A True Queen
Paring: OC/James, Teresa/Guero
Summary: it isn't Teresa's future self that guides her; it's Concetta. A woman who's seen and endured some twisted shit. Concetta is the definition of a survivor and she'll protect Teresa with her life.
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EJERCICIO SEIS
El Engano como la Regla
"Hey, could you help me with this?" A woman asked as she held the back of her necklace. Concetta watched as Teresa stood to help the woman. "Gracias" the woman smiled sheepishly.
"De nada" Teresa nodded and gave a small smile in return as she sat back on the bed beside Concetta.
After their fight yesterday they'd both apologised and gone to bed. Tensions had been high and they'd both gotten a scare yesterday, but they needed to stick together.
They couldn't let a stupid argument get in the way of that.
Concetta watched the woman who Teresa had helped sit back on her own bed across from them. Her suitcase was still packed but the girl had enough stuff that it was obvious she'd been here for a long time.
"You've been here for a while" Teresa pointed out, voicing Concetta's own thoughts. "Why haven't you unpacked?"
"This is just temporary. I'm leaving soon" the woman answered smiling up at them with a shrug of her shoulders. "California... my grandma always said I looked like an actress. Who knows, right?" the woman turned away and fiddled with whatever drugs she had gotten a hold of.
"You think she knows she's lying to herself?" Concetta whispered to Teresa with a raised brow. "Or do you think she actually still believes it?"
Teresa sighed and looked back at the woman who was getting high first thing in the morning. They'd seen the girl getting high a lot since they'd been moved in with the mules.
"It's sad" Teresa muttered quietly shaking her head.
"Sometimes we need lies to survive" Concetta told Teresa as she stood from the mattress and grabbed the duffle bag that James had given them for their drug deliveries. She kissed Teresa's forehead as she walked away to go grab the drugs knowing Teresa wouldn't be far behind her.
After all, they have work to do.
Concetta stepped up to the large table of women placing bags of cocaine in travel mugs. She got in line and loaded the duffle up with the instructed amount of travel mugs. It was a different type of concealment than yesterday's and she supposed that was a smart business move.
Teresa met her at the car with the screwdriver that had been modified to be able to start the - most likely - stolen cars they'd been assigned to drive.
"It'll be alright, Teresita" Concetta mumbled as they got in the car and glanced over at Teresa who nodded.
Truth of the matter is; Concetta didn't know if it really would be alright.
She didn't know what the future for them looked like.
Sometimes, lies really are necessary and Teresa seemed to find some hope in the lie...so Concetta continued to say it. She herself, was more of a realist and focused on dealing with things as they came. The little lies you tell yourself didn't make much difference to someone who had seen more pain than most could comprehend.
Concetta glanced out the window as Teresa drove and she watched the people and buildings pass them by. She still couldn't wrap her mind around how different America is to Mexico...
It made her miss Mexico all the more.
Teresa's phone rang and Concetta answered putting it on speaker as Teresa drove. "Hey" Teresa answered relieved, "You're alive"
Brenda's irritated voice flooded the silent car as she said, "hello to you too, Cabrona. Is that the way you answer the phone? "
"You don't call me back until now?" Teresa shot back
"What?" Brenda complained. "I got your message. I'm not mad at you... I'm working on my own plan to get us out. So, tell me what happened to you?"
"Something bad" Teresa sighed, "I can't talk about it over the phone.
"Yeah I do, cause otherwise we can't sell it Pendejo" Brenda whispered harshly at someone else.
Teresa frowned, "Who's that Brenda?"
Brenda sighed, "That's ricardo. He's like, my number two or something"
"Your what?" Teresa shook her head in confusion but Concetta only snorted in laughter - that she promptly muffled seeing the look Teresa was giving her.
"Let me explain later" Brenda said, "I got a little business going on. Right now, I need a really big favor... Can you please pick up Tony from the Y?"
