Ailee woke up with her back against Angel, his arms tightly around her. She could feel his even breathing as she carefully reached over the nightstand to get her phone. Pressing the button on the side to turn on her phone, she found that it was 10 in the morning. Carefully, she maneuvered out of his arms and headed to the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, Ailee knew that last night should not have happened. This was becoming too personal and that's not how she did things. But Arthur hasn't been able to give her a name as to who put the hit on Angel and who picked up the other contract.
Opening the door that led to her closet, she slipped on a shirt and shorts since she was able to get her underwear before she went to the bathroom. After doing her morning routine, she unlocked the bathroom door and found Angel sitting up, his back against the headboard, eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Morning," he greeted. "Come back to bed."
"I'm starving," she told him before walking out of her room and down the stairs.
She heard Jennifer and Michael's voice chattering away. Walking in the kitchen she found Michael transferring some scrambled eggs to a plate. They both looked up at her, smirks immediately appearing on their faces.
"I don't want to hear it," she didn't need them teasing her while Angel was still in the house.
"What?" They said in unison.
Ailee chose to ignore them, walking over to the coffeemaker to make some coffee.
"If it makes you feel any better we didn't hear anything," Michael went back to the stove and began cooking the bacon. "Bryan was upset yesterday."
"Was he? Why?" Ailee poured herself some coffee before she turned to face the two. "We were never official."
"He was your fuck buddy for years. I think he was banking on the fact that he would eventually break you down and you would date him." Jennifer explained.
"Well tough shit, she's taken."
The three Maquina agents turned to the entrance of the kitchen and found Angel standing there with his jeans and black tank top.
"Are you now?" Michael looked at Ailee who shot him a look, immediately making him focus on the bacon.
"Coffee?" Ailee offered, choosing to ignore the question.
"Sure," Angel walked over to her and dropped a kiss on her lips before he poured himself coffee.
Michael and Jennifer watched as Ailee continued to drink her coffee, trying to keep her emotions neutral. They both smiled, now seeing Angel's plan as a success. If they were honest, they thought Ailee was going to kill Angel and move on, but as Bryan had said yesterday, she was playing with her target, which made it dangerous.
"What did you two find in LA?" Ailee questioned. She looked over at Angel who was standing right beside her. "Actually, just tell me later."
"Oh no, you two can share whatever you found because I want in." Angel scoffed at Ailee. "I told you, you got me fucked up if you think I'm going to let you handle this all on your own."
"I knew there was a reason why I liked you," Jennifer smirked. "Anyone who hates psycho McPsycho is a-okay in my book."
"This isn't Maquina business Lee," Michael reminded her. "Though, aren't you a little too busy with the rebels and the MC?"
"The MC will understand."
"And the rebels?" Michael wasn't entirely comfortable including Angel into their plan, quite frankly, there was no reason to do so. For him, they had everything handled, adding Angel would just present complications to the whole situation. The last thing they needed was for something to make this Theo ordeal more complicated.
"Not your worry," Angel wasn't sure what to think of Michael.
"Shit," Ailee muttered as she saw her phone light up. Angel looked over at the screen and saw John. "Brother," she greeted.
"Ailee Grace Cruz, I'm going to beat your ass." John didn't even exchange pleasantries with her, there was no need with his hard headed younger sister.
"Too early for this, don't you think?" Ailee moved away from Angel and to the backyard.
"How many times do I have to tell you your insubordinate ways is gonna bite you on the ass?"
"Hmm, let's try one more time."
"Ailee," he growled out.
"To be fair, I'm not sure what I did cause I've been in Santo Padre." Ailee wasn't exactly sure what prompted this phone call from her older brother, she's been good as of late. Maybe with the exception of her almost mission yesterday.
"I was informed that someone was snooping on Eastern Europe contacts to gain intel on Theodore Kane."
"Barking up the wrong tree."
"Am I?"
"John, you really are, I have no issues with Theo." And that was partially true. She just knew he was involved on the hit on Angel. Otherwise, Theo Kane has remained silent all these years.
