Midnight Lips | Ghost

𝐂𝐇. 02

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐀
༻❁༺

Las Almas, México.

     The first thing I did when I got off the plane was take a deep breath of the new Mexico air. My lungs were filled with a rainy smell until it hurt to keep getting air into them. Today across the sky sat beautiful grey clouds. Why, I couldn't understand. Mexico in October is warm, yet the sun was hiding behind the clouds.

I wasn't going to complain. This was my favorite type of weather.

I stretched my arms over my head, cracking the tension from my bones. "Have I ever told you—"

"That this is your favorite type of weather?" Came Kate's voice from behind me, talking right over me as I was saying, "... that this is my favorite type of weather?"

"Yes, you have." Kate pushed my back, making me take a step down the stairs. "Keep moving, woman, we don't have any time to spare."

I scowled. I was about to complain when I caught a glimpse of the men waiting for us right at the end of the staircase. One of them stood out, and I couldn't help but exclaim his name.

"Manu!"

"Chilena!" Manuel waited until I was on the last step to approach and I couldn't stop myself from jumping in his arms.

"No lo puedo creer!" I hugged him tightly. I couldn't believe he was right there, in my arms.
"Cuánto tiempo ha pasado desde la última vez que nos vimos?" How long has it been since we last saw each other? I couldn't remember, all I knew was that it had been painfully long.

"Como unos tres o cuatro años más o menos?" he replied, leaning back to take my face in his hands. Like three or four years or so? It felt longer. Manu messed with my hair and I slapped his hands away. "Has cambiado un chingo, Val." You've changed a lot, Val.

"You think so?"

"Look at you. Your hair is black and shorter now."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Ever watched Tangled? I cut it and it turned black. Lost its magic in the way."

Manu laughed. "I take it back, you're still the same. Full of bullshit."

I laughed out loud. "Te extrañé, pendejo." I missed you, idiot.

"Y yo a ti, po weona." Me too, po girl-friend.

I couldn't help but crack another laugh at the way that sounded. It was so funny to listen to Chilean words come out of his mouth.

Too lost in our world, the curtains were drawn back with someone else's voice. "No nos vas a saludar a nosotros también, chilena?" Won't you greet us too, Chilean girl?

"Hey!" Los Vaqueros were right there, with a smile on their faces approaching me. "Qué pasa, cómo están?" What's up, how are you?

"Eh, por ahí nomas, haciendo nuestro trabajo." Eh, just around, doing our job. Alejandro shrugged before pulling me into his arms and lifting me for a big hug.

I worked with them about three years ago. Became good friends with these two, Alejandro and Rodolfo. We met a couple of times after the case at that time was over, had a few drinks, had a great time, all until the Isabella thing happened.

My stomach turned, my mind wandering down that dark path once again. I stopped it before I made it to the end. I put on small smile on my face and faced Alejandro.

He put my feet on the ground and smiled. "Tu, cómo andas?" You, how are you?

"Busy. Y'know, lawyer things."

"You stopped writing." Rodolfo hugged me.

My smile threatened to fall, but I forced it up. "I know. Something went down, pa'." He opened his mouth but pressed his lips together as soon as I raised my hand. "No preguntí, estoy bien." Don't ask. I'm fine.

Rodolfo smiled warmly. "It's good to hear you."

My chest warmed. Who even said that? It's good to hear you? Shit, I was getting emotional. I did miss them a lot, but fuck, I hated these types of moments, it made me extremely sensitive and I didn't want to.

I pushed past Los Vaqueros. "Yep, can't say the same," I joked. They all chuckled.

I approached Kate, who was waiting patiently by the jeeps for me. I assumed she was coming with us, but she grasped my shoulder and sighed. "I'm afraid this is how far I can come."

"Why?" I almost pouted.

"My time was cut short. Los Vaqueros offered to escort you to Base-77, so thank them. When you arrive at base, Price will introduce you to Task Force. They must be waiting for you by now so get your ass going."

"Uy." I rolled my eyes. "Always so demanding."

"By the way, Rodriguez asked to come see you. He can't go anywhere close to base since he's retired, so this is the farthest he can come. Better check that out before leaving."

"I will, thank you."

"Remember our deal. You're on your own now, Valentina." Kate stared at me for a few seconds before her eyes turned soft and she pulled me into a tight hug. "You can always count on me, Val. Tell me you can't do this and I'll find another way."

"I know," I assured her, because I did know I could trust her. She wasn't only my boss, she was my best friend. And this hug meant more than anything. For Kate Laswell, it was complicated to show her emotions, so getting this side of her was something special. "But I can do this."

"I know you can." Kate pulled back from the hug and patted my back awkwardly. "Again, you can always back out from this. Just hit me up."

"Thank you, Kate."

"Stay safe, yeah? I'll be waiting for your reports." Kate parted away before this could turn into an awkward I will miss you, you're the best, and I love you goodbye.

Before I got into the truck, I faced Manuel. Manuel was a former Los Vaqueros member, but he retired because Carmen, his wife, got pregnant (I didn't know till now), and he decided to dedicate his life to his family.

We said our goodbyes, got into the SUV before it could get too emotional and awkward, and left. (Better to avoid that at all costs).

Los Vaqueros filled me up with their journey, which was all full of explosions and bullets and possible deaths. I noticed that every outcome of their missions ended up with Mexican army troops intervening. That clearly meant someone was letting them know about the missions. There was a traitor and I needed to find them.

I just hope I don't get distracted.

*ೃ༄

𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃...

*Manuel Rodriguez is a character made by this author 🤎