"We're working" Concetta cut in to the conversation knowing that if she didn't, Teresa would probably agree. "We can't leave"
"Carbona, so am I" Brenda argued, "I'm across town, and my friend, he has a car but he needs it"
Concetta sighed resisting the urge to snap at Brenda. This wasn't Teresa's problem - it's not their kid. Brenda should take care of her own damn kid instead of getting angry at them for not doing it. "Brenda, we can't pick him up" Concetta repeated firmly
"Oh, come on!" Brenda hissed, "Please, Teresita? Please"
Teresa looked conflicted, like she really wanted to help but was weighing the danger it could put them all in if they did. Teresa looked over at Concetta who shook her head at the idea.
They couldn't risk it.
Teresa sighed, "Sorry, I can't"
"Tony's gonna be very disappointed in you" Brenda tried to guilt Teresa but when she got no response she sighed. "Fine! I'll talk to you later" and hung up.
Teresa drove in silence for a minute until they pulled up at a stop light and Concetta gave her friend a sad smiled. "You did the right thing. You'd of put them in danger if you went to help"
Teresa nodded, "I just hate this... we're not the only ones having a hard time"
"I know" Concetta conceded despite the arguments and curse words that were on the tip of her tongue.
It wasn't long before they were pulling up at the address they'd been given and got out of the car. Concetta taking the duffle of drugs as Teresa shut off the car engine. It was a large house. Gates surrounding it with all that fancy security shit going on. Teresa pressed the buzzer and they stood near the door waiting for it to open.
The little key pad buzzed and a voice crackled through it, "turn around. Face the camera"
They both turned to look for a camera and then the gate opened, revealing an even fancier looking place than she had expected. There was music coming from inside the house, real shitty white girl music that Concetta hated.
A man in a robe answered the door, "Hey, come on in"
They walked into the house with all it's fancy furniture and once again Concetta couldn't understand why these gringos wanted their houses to look empty?
Where was the crosses and the family photos?
Where was the love your supposed to put into a place when your lucky enough to have a home of your own?
She shook her head to herself - she simply just didn't understand American's.
"Welcome to the abode" their buyer said leading them into the kitchen and living room area. "You're Teresa and Valentina, right?"
"Si" Concetta nodded, "I'm Valentina"
He nodded than gestured to a table, "Go ahead, set your stuff down there"
Concetta complied and pulled out one of the travel mugs with the coke disguised inside them. She cracked it open and handed it to him knowing he'd want to weigh it on the little scale he'd already had on the table waiting.
"Cool" he chuckled at the mug. "I like that. Last one came in a Jiffy Pop container. You guys have great ideas. Who does this shit for you, huh?"
Pendejo just didn't stop talking!
Concetta decided to let Teresa do the talking since she was the more friendlier of the two of them. Teresa, always a people pleaser...
Instead, she took note of their surroundings; looking for exits, weapons, and trying to figure out how much of a threat the man on the couch was to them should something go wrong.
"I don't know" Teresa shrugged looking uncomfortable just standing there. "James has it done"
The gringo buyer snorted some of the coke, leaning back in his chair all smiles. "Man, that's good" he stated standing up and pacing a little before offering them some.
"No thanks" Teresa declined
He offered it to Concetta and she shook her head trying to be polite, "No" she held back a sigh. "We don't mess with the product"
"That other girl did" he said but easily accepted their refusal with nothing more than a shrug of indifference. "She did a lot of things though" he scoffed with a smirk.
"Yeah" Teresa nodded uncomfortably, "I don't mix work with play"
"Got it" the buyer nodded. "Well, uh... I am going to give you both this-" and he pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet. "-every month, as a no-strings bonus, but, hell, there are strings. I think they're strings you can live with. If there's ever a drought, if there's ever a time where, you know the snow ain't falling on Texas - I want you to put me at the head of the list. Simple. That's it"
Concetta exchanged a look with Teresa, neither of them knowing exactly what to say right now.
On one hand it would be great to have the extra cash, however, they both knew they couldn't guarantee that they could follow through on that agreement.
"I want nothing else in exchange, and I mean nothing" he stated trying to get them to agree. "In the state of Texas, a verbal contract is binding. I'm a lawyer. I'd know" he threw the cash onto the table and walked further into the kitchen.
