Gabriella
Goddammit, I’m back at square one. She swallowed her hurt, ignoring the sting of being left behind, and wondered if he was safe.
Probably kissing Sally when this shit went down, she thought bitterly.
She shook her head. No, trust him. He said he’d be back.
He’s undercover. There’s definitely more to this and he’s done everything he could to keep you safe.
But was his version of safety worth the risk of her life? She realized with a clear conviction, she was done being the damsel in distress. The sickening thought of him laying dead somewhere spurred her to action.
If Mateo is going to leave me on my own, I might as well do what I think is best. Her little roleplay of being the badass bitch had seeped into her marrow now, giving her a confidence she hadn’t felt since prior to her marriage.
She grabbed the only thing in the room, a broken piece of wood, and waited. I’m not going down without a fight.
The door opened, and she lunged towards it, screaming with all her might as she swung.
“Easy there hellcat,” a voice boomed with a chuckle as she was disarmed and lifted straight in the air overhead a giant of a man.
Oh my god, what—
Gil held her aloft and looked up at her with a grin. “Hello again, doctor.”
“What the hell?” she spluttered, not believing her eyes. “Why are you here? What’s going on? Where’s Mateo? And put me down!”
The corners of his mouth twitched before he lowered her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
He patted her butt like a parent to a child.
“No time for small talk. I’ve got a mission to get you out of here safely while Mateo does the dirty work.
” He turned to leave as Gabriella began to struggle.
The audacity of this man! “What do you mean while Mateo does the dirty work? What dirty work?” She was reaching for anything on him, a gun or a knife, but he didn’t seem to be carrying any weapons. He was pure muscle dressed in simple tactical gear.
This place sounds like a warzone. How is he going to defend himself?
Then as if in answer, one of the smugglers rounded the building and nearly bumped into Gil.
He started to raise his gun, but Gil’s foot flashed out with blazing speed to kick the man squarely in his chest. There was a sickening crunching sound as his body folded in on itself and flew a dozen feet away in a crumpled heap.
Gabriella squeaked. “Holy shit!”
“Oops. I forgot how fragile you guys can be,” Gil said before striding towards the jungle.
“What does that even mean?” Gabriella tried to recover her senses while the world around her exploded in gunfire and screams. Why isn’t Mateo here?
Gil said, “It’s just that, you know … you guys break so easily.”
Gabriella didn’t know what the hell he meant by that. Was he being serious? This guy must have some fucked up sense of humor.
Gil laughed. “I’m joking, obviously. That little guy was simply unlucky. I mean, I never skip leg day.”
She wondered just what he did for his version of a “leg day.” Maybe he crushes watermelons between his legs. Or heads.
Gil barked orders to the black-clad men who were either arresting or killing the smugglers before he carried Gabriella into the jungle. He ignored her protests and squirming as he stomped through the underbrush, weaving between trees.
Waiting patiently was a female soldier dressed in camo fatigues leaning against a dark green jeep. She was close to the same height as Gabriella, but with darker skin. Her neon blue hair starkly contrasted the dense green jungle around her.
“This the package?” she asked with a loud pop of gum.
Gabriella immediately disliked her.
“Celine, this is our package. Your job is to keep her safe,” he said patronizingly, as if he was speaking to a child to remind her of her chores. “She is due to board a flight heading back stateside in,” he checked his watch, “just a few hours.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep her alive.” She gave him a wave before hopping into the driver’s seat muttering how much she was going to hate the drive. “Let’s go, tortoise girl.”
“I study turtles, not tortoises,” Gabriella huffed as Gil put her down. She did not trust this female if she couldn’t even get her background correctly. She clung to Gil’s shirt. “Gil, you can’t be serious. Mateo! What about him? Where is he?”
Gil looked down and gave her a toothy grin. “He’s unfortunately going to have to stay for some unfinished business. It’s part of the deal.”
Her eyebrows raised, unsure of how to process what he said. “Deal?”
Gil pried her fingers free and pushed her towards the vehicle.
“Oh, just the usual. Infiltrate one of the largest illegal syndicates. Get shot. Slowly bleed out. Make a deal with a monster to save his girl. The usual we soldiers deal with. Now go along. He would never forgive me if you died.” He smiled down to her but it felt performative when it didn’t reach his glittering blue eyes.
Her stomach dropped as the woman, Celine, let out a short cackle. “Guy sounds like an idiot. He sold his soul, eh?”
“Idiot is a bit harsh,” Gil said, his professional smile never slipping. “When your options are to bleed to death or accept a shady deal, we both know which way most turn,” Gil said smoothly, though his icy blue eyes were looking at Gabriella with pity.
Everything Gil said felt damning. “Shot? Monster?” There was not enough air for the revelations she was given. “But what if he dies? I need to tell him I love him!”
Gil shrugged, his muscle rippling underneath his tactical gear.
“Alright Juliet. Your Romeo is fine. Take a breath.” He waited a beat before continuing.
“Listen, it comes with the territory. He won’t die since I’ve given him something nice and shiny to keep him going.
But he made a deal. With me. And he has unfinished business because of it.
” He pushed her once more towards the vehicle. “Now go.”
Gabriella’s feet felt like lead or the black sandstone she had seen on the coasts. She almost tried to ask once more when gunfire split the night, closer than ever.
“Get in girl! I can’t keep you safe if you willingly wait for them to kill us,” Celine scolded, kicking the car into gear.
That made her jump into action, rushing to the other side of the vehicle to slide into worn leather.
The seatbelt clicked with a finality she was not ready to admit. Every turn and every problem the last few days, Gabriella realized she had only ever been allowed to ‘react’ and never been able to take control of her narrative.
Except for Mateo. Almost as if he knew. From the moment Mateo had taken her hand that night, he had tried to give her what little control he could allow because in reality, this was a situation she was not prepared for.
I love him, she thought desperately. For all that had happened with her friends dying, Sally, the men who tried to hurt her… she knew then in that moment, she loved him despite it all.
She leaned over towards where Gil stood. “Please don’t let him die,” she pleaded, desperation thick in her voice as the lump threatened to steal it away. She was tired of losing people she loved. Her parents. Her marriage. And now this? It was too much to bear.
Gil’s smile finally faltered. “That’s up for the Fates to decide.” He turned back towards the violence, leaving a wake of despondency in the hollow of Gabriella’s chest.
This is really it, she realized with finality. She was going to have to leave him behind.
“Gil!” she screamed as they departed. “Don’t you dare let him die! I’ll find you! Dammit I will!”
Despite her driver’s cackle, she kept her eyes steady on Gil.
Gil raised two fingers and gave a nod before returning to the path they came from.
The sharp pungent smell of gasoline filled the air as they drove off.
Tears in her eyes, Gabriella clutched her hands to her lap, fingers locked, and watched with apprehension as the screaming village disappeared behind them.
If she ever got to see Mateo again, she would tell him everything she had longed to say. But for now, she could only hope he made it out alive.