“Nicholas, it is not my fault. My wife turned out to be smarter than I thought.”

“Your wife is a minor problem. The problem is that you got caught and that means you are dragging us all down.”

“But I have not said anything. I have been quiet as a tomb.”

“For now, you are quiet. But what will happen when you face life in prison? You will sing like a canary.”

“I will keep quiet. I promise.”

“Ethan, you have disappointed me. I invested a lot in you. I gave you the chance to make millions and you have ruined everything for a woman.”

“Give me a chance to fix it. Help me get out of the country. I will disappear forever.”

Ortega smiled dismissively. “Abroad. Do you take me for a fool? In a month, you would rat me out to foreign special services in exchange for asylum.”

“No, I am not a traitor.”

“Everyone is a traitor, Ethan. When life is at stake, everyone betrays. You know, I have a more radical idea.”

“What is it?”

“You die today. In an escape attempt, the dead do not testify.”

Ethan turned pale. “Nicholas, you cannot do that.”

“I can and I will. Alejandro, Victor,” he said to his bodyguards, “take him to the woods. Let him be breakfast for the wild dogs.”

The bodyguards approached Ethan. He backed away.

“Wait, I have information.”

“What information?”

“About the investigation. They are planning an operation against you. They know about your accounts.”

“How do you know?”

“My wife told me she is collaborating with the investigation.”

Ortega turned sharply. “What did you say?”

“Your wife works for the police?”

“Yes. She has found out about your plans. They plan to arrest you tomorrow.”

“You are lying.”

“No. Check it if you want.”

At that moment, the office door burst open. Agents and bulletproof vests entered.

“Hands up.”

Ortega tried to draw a weapon, but was quickly subdued. His bodyguards did not resist. They knew they were finished.

“Nicholas Ortega, you are under arrest for organizing a criminal group, corruption, and involvement in fraud.”

Ortega looked at Ethan with pure hatred.

“In the end, you betrayed me. You bastard.”

“First, I did not want to.”

“You will rot in jail, rat.”

Colonel Black himself put the handcuffs on Ortega.

“The game is over, Nicholas. We know about your foreign accounts, your shell companies, your bribes. There is enough for several life sentences.”