Pedro's failure to sabotage the refinery left him seething with rage. Sitting in a dimly lit room in Victor Delgado's hideout, he clenched his fists as Delgado paced back and forth.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Pedro spat, his voice trembling with anger. "Sanchez shouldn't have seen it coming."
Delgado stopped pacing, his gaze cold and calculating. "You underestimated him. Sanchez is no fool. He's proven time and again that he's resourceful and willing to fight for what's his."
Pedro sneered, his bitterness evident. "You think I don't know that? I grew up in that house, Victor. Sanchez always had everything handed to him—family, wealth, respect. Now he thinks he can outsmart me?"
Delgado lit a cigar, taking a slow drag before responding. "If you want to win, you need to stop letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Sanchez is a strategist. If you keep playing into his hands, he'll dismantle every move you make."
Pedro's jaw tightened. "Then we need to change the game. No more subtle attacks. We hit him where it hurts the most—his family."
Delgado raised an eyebrow. "You're playing with fire, Pedro. Going after Sanchez's family will only escalate the war."
"That's exactly what I want," Pedro said, his voice icy. "Sanchez won't think clearly if he's protecting Susan and those brats. He'll make mistakes, and I'll be there to capitalize on them."
---
At the Cruz estate, life continued under heightened security. Susan tried to maintain a sense of normalcy for the children, but the tension was palpable. Sanchez spent most of his time in his study, pouring over reports and strategizing with Hedro.
One evening, as Sanchez reviewed the latest updates from Marseille, Maria entered the room with a hesitant expression.
"Mr. Twist," she said, her voice soft. "There's someone at the gate claiming to have information about Pedro. He says it's urgent."
Sanchez's eyes narrowed. "Did he give a name?"
Maria shook her head. "No, but he mentioned knowing about the refinery attack and Pedro's next steps."
Hedro, standing nearby, exchanged a look with Sanchez. "It could be another trap."
"Or it could be an opportunity," Sanchez replied. "I'll meet him—but under controlled circumstances."
---
Sanchez instructed his security team to bring the visitor to a secure meeting room. The man, a wiry figure with darting eyes, introduced himself as Lorenzo, a former associate of Pedro.
"I don't have much time," Lorenzo began, his voice low. "Pedro is planning something big—something personal. He's targeting your family."
Sanchez's expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
"Pedro knows he can't beat you in business, so he's coming after what you value most," Lorenzo explained. "He's hired mercenaries to infiltrate your estate. They'll wait for the right moment to strike."
Hedro's hand instinctively went to his sidearm. "Why are you telling us this?"
Lorenzo hesitated, then sighed. "Because I know Pedro. He'll destroy anyone who gets in his way—even his allies. I've seen what he's capable of, and I want no part of it."
Sanchez studied Lorenzo carefully, weighing his words. "If you're lying, I'll make sure you regret it."
"I'm not," Lorenzo said, his tone pleading. "Just be ready. Pedro won't stop until he gets what he wants."
---
That night, Sanchez called an emergency meeting with his security team. He outlined Lorenzo's warning and ordered additional precautions.
"I want every entrance and exit monitored around the clock," Sanchez instructed. "No.