Sun beats down onto the sandy island. The island is buzzing with excitement; music, singing, dancing, kids playing, people walking and talking. Nothing was calm and quiet. That's what Neal liked best about it. He could be a free alpha and not worry about the prison or FBI mandated shots. He could run free and enjoy life. Once was the most wanted man, now just a rich person with a manor on the beach of an island that is probably smaller than a quarter on a map. The island was almost the perfect choice to escape to: Sunny always, Nice people, Nice weather and one gorgeous woman who works at the local shop. It is truly paradise.
A man with piercing blue eyes and dark hair with a trimmed beard swishes out of the pool connected to the manor. He swaggers out with water dripping out of his hair and the water glistens on his tan hairless six-pack chest. A true model if anyone saw.
By everyone on the island his name was James Maine but by those who really know him, it's Neal Caffery. Most wanted ex-con man.
Neal walked through his manor with a towel resting low on his hips. He shakes his hair with his hand leaving water droplets against the nice wooden floor passing Barry Saturo aka Mozzie, working on another project.
"You know just because you're a free alpha as you put it doesn't mean you have to flaunt it." Mozzie said, shaking his hips dramatically, mocking Neal.
"Oh come on, Mozzie. You can do it as a Beta too." said Neal
Mozzie grumbled.
"I know Elizabeth would love those hips." Neal commented. His laugh faded once he saw Mozzie's face. "Sorry."
"No it's okay, just kind of miss her." said Mozzie trying to focus back on his project. "I wish I at least I told her how I felt."
They were silent, nothing could be heard but the ocean.
"Well it's pointless now." Mozzie grimmed. "Now go get dressed, go to the bar, and flirt with that waitress of yours. We got a meeting later."
Neal nodded and went to his walk-in closet.
"Don't forget!" Mozzie yelled.
Neal rolls his eyes "I won't"
He is dressed in a sheer white dress shirt and tan pants. He strolls down the village greeting everyone. They all knew him by name now. He heads towards the local hat shop where he holds trust with the owner.
"O. Senaro Maine." The owner said in a thick Spanish accent.
"Got it?" I said.
"Yes, Yes." He pulls out the new box from behind the counter. He opened the box
"Wow." Neal said amazed. "It looks perfect" He flips on the white fedora with a blue strips. He looks in the small mirror with a cocky smile. Just like back in New York with Peter.
'New York' Neal thought grimly. '...Peter'
It was still painful for Neal to think about New York even though it's been several weeks. Leaving everyone he knew behind: Elizabeth, Ellen, Diana, Jones, Peter…
Neal shook his head.
He missed him, sure but he was also one to always run. Excepically with Agent Kramer trying to put him back into prison. Peter was also one to tell him to run. Despite how much Peter threatened to put him back in prison, it was always an empty threat. Neal smiled weakly at the memory. He shouldn't miss Peter as much as he does, seeing as he is the reason he was put in prison in the first place but he also was the one who made him a consultant and trusted him.
'I'm thinking too much of him lately. Maybe seeing her will help' Neal thought putting a hand to his mouth.
He continued walking through the busy streets waving to some of the locals. He stopped by Hector's fruit stand, he is a rambunctious little kid. Before he gets there some asshole takes papaya without paying.
"Hey you have to pay for that!" Hector yells. Neal pays for the stolen papaya and shakes Hector's hair. Right when he was about to leave he saw the guitar next to Hector. An idea popped into his head. He asked if Hector could play a certain song. He nodded.
"Follow me." Neal said, giving him some more money. Enough to retire from the fruit stand for a week. He whispers his plan into Hector's ear.
Hector walks in the outdoor cafe playing 'New Evido' where the gorgeous waitress was clearing a table. Neal walks from a different direction to "surprise" her. Swinging around the table in front of her.
"Hola, Maya." Neal said with a glint in his eyes, his usual charm.
"O, New York." She said rolling her eyes. "That's the last time I tell you one of my favorites."
There stood a gorgeous alpha girl. She had shoulder length long, wavy brown hair, dark brown eyes, slightly pink small lips, and tan skin. She really was one to be worthy to draw. Today she wore a white knee length dress with little designs on the neckline and end of the selves. Exactly Neal's type.
"That almost sounds like regret." he smirked "Something you said you didn't believe in."
