared.

"All units converge on the safe room," Nicolas ordered through comms.

Static answered.

"Communications are down," I grabbed his arm. "He planned this."

"Who?"

"Everyone." Dark energy crackled around my fingers. "My f—Lorenzo. Adrian. Elena. They're all in it."

"Elena's here?" Nicolas's eyes narrowed.

"Suite 312." I could sense her death-touched aura. "Planning something."

"How do you know these things?" He gripped my shoulders. "Who are you really?"

Santa Muerte's whisper filled my mind: "Tell him."

"Nicolas, I—"

"Papá!" Luna's scream cut through the chaos.

We ran. The safe room door hung open.

"Welcome home, querida." Adrian stood with the twins. Elena beside him, gun raised.

"Let them go." My voice echoed with power.

"Or what?" Elena smiled. "You'll show everyone what you really are?"

Sofia whimpered. "Mama's glowing."

"Fascinating." Adrian stepped forward. "Lorenzo said you'd changed, but this..."

"Last chance." Darkness spread from my feet.

"Your father sends his regards." Adrian pressed a button.

The room plunged into darkness. Gunfire flashed.

"Mama!" The twins screamed in unison.

Power exploded from me. Light bulbs shattered compound-wide. Every electronic device surged and died.

When emergency lights flickered on, Adrian and Elena were gone. The twins ran to us.

"Mi amor." Nicolas touched my still-glowing skin. "What's happening to you?"

"I'm not who you think I am." The words caught. "I'm not—"

"You're mine." He pulled me close. "Whatever else, you're mine."

Santa Muerte's voice echoed: "Time grows short."

"We need to end this." I held my family tight. "Tonight."

"Together." Nicolas kissed my forehead. "No more secrets?"

I met his eyes. "No more secrets."

But as alarms resumed their wailing and guards shouted coordinates, I felt Valentina stirring in my mind. Her consciousness pushing against mine.

Time was running out. For all of us.

"Secure the perimeter!" Nicolas barked orders. "I want every camera, every door—"

"It won't help." I touched his arm. "They're already inside."

"What do you mean?"

"Look." I pointed to the security feeds. Shadows moved wrong. Guards patrolled patterns that left blind spots.

"They're all compromised." Nicolas's jaw tightened.

"Not all." I pulled up personnel files. "These five. Their auras are clean."

"Auras?" He studied my face. "Like the power you used?"

"Santa Muerte's gift." The words slipped out.

"The saint of death?" His eyes widened. "That's how you—"

"Papá!" Sofia tugged his sleeve. "The bad lady's coming back."

"Elena." I could feel her approach. "Northeast corridor."

"Take the girls." Nicolas checked his weapon. "I'll handle—"

"No." Power thrummed through me. "She's mine."

"Valentina—"

"That's not my name." The truth burned. "It never was."

The lights flickered again. Down the hall, Elena's laughter echoed.

"Ready or not," she called. "Time to play."