The truth... or part of it.

"The list of names you found, I was the one who sent it to him. I had received information that a group of men, powerful and connected, had plans to overthrow him, and install their own puppet in his place. So I gave him a list of names, people I knew had connections with those men. And he had some of them arrested, or worse."

"What about Serrano? Romero? The ones that are still alive?"

"Your father refused to believe Serrano would betray him, and ordered to take him off the list. But Romero... he wanted him investigated, so I had him followed. I discovered he had met with a foreigner, someone we nicknamed Mr. Green, from the color of the beret he wore."

"And this foreigner was an enemy of my father's?"

"We don't know, Presidente. He's not on any of our files, and he was able to enter and leave Montesoro without appearing on any records. A complete ghost. All we know is that he was definitely the military type. I tried to dig further, but before I found anything, your father was assassinated."

"How convenient."

"I agree, but there was no evidence linking anyone to the ****. Nothing to trace back to Romero. It was professionally done, surgical."

"So if you did not betray my father, why did you not tell me the truth until now? " Isabella demanded.

Valdés hung his head, shame written across his features.

"I failed your father, Isabella. I could do nothing to prevent his ****. I was afraid you would see me for what I am, a failure. That you would think I was not worthy of you."

Isabella shook her head, her fingers tangling in his hair. She yanked his head up, forcing him to look at her.

"You are a failure, Eduardo. But you are also useful. And now that I know your secret, pig, you belong to me. Do you understand? I own you. And if you want me to keep using you and hurting you, you will do everything I say."

"Yes, Mistress. I will do anything for you."

"Good. Keep your men on Romero and this "Mr. Green". I want their every move watched and recorded. If either of them so much as sneezes, I want to know about it. Understood?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"And the next time I visit you, I want the chair prepared, and the riding crop waiting for me. Understood?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Without another word, Isabella left the room, leaving a bloody and bruised Eduardo bound to the chair, his body covered in welts, his clothes strewn across the floor.

As she strode through the dim halls of the Ministry, Isabella couldn't help but smile. Not only had she extracted the truth from Eduardo Valdés, she had claimed him as her own. Now, with his loyalty secured, she had added to the tools she would need to consolidate her power.

Gain [Secret Police]