Page 87 of When Lies Unfold

An unhinged wildness takes hold of Andro’s features while his focus remains locked on me. “I said, the fuck is she doin’ here?”

Santiago slams a fist on the table, violently rattling the dishes. Eyes flaming with anger, his features are granite hard, matching his tone. “Those pain meds must be affectin’ you. Otherwise, you’d know better than to question me.”

Tension heightens within the room, growing more suffocating when Andro advances toward us. The closer he gets, the louder every fiber in my body screams at me to run, but a heavy, callused palm settles on my bare thigh, keeping me in place.

Santiago’s fingers flex lightly, but when I cut him a questioning look, his attention rests solely on his nephew.

With a little squeeze, he releases me, and I don’t know what to make of the gesture. Is it a warning to keep my mouth shut? Is it to comfort me?

I’m not granted time to draw a conclusion. The hairs along the back of my neck stand on end when Andro hovers behind my chair.

“The hell happened to you?” One of the male guests narrows his eyes on Andro. “You get shot?”

Andro’s dark laugh acts like glass shards being raked over my skin. “Nah, but I was attacked and got fuckin’ cut open. Wanna know who did it?”

“Andro,” Santiago thunders in warning. He rises to his tall, imposing form, his face a mask of barely restrained fury. “That’s enough.”

Andro’s hands slam down on the back of my chair. “This fuckin’ whore right here attacked me.”

In the blink of an eye, Santiago has his gun aimed at his nephew. His jaw is so rigid I fear it might shatter at any moment.

Forcing my breathing to remain steady, I discreetly turn my dessert spoon around to watch Andro’s distorted form in its reflection.

“What? You gonna shoot me in the stomach after she cut me open?” Andro scoffs. “My own fuckin’ family’s turnin’ against me.”

One of the men dressed in a blue button-down shirt volunteers, “Nothin’ good’s gonna come from this, Andro.”

Before the younger man can respond, Santiago’s deep voice reverberates with authority. “You cut yourself, and everybody here knows it.” His gaze lifts past my shoulder. “Gordo, get him outta here now.”

In the next moment, everything happens in a blur. When Andro grabs a fistful of my hair, I abruptly turn in my seat, ignoring the tear-inducing agony of my hair pulling at my scalp. My movement catches him off guard, and I jab my spoon against his bandaged wound.

I’m released from his hold as he howls in pain, doubling over to clutch at his wound. I scramble from my seat only to be yanked behind Santiago’s imposing body.

With one hand on my hip, he maintains his weapon’s aim on his nephew. Gordo grabs a whimpering Andro by the scruff of his neck and hauls him away.

The disturbingly nonplussed guests casually finish their desserts while Santiago slides his gun into his holster. I suppose for people like them, something like this is commonplace. It doesn’t mean that my heart isn’t threatening to beat out of my chest, however.

The only one paying us any attention is Marcelo. Even Keyna is distracted while she flirts with the man beside her, although she intermittently casts longing looks at Santiago.

Marcelo’s keen observation is more than unnerving and fills me with a desperate need to escape his presence. The man’s eyes narrow, and his scrutiny intensifies when Santiago takes my hand.

“Excuse us while you finish your dessert.” Santiago announces this casually. “Be back shortly so we can get to talkin’ business.”

Then he hauls me from the room and away from prying eyes.

1 Enjoy your meal.

38

SANTIAGO

In quick, clipped strides, I lead Lola from the room and down one of the hallways until I arrive at the nearest spare bedroom.

Shovin’ open the door, I yank her inside and kick the door closed behind us. With a slap of my palm against the light switch, a subtle glow illuminates the space.

Lola’s hair is a mess from Andro’s goddamn hand, and she’s still clutchin’ that spoon in a death grip. Her chest rises and falls with anxious breaths.

I try to keep my voice low and as calm as possible. It’s not easy since I’m feelin’ unhinged after what just happened. “You okay?”

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