Heroes & Heartbreak
Chapter 21
Summary: Javi and Steve worry about Ari after Carrillo’s funeral. Maritza is dealt with. Javier makes use of his questionable new friends, and Ari comes to a devastating decision.
Pairings: Javier Peña x OFC Ariana Morgan—DEA Agent and daughter of Pablo Escobar
Fandom: Narcos
Rating: Mature 18+ ONLY
Word Count: 6,512
Warnings: language, grief, death, violence, angst…let me know if I missed anything, and I’ll happily add it here!
A/N: I’m back! I’m so sorry I disappeared for so long. I’ve been working on an original novel I’m planning to publish, and life got away from me. I’m hoping to wrap up season 2 this month and then move into season 3 and the final phase of this story.
I included conversations from the episode to help anyone who hasn’t seen it or hasn’t watched it in awhile. Sorry if it feels redundant if you’ve seen the show a million times like me.
As always, feel free to let me know if I need to correct the Spanish translations!
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Three days.
It had been three long days since Carrillo’s funeral, and Ari hadn’t left their room. She had barely left her bed. Javi and Steve—who had returned from Bogotá the day after the funeral—had tried everything to help her, but nothing was working. Javi sat at his desk, an untouched cigarette burning between his fingers as he stared at the piece of paper Judy Moncada had given him. He hadn’t moved on the intel yet. He’d been too worried about Ari. He didn’t even know if it was still good. Maritza could be anywhere by now, but he couldn’t bring himself to go. He refused to leave the building until he knew Ari was ok. The hand not holding the cigarette clenched and unclenched unconsciously. Steve eyed him.
“What’s our play here, Javi?” Steve asked quietly. “I know she needs time, but…I’m scared for her.” Javi’s hand shook as fear overtook his body.
“She hasn’t had anything to eat or drink in days,” Javi said hoarsely. “I don’t think she’s slept more than a handful of hours.” He put the cigarette out and rubbed his hands over his face. He felt twice his age. “She’s wasting away from before my eyes, and there’s nothing I can do to help her.”
“I know,” Steve said. “I don’t know what else to do. Hell, she didn’t even respond when we told her Sandoval had called to say goodbye.” Eduardo had taken the fall for the disaster that resulted in Carrillo’s death, so Gaviria wouldn’t lose his position. Steve sat back with a loud sigh. “Do you think we need to call in a professional?”
“What? A shrink?” Javi asked. He turned to Steve.
“Maybe not a shrink, but a doctor,” Steve clarified. “At least to get some fluids and stuff in her.”
“After today, I don’t think we have any other choice,” Javi said gruffly. “She’s got to be dangerously dehydrated at this point…unless she’s gotten some water while we’ve been working, but still, it can’t be enough.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck it. I’m gonna pin her ass down and force food and water in her today. It’s either that or we admit her to the hospital.” He swallowed thickly as tears sprang to his eyes. “I’m not gonna lose her too,” he whispered.
“We’re not losing her, Javi,” Steve said sternly. He glanced over Javi’s head and his eyes widened. “Holy shit.” Javi turned to see what had caught Steve’s attention. Ari was walking towards them, showered, dressed, and looking ready for work. She sat at her desk and began rifling through her paperwork.
“Morning,” she offered cheerily. They sat in stunned silence, just staring at her. She looked up when they didn’t respond. “What?”
“You’re here,” Javi whispered in awe.
“Where else would I be?” She asked. “It’s a work day last I checked.”
“Are you ok, Ari?” Steve pressed gently.
“I’m fine,” she replied instantly.
“Ari—” Javi began.
“—I’m fine,” Ari repeated. “I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to move forward, focus on work.”
“Are you sure?” Steve asked.
“Yes,” Ari said with a nod. “Believe me, the only thing I care about right now is making sure Escobar gets what’s coming to him. So, let’s focus on that, hmm?”
“Ok,” Steve said after a pause. Javi said nothing. He just stared at her. She kept sorting through her papers, mostly ignoring them for several minutes.
“I’m alright, stop staring at me, Javier,” she said without looking up. He startled and felt his cheeks heat at being caught.
“I’m worried about you,” he said softly. She set her work down and looked up at him.
“I know,” she said with a gentle smile, “and I love you for that. But it’s ok. This is how I deal with shit. I was back to work the same week my mom died. Just let me handle my trauma my way, and you handle yours your way.” Javi swallowed audibly. It took everything in him to push back his need to protect her, his desire to fix everything.
