Page 14 of Born Sinner
“I have! What’s he got to do with this anyway?”
“Mamá.”
The word is like another deep cut to my skin. Our father has sheltered me from most inner workings of the family business, save one.Mamá’srole in the eighteen-year Carrera/Santiago feud is something that even the great Valentin Carrera could never hide.
Not when the ripple effect lasted well into our childhood.
A temporary alliance between Dante Santiago and my father turned into a third-party massacre at myTíaAdriana andTíoBrody’s wedding. My mother, pregnant with me at the time, got caught in the line of fire, and it nearly killed both of us.
Papálaid the blame at Dante Santiago’s feet, swearing vengeance against his cartel and its bloodline.
I shake my head. “But that has to do with the Santiago Cartel, and Sam—”
“Coltonisthe Santiago Cartel,” he says coldly. “He’s operating under a false name,María.” I wince at his mocking drawl of my alias. “His real last name is Sanders, otherwise known as Senator Rick Sanders’s stepson. You know, the former New York kingpin turned politician? SantiagoownsNew York,” he stresses, shoving a hand through his thick, dark hair. “Dios mío, Lola!”
The way he spits out my name, it might as well be another curse word.
“How couldIhave known that?” I insist, my voice shaking as I defend myself. “You andpapádon’t tell me anything!”
“You weren’t on a date last night,” he accuses, taking two steps toward me. “You were withhim.¡No me mientas!Don’t lie to me.” His bitter expression turns deadly as he backs me against the building. “Right now, Troy Davis is being dragged from his hospital bed and will soon be chained to a metal beam. I’m already going to shred him into unrecognizable ribbons of flesh. It’s your call whether his death will be quick or drawn out.”
We stare at each other, my voice trapped in my throat.
“It’d be a shame if he endured unnecessary torture while paying for someone else’s sins,” he adds viciously.
My stomach lurches. “Fine! I was at Sam Colton’s…” At Santi’s dipped chin, I clench my teeth. “I mean SamSanders’sparty, but I swear Troydidput something in my drink. The last thing I remember is him taking me upstairs.”
I force myself not to cringe as Troy’s foreboding whispers from last night slithers through a hazy crack in my memory.Trust me...
My brother’s eyes are crazed with hate as he draws his arm back and drives his fist into the wall. I cringe at the sickening sound.
“Sam didn’t touch me, Santi!” I scream, looking up at him with pleading eyes. “We’ve never even spoken to each other.”Words as painful as they are accurate.
I’ve never had to fight for a man’s attention, but at that party, I’d locked gazes with him. I’d bitten my bottom lip, letting it slowly slide through my teeth.
Teasing him...
Enticing him…
And then nothing.
For a man who couldn’t take his eyes off me, hesure as hell couldn’t take a hint.
I never even wanted Troy Davis.
Guess the joke’s on me.
“You think he didn’t touch you?” A tight frown tugs at the corners of Santi’s mouth. “Are you sure about that,chaparrita?” Cupping my chin, he leans close. “Thisis whypapádidn’t want you in America. You’re too innocent. Too fucking trusting.” His eyes flash with a hint of sadness as he pushes off the wall and walks away.
“Where are you going?” I call after him.
“To clean up your mess.”
“Santi!”
He pauses but doesn’t turn around. “You’re my baby sister, Lola.A Carrera.By touching you, Sanders fired the first shot.”
I wince at the ruthlessness in his voice. “What are you going to do?”
