Page 72 of Liar

I land so hard on my stomach the impact knocks the wind out of me. But it’s the hush that spreads across the auditorium that brings me to tears.

Eduardo speaks. “I’m sorry, Luciana. I swear to God, if there’s any way I can ever make this up to you ...”

Pandemonium erupts.

Someone pulls the curtain closed.

And then Eduardo shreds what’s left of me into pieces. “But I couldn’t defy my uncle. You can understand that, can’t you ... tamale girl?”

21

Ilimp off stage and head for the emergency door before anyone can reach me. My palms are bloody, thighs scraped, and my cheek is throbbing likeel Diablopunched me in my already battered face. Nothing’s broken, I think, except my dreams.

And trust.

I push my hip into the emergency door and force it open but when I step outside, Javier is waiting for me.

“Boss said you’d take the back exit.” His wild eyes skim over me. “Are you hurt?”

I swallow hard. Yes, I want to respond. Hurt. Humiliated. Devastated. “Tell him I’m fine.”

“He’s waiting in a car around the corner. He sent me to escort you there. Ignacio is in attendance tonight. It wouldn’t be beneficial for boss or you if Ignacio saw you together.”

Ignacio. The used-car salesman.

Eduardo’s uncle.

A man with a gripe who ordered his nephew to ruin my life. Because that’s what happened, that nod Eduardo exchanged. Eduardo tried to warn me—hell, he cried cowardly, guilty tears throughout our performance—but I brushed it off. It was probably too late to convince him to defy his uncle.

“I’m feeling under the weather.” To say the least. “Hayden and I can catch up another time.”

Javier looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Then faster than I give him credit for, I’m hauled into his arms.

“No. I can’t see him.” Not like this. Not when my heart is a fragile desert lily after a sandstorm, my petals, my pride hanging on for dear life.

“I’m under orders.”

He begins to walk.

“Tell him you couldn’t find me. Or that I ran the other way.”

He rolls his eyes.

“What could he possibly want with me now?”

“I shouldn’t tell you this. He lost his shit when that fucker didn’t catch you.”

“He did?”

Javier nods. “If that partner of yours wasn’t immediately surrounded by Ignacio’s men, I guarantee he’d be dead.”

We turn the corner and sure enough, a large, black sedan is waiting curbside. I’m still trying to process when Javier sets me onto my feet.

“It sucks what happened. But for what it’s worth, up until the ... um ... end, I’ve never enjoyed a dance performance before.” His cheeks flush. “You were—”

The back door opens, silencing him. “Get inside the car, Luciana,” Hayden orders in a firm tone. Not at all sympathetic. Not the voice of a man who just lost his shit.

Javier moves in closer and whispers, “Be careful with him.”