"After a few drinks people can say a lot." She explained picking up the dishes.
"HA" a person behind said.
"O it looks like your usual table has ears." She said not too happy from whom it came from. She left in a huff but with an extra swing of her hips
"O Barry, he is as harmless as a pale of fluff." Neal jokes, stopping her departure.
"He unionized my servers." She explained getting irritated.
"Viva healthcare" Barry (Mozzie) said aloud without looking at them.
"Well he is beta harmless." Maya snorts at the comment. "Say yes to dinner tonight?"
"I'm working." She said. Well that ship sunk and failed time, for plan B.
"But you're the provider."
"You know James I like you, really I do but you are just trouble." She said demandingly. Neal leans against the table with a confused look.
"The ones who are trying to escape their past." she explains "Honestly you are just not an open book and won't talk about your past."
"You must be confusing me for the guy who steals Hector's papayas and if you are I am extremely offended." Neal said. "I may seem like an asshole but I'm not one."
"Estoy Bien" Barry/Mozzie said.
Maya rolls her eyes. "So you're an honest man?"
"Open book"
"Sure…because all you have told me is that you are from New York." She raises an eyebrow.
"Best city in the world."
"Then why exactly did you leave?"
"To live here. Paradise."
"Sorry New York, but honestly you are lying throw your teeth and your book is a work of fiction."
"Maya, Please"
"One moment of honesty that's all I ask." She interrupts. "Then maybe I could try but until then nothing is going to happen" she walked away with a swing in her hips
Neal sighs as she walks away. He hangs his head forward then backwards. 'Shit' thought Neal. He walks over to the table at the end of the courtyard and sits with Mozzie.
"Well if it is not Barry Saturo." he sighed
"Of all the people you could get you choose the one who wants you the least." Barry/Mozzie examines, glancing up from his newspaper. "Also that Beta comment was uncalled for. Even if you're an alpha I can still take you down."
"Sure… and I won the Indianapolis 500." Neal says sarcastly. "Well I don't know I just want her. Always liked what I couldn't have."
Mozzie just rolled his eyes.
"Also why are you here?"
"Want to see you shoot your shot and watch it go down." said Mozzie, still looking at the Newspaper.
Neal is silent for a moment and thinks. 'I think that I want her but at the same time I don't. I have felt empty since I left New York. I guess I am just trying to find my "soul mate". Which I don't really believe in. I don't get myself anymore and really don't know what I want. Do I want Maya or one of the other women I once had a relationship with or do I want something else. I don't know anymore. I thought Kate was supposed to be mine but she died. Then there was Alex that didn't even last a day. Then there was Sarah but she just couldn't trust me after finding out about the treasure. Maybe Maya will be the one to be mine.'
Neal groaned at his thoughts. He glares at Mozzie. "Thanks for the help bud, I'm heading home"
Mozzie just waves his paper at him. Neal takes the long way home, just him with his thoughts. He thinks about New York, the FBI, his friends...Peter and his sister, El, who always treated him with kindness. Now he is here and he should be happy but he just can't be. Something seems to be missing. He gets home, takes off his shirt and goes out onto his deck. He brings some clay and starts sculpturing the first thing that comes to mind. New York, the empire state building.
He is at his basic mold, sweat dripping on his bare chest when Mozzie comes through with a bottle of booze.
"You know normal people use sand to build sandcastles." Mozzie explained setting the bottle onto the near by table then putting his hands in his pocket.
"When did you ever consider us normal, Mozz?" Neal questioned.
"Your point?" Mozzie laughs.
"Language is fluid."
"So is your linen shirt." As Mozzie pulls his long forgotten shirt out of the tub of water.
Neal sighs. "Okay give me sec while I go change."
"Or I can meet Dobbs by myself." Mozzie said confidently.
"We are going to pay him $25 grand a month for protection and you're asking me to stay here." He said irritated. "I think I earned a little facetime. Plus I need to protect my little Beta." Neal smirked.
"I don't need your protection and also it took a lot of time to find places for us to stay." Mozzie said. "The one after this is Eastern Lariped."
"Sounds Nice." Neal said absent mindedly still working on the structure.