“Alright, hermosa,” he agreed. “Let’s get this motherfucker.”
“Too bad she couldn’t stay longer,” Ari said to Steve a couple hours later. He had just finished telling her about Connie’s quick visit. She had flown back home the day after the funeral.
“Yeah,” Steve agreed, “But I’m glad to have gotten even the little bit of time I did.” Ari nodded in understanding. She hoped she was appearing normal on the outside, because inside she was a mess. She knew she needed another day, maybe two, to properly push all these emotions away, but she didn’t want to feel any more. She figured throwing herself back into the fray would take up enough time that she could forget everything else, but it was a slow day. And slow days meant time to think. Steve glanced at his watch.
“Shit, I’ve gotta get that info Messina requested,” Steve groaned. “She’ll be back in a couple hours, and I don’t feel like pissing her off.”
“We got nothing going on here,” Ari gestured to their now mostly empty desks. “Go take care of what you need to.” Steve nodded gratefully and took off. Ari turned to Javi. He had been staring at a small scrap of paper in his hand for almost an hour.
“What’s on your mind, Peña?” She asked. He looked up at her, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
“I’m trying to decide what to do with this,” he answered.
“Well, if you fill me in, maybe I can help you decide,” she offered. Javi looked at her for a long, silent minute. He tapped the paper agitatedly against his desk a few times and then sighed.
“It’s Maritza Rincón’s last known location,” he told her. “It’s good as of three days ago…so she’s probably still there.”
“Maritza Rincón,” Ari repeated. “The source that…”
“That double crossed us,” Javi completed, not wanting to mention Carrillo.
“What are we waiting for?” Ari asked. She stood quickly and grabbed her gun and badge. “Why didn’t you move on this immediately?” Javi gave her a look she didn’t kind understand.
“I was waiting for you, querida,” he said simply.
“Well, I’m ready,” Ari replied. “Let’s get this bitch.” Javi nodded. “We need to tell Trujillo. He’ll want to be involved.”
“I’ll grab him and meet you at the car,” Javi offered. Ari grabbed his arm to stop him before he walked away.
“Thanks for waiting for me,” Ari said softly. “I appreciate it.” Javi looked down at her hand on his arm and gently took it in his own.
“I’m so happy to have you back,” he whispered. He cleared his throat and let go of her hand. “See you in a few.” He stalked off to find Trujillo. Ari looked down and noticed her hands were shaking. She clenched her fists tight and took a deep breath. Soon she would face the woman that had betrayed them. The woman responsible for Carrillo’s—she cut off her train of thought. She couldn’t think about that right now. This woman was the reason Escobar eluded them once again. Ari was tired of losing, and she wanted to make someone pay.
Javi wasted no time when they arrived. He kicked the door in and drew his gun on the unsuspecting girl. Trujillo waited by the door, and Ari followed in behind Javi.
“De pie,” (On your feet.) Javi demanded. “¡Ya!” (Now!) He grabbed her by the neck and pushed her against a desk.
“You no sabía,” (I didn’t know) Maritza insisted. “Yo no sabía, lo juro. Limón me dijo mentiras.” (I didn’t know, I swear. Limón lied to me.) Javi turned her around roughly and shoved his gun in the back of his pants. “No, por favor. Me van a encontrar y me van a matar apenas puedan. ¡No! ¡No!” (No, please. When they find me, they’re going to kill me. No! No!) Javi gripped her upper arms and shook her to shut her up.
“¡Quieta!” (Stay still!) He screamed. She stopped squirming and he cuffed her. Ari stayed off to the side. She didn’t trust herself to get too close to this woman.
“Por favor,” (Please) she begged. “¿Usted cree que yo quería esto? Me usaron y me van a acabar la vida.” (Do you think I wanted this? They used me, and they’re throwing my life away.)
“You’re breaking my fucking heart, baby,” Javi growled sarcastically. He dragged her towards the door where Trujillo waited patiently.
“Todos ustedes son igualitos,” (You’re all the same.) she accused. “No escuchan. ¡Ninguno escucha! Y toda eso gente muriendo porque sí.” (You don’t listen. Nobody listens! And all those people dying for no reason.) Javi turned and threw a chair across the room in a rage. Ari flinched. She had never seen Javi this angry before. Trujillo watched him a moment before speaking up.
“¿Qué pasa, Peña?” (What’s up, Peña?) he asked calmly. “¿Qué hacemos con ella?” (What should we do with her?) Javi looked at Maritza. He took a deep breath. Ari could see him physically trying to calm the rage and figure out what the fuck they needed to do.
