Page 69 of Devious Lies

“Now, tell me the name of that monster.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE-LUC

Enrico Sanchez.

I breathe in sharply and turn the AC on in my car. It’s hot as hell outside.

Even the harsh antiseptic air inside the hospital was better than this damp, smothering heat.

Enrico motherfucking Sanchez.

A fiery rage builds up inside of me, and it’s directed at the woman I am pretty goddamn sure I am in love with.

Fuck.

I know it’s unfair. But I can’t help it. Just like I can’t help how I feel about her.

Maria has been lying to all of us for months. I knew that.

Sure, she’s good at her job. She fits in with the staff, but there was always just something else about her.

I’ve watched her so goddamn closely, but how the fuck did I miss this?

How did I miss her fear? Or the fact she was running from something?

My temper spikes and I punch the steering wheel, sending off a blast of the horn.

I have to consider all the possibilities. If it is Sanchez she is running from, I will kill that piece of shit myself.

But there is another possibility, and just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach.

What if Maria, or fucking Mia, whatever her name is, is just playing a game?

I shake off that thought immediately. Whatever trouble she is in, Baby Girl can count on me to help.

The city blurs by and I run two lights before I calm the fuck down.

And I realize I don’t fucking care what her sins are. I will take care of it. Of her.

“Yeah,” I say, connecting the incoming call from via Bluetooth.

It’s Otto. He’s still in the hospital guarding Maria and her mother, but I gave him another job as well. One he could perform with a few phone calls.

“Mr. Batiste? We ran the check on that guy from the bar fight.”

“And?” I say, annoyed at the delay.

“He’s a foot soldier for Sanchez,”

“Fuck!” I roar. “She still there?”

“No, she left with Smith as per your instructions. He texted a few minutes ago. She is inside her apartment, getting ready for work. He will drive her to the Den as soon as she surfaces,” Otto says.

“I want all updates in real time on the fucking phone, got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

I click end and pull into the alley behind the Den.

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