"It's a leper colony." Mozzie ranted walking back and forth on the deck continuing. "Unless you want to lessen up on the 'Big enough to blend in but small enough to limit exposure' then you have to not cross Dobbs in any way." He stopped and looked at Neal "Contrary to people's belief I don't have that much compassion for Jesus. Also it is very hard to find a place that accepts an alpha and a beta, and not suspect anything."
"Moz your rambling." Neal said, pinching his nose. "Let's go see Dobbs."
"Ok good. Also I got this for Dobbs." He held a curvy booze bottle
"What's this for Mozz?" Neal questioned guiding them to inside the house.
"First impression."
Neal sighed. He wasn't too excited about meeting with Dobbs. He honestly would have let Mozzie go alone but he worried about him. Mozzie is his only friend here and he doesn't want to see him get hurt. Plus they got history.
'If Dobbs is able to get the Law enforcement to leave us alone. Then the 25 Grand is worth it. But I would hate to get on his bad side if he is that powerful." Neal thought while changing into a light blue business casual suit.
They made their way to Dobbs's house. Mozzie giving Neal the rundown on what to say and what not to say. The house was huge and white surrounded by black metal fencing. The house could easily fit a whole army with no problem.
"He has the whole island wired" says Mozzie while walking through the open foyer.
Neal glances up and sees two girls in bikinis on the balcony.
"Clearly." Neal says looking at Mozzie with a mocking surprise face. They chuckle.
They get escorted to Dobb's office. A nice, spacious one. Art lining one wall and books on the opposite. He was sitting in his chair, working on a boat in a bottle when the two walked in. He was a bit grungy, rough looking but muscler with bleached hair. He is your stereotypical douchebag alpha.
'God it stinks of dirty alpha in here' Neal thinks looking around and trying not to wince.
"Mr. Dobbs, I would like to introduce you to James Maine." Barry/Mozzie said.
"Hello Mr. Maine. Tell me where your name comes from." Dobbs asked, finishing his boat and tying off the bottle.
"The U.S.S Maine." Neal explained
"Didn't that ship have a crash in the rough seas?"
"Sadly to say it was not a planned retirement." Neal chuckled "Well we brought you a gift."
Dobbs examined the bottle, was saying something about it being rare to come by these parts and asking where they found it. Mozzie answered the questions while Neal wasn't paying attention and looking around the place. He was memorizing the location, items that could be weapons and escape routes. Can't break habit. When Neal turned around Dobbs was putting his model ship away behind him. That's when he noticed all the model ships on the shelf. At least 12 ships, all different shapes and sizes.
"I have been on this island for 20 years. You need hobbies to get by." He explains "I hope you have something else for me."
"I don't know much about model ships." Neal says pointing at the wall.
"When all the pieces are set, it just takes pulling the strings." said Dobbs "And if the pieces aren't together properl-"
"It collapses." Mozzie interrupts. Dobbs glares at him.
"So you pull the strings." Neal smirks standing in front of Moz trying to get Dobb to pay attention to him.
Dobbs starts a cigar smirking, takes a puff then points at the two empty chairs. "Please have a seat."
Once Neal sits down he asks Dobb what the money covers. He ensures the local law enforcements will keep out of their hair and if you have any problems that they could just come to him day or night.
"You are invisible to the outside world. I just ask you to respect the sanctity of the island. " Dobbs explains "and come to me for any problems. But also know your place" He glares at Moz.
"I doubt we will have any problems" Mozzie squirmed in his seat.
"But I do." Neal explain
"Please don't." Mozzie says trying to stop Neal. Neal could smell the fear on him even with it being light.
"There is a kid, Hector, that runs a fruit stand in the market area and one of your men keeps stealing his papayas. I want him to stop and pay for the ones he stole."
"Ok Brody will pay for the papayas he has stolen and will pay for the ones he gets in the future." Dobbs chuckles.
Neal gives him the money, they watch as he puts it in his safe that's behind them. Mozzie bickers at Neal saying he was just doing it for the coffee girl. They bicker until Dobbs turns around and smiles at them. They stand up straight.
"Gentlemen, we have an agreement."
They leave and head to their homes. Before Neal goes back to his place, he stops by and speaks to Hector about his plan to woo the cafe woman and that he shouldn't worry about the asshole anymore. Hector agrees to help and thanks Neal.