"Ailee, listen, I'm on your side. We talked not too long ago. Let me help you. Theo hasn't made any noise and if you're looking into him, or since you adamantly deny any involvement with him, since we're looking into him, the council is going to become nervous." John pointed out.
Ailee never understood why they worried so much about Theo. After the government exiled him from America, he moved to Madrid where his mother was from and proceeded to continue his father's weapons business from there. He has been playing by the rules of the law and has rarely made any concerning moves, but Ailee knew better. It was the calm before the storm.
"John, I know you are. It was me, Arthur informed me that Theo has been selling to some militant groups in Eastern Europe that could jeopardize our hold there. I'm just trying to contain it before it blows up." She truthfully informed him.
"This has to go through the council Lee, it's an international matter."
"Does it? The rule changes with every situation we deal with. As far as I know, according to Uncle Jin, Theo is Maquina business without the council. The less they know, the better."
"Lee, let me find information. I forbid you from doing anything till I can determine whether this needs our attention or not."
"We worked too hard to contain things in Eastern Europe for you to let it escalate."
"Stand down Lee, wait for our orders."
"Fine."
John sighed, placing his phone down. He looked at his companion, frowning.
"Things are about to escalate, you need to tell her before Theo does." John leaned back against his chair, keeping his room private with only one window that was not covered by the blinds. "How much does Angel know?"
"You know how much he knows," Vince Cruz, the brother thought to be dead was alive and well. "We have nothing to worry about, if he tells her, he would face her wrath too."
"We shouldn't have kept this from her." John grimaced. "Your death is the reason she's become so unhinged."
"And you think that you reappearing alive and well is going to have her repent?" John scoffed. "You're absolutely insane."
"Have you lost faith in our sister?"
"No, I'm realistic." John shook his head. "Vince, she's not the same person who followed you around with starry eyes. She's tainted, blood staining her hands due to the amount of blood she shed to avenge you."
"She thinks I committed suicide."
"No, she believes someone killed you and has been killing people to compensate for whoever could possibility have killed you." John stood up, walking over to the makeshift bar he had, pouring himself a drink. "You're in deep shit brother, I don't think Ailee will forgive you."
Vince sighed. "Have faith brother, she'll forgive me."
Ailee sat down inside the cafe, reviewing a few assignments Arthur had sent her way. After Angel left this morning, she immediately felt claustrophobic and wanted to leave Santo Padre. It was a good trip down memory lane, but she needed to handle this soon. Angel was under the impression they were together and she had to rid of this relationship.
'Relationships are weak points that an enemy can expose at any given moment. The more you choose to keep personal relationships, the more ways people can hurt you.' She recalled Theo telling her. 'Your infatuation for Angel Reyes is going to get him killed.' This was all before she even got with Angel, this was when her crush on him was only kept to herself, but Theo knew. She and Theo weren't together long, but it was obsessive, dangerous, at least on Theo's side. Theo was never able to sink his claws in Ailee since Angel was always such a big part of her life. But When they were over, for some odd reason, the two remained friends and Theo's rhetoric sunk into her.
Before Theo became psychotic, his father was partners with Jin, but then he became a liability, a danger to the government so he was disposed of. Theo never cared about his father, he was glad the man was taken care of, the only thing was, his father killed his mother and younger sister before Vince killed his father. Theo was never the same after that. Ailee always thought he was borderline psychotic and it was what pushed him over the edge.
"You looked cozy with Reyes earlier," Xander broke her away from her thoughts. Xander has sent him a picture of Ailee and Angel while they were having breakfast. "It's nice to see your humanity come out and play."
"Had to release some stress, I'm going to still go with the plan. Once I find out who crossed the line, I'll dispose of them then Angel." Ailee was trying her best to not divert her plans. She has always delivered and she wasn't going to fail now. "Any word on Theo?"
"No," Xander looked around, even though it was only two of them in the break room. "I need you for a mission."
