"Olivia!" Damon yelled, trying to get to her.
Olivia had closed her eyes at the sound of the gun going off, but as she opened them she saw Hidalgo drop. The gun had gone off and shot him in the stomach. Olivia dropped the gun and staggered back.
"Olivia?" Damon whispered. "What you do?"
Olivia glanced at him and shook her head. "It just went off."
Javier was quick to take the gun from her and clean it. Making sure the man was dead, he shot him once more. Making sure no one was nearby, he grabbed Olivia. "Hey." Olivia kept her eyes on the man she had just killed. "Olivia? Olivia!"
"What?"
"You were not here." Javier demanded.
Olivia looked at her with confusion. "What? Javier, I am not going to-"
"You are going to do what I tell you to do at the moment." Javier ordered, leaving no room for debate. "You and Damon were never here. Understand?"
Olivia looked at him and nodded. "I understand."
"Damon?" Javier called. "Do you understand?"
The young boy looked from the dead Meta to Javier. "Yeah, yeah I understand."
Javier had made Olivia and Damon get the hell out of there as people began to show. Death between gang members was not uncommon on the streets of LA. But when the killer is supposedly an Angelico and the dead one was a Meta, people will talk. She didn't understand why Javier was going to take the fault for her. Why he would take the punishment.
As they arrived home, Damon squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Olivia. For having my back." Damon whispered.
Olivia smiled. "Anytime Damon, now go get some rest."
Seeing him head into his little guest house, she walked back into her room. Heading to the bathroom, she cursed at the cut lip and eyebrow she had. Grabbing some alcohol and towels, she began to try and cure herself. Too busy doing what she was doing, Olivia didn't see or hear Rafael walk into the room. She jumped at the sudden hand grabbing hers. Looking up she glanced at Rafael through the mirror. Not sure what he wanted, she allowed him to take the towel from her hand. Rafael led her to the toilet and sat her down, before cleaning off the blood. She winced as the alcohol-drenched towel touched her cut.
"Sorry." Rafael whispered.
Olivia exhaled. "You know." It was a statement, more than a question.
Rafael nodded. "That Javier killed the main man from the Metas? Yes." He then glanced up at her. "Although I don't believe it and neither do the Metas."
Olivia swallowed the lump in her throat. "What?"
"Javier doesn't like to use a gun and they know it. His weapon is and always has been a knife." Rafael wiped the last of the blood. Talking a seat on the edge of the tub, he ran his hand through his hair. "Regardless of what happens, I am in debt to you."
Olivia shook her head. "No, no you're not. I just couldn't let them hurt him."
Rafael smiled. "Thank you." Grabbing her chin, he tilted her head to see the cuts. "I'm surprised they are not worse. The Metas have a thing for disfiguring their victims."
Olivia scoffed. "Yeah well, he tried." She looked at him and frowned at the look in his eyes. "What's wrong?"
Rafael shook his head, caressing her cheek before letting his hand drop. "Nothing. I have to get some things done." As he stood to leave, Olivia grabbed his hand. "Yes?"
"You going to be in your office?" Rafael nodded. "Mind if I join you there?" Rafael seemed hesitant to let her. "Please. I'll be on the couch reading a book." After a few, he gave in. Slowly Olivia was going to convince him to see what he was up to. In doing so, she would know his moves and be able to send them to Craigen.
True to her word, she sat on the couch reading a book she pulled from the many on his shelf. Rafael would be on call after call, from what she could make out. He was setting up drop off and pickups. Many were commands to what she guessed were his men. It was hard to make out what he was saying. The man spoke quietly. She caught part of his last conversation.
"Look. He is my brother. I am not just going to give him up." Rafael stood from his chair and paced the length of his desk. "She is out of the question…that doesn't give him the right to shake down my people…there is no such thing…and who answers for my family Cabrales?" Seeing him close his eyes in defeat, he lowered his phone.
Olivia dropped her book and walked up to him. "Everything okay?"
"No." Tossing his phone to the couch, he exhaled. "The Metas want Javier for the murder of Hidalgo. He was the main man and nephew to their leader."
