Hello everyone! This is a James/OC story for Queen of the South! :) I seriously didn't know how much I'd enjoy the show but I binge watched it all in two days and now I'm completely obsessed with it! So, here it is! I hope everyone enjoys!
Also, *CONTENT WARNING* There is mention of sexual assault in this chapter, so please proceed with caution.
My name is Catalina Vargas and I'm from Mexico. If you're anybody who is anybody, you'd recognize the name, but don't blame me for it, blame my Puta mother, she's the one who married the asshole who gave it to her and drug me along with her. Yes, that's right, my stepfather is Epifanio Vargas, leader of one, if not the largest, Cartel in Mexico.
I have never been poor not one day in my life. We always had money and nice things. My younger sister and I never went without, and I never wanted for anything (except maybe a normal family and perhaps a father who loved me). Other than that, my life was grand! But I needed more, I needed a life of my own, one free of drugs, guns and death, or so that's what I thought; Then I met Guero.
Guero was everything I had ever dreamed about. He was handsome and kind, he loved me with a passion I had only ever dreamed I could have with someone, and made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. He never made me feel like an outcast, instead he embraced my differences and found them beautiful and unique. Even better, Epifanio took the opportunity to get rid of me and gave me his blessing to move in with Guero. My mother on the other hand, wasn't as happy, but with her now living in Texas, Epifanio convinced her that everything would be just fine, he was his god-son after all.
My life was finally looking up, I no longer had to live under Epifanio's rule, instead, I was living with the love of my life, the man who rescued me from my hell. It was weird, being loved the way that Guero loved me. Everyday seemed like a fairy tale, but every fairy tale has an end, and mine ended with the sound of cellphone ringing.
My body tensed as the sound rang throughout the house, echoing off of the walls. Deep down I knew what it was, what was happening, but there was still a part of me that hoped. Quickly I climbed out of the bath I had previously been enjoying, threw a towel around my body and ran into the bedroom where Guero had left the phone for me. I stood paralyzed for a moment, staring at the Mahogany dresser that was vibrating uncontrollably. My hand hovered over the drawer as I let out a small quiver and grabbed the phone, holding it to my ear and waiting for and answer I hoped wouldn't tear me apart. But that answer never came.
"Catalina?" An unfamiliar voice rang from the speaker.
"Y-yes?" I chocked out.
"You don't know me, but I need you to know that Guero is dead. You need to get out now, and Catalina, whatever you do, don't trust your stepfather." And with that, the line went dead. The phone slowly slipped from my hand, bouncing off of the silken rug as I dropped to my knees. The air around me was suddenly thin, and quickly it became hard for me to breathe. I sob forced its way passed my lips causing the tears to begin flowing uncontrollably. No. No. This isn't happening, there has to be some mistake, Guero can't be dead. He promised we would leave, that we would be done with this life, he can't leave me now, not after everything. He promised.
Stop feeling pity for yourself and get up. You know what you have to do now. A voice echoed inside my head.
In times of need and despair, most people see God or Buddha, but me, I saw myself, or rather, the woman I was meant to be. She was standing there as clear as day, looking at me incredulously as if my show of weakness offended her in some manner. She was right after all, my mother had taught me better than this, she taught me to be strong and enduring, to never show my weaknesses, not in this place. A sudden strength suddenly bloomed inside of me, and I knew what I had to do. I quickly wiped my tear stained face and made my way to the closet, pulling out something to wear, not really caring what. I didn't really have to trust or believe the stranger on the phone, because if I knew Epifanio, and I knew Epifanio, then he was on his way for me as we speak. Regardless of if I had anything to do with what happened or not, this was his opportunity and he was going to take it, and with my mother gone no one was here to stop him, and she would never know.
As soon as I slid the last shoe on my foot the bedroom door burst open, causing me to jump in shock. I was too late.
"Hola Princesa." The familiar man smiled slyly as he stepped through the threshold.
"Gato." I reply a bit unevenly, trying not to show any sign of weakness or fear, men like Gato enjoy that too much.
"I'm assuming mi padrastro has sent you." I say, bringing my eyes to meet his.
"You would assume right, hermosa." He chuckled as he closed in the space between us, grabbing a stray piece of my hair and twirling it around his rough fingers. Of course Epifanio would send Gato. Out of all my stepfather's minions Gato had to be the slimiest. He was like a wild animal whose thirst for blood was never sated. I had met my share of murderers and drug runners, but out of all of them, Gato was the only one that made me feel uneasy, at that's saying something.
