Page 116 of When Lies Unfold

Dari’s one of my best, so I have all the confidence in the world he’s handlin’ shit and doin’ it well.

“What’re you thinkin’, boss?”

“What am I thinkin?” Shakin’ my head, I stare sightlessly out the windshield. The temptation to punch somethin’ is still potent as hell. “I’m thinkin’ I wish I knew a way to dismantle every facet of his business.”

“Yeah.” Gordo shifts in his seat like he’s just as antsy as I am to beat the shit outta Hidalgo. “Same.”

We pass the signs indicatin’ it’ll be twenty-seven kilometers till we get to the border. Then we’ll head to Santa Marta, where my men are waitin’ with the women they’ve rescued.

My mind wanders back to Lola. I bet she won’t set foot in my bedroom again while I’m gone. Stubborn-ass woman.

“You know what you’re doin’?” Gordo’s muted voice draws my attention. I glance at him, but his concentration is on the dark, unlit road. “With her, I mean.”

“Marcelo talked to you.” I don’t bother phrasin’ it as a question.

“He’s worried you’re compromised.”

“He needs to mind his own damn business.”

Gordo grunts. “I get where he’s comin’ from, though.”

I whip my head around to stare at him. “The fuck?”

“Just sayin’.” He lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s not exactly far-fetched. Hidalgo’s pulled other shady shit before.”

He hesitates. “Gotta watch your back, especially now that…” When he trails off, I know how to fill in the rest. “Gotta watch your back, especially now that…you’ve fucked her.”

Pissed as hell, I squint at him. “You think I’m compromised after just fuckin’ her?”

“Santy… You don’t fuck women in your bed. Ever.”

He’s not wrong. Still… My muscles feel like they’ve been reinforced with rebar. “You know my gut instinct is never off. I can fuckin’ assure you, she’s not partnered with Hidalgo.”

“I’ve just never seen you like this with anyone.” He pauses. “Sure as hell didn’t expect it, especially after she tried to leave tonight.”

I grind my palms against my eyes as bone-deep weariness takes hold. “Look, I get what you’re sayin’, but it’s not like that. You saw her. She coulda emptied those bullets into Andro, but didn’t. And she talked to me tonight—really talked.”

“’Bout what exactly?”

“’Bout how her ex carved up her body before she got away from ’im.”

His head snaps around, eyes narrowed. “Carved?”

“Yeah. That’s what most of that ink is coverin’ up.”

“Jesus, fuck.”

“She’s been feelin’ trapped all over again, and that’s why she was plannin’ to leave.”

“Makes sense. Especially if she was abused like that, there’s a good chance he controlled her life like a dictator.”

“Exactly.”

A beat of silence passes before he voices his quiet question. “You think she’s still gonna try and leave again?”

“Don’t think so.” I shake my head. “Then again”—a coarse-soundin’ laugh falls from me—“never can tell with Lola.”

“Huh.” Gordo cuts me a sharp look. “So she’s Lola now, and not Miss Arias?” There’s far too fuckin’ much smugness in his voice. “Interestin’.”

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