Chapter 9: Family Reunion
James Point of View
Standing there I watched as Quinn drifted off into a deep slumber. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but I was really starting to have feelings for this girl. I think I've had feelings for her since I saw her standing by that damn Christmas tree at Camila's party six months ago. I liked her moodiness and her ability to call bullshit when she saw it. She was perceptive and smart. No matter how strong my feelings were though, I couldn't do anything about it. She belonged to Camila and starting anything with her would just end badly. I already felt like shit for getting this close to her as is, especially with how I was feeling. Camila wanted me to earn her trust, but now that I had it, I felt like I was betraying her in some way.
After grabbing my laptop from downstairs I settled into the armchair in my bedroom and watched Quinn sleep for a while before trying to track down her asshole of a father. She hadn't given me much to go on at dinner when I questioned her about him, but with what I had learned from Camila, I should be able to find him. After running a few searches, I was shocked that I had found her father so easily. I honestly thought it'd be a little more difficult but it turns out he lives right here in Texas. Antonio West lived two hours away from Dallas. I'd be paying him a visit tomorrow morning.
I was about to wake Quinn up like the doctor had instructed me to do every few hours when I heard her moaning and whimpering in her sleep. I glanced over the laptop and noticed her thrashing around a little. Whatever nightmare she was having had a good hold on her.
"No…no…no…" Quinn cried out in her sleep. I sat my laptop down on the table beside my armchair and made my way over to Quinn's side.
I turned the bedside lamp on and sat down on the side of the bed. Her skin was slick with sweat and her face looked pale. Tears were sliding down her cheeks in her sleep. Seeing her this way again made something inside me uncomfortable. I didn't like seeing her in pain like this. I shook her shoulder gently as she continued to moan and twitch in her sleep. "Quinn, wake up. You're having a nightmare."
I brushed the hair out of her face that had covered her eyes. "Quinn, wake up, it's okay."
Suddenly, her eyes shot open as she sat straight up, breathing so fast I thought she was going to hyperventilate. Unsure of what to do, I just stayed sitting on the side of the bed, hoping that now that she was awake, she'd feel better. However, that didn't seem to be the case.
"James?" Quinn whispered, almost confused, tears still in her eyes. I now realized her hand was grasping my forearm. I could feel her hand shaking through my shirt.
Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms. "It's okay, Quinn." I whispered through her hair. "I'm right here."
Nodding her head, Quinn clung onto my shirt for dear life, and I didn't mind at all. In fact I didn't want to ever let go. Rubbing her back soothingly, I waited a few minutes before pulling away awkwardly. Her breathing had calmed down and she had stopped crying. Her eyes were a bit puffy and her cheeks were red but she still looked as beautiful as ever.
Pushing the thought from my head, I spoke. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, wiping the stray tears from her cheeks. "Yeah, I'm okay." Her voice cracked at the end.
"Are you sure?" I asked, looking her over to double check for myself. "You're not feeling worse or anything?"
"I'm okay. Just tired." Quinn sighed, a slight smile on her face. "Really, I'm fine, James. I just had a nightmare is all. They've been happening a lot, it's not a big deal."
I could tell by the way she looked down at the end, that it was a big deal. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, shocking myself with my own actions. The things this girl could make me do already.
"No, thank you though." She whispered, fidgeting with the sleeve of the shirt I'd given her to wear. I was trying desperately not to like the way she looked in my clothes, but it was difficult.
After a moment of silence, I cleared my throat.
"Okay. I'll let you get some more sleep." I replied going to stand up but a small hand on my arm stopped me. My eyes fell on Quinn's hand and then I glanced to meet her eyes. She looked shocked as hell that she'd touched my arm, again. I was a little shocked myself.
"Wait." She said, panic in her voice. "Will you stay here with me? Just until I fall asleep? I don't want to be alone."
Looking at Quinn, I tried to find anywhere else I needed to be right now, but I failed and couldn't deny her request. I've seen this girl act so fierce since she got here but yet she sat here, broken and afraid by whatever had woken her from her sleep, and I wanted to comfort her. I found myself sitting back on the bed, I pulled her into my side without thinking, covering her up with the blanket, while I stayed on top of it.
