The next morning, she was awakened by shouts and cries, jumping off her bed she bolted down the hall. Upon turning the corner, she froze. Rafael leaned against the wall, his head back and eyes closed. The shouts and cries were coming from Damon's room.
Olivia gave him a look and ran in only to be stopped by Rafael. "Let go."
"Leave him." Rafael mumbled. It pained him to see his son act this way. Not because of what caused the tantrum, but because he was slowly realizing what his son had turned to.
Olivia scoffed, shrugging him off and running into the room. Damon was in his chair tossing whatever he found in reach. "Damon?"
"What do you want?!" Damon shouted.
Olivia was taken back. Seeing him about to throw his lamp, she quickly stopped him halfway. Olivia squatted in front of him, placing his hands on his lap. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I am as happy as I can be!" He tried to wheel away, but Olivia stopped him. "Just let me go."
"Not until you tell me what is wrong." Olivia pushed, whatever it was, it was big. And she would bet her life it was his father's doing. "Damon."
"Ask my father." Damon pulled away, wheeling his chair towards the bed. "Now get out."
Olivia huffed going in search of the man. She was contemplating simply shooting him and getting this over with. Pushing the door to his office, she found him talking with his younger son.
"I need to talk with you." Olivia snapped ignoring the look of shock on Jack's face and annoyance on Rafael's.
Jack raised his brow in amusement. The last person to ever talk to his father in such a manner and still live was his mother. "I'll come back later pops. Seems mom is mad." Giving his father a smirk, unfazed by the glare, he gathered his papers and left.
Rafael leaned back into his chair, twirling a pen in his fingers. "Most educated people knock before storming into a room."
Olivia scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "Most fathers don't cause their children pain." She jumped at the sudden slam of his hand on the wood desk. She was sure the corner chipped.
Rafael was trying his best not to retaliate, but this woman was making it so difficult. Still, he did promise his family to give her a chance, for Damon's sake. "I didn't do it on purpose. Damon is simply throwing a tantrum for not getting what he wanted."
"That's no excuse."
"I couldn't do what he wanted. I couldn't destroy an innocent's life to please my son's vendetta." Rafael growled, tossing the pen onto his desk.
Olivia frowned, slowly she took a seat across his desk. "What?"
"I had him. I wanted to hurt him, make him pay, but one look at him and I knew it was wrong." Rafael whispered. "What his father did was not his fault. He had no blame in this."
"Who?"
"Bx9's boy. My men picked him up at UCSD this morning." He was quick to stop her oncoming questions. "He is unharmed and back with his mother." Rafael said. "Now if that is all you needed, I have work to do." Leaning forward, he grabbed his pen and focused on the papers in front of him. He refused to look at her, knowing very well what he'd see.
Olivia scoffed storming out of the office. Augh! She couldn't stand that man and this was just her second day. Once she made sure Damon was fine after his tantrum, she asked one of the men to get someone to clean the broken things up.
Back in her room, she locked the door and jumped onto her bed. Dialing the secured number, Olivia waited.
"Craigen." Craigen answered.
"I thought you said we had BX9's son." Olivia whispered.
"We do, him and his mother. We picked them up days before your arrival. Why?"
"I just talked with Rafael and he told me the boy goes to UCSD. He was here captain, I don't think he was hurt, but we have the wrong kid." Olivia needed to get moving. They had a scared boy here and she had no clue. Makes you wonder what else was going on.
Craigen exhaled on the other side of the phone. "I'll see what we can find out, but are you sure?"
Olivia rolled her eyes at his question. "100% Captain. He told me himself, which is also why I know the kid might not be harmed, but better safe than sorry."
"Yeah, alright, I'll have local PD pick him up and have him on the next plane." There was a small pause before he spoke again. "How are you?"
Olivia sighed. "I want to go home. This man is driving me nuts and I haven't even been here the full two days. I can't stand him. It's like living with Brian all over again."
Craigen chuckle echoed through the phone. "Don't have to stay long, simply get the information and get out. We will do the rest."
"Working on that. I have to go." Olivia whispered, having heard footsteps passing.
"Be safe Olivia."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Olivia spent the rest of the day with Damon. The more she got to know him, the more she got attached. And that was a major problem. She couldn't get attached to any of them. First chance Craigen got; they will be behind bars. And she was the main author. She couldn't care less about Rafael, that man had caused enough damage as it is. But his children and grandchildren had no blame for this. She would see to it that they stayed clear of his mess.
Three weeks later:
Olivia had been in the Barba house for about three weeks now. So far with the intel, they have gathered, the FBI has been able to stop two shipments of fish scale. Both from coming in and out of the city. In the process about a dozen of Rafael's men have been captured and taken into custody.
Still, Olivia couldn't seem to be able to put the slightest dent in this man's organization. Where there once stood a man, two more appeared. Now the problem was that Rafael was pissed. She learned very early on, that when he was angry he acted without much thought. And when that happened, he was unpredictable and dangerous.
Their last raid caused the lives of five LAPD officers. Rafael had set up a trap for them, knowing somehow they would follow the lead. He had come back with his hands and shirt splattered with blood. She needed to be more careful than ever. This was getting too real too quick.