“¿Estás dispuesta a tratar de hacer las cosas bien?” (Are you willing to try to make things right?) Javi asked Maritza. Ari’s eyes snapped to him. How the hell could she make things right?
“¿Cómo?” (How?) Maritza asked. Have heaved a deep breath.
“Le pides a Limón que te encuentre en algún lugar,” (You ask Limón to meet you somewhere) Javi replied.
“¿Eso es todo?” (That’s it?) Maritza questioned warily.
“Eso es todo,” (That’s it) Javi assured her. “Nosotros haremos el resto.” (We’ll do the rest.)
“Javier,” Ari said in a low voice. “What are you doing?”
“This is the only lead we have,” Javi explained. Red hot anger boiled in her veins. He was going to let her get away with this.
“So she makes a call and all is forgiven?” Ari spat out.
“No,” Javi replied.
“Then what are we going to do with her?” Ari pushed. She glanced at Maritza. She was pretty sure the young girl did not understand English, but she wanted to make sure. “Put a bullet in her head after we follow this lead?” She watched closely, and the girl showed no reaction. She didn’t understand them.
“Ari,” Javi whispered, slightly horrified. Ari just shrugged.
“We don’t have to kill her, but she’s not just going to walk away from this,” Ari insisted.
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Javi pushed back. Ari clenched her teeth. Was he protecting her? Her stomach plunged when she remembered how Javi probably knew this woman. His former lover. He was protecting his lover. Her hand itched to grab her gun, but her years of discipline and training kept her from moving.
“This is the only move we have,” Javi said firmly. “We play this smart. We can’t let our emotions cloud our judgment right now.” Ari’s chest heaved with a half sigh, half sob. She laughed humorlessly.
“Really?” She scoffed. “You’re going to pull the ‘overly emotional female’ card on me now?” Javi’s entire face softened.
“That’s not what I meant, Ari,” he said gently. “We’re all emotional on this one.” He glanced towards Trujillo. Ari followed his gaze. Trujillo stood calmly, but she could see the fire in his eyes. Her anger deflated. They were all too close to this. Javier was keeping his head, and she couldn’t get mad at him for it. Hell, she had been the voice of reason countless times in her career.
“Fuck,” she sighed. “You’re right. Sorry.” Javi shook his head.
“Don’t you dare apologize, Ariana,” Javi said sternly. “You have every right to be pissed right now. If any of this is too much, you tell me, and I’ll handle anything you need.” He stared hard into her eyes. “I’ve got you, ok?” Ari nodded, her throat too clogged with emotion to speak. Javi uncuffed Maritza.
“Llama a tu amigo,” (Call your friend) Javi demanded. “¿Hay algún lugar cercano donde puedas conocerlo?” (Is there somewhere close you can meet him?) Maritza nodded. “Bien. Dile que se reúna contigo allí en media hora, luego te llevaremos allí y esperaremos afuera a que aparezca. Una vez que abandone el lugar, podrás irte.” (Good. Tell him to meet you there in half an hour, then we'll drive you there and wait outside for him to show. Once he leaves the location, you can go.) Maritza walked by Ari to pick up the phone. Her scent wafted by.
Lavender. Not vanilla.
This wasn’t Javi’s mystery woman after all. Ari’s brow furrowed in thought as Maritza made the call. Javi had come back with Maritza’s intel smelling of vanilla. There were only two logical possibilities; Maritza was introduced to Javi through his former lover, or…she wasn’t his former lover, and Javi had been in the middle of a tryst when Maritza contacted him with the intel. Bile rose at that thought. Javi had committed to her. He had promised to try…shit, he promised to try. Trying implied you thought you could fail. Fuck. She needed to get Maritza alone for a moment. She had to know how she found Javier.
“Está hecho,” (It’s done) Maritza told them after hanging up. “Se reunirá conmigo en treinta minutos en el café de la calle.” (He's meeting me in thirty minutes at the cafe down the street.)
“Bueno,” (Good) Javi said with a nod. “Sube al coche y muéstranos el camino.” (Get in the car and show us the way.) He gestured out the door. Ari followed behind the three of them. Trujillo got into the drivers seat. Javi put Maritza in the back and turned to Ari.
“You ok in the back?” He asked quietly. “Or do you want me to sit with her?”
“I’m good,” Ari answered immediately, relieved she’d be close enough to talk to the girl. Javi nodded and got into the passenger seat. Ari quickly climbed in and shut the door. Maritza gave them directions and sat back quietly. Javi and Trujillo were discussing the plan—in English—so Ari took the opportunity.