Ailee raised an eyebrow at her brother in law, a smirk appearing on her lips. "Xander Michaelson, you have never approached me for a mission. What's going on?"
"Well, it's not something I'm all that proud of," he sighed. "I need you to go to Mexico and retrieve my younger brother."
"The drug addict?"
Xander nodded his head. "One of the lowly cartels has him since he couldn't pay up, he boasted about his older brother being a federal agent, which piqued their interest."
"Great, how is he still alive?"
"They want to do a prisoner exchange."
"They can't be that lowly."
"Believe me, they are."
"What do you want me to do? Purge the cartel and rescue your brother?" Ailee wasn't opposed to the plan, she needed a distraction. Besides, from what she was hearing, it sounded like a straightforward mission. "There's a catch."
"Theo is connected to the cartel."
"Their arms dealer?"
"Yep."
"How can a lowly cartel have Theo as their arms dealer?"
"He had to start somewhere, he just never severed the ties since you know he values loyalty."
Ailee nodded her head. "I don't see how this is an issue. He's just their arms dealer, it's not like Theo is married into the family."
"I don't want it to start a war we're not ready to call yet." Xander knew that Theo took things personally. Regardless of how bottom feeding the cartel was, they were his ally.
"You can't start a war with someone who is trying their best to remain inconspicuous." Ailee unlocked her computer. "Give me coordinates. What deadline did they give you?"
"Tonight."
"Xander, are you even trying to save your brother?" Ailee looked at the clock and it was close to four in the afternoon. "I'll take Michael with me. Arthur can be our eyes. The less people, the better."
"How are you going to get to the other side?"
"Tunnels."
Bishop watched as Ailee and Michael armed themselves. The two didn't have much, 2 handguns and ammunition. Michael was holding a case, which he assumed contained a gun as well.
"Does Angel know you're going to the other side?" Bishop questioned as Hank and Taza looked on as well.
"Am I missing something?" Ailee hoped that Angel didn't tell the damn MC they were together.
Michael chuckled. "Come on Ailee, you know why he's asking. You gotta let tu novio know of your whereabouts. The last thing they need is for him to go ape shit."
Ailee looked over at Michael and he immediately looked down at his weapons, trying to avoid Ailee's eyes.
"It's fine, he doesn't need to know." Ailee brushed it off.
"Lee, I get it, you're trying to put on this heartless act or whatnot, but there are people who care about you and as a respect to them, you should at least let them know where you are cause you may not come back." Bishop knew she was going to come back, but he much rather have Ailee tell Angel.
"Didn't have time to tell Angel, I'll let him know when I get back. Where is the tunnel entrance?"
"You were always such a pain in the ass." Taza shook his head making Ailee laugh.
"But I thought I was a cute pain in the ass?"
"Yeah, but it ain't cute now." He teased her. "You two sure you don't need us to go?"
"It's fine, we have contacts in Mexico. They're meeting with us. The less people we have, the more efficient we can do this." Ailee and Michael picked up their things and was led by Bishop to the entrance of the tunnel.
"You two don't need us to guide you?" Hank questioned.
"No, we're fine, we may have snooped and used the tunnel one night." Ailee smiled.
"See, pain in the ass," Taza looked at Hank and Bishop, who were laughing.
"Can you check in? I don't want your uncle thinking I didn't try to keep tabs on you. I don't care if it's not Maquina related, even more of a reason why you should check in." Bishop told her.
"Absolutely, I'll send a text once I get there and once I finish, deal?"
Bishop nodded his head. Michael and Ailee walked in the room, going down the ladder with Ailee going first so that Michael could hand her the case before he went down. The two waved goodbye to three high ranking Mayans members before making their way down the tunnel.
"You should text him." Michael advised as they made their way down.
"No, if I text him, it validates what he thinks we are and we're not together."
"Sure," they heard Arthur scoff.
"Focus, I don't need you assholes to do this right now."
Michael chuckled. "Oh, the glory days are back."