Concetta looked at Teresa with a raised brow in silent question - Teresa gave a nod and a shrug, so Concetta stuffed the cash into her pocket, accepting the buyers deal.
"What kind of lawyer are you?" Teresa followed after the buyer into the kitchen.
"Immigration" he answered easily
That answer peaked Concetta's interest and she followed Teresa to listen to the conversation. Teresa exchanged a look with her before looking back at the buyer and asking, "Can you get papers?"
"Uh, papers?" he turned to them with a frown. "Immigration papers?"
Teresa nodded, "Yeah"
"Not really. No" he said but then burst into laughter waving a hand at them like he had just made some hilarious joke. "Of course I can! That's what I do. Basically, that's what I do day to day"
"What about... papers with different names on them?" Concetta asked watching the man carefully as she asked the question.
"Anything can be arranged" he shrugged. "It's expensive, illegal too. Depends on how far you want to outrun your past"
"Very far" Teresa muttered and Concetta nodded in agreement with a quiet scoff at the understatement. If they were to do something like getting fake papers and running, then they'd never be able to stop or they'd be dead.
The cartel would come after them.
No doubt about it.
"It's not easy, legal papers. You'd need to pay people off well for something like that" The buyer explained as he looked between them both carefully. "Are you in trouble?"
"No" Concetta forced a laugh, her face lighting up into a charming smile that instantly eased the man in front of them. She didn't want him to know anything. "You're just an interesting man"
As far as he was concerned, these were just some curious questions about his profession. "Thanks" he grinned smiling widely as he moved closer to Concetta, readily flirting despite her being way out of his league.
Hook, line and sinker - Concetta thought as she batted her eyelashes.
"Well, we've got to go" Teresa interrupted awkwardly, "So... we should wrap this up and get back to the office"
The buyer nodded and while he looked a little disappointed, complied and handed over the money for the drugs. Concetta shoved it in the duffle bag and headed back to the car with Teresa at her side. Teresa's phone rang and they were both a little surprised to see it was Camila calling. "Hello?" Teresa answered
"Where are you?" Camila demanded
"We're on our way to our next delivery" Teresa answered as they both got into the car again.
"Come to the club" Camila told them. "I need you both for something else" and then hung up.
Both of them, knowing they didn't have much of a choice, shrugged as Teresa drove them to the club. Concetta wasn't all that happy about the possibility of being tasked with something more dangerous, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. She was still having to watch out for Teresa who hadn't yet managed to be able to do it herself.
It was frustrating but she would do it nonetheless...
Teresa pulled the car into Camila's club parking lot and they both got out. Concetta stretched and cracked her back as she remembered the last time they'd been in this parking lot. Batman had really done a number on her and her body still hurt from it days later. Although Concetta would never admit to feeling any type of pain, not even to Teresa, she still felt it.
Pain is weakness.
And she isn't weak.
James was leaning on a back SUV across the parking lot. When they walked over to him he stubbed out his smoke and Camila walked out of the club approaching the three of them looking ready for a runway.
"What is it?" Teresa asked
"I need you to go on a run, it's a shipment" Camila told them. "Today, and it's very important"
Teresa nodded eyeing the man with the bag full of guns that walked past them.
Concetta ignored it, she would expect nothing less from the cartel. Guns were protection and with all the enemies a cartel makes they were most definitely needed.
"You did a good job at Birdman's, Valentina" Camila said giving a look to Teresa that said she had purposefully not included Teresa in that statement. "Both of you will go with James"
Concetta nodded seeing Teresa wanted to say something more and urging her friend towards the car before she could. Teresa was clearly on think ice with Camila and whatever comment Teresa was thinking of, surely, wasn't going to make it any better.
James shook his head when they walked over to him, "Aren't you lucky? You get to ride with me again"
"Highlight of my day" Concetta quipped sarcastically as she got in the front seat. Leaving Teresa to get in the back while James got behind the wheel.
They drove in silence for a while and Teresa was eyeing the stuffed teddy bears in the backseat beside her for a while. "Who's car is this?" Teresa finally asked
James didn't answer though and Teresa seemed to get more antsy with the lack of response as she moved around in the backseat. Concetta frowned looking at Teresa through the rear view mirror as she tried to figure out what had Teresa so on edge all of a sudden?
