Page 118 of Liar
Silence. Oh, no.
“You betrayed me.”
“I didn’t,” Eduardo squeals.
There’s a horrible sound of a fist connecting with flesh. “The Bastard claimed his favor from me. I kept out of his war with the Z22 because he protected our family’s honor. Your motherfucking honor. Now one shows up in Tijuana. The timing is odd, wouldn’t you say? Are you helping them?”
“No.”
“Why was there blood on your sheets? Why was your shirt sleeve on the floor next to it? What did that motherfucker do, tie you up, use your clothing to stop the bleeding, then take a motherfucking siesta?”
Another fist to flesh, this one causing Eduardo to cry out.
“I made you my spy. Asked you to get close to El Calaca and offer to help him in gathering supplies for the tunnel. Couldn’t do that right, could you? Be honest, did he beat your ass for messing up an order?”
“He never informed me that the lumber had arrived.”
“You’re a good thief, I’ll give you that. Marifer never suspected it was me who stole the money she needed to give to the Colombians. One rule in this business is that you don’t fuck over the Colombians. She’s lucky they didn’t kill her right then and there.
“I ruined my dance partner’s dreams because you demanded I do so.”
“That’s it, isn’t it? Is that clumsy puta why you’re helping the Lobos?” Ignacio snickers. “The one spreading her legs for the Bastard?”
I cringe. Not so much from his harsh assessment of me but from the vicious beating that follows.
“I asked you to be my eyes and ears here in Tijuana while I settled business back in Loreto. But come to find out, it’s your dick doing the thinking.” There’s a pause. “How did the Bastard learn about the tunnel, eh? You go behind my back? You run your lips about it?”
“No,” Eduardo gasps. “I wouldn’t betray you like that.”
“Someone did.”
“Why couldn’t you have left me be? I never asked to be a Sureño. All I wanted to do was dance.”
“Dance?” Ignacio screams.
“Yes, dance. I could have made a name for myself. I could have been something more than a cholo.” There’s unbridled disgust in Eduardo’s tone, out there for all to hear. Finally, Eduardo’s grown a pair of cojones. Finally, he’s standing up to his uncle. “But you and your petty gripes ruined everything. Now look at me. I’m nothing.”
Right then and there, I forgive Eduardo.
“And for helping the Lobos,” Ignacio growls like an animal, “you’re now nothing to me.”
A shot rings out, and I jump in my seat. Was that for Eduardo?
Footsteps approach. “You didn’t find him?”
“No, sir.”
My eyes connect with Javier’s, my panic mixed with grief.He shot his nephew, didn’t he?
“Fuck,” Ignacio curses. “He’s long gone by now. Come on.”
“What about him?” a Sureño asks.
“Grab his wallet and make it look like he was mugged.”
There’s a rustle sound then footsteps, that soon fade into the distance.
Javier motions for me to stay down while he peers over the steering wheel. A quick nod confirms the Sureños are gone. Without a word, he starts the car.