Angel got off his bike, placing his helmet on one of the handle bars. A sigh escaped his lips before he made his way to the front door of Vicky's place. He knew he didn't have to knock, so he walked in and was greeted by Vicky.
"Your visitor is out back," Vicky directed him.
Angel merely nodded his head and gave her a kiss on the cheek before making his way to the back. Once he got there, he found a man overlooking the Ariza backyard.
"Took you long enough," the man turned around. Vince Cruz looked at his best friend, a smile on his face. "Come on man, give me some sugar."
"Fuck you," Angel chuckled. He gave his old friend a hug before he stepped back, standing beside him. "Ballsy of you to show your face here knowing your sister is in town."
"I've had run ins with my sister, she just wasn't looking at the right place." Vince shrugged. "Heard you two got back together earlier." Vince always knew there was something going on between Angel and Ailee, but he always pretended it wasn't happening. Ailee was his younger sister and he knew Angel tried his best to stay away, but he knew how Ailee could be. "Does she know?"
"No, what makes you think I would tell her?" Angel scoffed. He hated lying to Ailee, especially since it's been going on for years. This whole bullshit of her becoming a heartless killer, it could have been avoided if Vince just got his head out of his ass and told his sister the truth. No. Instead, he chose to keep his sister in the dark. Though, only a handful of people knew that Vince was alive. "You have to come out with it soon, I can't keep lying to her."
"You've been lying to her for 5 years, I think you can hold on a bit longer." Vince wasn't proud of the way he kept his sister in the dark, but it had to be done. He wanted to leave this life behind and with the way he handled things, there was only one way he could do that, to eliminate everyone who hunted for his blood. In retrospect, it would have been easier to include Ailee, he could have disposed of people quicker, but he had to handle this on his own. Finally, he was on his last target, Theodore Kane, the man he should have taken care of years ago. "I almost have Theo, just play possum for a bit longer then everything will be revealed."
"This is fucked up." Angel got a cigarette out, the stress level of the situation getting to him. He had so much going on in his plate, with the cartel, the club, and Los Olvidados, the last thing he needed was drama from the Cruz's, but he couldn't stay away. As much as he would like to stay that they could stay in the past, they couldn't. When he laid eyes on Ailee again, when Evangelina reached out to him, it was done deal. For years, he buried whatever he felt for Ailee since he knew that if he pursued her, if he kept trying to keep the relationship they once had, it would be hard to keep Vince's secret. He sacrificed the relationship he could have had with Ailee, he let her run away to keep Vince's secret and he regretted it deeply. "I sacrificed so much for you man, the least you can do is tell your sister so I don't feel that I'm keeping all these secrets from her."
"I have Theo where I want him, don't fuck it up now Angel. Once I dispose of Theo, she'll be all yours." Vince reasoned. "It's better that you keep this secret to yourself, my sister would never forgive you."
"You don't know that, she'll understand." He felt naive and foolish for even saying those words, but he would like to think that Ailee would understand why he and Vince kept this from her.
"Is that what keeps you going? Thinking your sister is going to be forgiving?" Angel knew that Ailee wouldn't forgive him, but he did it to help out Vince. It was a struggle not to tell Ailee, especially as he watched her mourn Vince. If he could take it back, he would, but he understood why he had to do what Vince asked of him.
"Look, I don't believe this picture they're painting. Ailee kills people for a living, if she's killing more people than before, it's because she's become better at her occupation." Vince knew he was lying to himself, but it was helping the guilt he was feeling stay way. He could wallow and beg for forgiveness once he took care of Theo once and for all.
"Why did you want to meet?"
Vince shrugged. "Just checking on you, making sure we're still on the same page."
"We are, I just hope you take care of Theo soon." Angel blew out a smoke. "When you find him, I want in, he has to pay for what he did to her."
"Don't you worry about that my friend," Vince placed a hand on Angel's shoulder. "We'll get our revenge on Theo. He won't know what hit him."