"So you're still messed up about what happened at Eric's, right?" James asked glancing back at Teresa in the mirror with that blank look he always wore.
Concetta sighed to herself realising it was James presence that had Teresa suddenly on edge.
Teresa is still pissed off...
Teresa scoffed, "You sat back and let that man be murdered. That's not who I am. That's not who I want to become"
Concetta shook her head silently, maybe James can talk some sense into Teresa because she sure hadn't been able to. She didn't want to get into another argument with Teresa over it though. So Concetta decided that maybe Teresita just had to learn the hard way.
"Too late" James sated simply. "I told you - fact; the guy was gonna die if you were there or not"
"Okay" Teresa nodded sarcastically. "So it just never happened? That's how you and Valentina deal with these things? Or do you really just not care that a man died and we did nothing?"
Concetta straightened her shoulders slightly as she sat there in the passenger seat with a practiced and forced ease. She wasn't about to respond to Teresa's dig, certainly not in front of James. Emotion is weakness and she was starting to think she should be hiding it from Teresa more than she had been. Teresa didn't have her back the way she had Teresa's - and that was a harsh realisation to come to.
One that Concetta didn't like and hoped like all hell was wrong.
"Look, there are gonna be some things that you see that if you allow yourself to care about, you won't be able to forget. It's an occupational hazard" James shrugged casually as he drove
"You think I haven't seen darkness?" Teresa asked angrily
Concetta snorted, "Teresita, it can get a lot worse than what you've seen" she couldn't help the hard edge in her voice that time.
Teresa may have lost her parents, and Guero, but life hadn't scared her like Concetta knew was possible. Teresa hadn't witnessed her loved ones be brutalised and then slaughtered. Teresa had only spent a few months this trying to look after herself. Aside from that, Teresa had always had someone taking care of her.
And now the role had been passed onto Concetta.
"That's not it" James said to Teresa ignoring Concetta's comment but sparing her a curious glance as he spoke. "That's not what I'm saying Teresa. It's how you deal with those things - that's what I'm talking about. Now, say you're trapped in a cave, right? And you think "what happens when the light goes out?" you're gonna be terrified, sure. The light won't last, that it'll go out... but you know what happens when it does go out? You learn to live in the dark, because you've got no choice"
Concetta let a rare smile grave her face at James metaphor and she looked over at him, "Like Liro De Los Valles"
James didn't look like he knew what she was saying and shrugged, "I don't know. Doesn't matter, but do you both understand what I'm saying?"
"It's a flower" Teresa muttered as she sighed and looked out the window. "You know what? They should use the time they can see in the light to get out of the cave"
"There's no way out of the cave" James shot back with an annoyed sigh
"Why not?" Teresa asked stubbornly
"Because you're in it every time you close your eyes. That's why. You know what I'm talking about" James said looking back at Teresa and shaking his head.
Thankfully Teresa was done with her snarky comments and simply allowed them to sit in silence again. James drove for a little while longer before pulling them into a big parking lot and circling as he looked for an empty spot.
"All right, we're gonna be on foot from here" James announced. "I use that street because there's access to the freeway, at three different points. Delaney," he explained pointing in the direction of each of the streets. "Essex, and the interchange, the on-ramp's right there, That's where you go if you're in trouble. Understand?"
"Yeah" Concetta nodded
"This is one of the usual spots" James said, "I know every inch of it, and soon you both will too. Let's go" he nodded and the three of them got out of the car.
Concetta walked beside James as he led them through the streets and she made a point of trying to memorise the area as best she could. Picking out certain buildings and shops that stood out and mapping the path they had taken in her mind.
It really wasn't as hard as it sounded.
After needing to be ready to run most of her life, it was second nature at this point.
They approached a parking garage and James slowed down to greet a man waiting there for them. "All good?" James asked
The man nodded, "Yeah"
She followed up the stairs as they climbed a few levels towards a relatively empty corner of the garage. She looked around as James and the other guy paused.
Three white vans sped over and parked.
