Page 49 of Luka

Are you okay, Lucia?

Why is he not asking me that?

I turn to the man on his right who looks every bit the description that Leo gave. Shady cartel. A quick glance shows four more guys.

“Where’s Papá?” I ask, my stomach turning.

Something isn’t right.

How is Mario here? How is Papá allowing this?

Maybe they aren’t cartel? Maybe Luka was right, the fact that there’s an obvious bulge from the gun at the man on Mario’s side means nothing. Maybe…

But these men, the aura they put off, the clothing they wear… They aren’t in a gang. They’re cartel. Iknowthey’re cartel.

“I’m sorry, my love.” Mario shakes his head like he’s clearing it. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around this. Are you okay? Did they hurt you? You must be terrified.”

“Where’s Papá, Mario?” I ask, looking around as if he’ll appear. I meet the eyes of another man instead. In them is something that turns my blood cold.

Contempt.

Why? What did I do?

And then I see it. The tattoo on his neck as he turns away and says something to the guy next to him. It’s a symbol. An insignia. A wolf howling at the moon with Mayan symbols surrounding it. Unlike Luka, I recognize this cartel family mark immediately.

And it isn’tmyfamily mark.

The room spins, and for a moment, I think I’m going to pass out.

“He’s away on business. I’ll call him the moment we’re back at the motel. Here, come on.” Mario takes my arm and starts leading me toward the exit. My mind is slow to process, but alarms blare before I can fully comprehend what’s going on.

Do not walk out that door,the alarms tell me.

Do not leave with this man.

Danger, danger, danger.

We’re almost to the door when I stumble to a stop, holding my head as I hunch.

“Are you okay?” Mario asks, his hands caressing my back. The concern in his voice sounds so forced now that I know how fake it is. It takes everything in me not to spit at him.

How many times did I rest my head on this man’s shoulder and sigh at the pretty things he told me?

I am a goddamn fool.

“Yeah,” I say, nodding as I stand. “This is all just too much. I need to use the restroom really quick.”

I turn and walk away before he has a chance to argue. The other men watch, their presence crowding me, and I try not to walk so stiffly due to it. Any moment it feels like they’ll snatch me.

The Mendoza Cartel—my family’s biggest rivals. That’s who these people are, and the people we’ve been in a war with for the past year. Mario knows this, which can only mean one thing… He’s one of them.

This was all a big setup. My grand escape, my new life… Lies. Lies, lies, lies.

There was no love. No affection.

I can’t think about that right now. Escape is even more vital now than it was with Arseni. I still see it as I walk, though, see our relationship over the past month and a half play back to me.

My nose prickles with oncoming tears, making it scrunch.

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