“¿Cómo conociste a la agente Peña?” (How did you meet Agent Peña?) she asked quietly. Maritza looked at her for a moment. Ari could see the girl trying to decide how to answer. “La verdad por favor.” (The truth please.) Maritza sighed.
“Llamé a su embajada y pedí hablar con los agentes que intentaban capturar a Escobar,” (I called your embassy and asked to speak to the agents trying to take down Escobar.) She replied. Ari’s stomach dropped.
“¿Por qué no llamar al CNP?” (Why not call the CNP?) She pushed. Ari knew exactly why, but still needed to ask. Ari watched her closely.
“Porque aquí no puedo confiar en la policía,” (Because I cannot trust the police here.) She answered. “Muchos de ellos trabajan para Escobar.” (Many of them work for Escobar.) Ari knew she was lying. She could read it all over her face.
“¿Estás seguro de que así fue como lo conociste?” (Are you sure that’s how you met him?) Ari pushed. “¿No fue a través de un amigo? ¿O trabajar?” (It wasn't through a friend? Or work?) Ari tagged on the last question knowing Javi’s penchant for brothels. Maritza’s gaze hardened.
“No tengo amigos que se relacionen con las fuerzas del orden,” (I have no friends that associate with law enforcement.) She said angrily. “Sé mejor que eso en este país abandonado por Dios.” (I know better than that in this god forsaken country.)
“No te creo,” (I don’t believe you) Ari said. Maritza just shook her head. “Estás mintiendo sobre algo. Está por toda tu cara.” (You're lying about something. It's all over your face.)
“Estoy asustada,” (I’m scared) Maritza said in a shaky voice. “Sin saberlo, causé la muerte de oficiales del CNP, y si Escobar descubre que estaba tratando de entregarlo... bueno, todos sabemos cómo termina eso.” (I unknowingly caused the death of CNP officers, and if Escobar finds out I was trying to turn him in... well, we all know how that ends.) Tears formed in her eyes. “Tengo una niña.” (I have a little girl.) Ari swallowed thickly. Was she misreading Maritza’s fear as lies? She was too close to this to truly be able to read the situation.
“¿Juras que me estás diciendo la verdad?” (You swear you are telling me the truth?) Ari asked. “¿Sobre la vida de su hija?” (On your daughter’s life?)
“Lo juro,” (I swear) Maritza replied. Ari nodded and turned away. Javi had been with another woman the night he got this intel. She was going to be sick. How could he do this? Her head swam with images of him and the mystery woman.
“Muy bien, estamos aquí,” (Alright, we’re here) Trujillo announced as he parked across from the cafe.
“Entra y espéralo,” (Go in and wait for him) Javi told Maritza. She got out of the car and walked into the cafe.
Javier sat in the silent car waiting for Limón to arrive. He could feel the tension and anger radiating off Ari. He wanted to check in with her, but he knew he had to wait until they were alone. She was pissed and would likely bite his head off if he asked how she was in front of Trujillo. He sat up straighter as he noticed their target arrive.
“Here we go,” he murmured. All three of them were alert now. Limón was only in the cafe a minute before he stepped out, satellite phone pressed to his ear. His call ended quickly and he ducked back into the cafe. Just as fast, he was back outside, heading to his car. Javi nodded to Trujillo, who pulled out and followed the dark red Toyota. After some winding through the streets, he parked in front of a building and headed in. Javi picked up his sat phone to call for backup.
“Es Peña,” (It’s Peña) Javi said into the phone. “Estoy con Trujillo y Morgan en 38 con 24. Necesitamos refuerzos.” (I’m here with Trujillo and Morgan at the corner of 38th and 24th. We need backup)
“Lo siento,” (I’m sorry) the woman on the other end of the line said. “No tengo autorización para mandarles patrullas.” (There’s no authorization to dispatch patrols.)
“Tenemos a alguien de confianza de Escobar que acaba de entrar en un edificio,” (We’re watching one of Escobar’s guys that just entered the building.) Javi explained.
“Vuelva a la base y pediremos autorización de Bogotá,” (Return to base, and we can ask for authorization from Bogotá.) she told him. Javi sighed heavily, frustrated beyond belief. He hung up the call.
“Cabrón,” (Asshole) Javi swore angrily. “Y llega el martes, hijo de puta.” (And you’ll show up next Tuesday, son of a bitch.) Javi looked back at the building in time to see Limón walk out with someone else. “Oh shit, that’s Velasco.”