Armed guards got out and shook James hand as they opened up the backs of the vans to reveal a few boxes. Concetta could only assume that this was a delivery of coke that they were picking up. She glanced behind her seeing that Teresa was warily watching the guy that had walked up with them as the man stood near the stairs waiting.
Concetta sighed and caught a look at herself in the little mirror that was mounted from the roof - she noted that she looked tiered.
Concetta was managing to hide it well but she knew her body well enough to see the signs. Her eyes took in her appearance until they caught a figure in the background. She frowned realising it was actually three men hiding behind a car and looking their way.
Concetta looked behind her, a worried look on her face and the man Teresa had been watching walked over to see what the problem was.
He followed her line of sigh and then cursed. Holding a finger to his lips he subtly handed her a small beretta that she quickly took.
"Teresita" Concetta whispered urgently and quickly moved to Teresa's side.
Tyres squealed in protest as large, black, armoured cars sped their way up the ramps approaching from both sides of the meet point. Concetta grabbed Teresa and pulled her over towards a silver car, taking shelter as shots rang out.
"Malditos bastardos!" someone was yelling
James spotted them and nodded at Concetta as he ran their way and ducked behind the silver car beside them. "Come on" he nodded at them standing up and firing at the cops before readying to jump over the edge of the building. "Jump or die" and with that he jumped leaving them to follow or be caught.
Concetta nodded to Teresa who hesitated, "Come on" she yelled grabbing Teresa and climbing over the railing. Jumping down onto the next level and then hitting the ground. She took the fall with ease and looked up when Teresa wasn't right beside her.
"Shit" Concetta mumbled and then let out a breath when she finally spotted Teresa jumping.
Once Teresa hit the ground, Concetta pulled her to her feet and took off running after James who managed to get a little way in front of them. She held Teresa's hand not wanting to loose her friend in the panic and they gained on James. They ran past people, families, stores, and down streets as fast as they could. The sirens grew louder and Concetta thought she might have even heard a helicopter overhead but she didn't pause to check.
They were drawing too much attention though, that much she knew.
"James!" Concetta yelled and he looked back at her, "We gotta split up" she rushed out hoping that he could see the sense in what she was saying.
He nodded, "Go that way" and pointing in the opposite direction before he took off again.
Concetta let out a breath of relief, she had been worried he wouldn't want to let them out of his sight. They'd be more likely to loose the cops if they didn't look so suspicious.
Three people running down the street surely looked suspicious, right?
She didn't let go of Teresa's hand as she ran and tired recalling the places they had passed on their way here. She remembered where they were vaguely, but it wasn't enough to get them back to the car yet - not until she recognised something that had stuck out in her mind.
So they just kept running...
Teresa's wheezing was loud and Concetta felt Teresa start to stumble behind them but they couldn't risk stopping. As sirens got louder and closer Concetta bit her lip and ran to a trash can taking off her button up shirt and urging Teresa to do the same with her jacket. They shuffled quickly into a nearby group of tourists all taking pictures and standing around.
Concetta took a look at the cop cars that rode past and briefly smiled in relief when they didn't stop.
Once the cops were gone she caught sight of a small store that she remembered and instantly knew the way to the car in the unfamiliar area. "Come on" she told Teresa who nodded and followed at a fast walk this time.
They were almost there!
It wasn't long until they reached the large parking lot beside the main road and she heard Teresa sigh in relief as she tried spotting the car from where they were walking.
Concetta scanned their surroundings and spotted the cop car turning onto the street instantly.
When a man walking his dog moved over to the other side of the path to make room for them she paused. "Hi, that's such a nice dog!" Concetta smiled charmingly at the man who stopped and smiled at them in surprise.
Teresa frowned at her but when she spotted the cop car nodded and knelt down to pat the dog, playing along. "He's so cute" Teresa said
"Oh thank you" the man smiled at both of them, "He's kind of evil, though" the man joked laughing.
Concetta gave a small airy chuckle as she eased up to the mans' side and looked down at Teresa. For all the word to see right now, it looked like Concetta was with the man as she stood too close to be socially acceptable for strangers.
