Page 21 of Liar

“How do you know Ignacio?” he grinds out.

My eyes flash wide. He doesn’t even try hiding it; he witnessed what happened earlier and he’s not happy about it.

“What do you care?” I challenge.

“It delayed my toast.”

I huff. “Just like I’m delaying the swearing in? Shouldn’t you be in the other room hearing innocent, defenseless men pledging loyalty to you? Why waste time in here, playing games with me?”

He leans in, to the point our lips almost touch. “Is that what I’m doing?” If I shift up onto my toes, my lips will brush against his.

“Be thankful that you’re young.”

He’s taunting me about my age, like I’m some dimwitted girl, a puppet on his strings. “Old enough to realize you manipulated Diego. Admit it, you wanted Arturo dead. You sent your Lobos to find my brother, stirred the pot, then waited for him to do your dirty work by getting rid of a rival boss.”

“Accusations like that can get you killed.”

I swallow hard. With him this close, I forget how dangerous he is and the power he wields over everyone. “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“You need a lesson in obedience.”

I struggle to distance myself, but there’s nowhere to go. I settle for turning my head. “Diego joining a cartel is lesson enough.”

“He has no choice.”

“You made sure of that,” I snap.

“Do you really believe Ignacio and Marifer won’t terminate your brother if he’s not protected by me? Diego killed a cartel boss. He’s a threat. A symbol of their vulnerability.”

I hadn’t considered that.

“No one will fuck with a Lobo. Not if they want to remain in power.” He steps back and the tension between us seems to fade. “Not directly anyway. He’ll have to watch his back.”

He moves across the room. “Diego should be back from his bathroom break by now.”

I wince. Yes, he heard our conversation, right down to my lie.

“Keep away from Ignacio.”

“That’s an order I won’t have any difficulty obeying,” I shoot back.

“And you will obey it. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll do as I say.”

I clench my fists together, wanting to give him a piece of my mind, yet slightly intimidated by his cold, hard tone.

“One more thing,” he adds, his eyes piercing me like daggers, yet his words sounding deceptively soft. “Keep your distance. Understand? If you don’t, you won’t like the consequences. That’s a promise I can keep.”

Mouth wide, I stare at the closing door. Wondering how I’ll manage avoiding the man who’s about to become my brother’s boss.

5

The streets are so quiet you can hear the sizzle of Señora Sanchez’s tortilla griddle from all the way down the street. She likes to sit outside when she prepares them, says the fresh air makes them taste better. Or at least she thinks it does—it’s been so long since she’s been able to cook outside.

Until now.

Hayden has accomplished the unthinkable.

The buzz about town is that a treaty has been signed between Z22, Sureños, and Lobos. Territories divvied up. Assets and business dealings agreed upon by each cartel. Egos tempered. An arrangement was even made about managing disputes verbally, without resorting to the common practices of hits and retaliations.