Lie to Me Spin-off: Tell Me Lies
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Shala Mungroo
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1,0M
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47
Chapter 1
FOUR YEARS AGO
MARIANA
My body went rigid as my fatherâs words hit me like a blaring siren.
No. No way.
âMariana, this is a good thing. Braga is a good man,â my father continued, seemingly unaware of the panic attack I was experiencing.
Iâd never met Braga, but the mere thought of marrying a stranger made me feel sick. And not just any stranger. A boss.
A shiver of fear ran down my spine.
âPai, Iâm only seventeen. Iâm not ready to marry anyone.â I tried to keep my voice steady. My father was known for his temper, and the last thing I needed was for him to lose it while I was trying to reason with him.
I saw his jaw tighten.
âYou were older than your mother when we met,â he said, his voice harsh, his fists clenched.
My shoulders slumped at the mention of my mother. Kelly Soares had died four years ago when a bomb intended for my father exploded in the car she was driving to pick me up from school. Her usual car had a flat tire that day. Since then, my father never let me go anywhere without at least two bodyguards. But I knew he wasnât doing it out of love. He knew the importance of keeping me, his only child, his heir, around. If I couldnât take over the business, heâd find another use for me. As he was doing now.
âBesides, itâs safer for you to be wed soon,â he added, his lips twisted in a mocking smile.
My fatherâs health had been declining rapidly over the past year after he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Iâd noticed him forgetting things and mixing up words. He did his best to hide it from his men, but I knew it wouldnât be long before he couldnât hide it anymore. The only people who knew about his condition were me, his doctor, and our housekeeper and nanny, Luana, whoâd been with us since I was five. She was in the room with us, wringing her hands and trying to be invisible when she heard the news of my impending marriage to the new boss.
âPai, give me a few more years,â I pleaded. âWhen I turn twenty-one we can discuss it again.â
His large hand slammed down on the desk, making Luana jump. Iâd grown used to my fatherâs sudden outbursts of temper and stayed well out of his reach. But that wasnât always possible.
âYou donât have a few more years,â he retorted, his eyes narrowing on mine as if he could force his will into me. âWhen the other bosses find out about my condition, theyâll try to take whatâs mine. Including you.â
My heart pounded faster, knowing he was right.
My father moved from his desk to sit in the chair next to me, where I sat with my head bowed.
âListen, Mari,â he said, taking my trembling hand in his. âYouâre a good girl. Iâm only trying to protect you. Braga has promised me to do the same.â He meant protect his business. Not me.
Even as tears welled up in my eyes, I nodded my silent acceptance of my fate and pulled my hand away.
He patted my hands, now clasped in my lap.
âGood.â He turned to Luana. âGet her dressed. Braga is coming for dinner tonight.â
I gasped.
âTonight?â I squeaked.
His eyes narrowed on me again.
âItâs been arranged. He has asked to meet you before we formally sign over any business.â
I opened my mouth to argue, but his glare made me close it again.
âCome on, Mari.â Luana took me by the shoulders and led me out of the office, away from my fatherâs wrath.
ANTON
âAre you out of your goddamned mind?â
I gripped the phone in my hand, grinding my teeth at my brotherâs words. Technically, he was my half-brother, as we only shared a father. A father who never acknowledged me, forcing me to grow up in the slums while Roman lived a life of luxury: private school, money, and recently, control of our fatherâs empire. An empire he signed over to me a year ago to keep his beloved wife safe.
I, on the other hand, joined my first cartel when I was thirteen and quickly climbed the ranks until I became the enforcer everyone feared. Thatâs what happens when you have nothing to lose. You do the jobs no one else wants to do. Some might say I was trying to get my fatherâs attention. Maybe if he saw what I was capable of, he would acknowledge me. Put me to work for him. But that never happened.
Roman and I always knew about each other. But we didnât form a relationship until many years after our father died. Until things started getting messy and Roman was forced to step in. Thatâs where I came in. I knew my little brother, with his pretty face and celebrity life back in the US, wasnât cut out for this life. Thatâs why he ran away to America when he had the chance. He built his life there, and now he was getting married. I couldnât be angry with him, though, because he gave me what I always wanted. Besides, working with him over the last few years actually brought us closer to a point where we respected each other. Trusted each other. Where I could now call him my brother.
Heâd just called to ask me to be his best man when I gave him the news that I was considering marrying the daughter of one of our fatherâs worst enemies to secure a large chunk of the trade that Soares owned that would significantly expand our organization.
âItâs a good idea. Sheâs his only child. He agreed to sign over all the routes to us,â I explained, trying to keep my voice steady. âNo one would question it if I marry his daughter. It would make us unstoppable.â
âIt would make you a target, Anton,â Roman countered, his voice rising. âBoth you and the girl.â
âYou let me worry about that, maninho. Howâs my sobrinho?â I asked, changing the subject to his favorite topic.
He let out a frustrated sigh, knowing exactly what I was doing.
âValentim is fine,â he said. âHeâs growing so fast.â
âGlad to hear it.â
A knock sounded on my office door just before my right-hand man, Santiago, walked in, his expression serious. He had the build of a linebacker, with jet-black hair and matching dark eyes. Like me, he wore a dark suit that covered the tattoos and scars underneath.
âGive Sloane my love.â I told my brother just before hanging up the call. âWhatâs up?â I asked Santiago, my eyes on him.
He didnât waste any time.
âThere was a break-in at the warehouse in Santos.â
âHow many?â
âFive,â Santiago replied, knowing I was asking how many men weâd lost.
âAnd the product?â
âGone,â he said, then moved closer, a small device in his hand. âThey tried to wipe the cameras. But they missed one.â He dropped the flash drive on my desk. âI think you already know whoâs behind this, but it doesnât hurt to have concrete evidence.â
I nodded and plugged in the drive as he turned to leave.
âWe have a meeting at the Soares Estate tonight,â I told him absently, clicking on the folder that popped up on my computer.
Santiago spun back around, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
âAre you really going to marry the Soares girl?â
I glared at him.
âAre you questioning my decisions now, Santi?â
He raised a hand and shook his head.
âDid you even look at the file I gave you on her?â
I steepled my fingers on the desk.
âWhat does it matter?â I asked sarcastically. âThe girl is a means to an end. A pawn to be moved around a chessboard.â
I watched as his expression changed. He looked at me curiously.
âLook at the file, Boss,â he told me right before he turned around and walked out.
