Page 14 of Liar

“News?” I arch an eyebrow.

“It’s just about done, Luciana. We’re hunting down the Los Zetas boss, who might already have left town.”

“Diego will be home soon then?”

The men look at each other.

“Callhim. Tell him I will tend to Diego’s injuries myself.”

There’s a long pause. Too long.

I place my hand out, palm up. “Hand me my phone back.”

Offering me a pained expression, Javier shakes his head no. “I’ll call him for you, okay?” He shuffles away to make the call. Whispered words are spoken and then it ends.

“Well?”

“Diego is being cared for.”

I slip on my shoes, ignoring their panicked looks.

“Sorry, Luciana,” the Lobo just beyond the door apologizes. “Orders are to stay put until it’s safe.”

“And you always do what the Bastard says?”

“Well, yes,” a Lobo replies. “We swore an oath that we would.”

“It’s not such a hardship,” Javier softly adds, “following someone like him.”

“You respect him.”

“More so now than ever.”

I study Javier thoughtfully. The admiration in his tone is obvious, not that I need any more reason to be curious about their boss. “Because the Bastard escaped an ambush?”

The three of them exchange looks.

I place my hands on my hips and glare. “What am I missing?”

“The Lobos didn’t escape an ambush. It was a trap. We heard rumors the four cartels were plotting to take us out, now that the Bastard is disrupted the drug traffic headed north.”

“He orchestrated everything. A master manipulator.”

They grin at me, much like they would if this discussion was about Loreto’sfútbolclub’s World Cup win. “We were waiting for them.”

“And you almost ruined it.”

My spine stiffens. Javier shakes his head at the man, who offers a shrug in return before walking away to smoke a cigarette.

“Four cartels? Not three?”

“Diego took care of the Cobras for us. Arturo was always the smartest of the bunch.”

I bite my lip. Do I remind them that Diego killed Arturo for selfish reasons and not because of any directive from their boss? It’s obvious they hero-worship the Bastard, more than even my brother.

“Boss is brilliant but shrewd. If this were chess, he’d have each gang in check without them suspecting a thing.” Javier pauses, sobering. “Be careful around him. You’re young and beautiful ...” His cheeks redden, and I roll my eyes as he continues, “... and boss is as ruthless as they come.”

“After Diego returns, it’s unlikely I’ll have further contact with the man.”