“Puta,” (Shit) Trujillo said. “¿Qué hacemos?” (What do we do?) Limón got in the car.
“Pues seguimos a Velasco,” (We stick with Velasco) Javi told him. “El otro no importa.” (The other one doesn’t matter)
“¿Cuántos tipos piensa qué hay adentro, Peña?” (How many guys do you think are inside, Peña?) Trujillo asked. Velasco walked back into the building and Javi looked at Trujillo.
“Muchos para solo tres, ¿no?” (Too many for just us three, no?)
“Sí, nos vuelven mierda,” (Yeah, we’d be screwed.) Trujillo agreed. “Hijo de puta. Deberíamos llamar refuerzos, ¿no?” (Son of a bitch. We should call for backup, right?) Javi ran his tongue over his teeth as he contemplated his next move. If they went by the books on this, they’d lose Velasco. Search Bloc would drag their feet getting through all the red tape, and he’d be back in the wind….but making this call would put Ari face to face with the men he wanted nowhere near her. He glanced in the mirror to look at Ari. She had been suspiciously quiet since they left Maritza’s.
He agonized over what to do. Suddenly, the image of Ari, sobbing and broken beside Carrillo’s body flashed through his mind. He couldn’t risk losing this chance. He needed to get to Escobar, and Velasco was his ticket. He picked up the phone and began dialing.
“¿A quién está llamando?” (Who are you calling?) Trujillo asked him.
“Backup,” Javi said as the phone rang. A short time later a truck pulled up behind them.
“¿Qué está pasando, Peña?” (What’s going on, Peña?) Trujillo asked quietly.
“Yo manejó esto,” (I’ll handle this) They got out of the car. Berna and the Castaños approached them, armed to the teeth. As soon as Ari saw the Castaños she turned to him with wide eyes.
“What the fuck, Javi?” She said in a low voice. He ignored her and addressed Berna. “Este es Trujillo. Puedan confiar en él.” (This is Trujillo. You can trust him.) Berna looked at Trujillo, then back to Javier.
“Por fin ves la luz, Javier,” (You’re finally seeing the light, Javier.) Berna said.
“Digamos más bien que estoy probando si funciona,” (Let’s just see if this works.) Javi told him.
“¿Ustedes van a entrar?” (You all coming?) Carlos asked. Javi, Ari, and Trujillo looked at each other before Javi nodded. “Bueno, pues. Entonces, ustedes tres, por el frente conmigo. Berna con sus hombres, por detrás, ¿entendido?” (Okay, then. You three, in the front with me. Berna with his men, around back. Understood?”) Javi nodded once more.
“Ustedes más bien manténganse alejados de la ventanas,” (Just stay clear of the windows) Fidel warned them. He looked at Ari. “Especialmente tú, preciosa.” (Especially you, gorgeous.) Ari grimaced and pulled her gun out. Javi’s gut clenched. He hated that the woman he loved was on the radar of these psychopaths. “Vamos, pues,” (Let’s go then) Fidel told the group.
“Vamos,” (Let’s move) Carlos reiterated. The two groups separated, and Fidel took off across the street with his sniper rifle. The men set charges on the front door. They blew it open and tossed in smoke bombs for coverage. As soon as Escobar’s men started coming towards them, they opened fire and moved into the building, spreading out to find Velasco. Javi hurried upstairs, gunshots echoing around him. He thought Ari was right behind him. Halfway up the stairs a man popped up at the top, gun aimed at Javi. He froze just as the sicario’s brains splattered on the wall beside him. Javi glanced at the window and realized why Fidel had warned them. He was picking off Escobar’s men from the roof across the street. Before he had time to process the close call Velasco appeared at the top of the stairs. Javi glanced back to make sure Ari was with him, but she was nowhere to be seen. Fear shot through him, but he had no time to worry or look for her. He raced up the stairs and followed Velasco out onto the rooftop.
“Hey!” He shouted at the sicario. Velasco turned and fired a shot. Javi ducked down. He popped back up and chased after Velasco. He chased him through a house and into an alley. Javi pushed himself harder, trying to catch up while dodging the bullets Velasco randomly fired at him. At one point he turned around and fired two shots that would have been direct hits if Javi hadn’t managed to duck in a doorway. He chased him a bit further, Trujillo had caught up with him and was close behind. Just as Velasco was about to turn the corner he was hit in the face with the butt of Carlos’s rifle, knocking him to the ground. Carlos stepped on his arm to pin him down and kicked his gun away. Berna and Ari appeared behind Carlos. Javi breathed a sigh of relief that she was ok.