"Thank you." Quinn whispered into my chest.
"Don't mention it. Ever. To anyone. Now get some sleep." I told her, slightly smirking to myself.
Feeling her nod into my collarbone, I didn't have to wait long until I felt her breathing return to its slow and deep rhythm. I had every intention of getting up when she fell asleep but laying here, I couldn't bring myself to move. Laying in bed with her, it almost felt like we had a normal life, like I had a normal life. Something that I hadn't had in a long time, if ever. Sighing deeply, I hadn't realized how tired I was until now and Quinn's presence somehow calmed me more than any drug I'd ever taken. Feeling my eyelids get heavy, I didn't even try to fight the sleep that took over my body.
The phone in my pocket vibrating pulled me back into consciousness the next morning. I felt something warm snuggled into my side and upon opening my eyes I saw that Quinn was still asleep, her head on my chest. Her hand was clutching the fabric of my shirt for dear life, almost as if she were afraid I'd disappear if she loosened her grip. I'd never felt more relaxed in my entire life. Somehow in the middle of the night we'd cuddled even closer together and now her leg was resting on top of mine. I was fully aware of the morning wood situation I had going on as well.
Fuck.
This was a huge mistake.
My arm was still wrapped protectively around Quinn, giving her the security she needed last night. My phone continued to vibrate in my pocket making it clear I needed to get up. Slowly, and I mean slowly, I began detangling myself from Quinn. She stirred lightly, but never woke up.
I slipped into the bathroom and closed the door, pulling my phone from my pocket. Camila's name lit up the screen.
"Yeah?" I answered, pinching the bridge of my nose, trying to wake up.
"Have you tracked down Quinn's father yet?" Camila questioned, her tone clipped. She was already in a mood today.
"I found out where he's staying last night. I was gonna go pick him up this morning. What do you want me to tell him?" I asked, trying to figure out how we were playing this.
"You tell him whatever you have to in order to get him here." Camila ordered. "Give him money, promise him a fix, whatever you have to do. I don't care, James."
"Understood." I said, trying to say as little as possible so I didn't wake Quinn up and so I didn't make Camila more upset than she already was. Teresa and Quinn being here had her on edge even more than usual.
"And James?" She asked, her tone calm and terrifying.
"Yes?" I replied, knowing that I was about to be in trouble.
"You better hurry." She spat out coldly, hanging up as soon as the words left her mouth.
I hung up and placed my phone on the bathroom counter. After grabbing a quick shower I put on the jeans I had on from last night and headed out into the bedroom to grab a new shirt. I figured it was better to go shirtless than with no pants. To my surprise Quinn was still sound asleep, curled on her side. I needed to go get Antonio so Camila wouldn't shit, so I didn't have time to run her back to the warehouse. She didn't know where she was or how to get back to the warehouse herself so I knew she'd stay put until I came back to get her. She'd never do anything stupid like run, without Teresa. I'd watched them together and could see how much they cared for each other.
I found a clean shirt and slipped it over my head. I couldn't just leave without telling Quinn I would be gone for a while, but I couldn't bring myself to wake her up either. I found a scrap piece of paper and pen and wrote her a note.
Stay here. Be back soon. Don't run. -James
I folded the paper in half and placed it on the bed beside her and with that I grabbed my leather jacket and headed out.
••••••
Driving into the little town Antonio lived in, I regretted leaving Quinn alone, but this needed to be done. Otherwise, Camila would be livid and that would make a terrible day for everyone. She was still pissed at me about the whole chemist thing. Sighing, I thought back to last night. What was I thinking? Comforting Quinn like that was a mistake. A huge one. Not because I didn't care for her, but because I did care for her. I was getting to close to her to quickly and I couldn't have that effecting my judgement.
Running a hand through my hair, I tried not to think about that as I pulled up to the apartment complex that Antonio lived in. Though, once I checked out the inside, I decided living was a bit of an overstatement. It looked more like a fucking drug den then anything. The place was unlocked so I took a look around, trying to find any trace of where the man might be. There was no furniture other then a mattress on the living room floor and a tv. An overturned milk crate was being used as a table and it was full of needles. Shaking my head, I thought I'd try my luck with his neighbors.
