Ch 9, It's Dangerous for All of Us

Camila downed her tequila: "They escaped again! Puta madre!"

Cortez had been pushing his Boaz agenda for the past week, so the Gobernadora's interest in Teresa Mendoza was becoming tiring: "I think we have much bigger problems this side of the ocean, Gobernadora!"

Camila gave him a mean look, especially because she knew he was right: "This pendeja does not understand the concept of Justice vs Order! She might see her shooting Epifanio as just…running her own Op as just…and it might be…but it has disturbed the Order!"

Cortez figured now was the time to play the good soldier: "Yes, she obviously does not understand this concept, and you are the perfect person to teach her that…but in its due time! Shall we discuss the notion that Boaz might be working with that DEA agent?"

Camila nodded as her thoughts went back to Tereza and her escape. It must have been James helping her again because that man had the best sense for ambush and attack! It couldn't have been the King, who was smoking dope half of the time, or Pote, who only knew how to shoot once you pointed the target to him!

But Rosita had called to tell her she had been made! How come James had not offed her? This was very weird! Maybe he had not been armed! But he always carried a gun…or two, and a knife! The man was like a walking Israel!

She heard herself say: "This escape is awfully brazen of him…And he said my name to the girl…So he knows it's me he is defying!"

As Cortez eyed her with curiosity, she added choosing her words carefully: "Brazen but not brave! My former second hand man is helping Mendoza…that's why they lost her! "

Finally, something that made sense for Cortez. He leaned forward, putting on his most earnest face. "Can you expand on that?"

Camila looked him in the eyes: "He is the best I've worked with….And brazenness requires only a warped ego…. Whether inflated or trampled, that ego is controlling the individual's actions…And James never showed such traits before …But I treated him a little too harsh a few months back and now he seems to be running from something…Something has changed for him big time to take Mendoza's side ….against me …in this treacherous way…Something more than being in her bed!"

Cortez was certain Camila Vargas felt that her former second hand man had seriously hurt her feelings! He made a mental note to not behave in the same manner…or at least to ensure she never found out the truth!

The 'other' boat was way smaller with only two rooms with sailors' cots for sleeping, a common area with a table and chairs, and the captain's area the back of which was used for storage as well.

George shrugged off the seizure of his much bigger boat and informed Teresa that as a Pirate King, he had many boats in different parts of the world. He was more concerned as Warsame, one of his Somali soldiers, had been shot in the arm and they had to get the bullet out before it got too late.

James and Pote inspected the bags of cash loaded in the hull as the boat left the port under the disguise of dawn.

"Where are we going exactly? Do we have enough fuel?" Pote had lost the adrenaline spike and was now feeling exhausted and worried as he sipped his whiskey.

"I assume to Sicily and…George's guys know to sail…I'm sure they got extra fuel on board!" James said as he poured himself another drink.

Everyone had gone to assist the bullet extraction, and Teresa was still on the deck staring silently at the dark water.

George came in to grab more alcohol and overheard them. He eyed both of them suspiciously, then said with a light voice: "Barre, one of my guys was a nurse in a prior life and he's taking good care of Warsame…Bilal and Lojo are figuring out the fuel because we are going to Sousse, my friends! Not to Sicily…I'm sure Rocco's men will be expecting us in Sicily! So, Tunisia it is! Then we'll figure out how to get on a plane and where to! All ideas are welcome!"

Teresa walked inside and sat at the round table that took up most of the space in the boat's so called common area.

Once Pote had had the alcohol warm his insides he said sadly: "I even didn't have time for goodbyes!"

"I'm sorry!" Teresa said and put her hand over his in a tender gesture.

James kept looking down at his drink as George walked and noisily splurged in an empty chair.

"So, how exactly did we get made, Principessa?" George looked at everyone and James felt it was on him to summarize the events in a few sentences.

"You made a deal with Camila's spy girl, Cabron? De que hablas? (What are you talking about)" Pote exclaimed once James had stopped talking. "You should have offed her then and there, man! She called her boss; I can bet you a whole bottle!"

"We don't know that for sure!" James countered, but as no one said anything, he added: "Even if she did, I didn't think a kill was warranted at that time."

"Hmm!" Pote grumbled. "How did you get so soft, Cabron?"

He stared at him, then lifted his gaze and cut it to Teresa: "Teresita! You two have been on vacation …on a pinche couples' retreat! …That's why we got surprised because you got your eyes off the ball!"

