Page 76 of When Lies Unfold

“That’s awesome!” I hesitate before cautiously adding, “If you’d rather just have a tea party with your daddy, that’s fine. I’d understand.”

Her expression morphs in an instant, going from happy to panicked. “No, Lola. I want you both there.”

“Okay, I just wanted to be sure.” Planting a quick kiss on her forehead, I straighten. “I need to shower, so I’ll meet you in a few minutes for the tea party, okay?”

She nods enthusiastically. “Okay.” As quickly as she arrived, she disappears, pulling my door closed behind her.

My shoulders deflate as if my body realizes with Alma’s departure, the room’s now devoid of life. But I can’t dwell on that. There’s no time. I have to fortify my defenses since I’ll be attending a tea party with Santiago Hernández himself.

After what happened in the kitchen, it’s wise to protect myself against him and his innate sensuality. Not only that, but I still need to eliminate whatever suspicions he has about me.

“I can do this.” I whisper this in an attempt to bolster my confidence.

I’ve faced more intimidating circumstances and made it out alive.

Certainly, I can do the same once again.

33

SANTIAGO

The happiness etched on my daughter’s face is unmatched by anythin’ I’ve ever experienced.

She’s set up the tea party along the side of the house a few meters away from her bedroom windows. This is the best section of the yard because it’s mostly shaded.

Not only that, but it’s the safest place outdoors for her since it’s bordered by jungle and overlookin’ a steep ravine. If somebody’s gonna breach this place, they’re gonna come at us from the other, easier angles.

Nobody in their right mind’s gonna brave the jungle at night and try to climb seventeen feet along a rock wall ravine.

And now that I know for sure a black panther’s nearby, I wouldn’t fuckin’ try it myself.

We’re seated on the large blanket beneath a shaded section. Alma pours the tea into our cups with such care, that furrow between her brow pronounced.

Javier delivered three slices of Torta Chilena and served them with an exaggerated bow to Alma, elicitin’ a giggle.

I keep hopin’ my girl will talk, but so far, nothin’. I’m jealous as hell that she talks to Lola and not me, but I get it. Lola’s got a way about her that has a person lowerin’ their defenses.

Fuck…look at how she won over my men in no time at all. Never before have they ever shown a sign of weakness—and certainly not over a woman.

Alma holds up her teacup with a smile, and Lola seems to have the ability to read my girl’s mind. “You want us to make a toast?”

Alma nods and peers at me expectantly. Unease and an unfamiliar hint of nervousness have me scrubbin’ a hand along my jaw. “Uh, you want me to make the toast?”

She nods again, and Lola’s eyes gleam with amusement.

I shift slightly before extendin’ my teacup. “To tea parties with my favorite girl.”

Alma’s expression grows troubled. Her eyes dart to Lola before widenin’ on me, as if promptin’ me to rephrase my toast.

Tippin’ my head to the side, I offer slowly, “To tea parties with my”—I cut a quick glance at Lola, who radiates a mix of amusement and discomfort while she avoids meetin’ my gaze—“favorite girls.”

Alma’s face lights up, and she gently clinks her cup to mine before doin’ the same with Lola’s. Lola’s eyes remain averted as my cup carefully connects with hers, and we all take a drink.

When the silence grows thicker, Lola rushes to fill it, informin’ me of what I already witnessed.

“Alma gave me the most beautiful card today.” When she fixes a smile on my daughter, I tug at the collar of my button-down. There’s a quality about Lola’s smile that causes a tightenin’ noose-like sensation around my neck.

It has me wonderin’ all sorts of things I have no business entertainin’. Like what it would take to get her to smile that way and how it would feel if she directed that smile at me.

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