"Gato, I had nothing to do with whatever Guero got himself into, you know that, and so does Epifanio." I growl, slapping his grimy hand away from me.
"Still," He sighed, his grin never leaving his face. "Epifanio wants you home, and I have come to collect, using whatever means necessary." He added with a chuckle.
"Well that's not going to happen." I say as I push passed him with a slight shove, only to be caught by my shoulder and heaved forward, landing face first into the plush bed.
"Ah, now now princesa, that's a good look for you." He snarled, shoving my face back into the bed as soon as I began to lift myself off.
"You lay one finger on me and my mother-"
"You're mother will what? What will she do to me all the way in Texas ah?" He said, grabbing a handful of my hair and pulling my head backwards towards him.
"Just admit it, your mother is a treacherous puta, just like your dead boyfriend, and just like you." His voice was dangerously low, and I could feel his hot, vile breath against my neck, causing tears to begin pooling in my vision. But I wouldn't waver, not for this man.
"You know." He mused, running his rough hands down my arms and over my chest, while his other hand stayed tangled in my hair. "I've always wondered what you'd be like." He mumbled, pressing his hot mouth into the crook of my neck. My whole body tensed from the unpleasant sensation that his touch sent throughout my body.
"No." I chocked out, doing my best to escape his grasp. But no matter how strong I tried to be, he was stronger, and with one fell swoop of his hand, the next few moments became one big blur. The only thing I could remember were his hands roughly roaming all over my body, the pressure of his body on top of mine. I let myself fade into unconsciousness. My mind instantly drifted to thoughts of Guero, the day we met, the day he told me he loved me. Then the sound of a gunshot rang out all around me, startling me back into the present.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A familiar voice demanded.
"Relax Pote." Gato grunted dismissively, not moving from his position on top of me. "I'm just having a little fun before we have to bring the princesa back to her castle is all."
Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I fumbled my hand around the top of the bed, feeling for the gun Guero kept underneath his pillow.
"How could you do something like this Gato?" Pote demanded. "She is our friend."
"Friend?"Gato scoffed, pushing me hard towards him and further away from my salvation. "She has never been my friend, only a pinche puta. Now leave me alone and let me finish."
My fingers finally grazed against the cold metal, and I let out a sigh of relief as I grasp it in my hand.
Pote grabbed Gato by the back of the shirt, leaving me the opening I needed as I pushed the barrel into Gato's face and pulled the trigger. Blood spewed from his face as he yelled out in pain, stumbling back and falling to the floor.
I turned the gun to Pote as I scrambled off of the bed. "I can't go back Pote." I pleaded. "Please let me go, I don't want to shoot you." And that was the truth. Not only had Pote just saved me, but he was always there for me growing up, watching over me, even sharing a beer with me in silence when I felt alone.
Pote stood there for a moment, I could see his eyes deep in thought as he stared at me. Finally he let out a long sigh and bent down to pick up my clothes.
"Here." He said thrusting them towards me. "Get what you can and go, I'll try to hold him off as long as I can, but other's will come mija."
"Thank you Pote." I said, throwing my clothes back on me and running as fast as I could.
It seemed like I had been running for hours when I finally collapsed onto the ground. Doubling over, my stomach heaved, emptying its contents onto the ground. I wiped my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt and fell over onto my side. My head was pounding, my lungs felt as if they were liquid, and I had lost the feeling in my legs hours ago. I tilted my head to get a look at my surroundings, I needed water or I was going to die. Lights in the distance caught my gaze. It was an old gas station on the outskirts of the desert. My saving grace. With the last bit of energy I had left I hoisted myself back onto my feet and drug myself the last few feet to the gas station.
By now it was dark, and I mean really dark, there wasn't one star in the sky to light my way. But luckily the gas station lights lite my way to the bathroom were I immediately made my way to the sink. The cold water splashing my face felt like heaven. I waited until the water pooled into my hands and slurped it all down before slipping back onto the floor, resting my head on the side of the stall.
The sound of a door slam and he ring of voices all around me woke me with a start. I must have dozed off. Damn it! I cursed myself. How could you? The door was suddenly burst open before I had time to process anything, and I was being hoisted onto my feet and dragged into the back of a van. The last thing I remember was the sudden crack against the back of my head, then everything went black.
