Page 13 of Unspoken Lies

“Care to share with the class?” I ask, swallowing hard at my father’s glower.

Maybe I’m pushing my luck just a little.

“Photography and business is what you’re going to be majoring in,” he says. “You need to find your passion again, and Santa Barbara is beautiful. There’s beaches, cliffs, and rainy weather. It’ll almost be like living in Portland.”

Hmmph. I highly doubt that, Dad.

“For the record, I’m going for the promise of killing people,” I say wryly. “Where am I living? Please tell me not the student dorms. I don’t think I could deal with roommates.”

Mr. Emil snorts to himself. “No,mija.I don’t see that going well either. Pretty pink California princesses aren’t really your vibe,” he says.

Shaking my head, I cross my arms over my chest as I get comfortable on the sofa. I feel like a child who is in trouble right now, and there will be a lot to plan as they pace.

There’s got to be more than they’re telling me. The breadcrumbs of information are making me insane, so I take a breath and wait silently for them to tell me what I need to know.

Argh, this level of discipline sucks, but it’s necessary. Sit in the silence and wait, and then wait some more.

“I bought you a house near the school,” Dad says. “You’ll be able to commute in and also will be near where Maurice and his men are grouped. They work under Emil’s orders, but without the boss hovering over them…”

“Sometimes they stray from what their orders are,” Mr. Emil says, rubbing his face tiredly. I bet he’s not sleeping well either. “I need the eyes of someone that I completely trust, Liliana. I’ll give you the opportunity to learn everything about the major andminor players working up there for me, and then you’re on your own.”

“We will expect updates, Lili,” Dad says. “You also have to leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” I yelp. “Seriously? You couldn’t give a girl a little more of a head start? When does the school year start anyway?”

“Three days,” Dad replies. “Start packing.”

“This is fucking crazy,” I grumble, pushing myself up to stand.

“Here’s what you need to start learning,” Mr. Emil says, handing me a flash drive. “Don’t lose that.”

“I won’t,” I sigh.

“Don’t get soft,” Dad calls as I start to walk. “Keep up your running and exercise.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I agree. I have abs of steel now, and I’m still running with Dad and his guards every morning, regardless of how much sleep I get.

College, ha. That’s rich. I’ve lost my sanity by this point. The summer just let it dwindle away until there was nothing left. I’m unsure that this school is ready for this version of me, and Mr. Emil’s men better not fuck him over or I’ll make sure that the very walls run with blood.

Stalking across the house, I climb the stairs to begin packing. I don’t need much outside of my clothes and weapons. Everything else I can buy in Santa Barbara.

I’m parkedat this adorable house, wondering if my father and Mr. Emil were smoking pot while they were looking for homes for me.

Picking up the phone, I gaze at it before calling my father.

“Am I being pranked?” I ask when he picks up. “5678 Los Olvios Road is the address, right? Dad, there’s a picket fence!”

“It’s not white,” Dad says dismissively. He’s correct, it is a deep, rich brown, but still. “It’s close to the school, has its own backyard, and is far enough away from neighbors that you’ll be able to move without worrying about people seeing a little blood after an execution. Have you been inside yet?”

“No, I’m still sitting in the car, parked on the street in shock,” I grumble.

“There’s a secret room for an office, a basement, and Mr. Emil made you a panic room off the closet of your room,” he says, trying to sweeten my mood.

Until now, I knew more about the men I’m babysitting than where I’m living.

Truthfully, I’m anxious about living alone. It’s why I spent more nights with Rachelle than at my house when my father was away. I also am incredibly angry that I didn’t insist on spending the night in my panic room rather than at Mr. Emil’s home the night she was taken.

The guys got in without any effort, and stole her away after drugging Ignacio and I. Thank God that the effects didn’t last nearly as long on Nacio, but it still wasn’t enough to save Rachelle’s life.