Page 63 of Demon Found

“I’d like to know too,” Zephyr adds. “He might be your father, but that doesn’t mean he has the best intentions for your allegiance. I’m a walking case study.”

“Dammit, I don’t know why!” Farrell snarls, stalking away. He leans over Naeve’s desk, his back to us all, breathing heavily.

“I don’t believe you.” Chano’s voice is cool. “I don’t believe you for a fucking second.”

Farrell’s shoulders droop and he turns back, eyeing Chano with a grudging respect. “I didn’t expect you would. We need to work this out. Together. I’ll take a truth serum.”

While Chano gets the potion, I struggle to piece my thoughts together. The difference between half brother and stepbrother . . . it means nothing to anyone else. To me it’s heart-wrenching. Until now, I thought I had family alive. Instead, I’m truly alone.

It doesn’t make sense. Why has the Virrey tried to keep it from me?

“While that asshole is gone, Lorelei, let’s hear it,” Farrell says. “Let’s get everything out in the open. What exactly are you hiding about yourself?”

I gape at him. Chano doesn’t know about Seth murdering Linx, but the others do. That’s literally my only secret. Well, except the dumb Las Ratas contract. What the hell else would I be hiding?

“Truth potion for two, then.”

I yelp at Chano’s deep voice right behind me. He might be big but he’s fucking silent when he moves. And quick. Too quick. I peer suspiciously at him as he gestures to the tube in his hands. Did he literally just step out to eavesdrop for a few minutes?

Shit. If Chano finds out I knew all along who killed his gang member, he’ll never forgive me.Please, let Farrell word this carefully. Snatching up the truth serum, I nod firmly at Farrell.

“Lorelei Smith, are you hiding who you are?”

My tongue tingles and the word spills out. “No.”

Farrell’s brow furrows, and a grimace plays across his face.

Chano grabs the test tube from me and forces it to Farrell’s lips. “Your turn, asshole.” Farrell swallows it down without protesting. “Did you know your father was here? Do you know why he’s interested in Lorelei?”

“No, and no.”

“Did you know Seth wasn’t my half brother?” My words are high-pitched, and I fidget with the bed cover waiting for his reply.

“No.”

Thank fuck for that—we’re on the same side. Whatever Farrell’s father is up to, Farrell is innocent of it. I can’t believe how important it feels already, to have these guys on my side. All of them.

“It’s nearly Solstice break. I’ll find out what’s going on when I’m home.” Farrell’s words catch us all off guard.

“You’ll go against your own family?” Chano says in disbelief. “What kind of man are you?”

Zephyr interrupts before it descends into an argument. “You don’t know the Virrey. His long-term goals might align with Farrell’s. But he’ll take any route to get there.”

“Muerte a los traidores, la familia es la vida,” Chano mutters shaking his head.

I turn to him blankly, and he shrugs.

“Death to traitors, family is life.”

Holy fuck. That’s their motto?

“Sort your own house before judging me,” Farrell snaps.

Chano flinches. I’d never have known, except my hand is resting on his arm as his muscles tighten.

Do the drugs go deeper than Deago? What’s he hiding?

Chapter Thirty-two: Lorelei

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