Page 56 of When Lies Unfold

I scrape a hand over my hair as I consider his suggestion.

Gordo quietly adds, “Show her she doesn’t have to be in constant fight-or-flight mode. Let her relax around us.”

“Basically, you’re sayin’ to give the rope some slack…”

“And if she hangs herself, then we’ll know for sure.”

“Hm.” I drum my fingers against my pant leg. “Could be risky.”

“It could. But I can’t get that image outta my mind. She was desperate as fuck to get her hands free. The way she slept holdin’ on to that chair leg…” He shakes his head slowly. “She’s been there before. Been fuckin’ tortured to the point where she got used to it and it forced her to think”—he snaps his fingers—“quick, in the moment. To use whatever she had available as a weapon.”

“Treat her like a guest instead of a prisoner…” I test the words out slowly. “Once she lets down her guard, we’ll be more likely to see through any of her bullshit.”

“Exactly.”

“Huh…” I mull this over even as I pull out my cell and send a quick message to Diego.

Need you to see that Miss Arias gets castor oil and cayenne pepper for her wrists ASAP today.

Within a matter of seconds, he responds.

Got it, boss.

I stare out the windshield, absently toyin’ with my phone. I’m havin’ Diego do that ’cause of what Gordo just said. Not ’cause seein’ Lola in pain bothered me; I think Gordo’s onto somethin’. His points are valid.

Fuckin’ liar. You’ve got a soft spot for her already. That voice in my head needs to shut the hell up.

Gordo saves me from my conflicted inner thoughts when he tosses me another look. “I think you gotta prepare yourself for the chance of bein’ surprised, though.”

“Surprised by what?”

“By her.”

“How so.” I don’t pose it as a question, my tone dull and doubtful.

He lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “Just got a feelin’ she’ll end up surprisin’ us in a big way.”

At that moment, my phone rings and Hector’s number flashes on the screen. My mind switches into work mode once I answer, but the rest of the day, Gordo’s remark echoes in my brain.

“Just got a feelin’ she’ll end up surprisin’ us in a big way.”

If he’s right, Lola Arias had better hope like hell whatever big surprise she has in store is gonna be a good one.

26

LOLA

Gordo collects me from my last cleaning assignment, and the moment I slide into the backseat, I instantly pick up on a much different vibe.

“How was your day?”

I squint at him suspiciously as he easily navigates the rough, bumpy road. “Are we pretending to be friends now?” There’s no way in hell he can miss my sarcasm.

His mouth quirks up. “I’d rather be friends than enemies with somebody who knows how to get outta zip ties.”

Turning my focus on the thick, green, dense jungle alongside the road, I mutter without thinking, “Gotta do what you gotta do to survive.”

His response is quick but without judgment, surprisingly enough. “That’s what I thought.”

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