“For what?”

“Sole custody,” I said. “And the absolute surrender of your parental rights.”

He took a back step, as if I had struck him.

“You are insane,” he said. “I will never sign that.”

“If you sign it, I will not hand over the second ledger,” I said.

He blinked. “The second ledger?”

“The one detailing the bribes to the ministry officials in Valencia,” I said.

He closed his eyes for a long moment.

The sound of car doors slamming outside echoed from the courtyard.

“You had that too?” he asked.

“Matthew found it for me,” I said.

“Matthew,” he muttered, his voice hollow. “My own assistant.”

“He knew what you were doing to the company,” I said. “He has a conscience.”

“He is a traitor,” Alvaro said.

“He is a survivor,” I said. “Like me.”

The heavy iron knocker on the front door began to strike.

Each blow vibrated through the floorboards beneath our feet.

“They are here,” Alvaro whispered.

“They will wait a few minutes if my lawyer tells them we are negotiating,” I said.