Olivia gasped, she knew this was a stupid thing to say, but she couldn't let someone take the fall for her. She could contact her team and have them get her out. "Rafael I was the one to kill him."
"Doesn't matter." Rafael sighed.
"You are not going to give them Javier for something I did Barba." Olivia yelled.
Rafael slammed his hand down on his desk. "I will not hand anyone over. Javier is my brother and you are…you saved my son Olivia. No one is being handed over like some cattle."
"Then what do you plan on doing?" Olivia asked.
Shaking his head, he fell back in his seat. "I don't know, but no one is leaving."
Olivia wasn't sure how she can help. She could ask her team to intervene and stop the Meta's leader, but what good will that do? "Rafael?"
"Yeah?"
"Where is the Meta's leader?"
Rafael scoffed. "Prison. Still calling the shots, but being executed by Cabrales."
Olivia felt disgusted and cheated. They toss them into their cages and the government still lets them do whatever the hell they want. It's like a fucken price for them. Olivia stayed with him the entire day. Only once texting Craigen. And it simply said she was fine. Something told her Rafael needed the company. He wouldn't stop pacing and when he sat down, his leg would bounce non-stop. He had been trying to come up with a way to save Javier from his death. But when the Metas want blood, they get it.
It was nightfall when Javier walked into his office. "When?" Rafael shook his head. "We got no choice, Rafael." Olivia made a move to talk but was stopped by Javier. "No. Your death would be ten times worse mujer. They will not simply kill you dreamer." She frowned at the way he called her but didn't ask. "This is the reality carnal." Javier now addressed Rafael. "If you truly want to get out, you have to leave some people behind." Olivia sat back, hating this moment. Rafael was pacing the room, getting upset with each passing moment.
Hearing his phone vibrate, he cursed. "No! You're going into hiding. A different city every three months. We'll just keep you off the grid for as long as it takes."
"The Metas want blood, Rafael." Javier repeated. "And if you don't give it to them, they are going to come after our family. And I can't let that happen."
"I'm not giving you up Javier!" Rafael shouted, either Olivia was seeing things or this man was on the verge of tears. "I'm not doing it!"
Javier simply shrugged. "Well I'm not laying down for anybody anymore and I'm not going to run and hide." Both Olivia and Rafael simply looked at him. One was reluctant to lose his brother. And the other was hating for someone to take the fault for her. "Besides where am I gonna go? Minnesota. You know I can't deal with the snow." Rafael chuckled, along with him. "I come from tropical people." Olivia watched them laugh together before Rafael pulled him into a hug. "This is my call, Rafael. We are blood, no?"
Rafael pulled back, with unshed tears. "You are my brother Javier."
Olivia had turned away, she was the cause of this. Why was it getting so damn hard to do her job? The more pain she caused them the more it bugged her. Rafael could have been out of this life weeks ago, had she not sabotaged his shipments. His brother would not be going through this, had she stayed home and said no to this assignment. God help her.
"What?" Rafael had answered his phone. But as soon as he did, he hung it up. "Javier I need you and Malcolm to help Jack."
"What's wrong?"
"He's been arrested." Rafael was already grabbing his jacket and keys. "I'll handle the Metas."
"Rafael."
"We do it my way if it doesn't work. Then we do it your way."
Javier sighed but nodded. "Alright, Rafael." As they were both leaving, Javier stopped and gestured to Olivia. "Who is she going with?"
Rafael nudged him. "With you, unless you want to stay here."
Olivia jumped to her feet. "And miss your lawyer rip another to Captain Chapel? Not in this lifetime."
As they climbed into the trucks, Olivia sent Craigen a quick text. Letting him know they were on the way and to be ready. Craigen replied, telling her he had removed Chapel from the floor. Chapel had gone rouge and took matters into his own hands. Javier had told her to stay put, as he and the lawyer went to take care of Jack. Once they were gone, she rushed towards her waiting team.
"What's going on?" Olivia asked.
