Blood Ties (Dinero de Sangre #2) - Lana Sky Page 0,12

have me put my faith in him. I am that repulsive to him.

The thought stings, but he never takes the chance to drive the truth home, right when it will hurt me the most. When I look up, he’s watching me, his expression devoid of any hint of emotion. He might as well be stone.

“You know what I want,” he says.

And maybe I do.

“Pia,” I rasp. Drawing my knees to my chest, I hunch over myself, suddenly aware of how naked I am in comparison to him. “You think she’s dead, and you think I know where some file my father had is. Because you are her brother.”

Navid.

Surprisingly, he doesn’t deny it outright. He cocks his head as if weighing my word choice. Apparently, I got some details wrong.

“You know where she is,” he says softly. “Maybe you think you don’t, but somewhere in that vapid, fucking brain is the answer. I’m sure of that.”

“You’re wrong,” I say. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my voice sound so hollow. So hopeless.

Can I even blame him?

I could play the victim and ignore the things I’ve done to Pia. I may not have killed her, but I certainly betrayed her. I conspired against her, and I shunned her without hearing her side.

Though who could blame me?

She slept with my father and used me to get to him, just as Domino seems determined to use me. And my father…

That’s all my life has been—being used, and used, and used.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Domino demands.

I’m staggering to my feet, heading for the balcony despite him moving to stand in front of me.

“I’m going to see if Jaguar is still here and beg him to take me with him—”

“Don’t!” He snatches my arm, yanking me back. “You have no fucking idea who he is. You think he’ll be your knight in shining armor? You are dead wrong, Ada-Maria.”

“I don’t care.”

And I don’t.

“Wait—” He tightens his grip when I attempt to take another step.

“Why should I?” I pull back to see his face, but I’m not prepared for the expression I find. Not one of hate. Instead, his eyes are narrowed, his head tilted as though he’s contemplating a puzzle he only has seconds to solve.

“I want to find Pia’s body,” he admits, pulling me even closer.

Not because he truly thinks I can break away, but because he’s that worried about being overheard. Whatever he’s saying, he does so while being fully cautious of Jaguar, despite the other man being yards away outside of the house.

“Help me, and you will have my protection. Trust me, it’s a better offer than anything else you’ll be presented with.”

“I…” Don’t know is my first impulsive reply. Truly I don’t. If Pia is dead, she could be anywhere. Besides, Domino has worked with my father; if anyone would have an idea of where he’d bury the body of a dead girl over a decade ago, it would be him.

And yet, something makes me swallow those words before I can fully voice them.

He means what he said to me—you will have my protection. It could be a lie, or another mind game. In the grand scheme, he could just sell me to Jaguar once he’s through with me and never look back.

But he’s right.

I don’t have a better option.

Why not get some leverage over him, no matter how fragile, and bide my time until a better opportunity comes along?

“Jaguar is a dangerous man, Ada-Maria,” he warns, still speaking in an undertone, his jaw practically pressed against mine. “You have no idea what he’s capable of, the things he will do to you if he gets the chance. I am your only hope of surviving with that pretty little body intact.”

“Fine.” It pains me to choke down a nasty retort and face him while keeping my expression blank.

He’s wary, his eyes slits as they scan my gaze, hunting for any sign of deceit. I don’t know if I aim to reassure him, or I merely have to hear myself say it out loud to believe it.

“I’ll play your game if you promise to protect me. I’ll do what I can to help you find Pia.”

That phrasing makes it not an outright lie.

But he didn’t miss it. “You lead me to Pia’s body if you want a damn thing from me,” he warns. “In the meantime, you prance around here like a happy little cum whore, and you let Jaguar and his spy believe that you are oblivious to everything. I