—He infiltrated both families.
—And waited.
She looked at him with fierce clarity.
—He doesn't love my father.
—No.
—He wants the towers.
—Yeah.
—And if he kidnapped my father alive...
Zafir's jaw tensed.
—It's because you need something you haven't gotten yet.
Amira looked down at the folder.
To photography.
To the trembling signature of Don Hassan.
And then he understood it.
All.
—The sovereign control clause.
Zafir stared at her.
—Exactly.
The last legal defense of the Salgado empire.
A secret clause designed to prevent the government or third parties from seizing strategic assets without the joint authorization of the legal heir...
and the alternate custodian appointed by Don Hassan.
Amira raised her head.
—You.
Zafir did not respond.
It was not necessary.
Farid didn't just need Don Hassan.
I needed Amira.
And he needed to eliminate Zafir.
The final game was already served.
VII
The meeting was scheduled two nights later.
Farid Nassar did not ask for money.
He did not ask for protection.
He did not ask to negotiate “on good terms”.
He asked for something much more offensive.
He asked for obedience.
The appointment would be at the industrial port of Veracruz, in an old port warehouse that formally no longer existed in the records.
—He wants neutral ground —Zafir said while reviewing the satellite map.
—He wants a controlled scenario —Amira corrected.
—Also.
She closed the laptop.
—Go.
—Not alone.
—I didn't say alone.
He watched her for a second.
He had argued with her three times in the last six hours. He had lost all three.
Not because he was weak.
But because Amira, when she made a decision, was a storm in heels.
—If this goes wrong... —Zafir began.
—If this goes wrong, at least they will see me fall fighting and not signing.
He held her gaze.