Thankfully, one of them told me he might be at the local bar. It's five o'clock somewhere I guess. Once I had gotten the directions to the little hole in the wall bar, I said goodbye and drove the five minutes down the backroads to the place. Being early morning on a weekday, there was hardly anyone here, which meant finding him would be a lot easier than I imagined. Going inside, there was a few people at some tables but only one person sat at the bar and something told me that's who I was looking for.
Walking up to the man, I eyed him from the corner of my eye, making sure this was him. Sure enough, he looked like the man in the photo I had found online, except more strung out. His dark eyes had circles under them, his hands shook as he took a drink of his beer. His hair looked like it hadn't been washed in days and his beard was unruly and in bad need of a trim. However I did see bits of Quinn when I looked at this shell of a man. They had the same eyes and the same nose.
Clearing my throat, I turned towards him.
"Antonio West?" I asked casually.
"Yeah." He grunted out, turning to face me. "Who the fuck is asking?"
"I need you to come with me." I said calmly, hoping we could do this the easy way.
"Like hell." He replied, motioning for the bartender to bring him another beer. "I don't know you. Now fuck off."
"My name is James." I told him, hoping that would help. "I need you to come with me. My boss wants to talk to you and trust me she's someone you'll wanna talk with."
"Well, James," he spat out, turning slightly to look at me. "I don't know you or your boss. So like I said, you can fuck off."
"I know your daughter." I supplied, hoping to get a reaction.
Antonia paused, knitting his eyebrows together, like he really had to think about whether or not he actually even had a daughter. I saw the spark of recognition flutter through his head and then he shrugged, smirking. This guy was a piece of shit. Antonio turned to face me fully, looking me up and down. "What'd that whore of a daughter do now?"
Closing my eyes, I clenched my jaw, using all the strength in my body not to hit him square in the mouth for calling Quinn a whore. "She didn't do anything, she just works with me and I thought you might want to see her. From what she's told me it's been a while."
"You're gonna have to d better than that." Antonio laughed, turning back to the bar.
"How about this?" I pulled out a small wad of cash and set it down in front of him.
I saw his eyes widen for a brief moment before he turned to look at me again. "You for real?"
"All you have to do is come with me and that's yours." I bribed. "My boss will also throw in your drug of choice, free of charge."
"You gotta be fucking with me." Antonio scoffed, looking around the bar as if something bad was about to happen. "Who the fuck do you work for, kid?"
"Someone you'd rather have as a friend than an enemy. So what do you say?" I could tell he would have said yes as soon as I showed him the cash, but I figured the drugs would make him more agreeable once we got to the warehouse.
"Let's go." Antonio said, slamming back the rest of his beer before sliding off the barstool and heading towards the door.
I steered Quinn's drunk joke of a father to my car and prayed he wouldn't puke on the way back to the warehouse. A handed Antonio off to Charger and instructed him to keep him numb until I got back with Quinn.
Quinn's Point of View
The warm Texas sun shining through the curtains woke me. Squinting at the sun I slowly came too, in James' bed. Slowly I sat up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. My head felt a thousand times better since I was able to sleep relatively well last night. Although, I remembered waking up at some point and James was there. I'd been having a nightmare about Guero and getting the phone call that he was dead again. I woke up startled and James was right by my side. Oh god, I'd hugged him. I can hear the sound of my voice asking him to stay with me. What the hell is wrong with me?
I noticed a slip of folded paper lying on the bed and picked it up, unfolding it. "Stay here. Be back soon. Don't run. -James." I read silently to myself. He's quite the poet isn't he. Like I would run without Teresa, I scoffed. James wasn't even here? Where the hell did he go? Was this some twisted test again? Is he waiting outside to see if I try and run?
I crumbled up his note and tossed it on the bed. I got up, feeling just how sore my body still felt from everything it's endured the last few days. I found my jeans on the floor and dug the phone James had given me out of the pocket. I dialed Teresa's number and listened to the trill of the line as it rang.
"Quinn! Are you okay? Where the hell are you?" Teresa whispered into the phone, frantic and panicked.
