Chapter 13
The first arrest was Dr. Adrian Cross.
He tried to leave through a private clinic garage with cash taped inside a medical bag.
Federal agents caught him before he reached the gate.
By dinner, he was cooperating.
Not because he had remorse.
Because men like him always loved themselves more than their secrets.
He admitted Amara had been given medication she did not need.
He admitted her symptoms had been ignored on purpose.
He admitted Lucille pressured him.
Victor arranged paperwork.
Celina searched Amara’s room.
But he would not say who ordered the final dosage.
“Not without immunity,” he said.
Agent Chen refused.
So did the prosecutor.
Dr. Cross panicked.
Then he said one name.
Antonio.
My father.
Alive.
Hidden.
Commanding the family through Lucille.
I walked out of the federal building and vomited beside the steps.
Emmett was not there.
Thank God.
Mateo drove me home in silence.
At the guesthouse, Emmett had made cookies with Nora and Margot.
The kitchen looked destroyed.
Flour on the counter.
Sugar on the floor.
Lemon zest everywhere.
He looked up when I entered.
“Daddy, we saved you some.”
I stared at the uneven cookies.
My throat closed.
Amara’s recipe.
Emmett’s hands.
A life my family tried to mock.
I took one and ate it.
It tasted too sweet.
Too lemony.
Perfect.
Emmett watched carefully.
“Good?”
“The best thing I have ever eaten.”
His whole face softened.
Then he said, “Can Mom know?”
May you like
I looked toward the dark window.
“She knows.”
