Page 67 of When Lies Unfold

As gently as possible, I liberate my hand from Alma’s death grip and ease off the bed. I stretch before rubbing my sore ribs. Grabbing my phone off the nightstand, I shut off my scheduled alarm, so it doesn’t wake her.

Gathering my clothes for the day, I pad into the bathroom and shut the door quietly behind me. Once I’m showered and dressed for work, I emerge from the bathroom to find Alma sprawled in starfish fashion but now hugging my pillow.

She seems so tiny and vulnerable in the king-size bed, and I hesitate before padding toward her. Gently smoothing back her hair from her face, I place a light kiss to her temple. Then I straighten, grab my bag from the dresser, and shove my phone inside before looping the strap over my head and across my chest.

Turning to leave, I jerk in alarm, my hand flying to my chest at the person looming in the doorway of my bedroom.

I didn’t even hear him open the damn door.

Santiago tips his head to the side, gesturing for me to step out and follow him. As quietly as possible, I pull the bedroom door closed behind me.

The eerily empty hallway gives me the impression we’re in our own little bubble.

Those dark eyes study me with an intensity. “How’re the wrists?”

“They’re much better.” Begrudgingly, I tack on, “Thank you again.”

He lowers his chin in acknowledgment. Then his voice turns low and gravelly. “You sleep okay?”

I eye him warily, wondering if this is another one of his tests. A trick question, of sorts. “Well enough, considering.”

His mouth tenses briefly. “Even with a guest?”

My brain isn’t ready for an interrogation this early—least of all without coffee.

I expel a loud sigh. “If you’re planning to interrogate me, can we do it after I’ve had coffee and”—I gingerly rub along my right side—“massaged away the permanent imprint of someone’s feet in my ribs?”

Something indecipherable flashes in his eyes. “Coulda sent her back to her room.”

An impatient groan spills past my lips, and I lean a shoulder against the wall, covering my yawn with my hand. “Again, I need coffee first.”

His eyes bore into me for a beat. “Let’s get you coffee, then.”

He gestures for me to step beside him, and we walk toward the kitchen. Once we enter, we’re greeted by Javier bustling about. When the cook notices me, his smile is instantaneous. “Lola! Good morning.”

The instant Santiago pointedly clears his throat, Javier’s smile drops, his tone taking on a more detached air. “Perdón. Good morning, Miss Arias.”

“Good morning, Javier.”

I flash Santiago a squinty-eyed glare, but he ignores me as we take our seats at the table. Javier rushes over with two cups of coffee, placing each carefully in front of us. Then he’s off to tend to whatever he has on the stove.

I cradle the mug and close my eyes, inhaling the delicious aroma before taking a cautious sip of the steaming brew. Once I open my eyes, they clash with his.

Caution saturates my tone. “What?”

He holds my gaze for another moment, then takes a sip of his coffee before responding. “Why didn’t you send her back to her room?”

I blink, still sifting through the sleepy cobwebs in my brain, attempting to follow his line of questioning. Lifting one shoulder, I murmur, “She had a nightmare,” before taking another sip of coffee.

Javier appears beside us, delivering our breakfast plates. With a muted announcement, he sets my breakfast in front of me, “Huevos revueltos, gallo pinto, plátanos, un croissant, y tocineta. Buen provecho?1,” before setting a plate of scrambled eggs and chorizo in front of Santiago.

Javier returns to the far side of the kitchen, and I don’t hesitate to dig into the food. Not only does it smell delicious, but gallo pinto is one of my favorite dishes.

Everything is perfectly prepared, and I savor the meal. It’s not every day I get to indulge in bacon or croissants since they’re well outside my budget.

I’m about four bites in before I register Santiago’s attention resting on me and realize he hasn’t yet touched his food.

Leaning back in his chair with those tattooed fingers wrapped around his coffee cup, he takes a sip while eyeing me over the rim.

---