"I'm okay. I promise. The doctor said I had a mild concussion so I had to stay with James in case something happened and I needed a hospital." I explained, pacing back and forth in James bedroom. I kept glancing at his bed and felt awkward, so turning on my heel I headed over to the window and peeked past the cream colored curtains.
James car wasn't parked on the street. I hadn't noticed last night, but he lived in a very upscale neighborhood.
"I'm so glad you're okay. When you didn't come back I got worried.
"I'm so glad you're okay. When you didn't come back I got worried." Teresa said, terror filled in her voice.
"I'm okay." I reassured her again. "I'll be back later today, I think. At least I'm assuming I will be." I couldn't believe the thought even past through my mind, but I missed the warehouse. I didn't like being in James' house, especially not alone. It felt weird and odd because I hardly knew the guy.
"Good." Teresa paused for a moment, and I could tell she had more to say.
"What is it?" I asked, worried something may have happened to her while I was gone.
"I called them. They're okay. They're on their way to Texas." Teresa said slowly.
I wracked my brain, trying to think of who they were but I was drawing a blank. "Who?"
Sighing deeply, Teresa replied. "Brenda and Tony."
"Oh!" I exclaimed, realizing how fried my brain felt. "That's good. I'm glad to know they're safe. Why didn't you just say that?"
"I didn't want anything to happen to them because I said something while someone was listening." Teresa explained.
"Well if you already used the phone to call them..." I trailed off. I warned her about Camila being able to listen in.
We needed to get our hands on a burner phone. Something Camila couldn't tap into so easily. It's the safest way to keep in touch with Brenda and Tony.
Teresa groaned, realizing her mistake. "Well, hopefully they'll be safe on the way here. I had to lie to Brenda and tell her everything was fine and that she'd love it here."
"It'll be alright. We'll all be better together than we are apart." I assured her, hoping I wasn't just lying to myself.
"Okay. I gotta go. Someone's coming. I'll see you soon." Teresa said hurriedly before hanging up.
I hung up the phone and paced around James' bedroom some more. My clothes felt damp from sweating all night so I decided to take a shower, but I didn't have another clean shirt to put on. My eyes fell on James' dresser, I could borrow one from him again, but that would require me to go through his drawers and I wasn't crossing that line. Scratching the back of my head, I turned on my heel and faced the closet. Grabbing a shirt out of the closet wasn't as bad as rifling through his drawers, right? It didn't feel as intimate. Carefully, I opened the closet door and walked inside. Of course he had a walk in closet. I flipped the light switch on and stared at his clothes and shoes. It was all expensive stuff. My fingers danced across the fabric of his shirts that were hanging up. I paused when I saw his old army uniform. He was telling me the truth.
I pulled the camouflage uniform out a little and ran my fingers over his name tag. Stitched in white over a small black piece of fabric was his last name, Valdez.
James Valdez.
Least now I knew his last name.
Letting go of the uniform I found a black t shirt that didn't look as expensive as the rest and pulled it off the hanger.
After showering and getting dressed I decided to head downstairs and wait for James to return. I walked around his living room, taking in the photos sitting on the mantel to the fireplace. Some were nature shots. A few were of him from when he was in the army. I ventured over to the bookcase under the window seat and perused his selection of books. It was mostly classics and historical fiction. Had to hand it to him, he had good taste.
I'd been awake for an hour and a half and wondered where on earth James could have gone and why the hell he left me here, alone, in his house. Part of me wanted to open the front door and see if he was outside waiting for me to make a move, but I didn't. He wanted to trust me. He did trust me. So I didn't want to break that.
I wondered into the kitchen and looked in his fridge. Good lord. It looked like a college frat boy lived in his house with the amount of beer and junk food that lined the shelves. I smirked and grabbed the spray can of cool whip and shot it in my mouth before putting it back. I went through the cabinets and found a box of elbow noodles and decided to make home made macaroni and cheese, just like Guero used to make for me.
I'd ate and left a bowl on the counter for James figuring it was the least I could do for eating his food. He could eat it if he ever came back. I was doing the dishes from last night since I didn't have anything else to do when a voice startled me.
"What are you doing?"