“¿Pa dónde ibas, gonorrea hijo de puta? Huh?” (Where were you going, you filthy son of a bitch?) He pulled Velasco up and hauled him off. They followed the men back to the cars. Javi could feel Ari’s eyes burning a hole in his back. He knew he’d have a lot to answer for once they were alone. Carlos tossed Velasco in the back of one of the cars and walked back over to where they were standing with Berna. Fidel rejoined the group.
“Lo hicieron bien,” (You did well) Fidel told them.
“Tu chica aquí es una chingona,” (Your girl here is one badass bitch) Carlos told Javi. It took every ounce of control fro Javi to show no reaction. “Ella me salvó la vida allí.” (She saved my life in there) Javi’s gaze shot to Ari. She just shrugged.
“One of them snuck up on him,” Ari explained. “I got to him before he got to your friend here.” He noticed the slight irritation from the men that Ari used English.
“Bella y mortal,” (Beautiful and deadly) Fidel said with admiration. “Mi tipo de mujer.” (My type of woman.)
“Será un día frío en el infierno,” (It’ll be a cold day in hell) Ari scoffed. The Castaños laughed.
“Oh, me gusta ésta,” (Oh, I like this one) Fidel murmured. “Cuidado, Peña… o puede que te la robe de las narices.” (Watch out, Peña…or I may just steal her out from under you) Javi scowled and clenched his fists. He had to remind himself that punching this asshole in the face would not end well for any of them right now.
“Mantén los ojos—y las manos—lejos de ella,” (Keep your eyes—and hands—away from her) he practically growled.
“¿Qué tal una parte diferente del cuerpo?“ (How about a different body part?) Carlos asked with a leer.
“No, si quieres conservar esa parte específica del cuerpo,” (Not if you want to keep that particular body part) Ari cut in. Berna and the Castaños laughed.
“Ella es un petardo,” (She’s a firecracker) Berna said. “Será un acuerdo interesante. Les contaremos qué nos aporta.“ (This will be an interesting arrangement. We’ll let you know what we get out of him.) Berna nodded towards Velasco. With that they took their leave. Javi turned to meet the angry eyes of Ari.
“Not now,” he said in a low voice. She clenched her jaw and nodded once. They got back in the car and headed to Maritza’s. “I’ll just be a minute.” Javi told them and jumped out of the car. He went into the building and knocked on her door. She answered immediately.
“Funcionó,” (It worked) Javi told her. “Estamos a mano.” (We’re even)
“Necesito ayuda con la visa para sacar a mi familia de Medellín,” (I need you to help me get a visa and get my family out of Medellín) Maritza told him. “Adonde Pablo no pueda encontrarnos.” (Somewhere Pablo can’t find us)
“No funciona así,” (It doesn’t work like that) Javi told her. “Lo siento.” (I’m sorry) She was clearly irritated by his dismissive words.
“¿Y entonces?” (So, then?) “¿Cómo voy a estar bien?” (How am I supposed to be ok?) When Javi didn’t answer, she closed the door. He walked back outside and got into the car.
“Así haremos las cosas en adelante,¿no, Peñita?” (Is this how things are going to work from now on, Peña?) Trujillo asked.
“No se preocupe, ¿okay?” (Don’t worry about it, ok?) Javi told him. “No va a pasar más esto.” (It won’t happen again)
“No. No estoy preocupado,” (No. I’m not worried.) Trujillo responded and started the car.
“Well, I am,” he heard Ari whisper in the back.
They arrived back at headquarters just after dark. The new head of Search Bloc, Colonel Martinez, was there and addressing the men. Javi and Ari walked up behind the large group of CNP officers standing outside. They joined Steve who was leaning against the front of the building. Trujillo stood on the other side of the entrance.
Martinez was going on and on about his new tactics. A systematic grid search. Javi looked at Trujillo. They both shook their heads. Dammit, he missed Carrillo. Disgusted with this new turn of events, Javier had heard enough. He pushed off the wall and went into the building. Ari and Steve followed.
“A fucking grid search?” Javi scoffed quietly as they walked towards their desks. “Isn’t that how they caught the guy who shot Abraham Lincoln?”
“It’s a change,” Steve offered.
“Yeah, it’s dated and conventional,” Javi shot back. They stopped at the table near their desks to grab a cup of coffee.
