My anger exploded.
“You admit that?”
“Yes.”
She looked directly at me.
“I intended intimidation. Nothing more.”
I wanted to cross the space between us.
Alexander stopped me with one arm.
Carmen continued.
“When I learned what happened inside that suite, I knew someone else had infiltrated my plan.”
Marcus frowned.
“Who?”
Carmen looked toward Javier.
He went pale.
“Tell them.”
Javier whispered, “Mom.”
“Tell them.”
He looked at Alexander.
“The six women came through my uncle.”
Sofia’s voice cracked in my ear.
“What uncle?”
Javier continued.
“The man I grew up believing was Rafael Robles.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“He’s alive.”
Javier nodded.
“Thomas Vale Jr. never d/i/ed.”
Carmen looked toward the river.
“My brother resurfaced eighteen months ago.”
Marcus said, “He wants Meridian.”
“He wants the archive.”
Alexander asked, “Why?”
“Because the archive identifies every surviving financial account.”
Marcus swore under his breath.
Money.