Jumping, I turned around to see James standing in the doorway of the kitchen. I never even heard him come inside. How long was he standing there? "I just thought since you were nice enough to let me stay here and cook, I should at least clean up. Plus, I wasn't sure what else to do and I tend to clean when I get nervous."
"I make you nervous?" James asked with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned into the doorway.
"No!" I answered quickly with a scoff. "I was just nervous being here alone for so long. Where did you go, anyway? You've been gone forever."
"Just somewhere for work. Don't worry about it." He answered causally. "Is that my shirt?" James stared at the black t shirt I'd snagged out of his closet. It had the words Gucci written on the front. It wasn't something I honestly pictured James wearing but he owned so I suppose he did. "Did you go through my stuff?" He quirked an eyebrow at me accusingly.
"No!" I shook my head, wringing a dish towel in my hands.
"That's my shirt." James stated bluntly.
"Well yeah, I didn't think you'd mind. I needed a clean one. I'm so sorry, I can take it off." I babbled, looking down at the shirt. It was two sizes to big on me, but it smelled exactly like James. The scent was intoxicating.
James quirked his eyebrow again at my remark, smirking.
"I mean put it back. I can put it back." I corrected myself, my nerves getting the better of me. I went to head for the stairs to change and put the shirt back when James cut me off.
"Don't worry about it. It looks better on you." He ducked his head as he headed for the mac and cheese on the counter. "Where'd this come from?"
"I made it. I thought you might want what was left." I answered quietly.
"You can cook?" He smirked, shoving a forkful off noodles in his mouth.
I flipped him the finger and he actually chuckled. The hearty sound made my insides tingle. The sound didn't last long though. James ate a few bites but I noticed his demeanor changing. His jaw became rigid as he walked the bowl to the sink. When he turned around he didn't look as happy as he was a few moments ago.
"Go get your shoes. We're heading back to the warehouse." He ordered, pulling his phone out, not bothering to look up at me.
I looked down at my bare feet and then went to retrieve my boots.
"Hurry up!" James called out as I was coming down the steps.
"I'm coming. Calm down." I shot back at him.
He ushered me out the front door quickly. "So where did you go all morning?" I asked, again, as he locked the front door to his townhouse.
He shrugged off my question and headed towards his car, giving me the cold shoulder now. "Did I do something to piss you off?" I questioned hesitantly, approaching the passenger side of his car where he stood waiting with the door open.
"I don't have to answer your fucking questions, Quinn." James sighed, rubbing his hand down his jaw.
"Is it your time of the month or something? You were nice to me last night and up until a few minutes ago. Your mood swings are giving me whiplash here." I shot out. I didn't have to take his shit. At least not while we weren't at the warehouse.
James scoffed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're a pain in the ass, you know that?" He stepped forward, grabbing my arm gently, guiding me towards the car so I'd obey and get in. I yanked my arm out of his grasp. James placed his hands on both sides of the roof of his car, boxing me in. "Let's get a few things straight, Quinn. I'm not your friend or your buddy. I don't care what happens to you. All you are is a job to me. If I'm being nice to you, it's because Camila told me to be nice to you. Are we clear?" He spat the words out so vehemently I coward back away from him as much as I possibly could.
James removed his arms from encasing me and the warmth that had been surrounding me went with it.
"Are we clear?" James asked again.
"Crystal." I whispered back, staring him directly in the face. I clenched my jaw shut, angry for reasons I didn't fully understand and got in the car.
James slammed the door shut and walked around to his side.
James Point of View
I got in the car and slammed the door shut. I sat there silently hating myself for being a dick to Quinn. She kept her head turned looking out the window, refusing to look at me. I didn't blame her, I wouldn't want to look at me either. I was confusing her and she was confusing the hell out of me. If I didn't keep looking at her as part of my job, as an assignment, things would get complicated. I don't do complicated.
My loyalty lies with Camila. Not some girl I may or may not be beginning to have feelings for that I hardly know with a sketchy ass past.
"I'm not the guy that's gonna rescue you. I can't be." I said, pausing as I was about to start the car.
"Who said I need you to save me?" Quinn glared at me. Our eyes were locked on each other now. "I may have had my brother to rely on growing up, but I have always taken care of myself. So I don't need you to rescue me, James." She spat the words out, anger flooding her beautiful features.
