When Lies Unfold

Chapter 85

TEN MONTHS AFTER LOLA’S DISAPPEARANCE

“Uh, boss?”Gordo’s announcement has me tearin’ my focus off the profits spreadsheet. “Got a visitor askin’ to see you.”

I squint at him, wonderin’ who the hell he’s referrin’ to when an impatient female voice carries down the hall.

“I get it, I get it. You’re super masculine and dangerous, but all I want is to talk with your fearless leader, okay?”

I massage my temples as the woman’s voice draws closer.

“You’ve already searched me and confirmed there’s no shiv up my ass, and we’ve been through this song and dance before, so I’m just going to find him myself.” The footsteps draw to a stop, and when Gordo steps aside, the woman appears in my doorway.

Expellin’ a weary breath, I greet her. “Hola, Sabrina.”

“Hola.” She tosses her hands in the air, her tone exasperated. “That’s what you say? Hola?” She plops down in one of the chairs. “Any updates?”

I can’t bear to say it, so I shake my head. The way she physically appears to deflate kills me. ’Cause I feel the same way.

“Boss?” Gordo’s voice booms from down the hall. “Incomin’.”

The fuck?I barely have a second to wonder what the hell he’s talkin’ about when two men stroll into my office.

I narrow my eyes on the one who’s never before had the cojones to step foot in my home. Sure, he’s stopped me when I’ve driven through the village and asked. But he’s never been desperate or ballsy enough to come here.

Stubbornly, I address the other man first. “Nice to see you, Esteban.”

The older man dips his chin and ambles over to the second chair beside Sabrina. He gently eases himself into it. “I was out for a walk and ran into Nando. We got to talkin’ and wanted to see if you had any word on Miss Lola.”

I lean back in my chair and cross my arms, my piercin’ glare leveled on the damn cop. “This your idea?”

“I couldn’t say no to Esteban.” Nando shrugs. “After all, I was also interested to know if there was any news.”

Gordo appears outside my office door, and the bastard’s doin’ a shit job of stiflin’ a smile. “Look, boss. Isn’t it great? The gang’s all here.”

My searin’ glare would’ve already sent anybody else runnin’. But not Gordo. The fucker just grins.

With what feels like a throat full of nails, I swallow hard before deliverin’ the same update I’ve received time and again.

“No news.”

That response is enough to wipe the usual animosity from Nando’s features. Esteban’s face falls, and Sabrina wrings her hands in her lap, her expression etched with worry.

Nando leans against the bookshelf, his survey sweepin’ over the few photos I framed.

They’re all from surveillance footage I combed through. One is of Lola and Alma laughin’ together while they were playin’ outside. When I kissed Lola in the kitchen after askin’ her to dinner. One of her and Alma snugglin’ together in her bed when my girl had a nightmare.

If she comes back to me—when she comes back—I’m gonna take as many photos as I can. I don’t wanna have to scrounge for images of my woman ever again.

Sabrina releases a disappointed sound before risin’ from the chair. Her eyes are downcast, sadness creasin’ her face. “I should go.” She lifts her eyes to mine. “Promise to keep me updated.”

I offer a curt nod. “Of course.”

When she strides around my desk, my movements are hesitant as I rise. Sabrina surprises me by huggin’ me tightly. Awkwardly, I pat her back, wonderin’ what the hell brought this on.

She lets out a little laugh against my chest. “Please tell me you don’t suck at giving hugs to Lola like this.”

I scowl at the insult. “Fuck no.”

She rears back and peers up at me with a thoughtful expression. Her words are whispered, meant for only me. “No other man would spend this long looking for her.”

Her eyes grow shiny with tears yet to fall, and she pats my chest with a sad smile. “You really do love her. Wherever she is, I’m certain she knows it.”

Jesus Christ.I’m relieved when she draws away and says goodbye to the others before exitin’ my office.

Esteban slaps his knees before slowly straightenin’ from the chair. He fixes Nando with a polite smile. “Would you mind letting me have a private word with Mr. Hernández?”

