Page 127 of Liar

I’ve been preparing for this moment this entire year and didn’t even know it.

Actions have consequences.

“Five!”

Ignacio is about to get what he deserves.

“Four!”

I move forward from tree to tree until I’m where I need to be. I raise my gun. I can’t help but glance at Hayden. Needing to see him. Needing him to understand how much I love him.

“Three! Two!”

Our eyes connect.

He immediately drops his gun, attempting to draw attention away from me. But that’s not how this is going to play out.

“Ignacio!” I call out. I need his bloated, puffy face looking directly at me for what I’m about to do. A bigger target.

He sees me, before the gun in my hand. “Tamale—”

One,I think, and pull the trigger.

Everything happens at once. Diego ducks his head. Ignacio freezes, a stunned expression passing over his miserable face before the bullet hits its mark, directly between his eyes, and steals his life from him. He falls to the ground in a slump.

And Hayden. Dios mío, Hayden.

He’s halfway across the street, mindless of the weapons directed at him. “Shoot her and my men will hunt you down. That’s a motherfucking promise.” But, as Hayden predicted, the Sureños lower their weapons. Not so loyal to that dirty cabrón, after all.

He reaches me, wraps his arms around me, and tugs me into a hug. I can feel his heart racing against me as he chants, “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

“Boss,” Diego calls out.

Hayden lifts his head.

“It’s time.”

The ground begins to shake, and the raging fire of vehicles pales in comparison to what happens next. With a BOOM that could be heard all the way in hell—the place Ignacio now resides— the warehouse explodes, sending flames shooting up toward the heavens.

Adios, tunnel.

Rot in hell, Ignacio.

And good riddance, tamale girl.

38

Hayden doesn’t say much on the helicopter flight home.

A doctor travels with us, who tends to Diego’s ear. “Just bullet burn,” I’ve been reassured. “No permanent damage.” I expect Diego will tease me about nearly killing him. But not now—he’s too wired up about what happened.

“You were right about them joining us,” he comments, his tone full of admiration as he addresses my husband.

Hayden doesn’t respond and vacillates between staring at me and looking out the window. I suppose he’s hyped up too, except deals with it differently than my brother and I do. But Diego should admire him—the Sureños did, after all, drop their weapons and pledge loyalty right there on the spot. The Lobos are stronger than ever, and the only cartel in town.

I don’t feel the slightest twinge of regret for taking Ignacio’s life. Matter of fact, I’ll sleep better at night knowing no more women will be victimized by him.

“I didn’t know you could shoot like that,” Javier murmurs, treating me like I’m some unicorn he’s happened to sit down next to.