I nodded my head. "Good."
Without another word I started the car and pulled out onto the street, heading towards the warehouse. Quinn didn't attempt to make small talk and the silence began eating away at me, so I turned on the radio to distract myself.
I drove with one hand and cracked the window with the other and lit a cigarette, hoping it would ease my nerves. If Quinn doesn't hate me now, she will after we get to the warehouse and she sees her father. But I can't care. I don't care.
I blew smoke out the window and flicked the ashes out as well as we made a left turn. I glanced at Quinn out of the corner of my eye and noticed she'd tucked her knees up under her chin. It was weird walking into my house and seeing her standing at the sink washing dishes. For a fleeting moment before she knew I was standing there I thought maybe that's what my life would've been like without the cartel. I'd be coming home from a shit job to a beautiful girl, who's wearing my shirt and cooking.
Maybe I could still have it that way…someday…with someone. Although I'd dated a girl named Kim for a while and it didn't exactly work out. She got tired of having to be cautious and put up with my coming and going at all hours and eventually left me for a guy she'd been cheating on me with. He was some oil company executive asshole.
Quinn changed the radio station capturing my attention. That's when I realized I didn't want it to be just some random girl, I wanted it to be her. I've wanted it to be her since the Christmas party.
I scoffed to myself and shook my head at the absurd shit running through my head. A girl like Quinn wasn't gonna hang around with some guy that works for a cartel, even if she does get cleared and through all this shit with Camila. If she does, she'll be gone.
And I'll be here, doing what I do best.
We pulled up at the warehouse and I shut off the car and got out. Quinn was already out of the car and heading inside before I could make it around to get the door for her. I followed her inside and caught her arm just as she was about to head through the door to enter where the mules sleep. "Camila wants to see you. Come with me."
"Can I tell Teresa that I'm back." She asked, hesitant. Teresa was sitting on her bed and hadn't spotted Quinn yet.
"No." I pulled Quinn along beside me, careful not to grip her arm too hard, but enough to let her know I wasn't in the mood.
Quinn stayed silent and obeyed. For once. I led her down a hallway and then down a flight of stairs into the basement where I'd put Antonio in a room. I could feel Quinn stiffen under my grip. I caught her looking over her shoulder out of the corner of my eye more than once. She was worried and scared, but she kept her face neutral, trying not to react.
We stopped in front of a door and I opened it, letting go of her arm and gesturing for her to go in first. Our eyes met, as she brushed past me and headed inside. I'd looked behind me to close the door and crashed right into the back of Quinn. She'd froze in her tracks seeing her father sitting in a chair in front of a table.
I stepped around Quinn and noticed that her face had gone pale. She was shaking her head slightly, confused. Anger flashed across her face like a lightening storm. Her eyes were laced with betrayal.
Antonio had done two of the three rails of coke I had supplied him with before I left. The third still lying on the table. He smirked at Quinn, crossing his arms behind his head. "Well, look at this shit. Daddy's little girl is all grown up and damn I must say sweetheart you are quite the piece. You got that from your momma."
"What is this?" She hissed, glaring at me. If her looks could kill I'd be dead. "Why is he here?"
"What no love for your old man?" Antonia shook his head. He leaned down and snorted the last line of coke up his nose, rubbing his nose and coughing afterwards.
"Why is he here?" Quinn seethed, stepping towards me. She looked at her father and then back at me shaking her head. "Is that where you went this morning? To get this piece of shit!" She slammed her hands into my chest as hard as possible. "Why would you do that? How could you do that to me?" Her hands slapped my chest again, doing little to move me, but enough to rock me on my heels. I knew this would hurt her. I just didn't expect her to be this pissed at me. "You know what he did to me."
I said nothing and took the hits to the chest.
"I'm surprised that little shithead Guero let you hook up with this one here." Antonio laughed, pointing at James. "Always thought he was a little too possessive over his little sister. Almost made me think he had a thing for you. You and James here fucking around together probably drives him insane!"
"Shut up!" Quinn roared, turning her rage on Antonio.
"Where is Guero?" Antonio smirked, enjoying hurting his daughter. This guy was sick and I wanted to fucking punch him in the face just so he would shut the hell up.
