Page 16 of Deadly Lies

I wrapped my arms around my body, my hands shaking with anger.

I forced myself to get up off the hotel bed and walk over to the minibar. A shot of whiskey was what I needed. Maybe then I could calm down my anxiety.

What had I just done? Had I pushed away the only person I was close to? Shut him out like I’d shut out every other person in my life?

How could he not see I was trying to help? I knew he was in complete agony and couldn’t think straight, but I wasn’t the enemy. I was an ally. And I was in no way, shape or form responsible for Sienna’s disappearance. I knew he would regret those words later. And I would forgive him.

But there was no way I could let this theory go. None. I believed in my gut that Joaquín and Tiffany held the answers to where Sienna was.

And I had just bet my relationship, or whatever you called it, with Mitch on this theory.

But if my hunch could lead to Sienna, then it would all be worth it.

9

Mia

I AWOKE BEFORE DAWN AND snuck out of the hotel room, leaving a sleepy Ashley behind. I knew she wanted to see Joaquín, confront him about her suspicions about Tiffany possibly being alive. She wanted answers. But she didn’t deserve them since her fuckup not checking the logs could’ve proved his innocence. And he would never ever, ever tell her anything.

Hell, he probably wouldn’t tell me.

But that was fine. I knew that. I accepted that. If he was lying to me, he had a damn good reason. A good reason for ruining my life, stealing my son, lying about raping me, making me hate the only person in the world who I had trusted.

My brother.

And he would only do all that…if he was trying to protect me.

I was going mad with conspiracy theories. But today I hoped, I prayed, that I would get some answers.

I was first in line at the gate at San Quentin for visiting hours. No one would get in front of me. I would see my brother. And if that girl who resembled Tiffany was here again, I would confront her.

The female guard made me fill out a form that I had practically memorized at this point. She patted me down to make sure I didn’t have any weapons, contraband, or drugs on me. I was clean. She escorted me to the room where I waited to see my brother.

And waited.

And fucking waited.

What if he refused my visit, like he’d done when he was awaiting trial?

After an agonizing forty-five minutes, the heavy steel doors swung open.

Four minutes later, my brother appeared.

I gasped when I saw him. He actually looked good, better than he had since the last time I’d seen him. He was twice the size he’d been when he was a Navy SEAL—something that I could hardly believe was possible. Though, I guess he had little else to do but work out.

But the thing that stood out to me most was his eyes.

They had always been sad. But this time, they looked brighter. Maybe it was my delusions, but he almost seemed…hopeful.

How could he be hopeful?

Maybe now that Tiffany is in contact with him, he knows he will be exonerated soon.

As he sat down in the seat before me, I noticed one other thing.

He was carrying a bible.

What the fuck? Mind blown.