The estate's silence pressed against me, the midday sun filtering through cracked windows, casting jagged shadows across the living room's scarred floor. The real USB, tucked beneath the rug in its scratched case, glowed faintly, its secrets of Diego's gun deals and blackmail a lifeline I couldn't ignore.
Diego's blood-streaked departure and Valentina's theft of the decoy had left the air thick with dust and tension, the scent of gunpowder lingering from her shots. Salvador's vow, "I'm with you" echoed, his hand on my arm a fleeting warmth, but the weight of his loyalty to Diego gnawed at me.
I had to get out, to protect that USB and unravel its truth. I crouched by the rug, my fingers trembling as I lifted the edge, the coarse fabric scraping my skin. The case felt cold, its green light a beacon in the dimness.
Footsteps echoed Salvador, his leather jacket creaking, the scar on his jaw tight as he entered. His gray eyes, flecked with gold, met mine, a pirate's intensity softened by concern.
"Boss is rallying his men," he said, his voice a low rumble. "You're not safe here."
"Then help me leave," I whispered, clutching the case. "Valentina's got the decoy, but this..." I held it up, "..is the real threat. I can't let Diego have it."
His grin flickered, roguish yet restrained. "Bold move, ocean girl. But the docks are crawling with his crew." He paused, his hand brushing the knife at his belt, a subtle rebellion.
"I'll cover you, but we move fast."
Before I could respond, the front door slammed open, and Diego stormed in, his arm bandaged but his gun drawn, its barrel glinting in the light.
"Where is it?" he demanded, his voice a whip crack. "Valentina's decoy won't fool me long. Hand it over, daughter."
I froze, the USB case hidden behind my back, my pulse a wild drum. Salvador stepped forward, his stance protective yet respectful.
"Boss, she is in shock. Let me handle this," he said, his tone steady, but his eyes flicked to me, a silent signal.
Diego's laugh was a harsh rasp. "Handle it? She's plotting, Salvador. Search her." He raised the gun, its safety clicking off, the cold metal trained on me.
My breath caught, fear coiling in my gut, but I stood my ground, the case's weight a secret resolve.
Salvador nodded, his deference to Diego intact, and approached, his hands moving with careful precision over my jacket.
His fingers grazed my waist, lingering near the case, and he met my gaze, a question in his eyes. I shook my head slightly, and he withdrew, stepping back.
"Nothing, boss," he lied, his voice even.
Diego's eyes narrowed, and he advanced, the gun's barrel inches from my chest. "You're hiding it. Last chance, Isabella."
The threat hung heavy, and my mind raced escape or surrender? The estate's back door, near the kitchen, flashed in my memory, a slim chance.
I bolted, dodging past him, the case clutched tight. Diego fired, the shot splintering the wall beside me, and I stumbled, adrenaline surging.
Salvador lunged, tackling Diego's arm, the gun skittering across the floor. "Go!" he shouted, his respect for Diego clashing with his instinct to protect.
I sprinted toward the kitchen, the estate's corridors a blur, the USB bouncing against my palm. Behind me, a scuffle grunts and a crash told me Salvador held Diego back.
I reached the back door, its rusted handle yielding under my grip, and burst into the overgrown garden, the air sharp with wet earth.
Footsteps pounded closer, Valentina, her black cloak whipping in the breeze, a pistol in hand. Her eyes, cold with a lover's scorn, locked on me.
"You think you can run with my prize?" she hissed, raising the gun. " now I'll bury you both!"
I ducked behind a crumbling statue, my breath ragged, the USB a lifeline.
"It's not yours!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "Diego's the target, join me!"
The offer was a desperate bluff, but her gun wavered, her smirk faltering. A shadow moved, Salvador knife drawn, blood seeping from a fresh cut on his cheek.
"Valentina, stand down," he said, his tone a low growl, his respect for Diego gone.
She fired, the bullet grazing his shoulder, and he staggered but charged, tackling her to the ground. The pistol skidded away, and I lunged for it, my fingers closing around the warm metal.
Valentina struggled, her strength fueled by rage, but Salvador pinned her, his knife at her throat.
"Enough," he rasped, his eyes meeting mine. "Take the shot or let her go." The choice weighed on me, my hand trembling on the trigger.
I lowered the gun, my resolve hardening. "She knows Diego's weaknesses. We need her."
Valentina's laugh was bitter, but she stilled, her defeat a temporary truce. Salvador helped her up, his gaze steady.
"To the docks, then. My faction can hide us." His words were a promise, but the blood on his sleeve hinted at a cost.
As we moved through the garden, the estate's shadows stretching behind, I clutched the USB, wondering if this break was freedom or a deeper trap.