Pote was livid and even George, whose eyes kept darting from James to Teresa, then back, kept quiet as the seriousness of the conversation had made him think.

James dragged his hand across his face: "We took a freaking day off, man! Back off! Besides maybe your date was the one who talked…Did you talk business to her last night …or on any other night, huh?"

Teresa got startled at his words because the last thing she wanted now was these two to start fighting again.

But Pote didn't give in easily: " Of course not! Yo no cago donde como, Cabron! (I don't shit where I eat!) at which Teresa felt she had to intervene: "I trust James for God's sakes! Please drop it, Pote!"

"Yeah, I can see you have forgotten how the events at that cabin went down less than a year ago!" Pote got up nervously and turned to George: "How many cots on this boat, Cabron? I need to lie down!"

"Take the other room, down the corridor!" George waved his hand.

Teresa got up from her seat and followed Pote in the narrow passage: "I'm sorry Pote! I really am…but we got the cash… and we'll make it work someplace else!"

Pote only grumbled as she went on: "You once said I had a heart…so does James…despite him having been Camila's number 2 for years!"

"I hate it when men bring the weak in you!" Pote said with emphasis: "Don't look at me like that! I'm sure you know what I mean. You both stopped thinking when he showed up…And you forget what is happening as you see each other…deer-in-the-headlights fashion…And when I say the truth as it is, then you both start looking for excuses!"

Pote swelled up like a puff adder and added: "You should have seen the way he looks at you walking out or coming in….as though pining…You think I'm blind? And this is dangerous, Teresita…for all of us!"

"I want to try and run the biz with less violence! Not like Camila! And James supports me! And understands why I need this!" Teresa looked at him earnestly hoping her pleading tone would affect him.

"Ah!" He pulled back and eyed her up and down. "Did you and James cook up this idea together? While in bed!" He grumbled again and turned in the direction of the far right room.

"If you were so much against James, you should have talked to me earlier!" Teresa heard herself say to his back: "Communication is key!"

Pote stopped, turned and looked at her more gently: "A mi me falta la communicacion, y a ti te sobra!" (I suck at communication, and you excel in it)

As Teresa's eyes watered and she just looked to the side, Pote softened and said:" You're la jefa, Teresita, and I will follow you anywhere…but you need to be stronger for all of us. And James…"

Teresa said without thinking: "James means a lot to me…I need him to stay because he…he makes me whole again!"

Pote's eyebrows wrinkled, and he mumbled: "Lo amas a este cabron, no? (You love this cabron, don't you?)"

Teresa shook her head noncommittally and turned to walk back into the living area, holding her tears back.

George was alone, still sipping his drink: "Men problems, Principessa?"

Teresa sat by him and after pouring herself another shot said: "When Pote is grumpy, you'll hear it right away. Full blown grumble!"

George just chuckled, and she went on: "When James is…there would be loaded silence, like before a storm… Then the challenge would come out, so well phrased that one cannot always find a response! And you feel like you were caught red handed….And maybe I did get distracted and got caught red handed trying to…ahh…have fun like a normal person… And now I have to brace facing that challenge…which in this case is someone's remorse!" She pointed with her chin to the outside where James's figure was visible on the deck.

James watched the entire sunrise as the boat kept making its way further into the sea and the shoreline became smaller and smaller and finally disappeared. He realized he had lost track of time.

Teresa had peeked out but as it was still fairly chilly, he had waived her back inside. He stood there alone and cherished the undisturbed peace, the only sound coming from the waves hitting the boat's kill.

All he wanted was to hold her, wake up next to her, like normal couples did. The whole day out and about Valletta his heart had been squeezing with a feeling very close to envy when he'd see couples holding hands or arguing… or teens shyly making out...

He wanted more of life than the constant worry if they were in the clean, if the next move would be dangerous, if it would need compromises, if they'd be able to make them! But that was the life she had chosen; the life he had failed to make her stay away from, and if he wanted her, he had to accept the reality!

Sometimes the old ways of the trade were the only ways! And they had s soldier kill and did not tolerate conscience!

The obnoxious thought kept creeping back until he realized he had to stop obsessing over what running of the business would require! Obsession did not seek out problems and did not correct them. It manufactured them out of small things, fed them, made them stronger!

And the eyes of the 6 year old girl showing him the senselessness of his life needed to be tuned out by the realization that Teresa was his life, that her stive to a better business model was the only thing that made sense!

And so, he decided to let go and just follow her lead!