Page 75 of When Lies Unfold

Just as I thought.

Diego zeroes in on Luis and lowers his voice. “Better watch yourself. Boss didn’t seem too happy with whatever you talked to him about earlier before he left.”

Luis pales, and Diego’s expression turns pained as he tells him, “Just sayin’. Never been on the receivin’ end of his wrath and don’t wanna be.” His eyes cut briefly to me before he levels a pointed look at his friend. “Don’t wanna see you receivin’ it either.”

I hear the silent part he’s not voicing, however. “Don’t wanna see you receivin’ it either…especially not for her.”

With an inward groan, I wave a dismissive hand and head toward the front door. “No worries, gentlemen. I won’t be getting you into trouble with your boss.”

Silence trails me as I turn my back on them and head toward the door. I know I’m being petulant, but deep down, I’d hoped they might be the exceptions. That they might be willing to go against the rules and be my friends.

And no, it wasn’t an entirely altruistic wish. I’d be lying if I said it was, because my primary motivation was to befriend them so I could covertly solicit information from them.

But it was also because the idea of living in this compound without a solitary friend is too damn lonely.

As I stride inside and toward my bedroom, my mind is in turmoil with what I’ve just discovered about Santiago and Alma, a plan already forming. My irritation abruptly dissolves when I enter my room and discover a little construction paper card sitting on my nightstand.

Handwritten in crayon, the message on the front says, To Lola, accompanied by a beautiful butterfly similar to my tattoos. When I read the message inside, my throat threatens to swell shut with emotion.

Thank you for letting me stay with you last night. You’re the best snuggler ever!

(i’m a really smart girl, but i had to use a dictionary to help me spell some words. Did you know there are 2 g’s in snuggler?)

I love you.

Love,

Alma

xoxo

I hold the card against my chest, memorizing this moment. Oh, sweet Alma. With extreme care, I set the card on my nightstand beside the butterfly figurine she gave me when we first met.

When small bare feet advance quickly across the tile floor, I’m anticipating the arms that wrap around my waist from behind a moment later, hugging me tightly. My eyes fall closed as I allow myself to bask in the moment. To soak in the blatant affection she offers.

Curiously patting the petite arms cinched at my waist, I playfully tease, “Who on earth is hugging me from behind?”

A giggle sounds before her little voice emerges. “It’s me, Lola.”

“Ohhhh. So, it’s Javier hugging me.”

She giggles again. “No, silly. It’s Alma.”

“What?!” I detach her arms from my waist. “I must see this for myself.” I gently tug her around to face me. Her wide, carefree smile acts like a swift kick in the gut while simultaneously sending a contented warmth so deep that it seeps into the marrow of my bones.

I bend to be at eye level with her. Her riotous black curls are all over the place, a few falling past her brows. I smooth them back even though it’s futile. “I love my card, Alma.” She beams with happiness. “Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome.” Her voice still possesses a raspy quality, likely from not being used for so long. When she reaches up and cautiously smooths my bangs back from my face, similar to how I just touched her, my heart gives a little flip.

It’s now that I notice a slight orange tint around her mouth. “Did you have orange soda?”

“No.” She giggles and puts her index finger over her lips, indicating it’s a secret. “Uncle Gordo was sneaky and gave me some cheese crackers, ’cause they’re my favorite.”

Uncle Gordo sneaks her cheese crackers? Before I can give it more thought, she vibrates with excitement, bouncing on her feet. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“My dad said he’s gonna come to our tea party!”

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