The man only smiled when he noticed her closeness, "It's all part of the charm, him making you think he's cute. Trust me" the man joked in mock seriousness
"Oh" Concetta laughed a small airy laugh that had men falling hook, line and sinker - this one was no different as his smile grew into a smirk. "I still think he's cute" she whispered conspiratorially as she leaned closer, watching the cop car slowly pass them.
"Yeah?" the guy smiled leaning even closer as he enjoyed the subtle flirting. "Well, maybe you should come have coffee with him sometime?"
"Okay" Concetta nodded forcing her delighted smile to widen and she ducked her head, faking slight embarrassment.
"Here" the man smiled pulling out a pen from his pocket and taking her hand gently in his. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles as he wrote his name and number on her hand - Jacob Warren - a very American name if she'd ever heard one.
"You should call me" the man, Jacob, smiled
"I think I will" Concetta nodded looking back up at him and smiling a genuine smile when the cop car disappeared into another street.
Teresa cleared her throat as she stood back up looking between them with raised brows. "We're actually late for my appointment. She'll call you, but we have to go... it was nice meeting you"
Concetta nodded and followed Teresa as they quickly walked into the parking lot and towards the car James had parked. Thankfully he had tucked the keys on the wheel of the car just in case something like this happened. Concetta was the one who jumped behind the wheel of the car this time and they both searched the streets for cops and for James as they drove.
She shook her head not seeing James anywhere.
Pulling out her phone she dialled his number, "Where are you?" she demanded as soon as he answered.
"On a trolley - Northbound on McKinney. Where are you?" James answered
Concetta sighed, "We'll come get you"
"No, there's cops everywhere" James argued just like she knew he would. "Get on that ramp and get back to the warehouse" With that he hung up on her - his instructions clear and also ones that she planned on ignoring.
Concetta glanced at Teresa, "If he asks, you tell him we were passing there anyway cause I took a few wrong turns avoiding cops"
"What?" Teresa frowned in confusion just before Concetta did a U-turn and headed in the opposite direction.
She didn't want to leave James behind, not when they really didn't have to.
There were cops everywhere but it was easy to find the trolley when it stopped, she pulled up in front of it and honked the horn a few times. Teresa climbed into the backseat when they saw James jump out and walk over to the car.
"That was stupid. I told you to go" James said as soon as he was in the car
"Yeah, I know" Concetta nodded as she pulled back onto the road. "I took a wrong turn back there trying to get away from the cops and then we spotted the Trolley - figured since we were passing you that we could afford to stop long enough for you to get in. Don't be a pendejo"
James looked back at her and Concetta could feel him staring, but she didn't do more than spare him a single glance to shrug a shoulder at him.
She knew he was trying to figure out if she was lying or not - which she was. However, Concetta knew sounded confident and casually enough for him not to be able to figure it out.
He couldn't prove shit.
"Take a left here" James sighed pointing, "On the freeway" and Concetta followed his instructions as he gave them, knowing he knew the directions better than she did.
They drove on the freeway for a little while until Teresa sat forward, "Pull over up here" and pointed to a small little station off the freeway. "Pull over!" Teresa demanded calmly
Concetta reluctantly pulled over and sighed as she parked the car, "What's going on?" she asked turning to look at Teresa
"What are you doing?" James demanded when Teresa got out of the car
"I need air" Teresa sighed and shut the door behind her before pacing beside the car a little. Concetta looked at James and sighed as he started getting out of the car, she followed knowing Teresa might need some comfort.
James looked between them, "You turned around" he stated as if he knew it for a fact.
But Concetta recognised it for what it was; a trap.
"We didn't turn around" Concetta scoffed and smirked at him as she leaned back against the car and folded her arms over her chest not giving anything away.
James stared at her as if that would get her to spill her guts to him. Finally he looked over at Teresa who simply rolled her eyes as she paced and ran her hands through her hair trying to calm down. "Why'd you stop then?" James sighed and looked from Teresa to Concetta, searching for an answer from one of them.
"We used the time we could to get you out of the cave" Teresa smirked slightly before she turned and started walking away from them and the car.
