Before we reached the altar, my three-year-old grandson squeezed my hand and whispered, “Grandpa, she was mean to Mommy.” Then he pointed toward my future wife and pulled a USB drive from his tiny pocket—one that would soon reveal the truth she had been hiding.

I forced myself to think.

Wedding.

Guests.

Monica outside.

Sofia somewhere with Rosa.

USB.

Evidence.

I picked up my phone.

Called Rosa.

She answered on the first ring.

“Victor?”

“Where is Sofia?”

Silence.

Then.

“With me.”

“Is she awake?”

Another silence.

“Barely.”

My chest tightened.

“What happened?”

Rosa exhaled shakily.

“You need to come.”

“No.”

“Tell me now.”

She whispered.

“I found her this morning.”

“She was dizzy.”

“She had bruising near her temple.”

“Her blood pressure was low.”

“I wanted to take her to the hospital.”

“She begged me not to until after I got Lucas to you.”

My eyes closed.

“Why?”

“Because she said Monica was watching everything.”

PART 9