Page 106 of When Lies Unfold

“Your lack of response said it all.” A vein along his temple stands out. “That fucker hurt you badly enough you can’t have kids?”

I link my fingers in front of me and draw in a deep breath. “Look, I think we’re getting off base here. None of this is important, because?—”

“It wasn’t important to you?”

His harsh question has my defenses rising. “What the hell kind of question is that? Of course, it was important to me.”

He advances a single step, his tall form as imposing as his dark tone. “Yeah? Then I’d expect you to act like it.”

I toss up my hand in exasperation, my voice rising in volume. “What exactly do you want from me?!” I advance on him, anger fueling me while anguish bleeds from each word. “To tell you it’s devastating? Knowing that I’ve always wanted a family of my own and he robbed me of that? Is that what you want to hear?”

“If that’s the fuckin’ truth, then, yeah.”

45

SANTIAGO

I want somethin’ real outta her. None of this partial bullshit she’s been handin’ me.

I’ve come across enough people who’ve suffered from domestic violence to know why she’s like this, though. And I can’t say I blame her—not entirely.

But damn if I don’t want her to let down her guard, ’cause somethin’ tells me she never gave herself the time to process that. Grief blankets her voice, those deep, soulful eyes of hers gleamin’ with pain.

I shouldn’t give a shit about her. Not one fuckin’ bit. When I made the choice not to kill her, it gave birth to nothin’ short of a fuck-ton of complications in my life. Combine that with Hidalgo increasin’ his stunts, and I’ve got enough to worry about—and then some.

But this woman’s managed to somehow ensnare me. She’s brought out protective instincts in me that haven’t emerged for a woman in decades.

“Fine!” Her eyes spear me with fury and exasperation. “It was devastating!” She shoves a hand at me, but it’s nowhere near enough force to make me budge. “Are you happy now, asshole?!”

She beats her right fist against my chest, her voice turnin’ hoarse, ragged with emotion. “Is that what you want to hear?” Another slam of her fist. “That it gutted me?” Her voice cracks as she lands another hit. “That I wish I could go back and kill him for it?”

My hand closes over her fist, lockin’ her in place. “You say the word, and I’ll kill him for you.”

She goes eerily still, those red-around-the-edges eyes goin’ wide. When her breath catches in her throat, my chest takes on an odd tightness. I don’t know why I fuckin’ said that. But it’s too late to take it back.

Not only that, but I meant it. Her pain’s so raw, it’s almost palpable. There’s no way in hell she’s fakin’ this.

With parted lips, she stares up at me as if she’s seein’ me for the first time. She lets out a weak laugh of disbelief. “You’d do that?”

I’m not sure I like how she’s lookin’ at me right now. With a strange mix of shock and wonder in her gaze, she’s starin’ at me like I’m some hero.

Even so, I find myself answerin’ her, my words muted but firm as hell. “Fuck, yeah.”

I barely get the words out before she rises on her toes and fits her mouth to mine. A groan rumbles deep in my chest when her tongue dives inside, the kiss deep and hungry.

When I band an arm around her and tug her even closer, she arches that perfect body against mine, her hand fistin’ the front of my shirt.

Goddamn, she’s hot for me, but this is different from the other times. Somethin’s shifted. It’s like she’s lettin’ me past some of the defenses she’s had in place.

She tears at my shirt, and I help her undo the buttons before shruggin’ off the damp fabric. Her desperate fingers drop to my belt, tuggin’ it loose before she unfastens my pants. I’ve gotta stop her so I can remove my holstered weapon and set it aside.

Movements borderin’ on frantic, she shoves my pants past my hips. When they gather at my ankles, I remove my ankle holster and place it beside my other weapon before kickin’ my pants aside.

When she attempts to remove her damp sports bra, her wince has me backin’ away. At my retreat, those brown eyes blink up at me, hazy with lust, and somethin’ twists behind my ribs.

I tug open a vanity drawer and retrieve a knife. “Let me help you outta that.”

Her brows draw together and she huffs out a breath. “I’ve never met anyone who stashes knives in their bathroom.”