Chapter 7 - The Raid
Thursday night, rain lashed against the windows of the Vargas family’s sprawling Coral Gables estate. The electricity had been shut off due to "unforeseen banking errors," leaving Victoria sitting in the dark, drinking vodka, surrounded by the ruins of her life.
The heavy oak front doors suddenly burst open, splintering against the marble floors.
"Miami-Dade Police! Show your hands!"
Dozens of heavily armed officers flooded the mansion. Flashlights pierced the darkness. Victoria shrieked as she was roughly pulled from her velvet armchair and thrown to the floor, her hands painfully zip-tied behind her back.
"What is the meaning of this?!" she screamed, her designer silk pajamas soaking up the dirt from the officers' boots. "Do you know who I am?!"
"We know exactly who you are, Mrs. Vargas," the lead detective said, holding up a tablet. On the screen was the crystal-clear security footage of Victoria dragging Isabella into the hotel room, followed by the harrowing audio of the assault. "You're under arrest for aggravated assault, kidnapping, and extortion."
Victoria looked up and saw Diego standing in the doorway, shielded by two detectives. He wouldn't look her in the eye.
"Diego!" she screamed. "Tell them it's a lie!"
May you like
"I gave them the tape, Mom," Diego whispered, his voice trembling. "I had to. I'm sorry."
Victoria’s screams of betrayal echoed through the empty mansion as she was dragged out into the rain and shoved into the back of a squad car.
