When Lies Unfold

Chapter 80

PRESENT

Grief pummelsme like I’ve allowed Gordo free rein over me with his fists, but I push past it to inspect the other pages.

At the top of the first page is a familiar name of a narco up in Guatemala I’ve had a few minor run-ins with.

Hidalgo made notes and listed other information—with highly intimate knowledge of the man. The kind of info that’s powerful enough to be used as blackmail.

“Motherfucker.” The muttered words fall from my lips as I flip to the next page. One by one, my stunned eyes soak up the priceless intel. None of it provokes an unparalleled fury inside me, though—until I get to the last page.

I stare down at it after readin’ it over twice. No fuckin’ way. I blink, confident that I’m too stressed and emotional to be seein’ it right.

Nope. It’s right there in black ink, in Hidalgo’s fuckin’ penmanship. My mind races, thinkin’ back to all the times I’ve had my men help intercept the women Hidalgo’s trafficked—when we’ve teamed up with Juarez and his crew.

My eyes lift, landin’ on Gordo. Whatever he sees on my face has him lookin’ alarmed. And with good reason.

“What is it?”

I glance down at the paper before scrubbin’ a hand down my face. “Think we need to round up the men. And pretty fuckin’ quick.”

His expression turns wary. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I hand him the papers with the game changer on top. Grippin’ the knotted muscles in the back of my neck, I shoot up to my feet and pace while he scans it.

When a low, muttered “Fuuuuck” reaches my ears, I stop and face him. He looks as shell-shocked as I feel. “Boss, we had no way of knowin’—”

I cut him off, my tone pissy. “I should’ve known.”

“You can’t pick up on everythin’.”

“We worked together for fuckin’ years.” My jaw goes so tight, my molars start to ache. “And all this time, we’ve been helpin’ that bastard intercept these innocent women from Hidalgo.”

I grip the knotted muscles in the back of my neck that grow tighter by the second. “We’ve been handin’ them over to his motherfuckin’ team, only to find out Juarez’s sellin’ those women to an even higher bidder?!” I slam my fist against the table, rattlin’ the few items atop it. “Here we thought we were helpin’.”

With my fists clenched so tightly, my blunt nails dig into my palms. “We’ve been fuckin’ played, goddammit.”

I brace myself to say the words out loud. “Lola’s plannin’ to take out Hidalgo by herself.” My throat fills with razor blades. “And she’s gonna go down with him if we’re not fast enough.”

“Can’t get in touch with Agent Garcia. Tried again and again but got nothin’ but radio silence.”

I’m securin’ my bulletproof vest when Gordo relays this. Once I drop my hands at my sides, our eyes meet, but we’re interrupted by Alma.

“You’re gonna rescue Lola, right, Daddy?” Her big brown eyes peer up at me with all the faith in the world.

“I’m gonna do my best.” I bend my knees to bring us closer to eye level.

While pride roars through me at how resilient and strong she’s been throughout this shit, on its heels comes the nauseatin’ reminder that my other girl’s still trapped inside with that motherfucker.

“Now, you gotta stay safe with Diego, got it?”

“Got it.” She smiles and pats my cheek. “Love you, Daddy.”

The words catch on invisible barbs in my throat, but I force them out. My voice sounds harsh and ragged to my own ears. “Love you, too.”

When I cover the hand she patted my cheek with, my fingers encounter somethin’ metallic. Every muscle in my body goes still as I stare at the butterfly chain wrapped twice around my daughter’s wrist.

My eyes lift to meet Alma’s. “Where’d you get this?”

“From Lola.”

“When?”

“When she hugged me in front of that fucker’s house?—”

“Language.” Urgency has me rushin’ on. “She gave that to you then?”

She nods. “She put it in my pocket with this.” Alma reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small, folded paper and hands it to me.

My fingers fumble with it before I get it opened.

Alma,

I love you like the daughter I’ve always dreamed of having. Stay safe for me and keep your father out of trouble.

Love always,

Lola

“You okay, Daddy?”

I clear my throat a few times to be able to speak. ’Cause I’ve tortured enough people and ended enough lives to know what people say when they know they’re not comin’ back.

They don’t just fix a broken chain for the hell of it and give it to a kid durin’ a hostage exchange.

My eyes burn, but I force a nod. “I’m okay. Now, you stay safe and don’t go anywhere. Diego and Andrés are in charge of the men here with you till I get back.”

“Okay.”

Minutes later, Gordo and I stand in front of my men and our SUVs. Their attention’s trained on me as I address ’em.

“I’ve never asked any of you to go with me where I wasn’t prepared to go first. I’ve never led you into someplace where I knew or even thought we wouldn’t all be walkin’ back out of.”

I survey each of ’em. “You might’ve needed some help walkin’ out, but you were able to get out.”

With a pause, I slide my hands in my pockets. “I can’t guarantee any of that right now. What I will say is, I’m gonna find a way into Hidalgo’s, and I’m gonna tear that place apart until I find my woman.”

My men stare back at me with somber expressions as I continue. “I’m askin’ you to go with me, but in this instance, I’ll understand if you don’t wanna take the risk.”

With that, I step back. I’ve never done this—I’ve never given my men an out before. But we’re gonna be vastly outnumbered. If I’m bein’ honest, it’s a fuckin’ death wish.

Gilberto is the first to speak. “Count me in, boss.”

Next is Luis. “I’m in.” The smallest thread of worry edges through in his tone. “If Lo—Miss Arias needs us, then we need to be there for her.”

One by one, they chime in, their expressions somber yet determined.

I’ve never been prouder and more humbled before. These men are prepared to go on what’s closer to a suicide mission with me for Lola.

She has no idea she won these men over without even tryin’. Just by bein’ the strong, ballsy woman she is, she’s gained their alliance. She won the love and trust of my daughter.

Most of all, she somehow wedged herself deep inside my cold, black heart. Never thought I’d want a future with anybody.

Until her.

Gordo clamps a hand on my shoulder, givin’ it a quick squeeze. “Let’s bring her back home where she belongs.”

Once we’re packed into our SUVs, Gordo leads the caravan. Within minutes, we stop along the outskirts of Hidalgo’s compound, out of surveillance range, prepared to breach it on foot.

The moment we step out of our vehicles, an explosion hits that’s so powerful it feels like the world rocks on its axis.

Ears ringin’, we stare at the enormous fireball ahead.

Right where Hidalgo’s compound is.