Page 148 of When Lies Unfold

All the oxygen in the room seems to evaporate at his question. When I’m unable to respond, he slowly advances on me.

Hands gently cradling my face, he forces me to meet his gaze. “You did what you fuckin’ needed to do to get outta there. Let it go.”

My eyes burn as they fill with unshed tears, my chest impossibly tight with a myriad of emotions.

When his thumbs tenderly graze along my cheeks and he whispers again, “Let it go,” the first tear breaks free.

With his eyes locked with mine, his repeated words unlock a gut-wrenching sob as more tears spill down my cheeks. He tugs me against him, enfolding me tightly in his arms.

With my cheek against the hard wall of his chest, his warmth and the steady beat of his heart soothe me.

His gentle murmurs of “You did what you had to do to survive” has my body wracked with cries ripped from deep in my soul. The band of his arms tightens around me. “You handled your shit the only way you could.”

His words are a soothing balm, encouraging me to release all the guilt and shame of the past. “You did exactly what you had to do.”

Speaking against the top of my head, his voice is muted but thick with emotion. “You’re a fuckin’ warrior, you hear me? So damn beautiful and strong…”

I have no idea how long he holds me while I cry, but eventually, my tears taper and my breathing isn’t quite as choppy. He never moves; he simply holds me snug in his arms where I feel safe, like nothing can hurt me.

But this is only temporary.

Once I finally raise my head, the uncharacteristic softness in his features compels me to say it.

“I love you.”

His eyes crinkle the slightest bit at the edges. Then he dips his head, bringing his mouth to mine to respond in a way only Santiago Hernández would.

“I know.”

68

SANTIAGO

“I know.”

I take her mouth in mine, my tongue divin’ inside to toy with hers, and every cell in my body instantly comes to life. All ’cause of this woman.

This woman loves me, and yeah… There’s no way I can push those same words outta my mouth. It feels stupid even thinkin’ about tryin’ to say ’em, ’cause it’s not me. I don’t have the capacity to love. Just wasn’t made that way.

With that said, I may not be a fuckin’ wordsmith or a romantic, but I’ll kill a motherfucker in cold blood if he dares to try and hurt her.

It’s my actions that say everythin’…and Lola’s gotta know it. She has to by now. She and Alma are my whole world.

I know she’s gonna make sure Alma gets back to me safe and sound…but I’m gonna lose Lola in the process. My gut’s screamin’ over this and it’s the one time I wish like hell it were wrong.

I don’t know what she’s got planned or how exactly shit’s gonna go down, but I sense it. Somehow I know she’s gonna take revenge on Hidalgo on Alma’s behalf and for herself. Fuck knows she deserves to unleash hell on that bastard.

Worst part is, she’s already actin’ like this is it for us. If it is, then I’m damn sure gonna make it worthwhile. Make it a memory.

Those tears that’ve slipped down her cheeks and along the corners of her mouth taste salty on my tongue. I lap ’em up, tryin’ to take away all her pain.

When she slides her hands into my hair, tuggin’ the band free to twine her fingers in the longer strands, somethin’ snaps. Our tongues surge together, the kiss turnin’ messy, our mouths anglin’ as we strain for more.

“I’ll apologize for bein’ rough later.” I speak against her mouth in between kisses. “But I gotta get you outta these clothes. Right. The fuck. Now.”

Mindless to anythin’ else, I strip her of everythin’ until she’s bare. Her own hands fumble with unfastenin’ and shovin’ my pants and boxers off.

I lift her, and she automatically cinches her legs around my waist, givin’ me her mouth again. Our mouths slant, desperate for our tongues to get deeper, addicted to the taste of each other.

---