The Viper

Daniel Harmon

Chapter Song: Lost In A Wave LANDMVRKS

*To make this chapter less confusing. Valeria will always be referred to as Valeria, she or her. Valentine will be referred to as Val, Valentine, she or her*

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They arrive at Las Almas at dusk the following evening, the Jeep jerking steadily down the rocky roads, and the sky - a mixture of orange, red, and deep blue, the colors seemed to last forever as they swirl together and stretch across the darkening sky, the thick rain filled clouds loom heavily in the distance as they chase their moving car.

Valentine cant help herself as she excitedly leans over the Captains lap to stare out the window at the passing scenery, buildings and people. Her left hand grips onto his thigh for support before the seatbelt clicks with restraint - yanking her back. Huffing lightly at the inconvenience. Familiarity seeps into her heart and it doubles in its size as her eyes chase everything, taking in as much as hey eyes would allow her.

"We're to meet Alejandro and El Sin Nombre at a private warehouse about twenty minutes away." Soap fills them in as he leans forward to adjust the air conditioning. Valentine's head jerks in his direction at his words. The idea of seeing one of the very few people who viewed her as family causes her heart rate to speed up, oh how she missed Mexico. Suddenly aware of the Captains warm, steady hand on her back, her stomach dips for a different reason as she moves away from the window and back down to her seat, cheeks and lower stomach heating.

The Los Vaqueros were new to her, she wasn't around long enough to meet them. El Sin Nombre on the other hand, was someone she knew quite well. "Can you believe Alejandro is actually working with El Sin Nombre? I wonder how long thats been goin' on for." Soap thinks out loud, shaking his head. Valentine feels her eyebrows pinch together with confusion.

"Why is it unbelievable?" Curiosity getting the better of her, she turns to the left to face the Captain for an explanation. His brows pinch together, he looked at her as if she should know - like it was the dumbest question he'd ever heard. Then, annoyingly so, a smirk quirks at his lips. A sinking feeling overtakes any emotion she was feeling before. Looking away quickly, her gaze settling on the forest they were passing. Regret sinks deep in her stomach, her hands beginning to fiddle with the growing emotion she was feeling, her fingers twisting each other.

"Well, Alejandro is military and El Sin Nombre is cartel." The Captain explains slowly and no further, like he was telling a toddler that the grass is green. Irritation pricks quickly at her skin. Did he think she was stupid? Or was he unaware of how the way he spoke looked? In that moment, she imagined grasping the back of his big ass head and slamming it into the back of Ghosts seat repeatedly until the fucking smirk slipped from his stupidly-handsome face.

"Yes but we're in the same situation, no?" She retorts with an annoyed curl to her lips instead, setting all fantasies aside. "You're military, I'm not cartel perse - but its close enough." With a roll of her eyes and a small jerk of her chin she turns to Gaz. "So, El Sin Nombre, you've met them?" She asks looking to him and he must see something in her face because he grins, lifting his hand to her hair to ruffle it. Some of her nerves and annoyance disappearing at his small touch. Valentine could feel her lashes batting but she didn't bother caring when his attention was always so kind. Valentine deserved a bit of kindness.

"Once before, they're a heavy influence here locally so they should know more details about whats going on, i'm kind of surprised they haven't done anything yet." Her heart rate thrums at his soft, expressive voice, finding herself grateful for him she gives him a small smile in return - subtly leaning her body more towards him.