Chapter 324
Elena
“Tiago?” I lowered my voice as I was headed for the gates.
“Ti-”
I could barely finish my sentence as a hand had already covered my mouth. “Not so loud!” Tiago whispered in my ear as he pulled me to the back.
Seconds later, he finally removed his hand from my lips. I created a distance between us and looked at his face. “T-Tiago.” I smiled awkwardly, still unsure about why he would force me out of my house in the middle of the night.
If anything, he seemed even worse than he did before. I shamelessly observed the bags and dark circles around his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. What did he even want from me?
“S-so, I’m leaving tomorrow,” Tiago spoke after a silence. I blinked my eyes a few times, unsure of what to do. “Yes, I know.”
“So why did you want to see me?” I asked, “Do you want me to get Ma-”
“No!”
I flinched at Tiago’s cold tone. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you…not again.” He took a breath. That’s right. This wasn’t the first time.
I carefully moved my hand to Tiago’s check and looked into his eyes, showing him he could trust me. “It’s okay. I’m here to help.” I nodded desperately.
“I know, and I trust you-that’s why I came to you,” Tiago said.
“Do you want to tell me something?”
Tiago’s eyes turned big as he shook his head. “Is Marvin inside?” He asked in a hurry.
“Yes.”
“Is he alone?”
“No. He’s with Lucas and Panther-”
Tiago stepped back, lowering his head. “He can’t be here. He can’t be here!” He paced back and forth. He slammed his fist against his forehead and released a frustrated sigh. “This was a bad idea. What am I doing?” He muttered. “He’s going to hurt me.”
“Tiago, who can’t be here?” I pushed for answers. “Is it about Marvin?”
“No.”
“Lucas?”
“No.”
“
Tiago stopped in his steps and shot me an angry look. “It’s Victor, isn’t it?” I asked. “Why can’t you just give me a name and tell me what this is about?”
I waited for an answer. “I-I remember you telling me something about you doing something Marvin can never know?”
“Is someone in the house threatening you?”
“All I did was follow instructions. I
“Tiago, kill who?”
and it all started to make sense. Marvin claimed he went to prison for something
about?” I asked, stunned.
prison for. I didn’t mean to do
was I supposed to feel
though he pulled the trigger, I wanted to believe Tiago wasn’t entirely at fault, and I knew that man
spoke to my
about
Panther?
words. This wasn’t true. Tiago
was the one who accepted me with open arms. He wasn’t that smart. but his kind personality had always made up for
take the fall for me, and I could take over the family business.” He said. “The only thing he wanted was for me to hand it over
“Tiago…”
in case you didn’t know, and I just wanted to matter for once,” Tiago stated. It was no secret Marvin was
“That fucking agent was a corrupt, manipulating ass anyway-but I never meant to kill him!” He
man who once had a mental breakdown over stolen candy could be corrupt?
have known? Was that the reason why Maddens’ death hit him even
even matter? It wasn’t even important at the moment.
of Marvin, and by the looks of it-for a very long time.
out of prison or for him to frame the Hernandez for my mistake.” Tiago continued.
thoughts went to poor Anya, who didn’t have anything to do with this. I didn’t have anything to do with this either, so I was
“Who knows this?”
Tiago shook his head. “Marvin
I asked, confused. “Then why did you tell
your dad is a DEA agent.”
stepped back in complete shock and felt an uncomfortable lump
you know?” I stuttered.
mind that Panther was aware of everything. Thinking about it, he was very quick to bring me to Marvin
keeping you
“Just in case?”
identity because he doesn’t feel the need to reveal
his mind,” I whispered. There was only one thing I couldn’t wrap my head around. Tiago was not only out of
“Exactly.”
and unfortunately, he would win either way.
are you telling me all of this?”
wanted me to.”
“She knew?”
long time.” He shared. “I want
it had to be Marvin’s bond with Panther. The two were close enough for
and hope for the best-or I could risk everything and protect Marvin by going against Panther. My identity would most likely
keep this proof?” I closed my eyes and took a
he seemed surprised that I was willing to help. Tiago just admitted to killing someone in cold blood, Stevie Maddens, on top of that-but it didn’t scare me. Just like Marvin
that person turned out
already knowing the answer. He wouldn’t even
can’t!” Tiago opposed. “He wouldn’t believe you
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