“Well, we tried going bullet for bullet with him,” Steve reminded him, “and you saw how that ended up.” Ari flinched. Steve shot her an apologetic look. Javi looked at Steve in amazement. He couldn’t believe he was willing to go along with a method that was slow and would ultimately be unsuccessful.
“Oh, so that’s it?” Javi asked “A few weeks ago you volunteered to jump into a chopper with Carrillo and now it’s a change?” When Steve just nodded, Javi continued. “Don’t worry about it, man. We’ll all feel better once Escobar’s in the ground one way or another, right?”
“There is no other way, Javi,” Steve warned. “Search Bloc is the only game in town.” Javi looked at Steve for a long moment.
“You really think this asshole can get it done?” Javi asked.
“I don’t know,” Steve answered honestly. “Maybe he’ll surprise us.”
“Okay,” Javi said softly. “Grid search it is.” Javi grabbed his coffee and turned.
“Javi,” Ari said. He paused and looked at her. “We need to talk.” Javi glanced at Steve.
“Later,” he promised. “I have something I need to take care of.”
“Javier,” Ari said in warning.
“I promise, hermosa,” he said, “we’ll discuss this when I get back.” Ari sighed in frustration. He needed to find out what Berna got out of Velasco before he talked to Ari. He needed this to not be all for nothing. He needed time to figure out what he was going to tell her. He downed the coffee in one gulp and headed out to the cafe.
“¿Qué le sacaron a Velasco?” (What did you find out from Velasco?) Javi asked as soon as he saw Berna at the cafe.
“Ni mierda,” (Not a fucking thing) Berna replied. “Ese hijo de puta terminó siendo más duro de lo que creí.” (That son of a bitch turned out to be a lot tougher than I thought.) Fuck. He was afraid of that. Javi lit his cigarette and lay and envelope on the table. “¿Eso es lo que pienso que es?” (Is that what I think it is?) Berna reached for it, but Javi quickly put his hand on top.
“Reglas del juego,” (Rules of the game.) Javi said quietly. “Solo matamos a gente armada. Sicarios. o va haber información sobre negocios, ni de laboratorios, ni de envíos. Esto no trata de ayudar a Judy. Se trata de matar a Pablo.” (We only go after armed people. Sicarios. There wont be any information abut businesses or labs to shipments. This isn’t about helping Judy. This is about killing Pablo.) Berna picked up the envelope.
“Y una cosa más,” (And one more thing) Javier demanded. Berna nodded for him to go on. “Que nadie toque a Ariana. Mantenla alejada de esto. ¿Entendido?” (No one touches Ariana. You keep her out of this. Understood?) Berna nodded in agreement.
“Entonces…brindo por matar a Pablo,” (Well, then…here’s to killing Pablo.) Berna said.
Javi got back to headquarters and immediately went to their room. He knew Ari would be waiting for him. Sure enough, she was there, pacing. He knew this was going to be bad. She was pissed. She spun to face him when he closed the door. She walked up and smelled him—what the fuck was that?—then took two steps back to glare at him.
“What the fuck is going on, Javier?” She said angrily.
“I can explain,” he began.
“You damn well better,” she raged. “How the hell are you mixed up with those psychopaths?”
“We have a mutual goal,” he said. Ari choked on an outraged laugh.
“A mutual goal?” Her face crinkled in disbelief. “What the fuck does that mean? I know you, and there is no way you would work with these assholes. No matter how much you want to take down Escobar.” He twisted his lips and clenched his fist. She knew him too well. He couldn’t bullshit his way through this one. He had to tell her the truth.
“They threatened you, Ari,” he said softly. She froze.
“What?” She whispered.
“They threatened you. Judy Moncada, Don Berna, and the Castaños. If I don’t play ball, they’re coming for you.”
“Javi—” she began. He could see what she was thinking and cut her off.
“—They don’t care about the hands off policy when it comes to DEA agents, Ari. These people are crazy, and they’ll do anything to eliminate Escobar. You are the perfect way to do that.” He’d heaved a deep breath. “I couldn’t risk it. I can’t risk you. Ever.” Her features softened.
“Javi, this is too dangerous. I don’t want you involved with them.”
“I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you safe, Ariana. Don’t you dare fucking ask me to stop doing that.” She swallowed, and an emotion he didn’t understand crossed her face.
“Are you cheating on me, Javier?”
“What?” He asked in shock. This was not something he had ever fathomed her asking him at this moment.
“The night you got the intel. The night of”—she flinched slightly—“the ambush. You came here smelling like vanilla.”
“Ok?” He had no idea where she was going with this.
