Page 27 of Liar

“So, what’s that hound Ignacio’s agenda?” I hold up my hand. “Wait, let me guess. Harass every unmarried woman aged sixteen and up.”

Diego snorts. “Correct. But it’s wise not to underestimate him. Behind that robust figure lies a cunning mind. He might be a womanizing shit but he’s also all business. Those men who pledged allegiance to the Sureños? He made them buy their way into his crew.”

“His new pledges probably wish they’d picked a better boss.”

“Ignacio is money hungry. You never want to be indebted to that man. When he hands out favors, he expects to be paid back twice the amount and on demand. Even the stupidest pendejo knows that if he isn’t careful, Ignacio will bend him into any form he wants to. Rub Ignacio the wrong way, there will be hell to pay.”

My eyebrows raise. “You know a lot about him.”

“Boss makes it his business to learn everything there is about his enemies.”

Boss,not theBastard. I roll my bottom lip between my teeth. “Enemies?”

“Yeah, enemies. Everyone doesn’t get to live happily ever after in this town. You understand now why I want you far away from here? Eventually, one of the bosses will make a powerplay. You deserve more than what this place can ever offer.”

I think about the gun El Calaca had pointed at my head. But I can’t speak up. Not now. Not yet, with my brother so hell-bent on shipping me off to school.

“Your boss doesn’t have things under control?”

He chuckles. “I never said that.”

“And Marifer?”

“Quick to act, and she’ll be quick to fall.”

“Because she was born withoutunaverga?” I feel it’s my obligation as a woman to defend her. Like her or not, she is the unicorn in a zoo full of hungry bulls.

“Easy,tiger. You think I care if she has a dick or not? If Marifer were a better person, I’d speak kinder of her. Haven’t I always said if women ruled the world, we’d be in a better place.”

I smile at him. Diego might be a headstrong alpha but he’s also intelligent and perceptive. “Except no one suggests Ignacio keep his dick to himself. The way he bumps and grinds against anyone he can catch—”

“Mark my words. A woman will be the downfall of that pendejo.”

I laugh. “Perhaps Marifer will ruin him.”

“If only things were that simple, eh? Her problem is that she holds grudges. She’s furious at the Boss right now.”

My curiosity gets the best of me. “Really? Why?”

“I shouldn’t tell you this.”

“Must be juicy. Spill the beans.”

“At the initiation, she and the Boss ...” Either the expression on my face has caused him to stop or he’s struggling to find a delicate way of saying they fucked.

Or maybe it’s both?

I grit my teeth. What do I care if the Bastard and Marifer mate like wild rabbits? Their relationship doesn’t concern me. The Bastard warned me to stay away, and now I have even more reason for doing so. “Flirtation is the oldest trick in the book. The slightest female attention makes the strongest men turn weak. Your boss is no exception.”

I wince, hearing the bite in my last few words. Diego shoots me a curious look, not missing a trick.

“Marifer is fond of flaunting her assets.”

I liked him, then I didn’t, and now I really, really don’t. That’s all.

“Boss says she’s got the tongue of a viper.”

“He’d know,” I mutter.