Page 19 of Tainted Truth

I hope I’m not making a mistake . . . here goes nothing.

Ignoring Zane’s warning, I reach across the table and shake Mateo’s hand. “Spencer Gray. I’m an artist in Chelsea.” I give him a flirty smile to add fuel to the fire.

Recognition dawns on his face. “Ah. So, you’re the infamous girlfriend.”

My heart skips a beat.

Is there anyone they haven’t told?

Well, Zane and Rio did declare themselves my boyfriends at the hospital, but we’ve never discussed it. I naïvely thought the topic would float away, but clearly it hasn’t.

Internally, I shake off my overthinking and go back to my attempt at flirting.

“It seems I’m at a disadvantage, Mateo. You know me, but I don’t know much about you.” I twirl a lock of hair around my finger.

That’s what flirty girls do, right?

Yeah, in 80s movies.

“Spencer,” Zane growls in warning. Asher keeps a passive look on his face but grabs his Corona in a death grip. Rio ignores his food and silently observes the scene in front of him with his hands balled into fists.

“My profession isn’t nearly as creative as yours. I’m in to . . .” He picks up his beer, swirls it like he’s mixing expensive wine, and takes a sip. “Let’s call it sales, customer service, and real estate.” He gives me a wink and leans back in his chair. His eyes subtly wander to Carmen, but she ignores him as she takes small bites of her food.

Diego watches everything with keen intuition that reminds me of Zane.

“You mean you’re a weapons and drug dealer who has a slew of prostitutes working for him, and you have the occasional turf war.” Zane scoffs.

Mateo shrugs a shoulder. “Technically that last part falls under Diego’s purview.”

I ignore both of their comments and pretend that everything they just said doesn’t make me shiver. I’m doing my girl Carmen a solid while at the same time getting payback of my own.

“Seems like you’re a busy man with little time to play. Must be lonely.”

Mateo leans towards me with his elbows on the table. “Maybe you can make it less lonely, darling.”

There’s a crash to my left, and I jump in my seat.

“The fuck she will!” Zane shoves his chair back, and it topples over. Rio’s family stares at Zane like they’ve never seen this side of him. Mateo and Gabriel smirk while Diego keeps on observing.

Zane makes his way to me and hauls me out of my chair.

“What the hell are you doing?” I shoot at Zane as he grabs me by my hand and drags me across the yard. Everyone stares in disbelief, and my stomach drops.

Zane storms into the house with Rio hot on our heels. “We need to have a little talk.”

“Like hell we do!” I shout. He takes me the same way Carmen did, and as we enter the bathroom, Rio shuts the door behind us. The bathroom isn’t small, but it’s not huge. With the three of us in here, the space is cramped.

I lean against the sink and glower at the two of them. “Okay, we’re here. What now?”

“What the fuck was all that about?” Zane questions.

I cross my arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Esas son mentiras,” Rio chimes in.That’s a lie.

Zane points in the direction of the backyard. “Flirting with Mateo as if we’re not sitting right there. Seriously?”

I shrug a shoulder like it’s no big deal which only angers Zane more.

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