I only wanted to enjoy a peaceful weekend at my beach house. But when I arrived, my sister’s husband was already there with his entire family and shouted, “What is this parasite doing here? Leave right now!” I simply smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll go.” But what happened afterward made him deeply regret those words.

“I know.”

“Then let security and the police handle it. Don’t confront them alone.”

“That’s exactly my plan.”

I hung up.

My last call was to the property manager.

“Hector, are the electronic locks still active?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Disable all access codes except mine.”

“Right away.”

I leaned back in the seat.

The sky outside was turning orange with sunset.

For a few minutes I simply sat there breathing.

Old Valeria would have cried.

But I wasn’t that person anymore.

Ten minutes later, two black vans drove down the road toward the beach.