Lie to Me Spin-off: Tell Me Lies

My body went rigid as my father’s words hit me like a blaring siren.

“Mariana, this is a good thing. Braga is a good man,” my father continued, seemingly unaware of the panic attack I was experiencing.

A shiver of fear ran down my spine.

I saw his jaw tighten.

“You were older than your mother when we met,” 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 wasn’t doing it out of love. He knew the importance of keeping me, his only child, his heir, around. If I couldn’t take over the business, he’d find another use for me. As he was doing now.

“Besides, it’s safer for you to be wed soon,” he added, his lips twisted in a mocking smile.

My father’s health had been declining rapidly over the past year after he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. I’d noticed him forgetting things and mixing up words. He did his best to hide it from his men, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before he couldn’t hide it anymore. The only people who knew about his condition were me, his doctor, and our housekeeper and nanny, Luana, who’d 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.

“Pai, give me a few more years,” I pleaded. “When I turn twenty-one we can discuss it again.”

His large hand slammed down on the desk, making Luana jump. I’d grown used to my father’s sudden outbursts of temper and stayed well out of his reach. But that wasn’t always possible.

“You don’t have a few more years,” he retorted, his eyes narrowing on mine as if he could force his will into me. “When the other bosses find out about my condition, they’ll try to take what’s mine. Including you.”

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.

“Listen, Mari,” he said, taking my trembling hand in his. “You’re a good girl. I’m only trying to protect you. Braga has promised me to do the same.” 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.

“Good.” He turned to Luana. “Get her dressed. Braga is coming for dinner tonight.”

I gasped.

“Tonight?” I squeaked.

His eyes narrowed on me again.

“It’s been arranged. He has asked to meet you before we formally sign over any business.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but his glare made me close it again.

“Come on, Mari.” Luana took me by the shoulders and led me out of the office, away from my father’s wrath.

“Are you out of your goddamned mind?”

I gripped the phone in my hand, grinding my teeth at my brother’s 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 father’s 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. That’s 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 father’s 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 didn’t form a relationship until many years after our father died. Until things started getting messy and Roman was forced to step in. That’s where I came in. I knew my little brother, with his pretty face and celebrity life back in the US, wasn’t cut out for this life. That’s why he ran away to America when he had the chance. He built his life there, and now he was getting married. I couldn’t 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.

He’d 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 father’s worst enemies to secure a large chunk of the trade that Soares owned that would significantly expand our organization.

“It’s a good idea. She’s his only child. He agreed to sign over all the routes to us,” I explained, trying to keep my voice steady. “No one would question it if I marry his daughter. It would make us unstoppable.”

“It would make you a target, Anton,” Roman countered, his voice rising. “Both you and the girl.”

“You let me worry about that, maninho. How’s my sobrinho?” I asked, changing the subject to his favorite topic.

He let out a frustrated sigh, knowing exactly what I was doing.

“Valentim is fine,” he said. “He’s growing so fast.”

“Glad to hear it.”

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.

“Give Sloane my love.” I told my brother just before hanging up the call. “What’s up?” I asked Santiago, my eyes on him.

He didn’t waste any time.

“There was a break-in at the warehouse in Santos.”

“How many?”

“Five,” Santiago replied, knowing I was asking how many men we’d lost.

“And the product?”

“Gone,” he said, then moved closer, a small device in his hand. “They tried to wipe the cameras. But they missed one.” He dropped the flash drive on my desk. “I think you already know who’s behind this, but it doesn’t hurt to have concrete evidence.”

I nodded and plugged in the drive as he turned to leave.

“We have a meeting at the Soares Estate tonight,” I told him absently, clicking on the folder that popped up on my computer.

Santiago spun back around, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Are you really going to marry the Soares girl?”

I glared at him.

“Are you questioning my decisions now, Santi?”

He raised a hand and shook his head.

“Did you even look at the file I gave you on her?”

I steepled my fingers on the desk.

“What does it matter?” I asked sarcastically. “The girl is a means to an end. A pawn to be moved around a chessboard.”

I watched as his expression changed. He looked at me curiously.

“Look at the file, Boss,” he told me right before he turned around and walked out.