“That’s how you always smelled after meeting with that woman. The one you were fucking. Now, at first, I thought she was the one who introduced you to Maritza Rincón, and that’s why you smelled like her. But then Maritza set me straight. She told me she called the embassy and that’s how she got in touch with you. So, you were with that other woman. What happened? Did you finally get tired of fucking just me?”
“Ari, no,” he said in horror. “I haven’t been with anyone but you since I committed to us. I did meet Maritza through Gabby.”
“Gabby? Is that her name?”
“Yes,” Javi replied. “She called me and said she needed to see me.”
“And you just couldn’t wait to run right into her arms?” She was fighting back tears. He hated this. He needed to clear this up immediately. He didn’t want to be the source of her pain ever again.
“No,” he said firmly. “I decided to go by so I could tell her I wouldn’t be seeing her anymore. That she needed to lose my number. When I got there she grabbed me and kissed me. I immediately pulled her off. I had every intention of telling you all this, but then we got the intel and Carrillo…honestly it all fell onto the back burner.” When she just stared at him he continued. After I pulled Gabby off of me, I noticed Maritza waiting in the room, and Gabby told me the reason she had called was to put me in touch with her friend. I got the intel, told Gabby we were done—that you were the only woman I wanted—and I left.”
“Maritza swore on the life of her daughter that she got to you through he embassy,” Ari said stubbornly. “What kind of a mother would lie on the life of her child? Hmm?” Javi could see Ari was struggling. She wanted to believe him, but his history with her was stacking the odds against him.
“A desperate one who doesn’t know who to trust,” Javi answered. “I’m not lying to you, Ariana. I have never lied to you, and I’m not about to start now.”
“Why did you tell Carrillo you trusted her?” She asked angrily. “You didn’t know her.”
“I trusted Gabby,” he said, shame washing over him at his colossal error in judgement.
“You trusted your whore, and it got my best friend killed!” Ari shouted. “He’s six feet in the ground! Cold…gone. All because you’re too soft when it comes to these prostitutes.”
“I know,” he whispered. He was choking on self loathing. He would never forgive himself for Carrillo’s death. She deflated as the rage seemed to leave her.
“I don’t know how we move on from here, Javi,” Ari said sadly.
“What do you mean?” Javi asked in a shaky voice. He was terrified of what she would say next.
“I don’t think I can do this,” her voice trembled. Javi’s knees almost gave out. She clenched her eyes closed for a moment before opening them and meeting his gaze. “I think I’ve always known, but I just didn’t want to see it. Part of me knew, when we decided to try an actual relationship, that we’d end up here. The simple fact is you don’t love me. And no matter how much I love you, it will never be enough to make this work because I’m not what you want.”
“Ari, baby, I didn’t cheat on you,” Javi pleaded. “You have to believe me. That bitch lied to you. You are all that I want. You’re everything I never knew I needed.” She looked deep into his eyes.
“I believe you,” she said finally. He sagged in relief. “But it doesn’t matter.” He felt as if he might throw up. “Carrillo’s death hangs between us. I don’t know how we move past that.”
“Please,” Javi begged. “Please don’t do this, baby.”
“I need some time, Javi,” she said softly. “Can you give me that?” He nodded rapidly. He’d agree to anything…anything but giving her up. He stepped forward to close the distance between them. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her deeply, passionately. To his relief, she kissed him back. After a long, long moment, he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. He cupped the side of her face.
“Take the time you need, Ari,” he said gently. “Just, please, find your way back to me. I need you. I don’t know if I can breathe without you.”
“No promises,” she said. His heart plummeted, but then she smiled.
“Really? Now?” He asked, mildly exasperated at her attempt at a joke while his heart was bleeding out at her feet. Her face sobered.
“I love you, Javier Peña,” she whispered. “I just need to figure out if love is enough.” His heart clenched in fear.
“Ok, hermosa,” he whispered back. She stepped out of his arms and silently left the room. He stood there for a long time, trying to figure out how to put the pieces of his soul back together.
Chapter 22
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Well,well, well I was having a terrible day ending with my cat having hurt herself and me trying to get her an appointment with the vet. I had come on here not expecting to have this, a chapter of 1 of my favourite series waiting for me!!! I have also watched Narcos so many times I could picture the whole thing. I understand how and why Ari is feeling how she is feeling, but being a Javi girl I just want him happy!!!! Cannot wait for more now, I’m greedy 😋😋😋
I hope your kitty is ok! And don’t worry. I’m already working on the next chapter! I can’t get these two out of my head right now!