Once Neal gets home, he finishes the sculpture and goes to the private beach and starts setting up for what he hopes is a date with Maya. He set up the table, chairs, wine, the sculpture, he hung up some lights. Setting it all to a romantic atmosphere. He did his good deed and wants to make this date fantastic. Once everything is set, he takes a shower and gets dressed in a white suit with a blue shirt. Neal goes back and finishes. "Everything is perfect."
The moon is high in the sky and the candles lit and lights glowing. He turns when he hears Hector dragging Maya to the beach, she was dressed in an aqua dress that hits the sandy floor. Once they make eye contact, Neal starts pouring the red wine into two glasses.
"O New York what do I have the pleasure of meeting." She said amused
"Surprise and don't tell me you were thinking I was the guy who steals Hector's papayas." Neal pretends to be hurt and hands her a glass chuckling.
"Well that guy did pay Hector today and I wonder if it had anything to do with you."
Neal smirks, taking a sip of wine "Come with me I want to show you something."
Neal sets down the wine glasses and takes her hand. They follow the string of lights to the sculpture buildings of New York. They were all in the sand, it looked like a real city with the lights lined on it like street lamps. She looked at it in awe, amazed at the work. She was stunned, too afraid to touch it, she bent down to look at it closer.
"You were talking about me not talking about my past well I am going to let you ask me 20 questions about my past in New York." Neal says behind her, his hands in his pockets.
"Intriguing. Okay, I'll play. Do you miss it?" she says walking to him slowly.
"Everyday" Neal says, thinking back to it then Peter pops into his mind. 'Wait what? Why am I thinking of him, excepically right now. Nevermind." Neal focuses back on Maya.
"Ok who was your first friend?"
"Barry."
"O really. He doesn't really look like a Barry." she says coming closer, almost nose to nose.
"Do I look like a James?" Neal said flirting, leaning in close.
"No that's why I call you New York." She said, licking her lips and staring at his.
They kiss, filled with wine and hopes. They stumble back to Neal's place, along the way they lose their clothes and end up in bed. Neal thrusts into her as she moans and groans. After it is all over. Neal stays awake looking at the ceiling while Maya sleeps.
'I felt nothing but regret and shame. What is wrong with me?' Neal thinks while sighing softly. 'Why would I go through all this work just to impress someone I didn't want...or was I hoping it was someone else.' He glances over to where Maya sleeps. He stares at her, her beautiful hair cascading down, her long eyelashes sweeping against her check. Yet Neal feels nothing. He turns around and closes his eyes
Neal was startled awake by the sound of a soft buzzing. He gently gets out of bed and slips on pants trying to not disturb Maya. She groans and Neal shivers shamefully at the thought about what he did, the feelings of regret and shame come pouring in. He tiptoes to the large wooden trunk, he opens it silently and picks up everything in there until he finds the buzzing pager.
'It's Ellen' Neal thought. Neal hasn't used the pagar in years. He grabs his disposable phone and walks to the beach. Thundering is roaring in the distance and the waves crash against the sand.
"Ellen?" Neal said concern seeping into his voice.
"Neal, It's Peter."
Neal went silent, his breath hitched. He realizes how long it's been since he heard that voice and how much he missed it. He shakes his head and goes back to the task at hand.
"Peter where is Ellen?" Neal said concerned
"She is fine. I- I - I am just trying to warn you about someone who is trying to track you down." Peter stumbling over his words.
Neal paused again.
"Is this person you?" Neal's heart leaped at the thought of seeing Peter again but knew at the same time it wouldn't be good if he did.
"No but-"
"Then I am not worried" Neal's heart fell a bit at this but knew it was for the best.
"But this guy means business. His name is Kyle Collins. He is not going to stop until he gets you. Please Neal listen!"
"Well make sure he doesn't. Goodbye Peter."
"Neal please listen, I need to talk to you"
Silence.
"Goodbye Peter, it was fun while it lasted."
Neal threw his phone into the ocean as far as he could. The phone landed in the roaring waves. He stood there still, his toes digging into the sand. He looked at the waves and felt a tear run down his cheek.
"I will never hear or see Peter again." Neal said to the open air already missing his voice.
He walked back to his house, ignoring the side of him that died knowing that Peter was no longer in his life.
Once he got back to his bed. He stared up at the ceiling watching the sunrise over the ocean, seeping in through the windows. He let one tear fall down his cheek.
'Goodbye forever Peter'