"He's dead! You asshole! He died! I wish he would have fucking killed you when he was alive so I wouldn't have to be looking at you right now!" Quinn yelled, but her voice cracked and I noticed tears falling down her cheek.
Something in my chest tightened and I had to look away. I leaned against the concrete wall and crossed my arms over my chest.
The door opened and Camila walked in, heels clicking on the concrete as she entered. She sat a small black box down on the table and looked at Quinn, giving her a small wicked little grin.
"I see you two have been getting reacquainted." Camila walked over towards Quinn and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I had James track down your father so we could have this little family reunion."
"That man is not my family." Quinn spat out. "Why don't you just play whatever card you think you have here and get it over with." Quinn challenged Camila, leveling her with a hardened stare.
"There's nothing I admire more than straightforwardness." Camila began. "You see my husband keeps calling me about you and Teresa and I'm starting to really want to know what you two could possibly have on him that could be making him foam at the mouth this much."
"I don't know what your husband wants us for." Quinn snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I think you do and I'm going to find out, one way or another." Camila explained, walking back over towards the table. She opened the black box she'd carried in and my eyes went wide as Camila pulled out a gun and held it Antonio's head.
She's not playing around today I can see.
"Are you sure there's nothing you want to tell me?" Camila asked, a perfect eyebrow raised.
"Camila, what the hell?" James exclaimed from behind her.
"We need to know why Epifanio wants these girls so badly!" Camila snapped. "If this is what I have to do then I'll do it. Now shut up."
I snapped my mouth shut as Camila looked me dead in the eye. Quinn didn't even flinch at the sight of Camila holding the gun to Antonio's head.
"I have nothing to tell you." Quinn answered honestly. "Now either do me a favor and pull the trigger or let me leave."
Antonio was so high at the moment he had no idea his life was even in any danger. He was nodding in and out completely lost.
Camila smirked slightly at Quinn's comment, staring directly at me for one more moment before lowering the gun. "You're a smart girl, Quinn. Even the smartest people make a mistake at some point though. You will too. And I'll have my answers."
"Can I go now that the shows over?" Quinn asked, itching to get the hell out of the room and most likely away from me.
Camila nodded her head. "James will walk you out."
I walked over to Quinn and gently took her arm and led her out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind me Quinn yanked her arm out of my grasp. Yeah, she's definitely pissed at me.
"Quinn…" I called out, causing her to turn on her heel halfway down the hallway.
She looked at me with more hatred then anyone has ever looked at me with before. When she spoke her voice was deadly calm. "Don't. Don't you ever talk to me again. You brought him here."
"I was doing my job." I snapped back at her.
"Fuck you!" She yelled back at me, then turned and headed down the hallway away from me.
I sighed, heading back into the room with Camila and Antonio. Camila was putting her handgun away. "Well that went well." I shot out sarcastically.
"Actually it did." Camila smiled.
"How do you figure. She didn't tell you shit." I reminded her.
"Actions can speak louder than words sometimes. You should know this. I watched you two on the security monitor before I came in here and her reaction to seeing him told me all I need to know." Camila explained, as if I knew what the fuck she was talking about. "She trusts you. Which means sooner or later she will let her guard down around you, James."
"Any trust I had built with her, is gone now." I pointed out, lighting a cigarette.
"Quinn has feelings for you. Play off of that." Camila spoke, walking towards the door.
I'm pretty sure Quinn doesn't feel a damn thing for me. I scoffed, blowing smoke out of my nose. "What do you want me to do, seduce her?" I half laughed at the thought.
"Seduce her. Propose to her. Make her think you're the king of her heart. I don't care. Use her feelings for you to our advantage." Camila placed her hand on the door, ready to leave. "Get her to talk."
"What makes you think she has feelings for me?" I questioned, tossing my cigarette onto the floor and stepping on it with the heel of my boot.
"She wasn't hurt because her father was here, she was hurt because you brought him here. I've seen the way she looks at you and you her. It's obvious. Just don't let it get personal, James. And send him back to wherever he came from." Camila gestured towards Antonio nodding out in the chair behind her.