"Hey!" Concetta yelled after Teresa
"Where are you going?" James demanded
"I'm walking back" Teresa hissed at them and continued walking away beside the freeway.
Concetta looked at James and shook her head, "Your as loco as her if you think I'm walking"
James lips turned up into a smirk that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Concetta easily got in the passenger side letting James drive this time. Once they were back on the freeway again James sighed and chanced a quick glance at her again. He had been doing that for a while now and Concetta waited patiently for him to spit out whatever question was rattling away in his head.
"Why'd you turn back, Valentina?"
Concetta looked out her window and ignored the question like he hadn't asked it in the first place. Truth was, she didn't know why she turned back!
She knew exactly why she was lying about it - but she didn't know why she'd done it in the first place.
James sighed, that same pained sigh that let her know she was getting on his nerves and wasting his time.
Concetta's lips turned up at the sound and she let out a small chuckle. Raising her hand to cover her mouth when she felt his eyes on her again.
"Who's Jacob Warren?" James asked
"Who?" Concetta frowned trying to recall the name as she looked back at James. He raised a brow and nodded to her hand. "Ay!" Concetta laughed in realisation and then turned to James with a smirk, "Jacob Warren is my hot date"
"Your hot date?" James repeated on an amused scoff as he turned into the warehouse parking lot.
"Uh-huh" Concetta nodded and chuckled a little more as she got out of the car and walked towards the warehouse with him. "We were avoiding the cops on the way to the car - he had a dog. Stopped to talk to the guy while the cops passed us. Teresa was petting the dog and I was petting the owners ego"
James chuckled quietly and looked at her before shaking his head and opening the door, letting her pass him first. "Of course you were"
"Hey! I barely even flirted with the guy" she defended herself knowing it was the truth. "I just laughed a little"
"That's better how?" James raised a brow
"If I was some puta I would have been all over the guy" Concetta shot back at him matter-of-factly. "Pero all I did was laugh at his pinche joke about his dog being evil" she rolled her eyes. "That doesn't make me a puta"
"Never said it did" James nodded holding up his hands with a small chuckle.
"Good" Concetta gave a firm nod and then walked away shaking her head.
James was a real pendejo most of the time but she had some respect for the man - he knew what he was doing in situations and could rival her in keeping complete control over his emotions. They tended to see eye to eye on more than she liked to admit and so, she respected him, just a little.
However, hell would freeze over before she ever told that to him.
Or anyone else for that matter.
James pulled into the cafe he was meeting Kim at, he needed her out of the way. She was innocent in all this cartel shit and if someone came at her when he was busy - she wouldn't even know what was happening until it's too late. She was sitting at a table already when he walked in. Twirling a daisy in her fingers and the sight made him remember why he was still with her even after the shit she'd pulled with the oil guy...
If Kim thought he didn't know that she cheated, then she was dead wrong.
He'd known.
Could easy see through her lie and small distractions and assurances. He had been out of town and he knew she got lonely with him being so busy and only able to give vague explanations.
He loved her though.
Kim only knew the good in him, she didn't know any of the bad shit. She didn't know he was in the military, she didn't know that sometimes he got nightmares about the horrific things he's seen and done if he thought too much about it. S
he didn't know he worked for a cartel.
She didn't know he was a murder and completely fine with that.
If she did - she'd hate him.
"Hi, honey" he smiled a little as he approached and took the seat across from her, setting the bag he had packed under the table.
Kim looked at him and frowned, "What's with the bag?"
"I packed some of your stuff" James admitted, "I'll explain later, but we've got to go to the trailer. I know. I know. I'm sorry" he apologised seeing the look on her face. He knew she didn't like this but it was for her own protection.
"Why?" Kim sighed tucking some of her red hair behind her ear as she looked down at the table.
"Something went down at work - I don't know what's gonna happen, but I need you to be safe" he told her only lying slightly since she thought he was working with the cops to get some criminals off the streets. Purely getting and exchanging information and nothing illegal. "You know I'm doing this for your own protection"
"I know. I know the drill. Jesus, Lord, I know the drill" Kim was blinking back tears as she looked at him. "For how long? I used up all my sick leave last time"
James sighed wishing he didn't have to do this or at the very least wishing he had some answer to give to her that would explain all of this.
