Chapter 174

• Lucia's POV
• Claire as Viper hit like a freight train, shattering everything I thought I knew. That photo.. her cold eyes, labeled “Viper”.. burned in my mind as we huddled in the ditch, rain mixing with mud on our faces. I clutched the ledger, my hands shaking, memories of Claire’s jealous rants flooding back. Her “breakdown” at the safehouse, tears and all? A damn act. I glared at Elena, her frail frame slumped against Ryan, Mateo asleep in her arms. “You suspected her, didn’t you?” I snapped, voice raw. Elena’s eyes dropped, guilt plain. “Thought I could save her… didn’t wanna believe it.” Another betrayal, another secret. My blood boiled. “You keep breaking us, Mom!” Sofia, holding Mateo’s hand, looked scared but fierce. “Bad Claire won’t hurt him,” she whispered, like a vow. My heart ached.. my kid sister, stepping up. Ryan, feverish from infection, mumbled, “I trusted her once… sorry.” His guilt stung, and I turned away, trust wobbling. Outside, the storm quieted, but I heard engines.. Harrow’s crew, or Claire’s. We had to move.
• The ditch felt like a cage, Elena’s silence deafening. “Why, Mom? Why hide it?” I pressed, voice cracking. She wiped tears, voice shaky. “Claire was lost… like me. Hoped she’d turn back.” Hoped? I wanted to scream. Her regrets piled up, isolating her, and I couldn’t look at her. Ryan, sweating bad, grabbed my arm. “I was dumb, Lucia. Thought Claire was just jealous, not… this.” His eyes begged forgiveness, and my anger softened, but it hurt. “We trusted her, Ryan. Both of us.” Sofia piped up, clinging to Mateo. “I’ll keep him safe. No bad Claire.” Her resolve, small but iron, hit me hard. I hugged her, whispering, “You’re amazing, kid.” But Claire’s shadow loomed, and we needed answers.