Page 117 of Liar
I bite my lip in indecision.
Javier grabs hold of my arm.
My phone vibrates from where I dropped it on my lab. “Yes,” I whisper.
“He’s safe.”
“Are you sure?” I demand. How could Hayden be so certain?
“Drive away from the hotel now. He’ll meet you three blocks to the north.”
“Diego will?”
“Yes. Hand the phone to Javier.”
I gasp, ignoring his order. “You spoke to Diego? Where is he?”
“Hiding. Which is what you must do—”
“They’re exiting.” Javier hits my thigh, and I immediately slip down in my seat.
“Hayden,” I breathe. But I don’t dare say anything else. Not with Ignacio just inside the hotel entryway. He hovers there, like he’s waiting for something.
“Are the car windows up?”
“Yes.”
“And you have your gun?”
“I do.”
“Then listen carefully. If Ignacio sees you, be prepared to act quickly. Shoot a bullet to break the glass then keep firing at his stomach until you kill him. My men will do the same. Do you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Now pass the phone to Javier.”
My throat hitches. “I love you, Hayden.”
“I know you do.”
I blink. He knows? What about saying it back? Dios, am I going to die of frustration because of this man. I’m only too eager to hand the phone off, yet still listen to his instructions and retrieve my gun from my bag.
Whatever Hayden is saying has Javier nodding in agreement.
Shouts erupt and then Ignacio’s voice rings out. “Did you help that motherfucking Lobo?”
Eduardo begins to stutter. “One minute, he was out cold. The next ... he attacked me. He broke a rib, I know it.”
Diego? Of course, it must be.
“Where is he?”
“He tied me up then ran off. He could be anywhere by now.”
I sink lower in my seat as Ignacio passes the side window. If he turns around, and looks down and into the car ...
“What did you tell him?”