He didn't though.
"I don't know exactly" James said looking at her pleadingly as he moved to hold her hands. "Hey, you always kick and scream, and then you say you love the view from the lake" he tried to lighten the mood.
Kim only looked mad though, "I meant when we build a home on it, not hiding in some rusty old trailer"
"It's not always gonna be like this" he promised. "Come on. I'll get you set up. I got to get back to work"
Kim nodded, not saying a word as she picked up her jacket and then the duffle bag he had packed for her to leave with. They started walking to his car in silence and he knew it would be a while before she wanted to talk to him again. Kim was angry, rightfully so, but angry meant silence and glares and space away from him.
James didn't even protest this time - he knew the drill by now.
They had been fighting a lot more recently but he was desperate to keep the one place that he could get a break from the harshness of the life he lived.
James might love working in the cartel, he liked the work they did and wouldn't change anything. He liked working his way up through the ranks and he had dedicated so much to it already. It was the life and future he wanted and would earn it. However, James also liked the moments he got away from it all where he could pretend everything was normal with a beautiful girlfriend who loved him and a place he didn't have to be alert all the time.
Maybe it was wrong of him to want that shit?
Maybe he loved what Kim provided more than he actually loved her?
James just didn't care... and so he drove Kim to the trailer in silence, watched her go inside and then drove back to the club to meet up with Camila again.
"What the hell happened?" Camila demanded as soon as he walked into her office.
Charger gave him a nod that James returned before looking back at Camila who was pacing in front of her desk.
"The feds were waiting for us" James told her, "I mean, they knew about the shipment. Someone must have tipped them off. How else do you explain this shit?"
"Wait" Charger stepped up frowning, "Are you saying we have a mole?"
James sighed looking at Charger and shrugged before turning back to Camila who looked more angry than he had ever seen her before. He honestly couldn't figure how this happened if not from a mole. The three stood in silence until James added more bad news, "And it's gonna get worse when the Colombians realize we just lost them 5 million bucks"
"How much coke do we have left? Including reserves?" Camila questioned but Charger only shook his head silently.
Shit!
Nothing?
There was nothing left?!
Camila sighed, "Well, Epifanio is sending a shipment tonight. We can just sell it, you know, and pay the Colombians. We'll be fine"
"Epifanio?" James frowned despite Camila's assurances. "He hasn't exactly been very reliable recently. I mean, that's why we're in this mess in the first place. We're losing customers to Eric, we owe the Colombians five million, and if he doesn't come through we got nothing"
"Well, do you have an idea?" Camila demanded
Charger shifted beside him, clearly having something to add despite the fact he chose to say nothing. Probably worried about how Camila would react to whatever it was right now.
"What is it?" Camila sighed looking over at Charger expectantly. "Speak up"
"Well, you know I don't often question your decisions... we're on the hook for 5 million bucks. Sell Teresa and Valentina to Epifanio for 5 million. Use the money to pay back the Colombians, and we are back in business" Charger stated glancing at Camila warily as he spoke and waited for a reaction.
James held back a sigh - it was a smart business decision and he knew it.
They all did.
However, James knew that selling the two women back to Epifanio would be signing their death certificates. He didn't doubt Epifanio would pay... James just wasn't sure if he wanted to see them both dead. Not even Teresa who really pissed him off with her moral high horse she was sat on.
James waited for Camila to react, unwilling to show his thoughts on the idea first.
He didn't particularly care about either woman, he wouldn't be personally effected if they died... but he didn't wish them dead. As far as he was concerned, Valentina was an asset to them on jobs and someone he didn't mind working with. Although, James wouldn't allow himself to ever admit that to anyone.
Showing emotion was weakness and it revealed your hand, ready for someone to exploit it. James would never let that happen.
Charger sighed, "You must love your business more than you hate Epifanio. Right?" he asked looked straight at Camila.
Camila nodded, "Maybe you're right" she agreed on a sigh.
.
.