When Lies Unfold

Chapter 63

Juarez showsup just as Lola and Doc finish tendin’ to the handful of survivors. My staff went above and beyond to clean this place up, so it looks a shit-ton better than it did. They’ll be gettin’ some generous bonuses after this.

Exhaustion lines Lola’s face as she stretches, her muscles undoubtedly knotted to hell and back after all the work she’s done helpin’ Doc with my wounded men.

I know she feels guilty as hell about what happened, but it’s not her fault. All the security footage confirmed that.

My eyes drift over her from head to toe. Damn if she doesn’t look similar to how she did the first time she stepped foot in this place. Covered in someone else’s blood but still beautiful as hell.

She heads outside toward where Juarez and I are. We’ve been leanin’ against his Land Cruiser, watchin’ the staff clear away the last of the evidence.

In reality, I’m avoidin’ the inside ’cause I keep expectin’ Alma to race down the hallway at any second. The reminder that she’s not here, that an evil bastard has her, has made me far too raw.

“We need to figure shit out. I can’t just pull my team and have them back you up without a solid plan.” Even though I know Juarez’s got a point, it grates on my nerves.

“They have Alma.” I grit my teeth. “Are you tryin’ to tell me after all this, you’re gonna punk out on me?” A harsh laugh breaks free. “You might be fuckin’ CIA”—I jab a finger at him—“but you and I both know you wouldn’t be where you are right now without me.”

Irritation flares in his eyes ’cause he doesn’t like bein’ called out on his shit even though it’s true. “I know, Santy.” He blows out a long breath. “But we can’t go in there with guns blazing. We’ll be on his turf, and he’ll have home-field advantage.”

He massages his temples. “What we need is a Trojan horse. A bargaining chip. Something that’ll catch him off guard.”

“I might have an idea.”

Our heads jerk in Lola’s direction as she stops in front of us.

Suspicion coats Juarez’s voice when he challenges, “And what’s that?”

“Offering to give him back his black book.”