Nando casts me a glance, givin’ me the impression he wasn’t prepared for the old man’s request. But all he says is, “Sure,” and strides out.

Esteban studies me for a moment. “You’re a busy man, and yet you’ve entertained my visits and inquiries.”

He tips his head to the side, a small smile playin’ at his lips. “I’ve met a lot of people in my days, and I can tell you this: there’s not a single man I’ve come across who has the determination and love you have for Miss Lola.”

He lightly raps his knuckles against my desk. “Which means there’s no doubt that she’ll make her way back here to you.”

I don’t have it in me to tell him that every month that passes without her, I battle against losin’ hope.

By the time the old man makes his way outta my office, I’m feelin’ frayed as fuck and not in the mood to deal with Nando.

So, of course, he comes waltzin’ back in like he owns the place.

He stops just inside and leans against the doorjamb. I sink into my chair with a grunt. “Say what you’ve gotta say and get it over with.”

He smirks. “Never seen you this grumpy before.”

At my dark glare, he saunters over, returnin’ to the bookshelf with the framed photos. “Always been an arrogant bastard, but this? You’re actin’ like a heartsick fool.”

“Get the fuck outta here, Nando.”

He ignores me and picks up the frame of Lola and me where she’s peerin’ up at me with a soft expression. I wonder if that’s when she started fallin’ in love with me.

“Never thought I’d see the day the notorious Santiago Hernández was fucked up over a woman.”

He replaces the frame before facin’ me and slides his hands in his pockets. His followin’ words catch me off guard. “I never had a chance with her. But, at one point, I thought I was the better man for her.”

A rough sound rumbles deep in my chest, my tone fierce. “Nobody on this goddamn earth is good enough for her.”

Expression somber, Nando studies me for a beat. “Funny enough, that right there sets me at ease.” At my questionin’ look, he shakes his head, his voice lowered. “For your sake, I hope like hell she comes back.”

Quietly, he turns and heads for the door. When he approaches the threshold, though, he pauses, then casts me a glance over his shoulder. That glint in his eyes makes me uneasy.

“I think I like the heartbroken Hernández better. He’s nicer and more approachable.”

“Fuck off, Nando.” I force the words from between gritted teeth.

He steps from my office only to turn back around, his expression borderin’ on somber. He hovers in the doorway, his voice muted. “Didn’t realize all you’d been doing for those women. Carrera was a grade-A motherfucker whose trafficking operations slipped through our fingers time and again. So”—he visibly hesitates—“thanks for that.”

I survey him critically, gaugin’ him for sincerity, but his gratitude seems legitimate. “That’s always been somethin’ I’ll never fuckin’ partake in.”

His mouth presses thin, and he gives a slow nod. “You might not be as bad as I thought, Hernández.”

A harsh laugh breaks free. “Can’t go soft on me, Nando. Wouldn’t be as much fun without you givin’ me shit.”

He leans a shoulder against the doorjamb, his features turnin’ thoughtful. “I might be able to overlook the other stuff if you let me in on future trafficking info.”

I raise a brow. “You proposin’ a partnership?”

He shrugs. “Let’s just say I’ve been reassessing some shit in my life.” A hard glint enters his gaze. “I’m not saying I approve of everything you do, but you might not be as bad as I thought.”

It’s not every day I’m stunned speechless, but he’s gone and done it. The asshole has the audacity to wink at me before he disappears from sight.

Of course, I’m not granted a reprieve, ’cause a second later, Gordo haunts my damn doorway. He makes a show of scannin’ the entirety of my office. “This month’s family reunion’s over, I take it?”

I shoot up from my chair, round the desk, and stomp toward him. Grabbin’ hold of the heavy door, I slam it closed in his face.

Gordo’s laughter travels beneath the door, tauntin’ me as I stride back to my desk. I stop halfway, though, and grab that particular framed photo of Lola and me and place it on my desk.

Then I get back to work.