Page 73 of When Lies Unfold

“They’d be good together. Both seem pretty chill. He’d probably never toss her on a kitchen counter and accost her sexually.”

“Gordo,” I growl, but he just fuckin’ keeps goin’.

He’s enjoyin’ this way too much.

“Luis would probably find out her favorite breakfast foods and have the cook make ’em for her.” He slaps a hand against the steerin’ wheel. “Oh, wait! Somebody already did that.”

Yeah, so I made Javier cook her gallo pinto for breakfast along with tocineta and croissants. It’s all part of the plan to get her to feel more comfortable so she’ll divulge secrets.

“Hold on”—Gordo pretends to think hard—“I think that was you who did that, boss.”

I grind my teeth, refusin’ to rise to the bait. But I can only take so much. This becomes evident when he continues his taunts.

“Anyway, like I was sayin’, Luis and Lola would make a cute couple. Plus, their names go together well.”

I’m gonna have a mouthful of dust if he doesn’t stop makin’ me grind my goddamn teeth like this.

“Both start with the letter L. Luis and Lola. Lola and Luis. I can see it now. People’d start hashtaggin’ LoLu?—”

“Fuck. Off.”

Gordo finally shuts up, and I concentrate on my phone. But as I rattle off text responses, there’s no mistakin’ his chuckle.

32

LOLA

Once I emerge from my last house for the day and slide inside the backseat of the SUV, I’m surprised to find Luis behind the wheel.

“Oh! Hi, Luis.”

He turns around in his seat to grin at me. “How was your day?”

“Exhausting but good.” I let out a weary laugh. “I’m ready for a shower since I have a special tea party to attend.”

His smile widens, and he faces the front. “With Alma, I assume?”

“Exactly.”

He pulls out of the driveway, and we fall into easy conversation.

“She really likes you.”

A smile graces my lips as I stare out my window. “The feeling’s mutual.” After a moment’s pause, I tentatively pose my question. “Alma doesn’t speak to anyone?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head, slowing to a stop at the corner before he makes the left turn. “Not since the day we brought her back home with us.”

“Was Santiago…involved with her mother?” I’m asking because I’m curious to know more about Alma. Not because I want more information on Santiago.

That’s what I tell myself, at least.

“No.” Luis’s answer is immediate. “We found her when we tracked down a traitor.”

Huh. “So…Santiago just took in a random little girl?” I pose the question hesitantly as my mind struggles for clarification. “Or did he discover he had a child when he tracked down the traitor?”

“Alma’s not his biological daughter, but nobody treats her differently.” His voice turns muted. “Think we all felt the need to do somethin’ that day to help her.” He frowns, his jaw taut. “She was so fuckin’ skinny you could count her damn ribs.”

I absently rub the ache that’s bloomed in the center of my chest. “And Santiago’s kept her ever since? How long has it been?”

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