Page 98 of Billion-Dollar Ransom

“That could be anything,” Valeria said. “We live in a busy neighborhood.”

“Sounds like they’re coming right for us. Where’s Sofía?”

“She’s inside reading.”

Sebastián looked around their humble but beautiful home. The idea that they’d have to abandon this place and go on the run again terrified Sebastián. Where could they go? Was thereanysafe place for them?

An experimental drug had lured them to Costa Rica, which had a robust medical system and offered health care at a fraction of what it cost back home. Sofía was expected to make a full recovery after her most recent round of infusions. They almost couldn’t believe their luck.

But now Sebastián felt the blood in his veins turn to ice. What would it mean if Sofía was forced to skip her final treatment? Would she relapse?

Now that the sirens sounded like they were right outsidetheir front door, even Valeria looked panicked. She carefully placed the tray of meat on a little folding table.

“I still have our go bags in the hall closet.”

“I’ll have to get the car and come back for you.”

“We can cut across a few yards, hope they don’t see us—”

But then the sirens seemed to fade a little, the Doppler effect bouncing off the sides of all the houses on their block.

When the sirens finally receded into another part of the city, Sebastián and Valeria realized they had been holding their breath.

Now here came Sofía, squinting in the sun, book tucked under her arm.

“Make sure you don’t grill the meat too long,” she said in Spanish. “Carne is supposed to be tender, not as rubbery as a car tire.”

Sebastián looked at his daughter, exhaled, and smiled.

Valeria reached over and squeezed Sebastián’s upper arm. Both knew they were going to have minor heart attacks like this the rest of their lives. But it was worth it. For her.

The family settled in for their evening meal at the small folding table out back, mismatched chairs and all. Dinner was good, although the carnewasa bit overdone. As the sun set, father and daughter squared off for another round of Mastermind, the new family favorite. As usual, the daughter kicked the father’s ass.