"After Rafael's visit, Chapel took another approach." Fin began. "He is now targeting the family. Had a coworker of Jack, and accounted of Barba persuade him into allowing dirty money into the bank. Jack, until now has no criminal record. He has never been reported or caught with his father or brother. He does do some banking for his father, but the money that comes in is clean."
"Then Chapel has nothing." Olivia scoffed. "He is ruining the investigation with his moves."
"That is not the only thing that worries me." Craigen added.
"What?"
Pulling out some pictures, he handed them to Olivia. "We got word of a Metas's man killed today in the afternoon. One-shot wound to the stomach. Looked like there was a struggle and the gun went off."
Olivia swallowed. "What makes you say that?"
"The gun had only his fingerprints and he still held the gun in his hand. Not to mention that from the height of the wound, he either had to be on the ground or the shooter had to be on the ground." Amaro explained.
Craigen studied her, frowning at how pale she had turned. "You know something about this?"
Olivia shook her head. "No, I was with Rafael all day. Up until he got the call about Jack." Prying her eyes off the pictures, she looked up at her team. "Speaking of Jack, you think he will stay in there?"
Craigen shrugged. "They have nothing concrete on tape. Nothing that can keep him in holding, but Chapel on the other hand has trouble coming his way."
"How so?"
Carrisi handed her a paper. "The lawsuit was pushed through a few hours after you three left. Before Chapel arrested Jack. It clearly says Chapel is not to come within 100 yards from the Barba's. Not only that but he is being sued for harassment and threatening them. Jack can use this in the court and leave a free man. While Chapel is taken out in handcuffs."
Olivia shook her head. "What does Chapel have against him? I mean Lopez I get, but Chapel? There has to be something in their past."
Craigen shrugged. "I'll have Amanda see what she can find. In the meantime, how is the progress with Rafael coming along?"
"It's going." Olivia shrugged. "I haven't slept with him, Captain. Haven't even kissed him yet." The men in the team seemed relieved to hear this. Seeing the figures of Javier and Jack passing by the hallway camera, she got a move on. Waving at her team, she ran towards the elevator and waited for them to turn the corner. The moment Olivia saw Jack, she pulled him into a hug. "You okay?"
Jack nodded, holding her tighter. "Yeah. And papa?"
Olivia pulled back, cupping his jaw. "He will meet you back at the house." Her eyes darkened at seeing his jaw. "Jack, what is this?" She examined the cut lip and dark bruise on his cheek. "Did they assault you while in custody?" She turned to glare at the cops. Who had the intelligence to look scared. She gave Craigen a look, to which he nodded. Those idiots were soon going to get to experience the wrath of Captain Craigen. "We need to put some ointment and ice on that."
Jack shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Let's just get the hell out of here." Hugging her to him, he pulled her into the elevator.
Olivia had long seen Jack off to his house. She was currently sitting in Rafael's office. Something was telling her it was all wrong. Something was happening and it sucked not knowing what it was. She couldn't go to her team on this matter, since she lied right to their face. Dropping her head in her hands, she groaned. 'What am I doing! Why can't I do what I am supposed to do?' falling face first on the couch, she yelled into the pillow.
"Dreamer?"
Lifting her head, she glanced widely at the man before her. "Javier?"
"Yeah. You okay there?" Javier grinned.
Olivia groaned, dropping her head back on the pillow. "Have you heard from Rafael?" Javier stayed quiet, which lead her to look up at him once more. "Javier?"
Javier sighed. "He called a few moments ago. Needs me to meet him with him somewhere."
Olivia jumped to her feet. "Let's go."
"Olivia." Javier shared a look with Damon, who wheeled in just then. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"What? Why not?" Olivia asked.
Damon got closer. "Let her Javier. It's been noticeable for the past days she wants in, right?" Olivia nodded. "Well, she best get to see all sides of Los Angelicos. See if she can handle the real Rafael Barba." Olivia gave him a confused look, but all she got was a smile.
Javier shook his head, following behind the two. "Rafael is sure to hand me over to the Metas now."