Within those weeks she had learned more about the Barba family. Jack was to marry his fiancé in a few weeks. Damon was getting better at doing things on his own, but he still had his bad moments. She would see how his father would hold him. He would let the man cry and Rafael would whisper softly in his ear. Olivia tried to stay neutral, believe her she has, but that moved her. The way he would hold his son. At one point he sang a lullaby. Maybe he wasn't as bad as she had thought.
But then he goes and does something stupid, like kill a man right in front of her. Granted the man had it coming, but still, a little restraint wouldn't hurt. If not for himself or hers, then for his children's.
A few days back:
Olivia was helping Allison with a school project outside on the back porch. She had learned quickly that the outdoors always worked best for her studies. They were going over a history lesson when she heard loud voices coming from the front of the house. At first, she figured it was Rafael yelling at his men, but that thought quickly flew out the window. Spotting a few of the 'guards' rush past them with guns in hand, she ordered Allison to go wait for her inside. Once the girl locked the door behind her, Olivia slowly walked towards the front of the house. What she was saw was the last thing she could have imagined.
Rafael was bleeding from the side of his temple. His knuckles were bruised and his jaw had a nasty cut. His once impeccable gray suit was stained with his blood and some more.
Behind him stood his men, guns out pointing at the enemy, just waiting for the command. She noticed the youngest man – no boys – hand shook with adrenaline. Yet one look from the soldier next to him, he straighten himself up and held the gun firmly with both hands.
Straining her neck to get a clear view from her hiding place, she glanced at what they were all aiming at. Across from Rafael stood another man, just - if not worse - looking than Rafael. If she had the names right, this was The BX9's leader. Riley Hawks. He was a long way from home. His men also flanked him from behind, guns drawn and anticipating the fight to come. Only one slight problem.
They were outnumbered.
Olivia stood by the front door, hiding behind the pillars, and discretely took video of the whole ordeal. She needed to find out the most she could about these BX9 men.
Rafael held his gun, only it wasn't pointing at anything but the ground. He honestly didn't want to start a shoot-out in his driveway. Not while his family was here, but he would if he must. "I don't know if to call you stupid or brave." This man has no sense whatsoever. Only an idiot would dare barge into his home with only a handful of men. How easy it would be to finish him off right there.
Riley glared at him, taking a menacing step towards him. "You took my son!"
"Your boys attacked my son! I will not let that go unpunished." Taking a step forward, he stared Riley down. "You already took one, I'm not going to let you take another. Your family goes before any more of mine. Of that, I promise you."
"Come near my son again and I will kill you, Rafael. They have nothing to do with this!" The leader shouted.
Rafael shook his head with a humorless chuckle. "They have a lot to do with this. And you will pay one way or another." As more men filed out from the back of the house, the BX9's began to squirm. They were easily outnumbered.
Like she said, only an idiot would barge into his home.
"This isn't over Barba." Riley growled, gesturing his man to retreat.
Rafael waved, giving a mocking smile. "Send your wife my regards."
Olivia watched as one of the BX9 members reacted to his taunt. Going straight for Barba, only to have a bullet in his abdomen stop him in his tracks. The man fell to his knees, blood socking the white hoodie he wore. With a small groan, he fell onto his back calling for his brother. The others were pushed away by Riley, although he too was hesitant in leaving his fallen man behind. And alive to make matters worse. Riley was quick in grabbing one of his men, as they rushed forward. He yelled for his fallen brother, before screaming his promise of vengeance on Rafael.
To Olivia's surprise, Barba just stood there. Watching their retreat. And to her already shocked self, she was stunned once more. Rafael walked towards the fallen BX9 member. Giving him a slight nudge on the leg with his foot, he was rewarded with a groan. Kneeling next to the fallen Man, he tilted the man's chin with his gun and forced him to look him in the eyes.
"Coming at me in such a manner was a pretty stupid thing I would say so myself." Rafael chucked. "Now look at you. Dying and alone. Such pity for such potential." Standing up he caught Riley's eyes as he stood just edge of his driveway. "A real pity indeed." Without a second thought or hesitation, he aimed his weapon and fired one single bullet. Ending the poor man suffering with a single shot to the head. His eyes not once leaving the seething ones of Riley. Once they were gone, Barba tossed the gun to one of his men. "Get rid of the trash, it's staining up my driveway. Have Manuel call someone to clean this up." As he turned back to the house, he froze at the sight of Olivia. He debated for a few moments if he should even address anything towards her. He had made multiple attempts in explaining himself to her, and every time she simply waved him off. So instead of getting rejected once more, he walked past her into the house. She was nothing but the nurse anyways.
Jogging into his bedroom, he grabbed some towels, alcohol, needle, and thread. Cleaning out the wound on his temple, his mind wandered to a certain nurse. Rafael had learned quickly that Olivia had an image of him long before she arrived. Not that he wasn't expecting it. People either loved him or hated him, there was no gray in between. Olivia was leaning more towards the hate side. She had an image of him being a cold killer, with no remorse or feelings whatsoever. Which he did, he really did, but in this life, you learn very quickly to hide them. Yet no matter what he said or did, she was not going to change her mind any time soon. She hated what he was and what he did, not that he blamed her, but everyone deserved a chance. Glancing at himself in the mirror, he placed his hand on the counter and dropped his head down. Everyone deserved a second chance.
Even him.
