Page 133 of Unspoken Lies

“Can I help you?” an older woman asks.

“Yes, I’m looking for Rachel. Is she busy?” I ask.

“She doesn’t work here,” she says coldly.

Blinking, I glance down at myself and ask myself why she’d say that. I’m wearing a long sleeved t-shirt, nice jeans, and boots. Yet, from the outside, I can admit that I have a very gruff and hard demeanor. I probably won’t ever lose it unfortunately.

“I think you may have misunderstood,” I say kindly as Lili stands next to me with a surprised expression. “Liliana and I are her partners. We just got home from a work trip and wanted to surprise her. You’re welcome to check with her. My name is Nacio.”

The woman disappears into the shop and Liliana looks up at me.

“I think we scared her,” she says. “I’m glad that Rachel has someone watching out for her. It makes me feel better about her working here.”

“Hey,” our girl says with a wide grin, walking out from the back to see us.

Not being above fucking with her boss who is watching us, I pull her into my arms. “Hey, little sister,” I growl, kissing her hard.

Her boss doesn’t know us, and it’s a perfectly harmless thing. Rachelle clings to me as I kiss her, practically melting into my arms.

“You really need to stop calling me that,” she says, her eyes hooded.

“Your boss told us you weren’t here,” I say with a shrug as Liliana steals her away to greet her. Rachelle’s cheeks are pink by the end of the kiss, leaving me grinning.

“I’m sorry,” her boss says, walking over. “I’m Brea. I also am fiercely protective of Rachel. I’ve missed having her back, and you two are a little scary.”

“Is it odd that I think that’s why I feel the safest with them?” Rachelle jokes. “There are very few people who could get past them.”

“That’s fair,” Brea accepts. “You have another client in twenty minutes, Rachel. Take a break.”

“Should we go outside to chat?” she asks.

“Show us the store,” Liliana says instead. She’s up to something. Lili wants the best for Rachelle and I. She’s been very adamant about it. I wonder if there’s cameras in the store that’ll alert the guys that we’re here.

“Okay,” Rachelle says, smiling as she begins to walk down an aisle. “Did you just get back?”

“We did. Dad hit a wall in his investigation,” I state cryptically, knowing she’ll understand as she glances back at me. “Lili and I didn’t want to stay away any longer.”

“I missed you too,” she says. I can see shadows in her eyes, and I frown. “Nothing happened before you start stomping around like a caveman, big brother.”

Unable to help myself, I snicker at her. “Oh yeah, I missed my brat,” I say. “Are you still cramping?”

Rachelle looks at me blankly for a second before her eyes widen in understanding. “You saw the boxes in the bathroom,” she says, nodding. “I’m done with my period. The guys were very supportive throughout it and even skipped work when I felt really awful.”

“They skipped work?” Liliana asks, shocked.

“We can be good humans occasionally,” Jared says, appearing from around the corner. Jesus, it’s like just talking about them makes them show up. Brea either told him we were here or there are cameras in the shop. “I also take excellent care of my wife.”

“You’re really milking that, huh?” I ask, annoyed.

“Oh yeah,” Rachelle says, amused. “Just as much as you enjoyed calling me ‘little sister’ earlier.”

“You can’t do that, Ignacio,” Jared groans.

“I’m pretty sure Brea would cut someone for Rachel,” I say, easily bouncing between her names. “Are you worried about your employees?”

“No, at least not her,” Jared grumbles. “Do you want to see the club or are you going to be an asshole?”

“I can be both,” I state smugly. “I have a couple more minutes before she has a reading.”