Alejandro Vargas x Reader

Twenty-Nine

Holding your breath, you raised your weapon, your eyes fixed firmly on the wave of narcos that stood directly in front of you, driving the units of Los Vaqueros apart like lions on a herd of gazelles.

They had not yet noticed you. You had to act quickly to take advantage of the element of surprise.

Your finger was already on the trigger, when suddenly that strange feeling came over you again. It was just like back then. As if you were watching yourself through a screen. As if you were not in control of your own senses.

Breathing heavily, you pressed down the trigger.

Blood rushed through your veins. All the hairs stood up as goose bumps grew on your arms.

Why were you like that?

Maybe you had been lying to yourself all these years. Maybe the narco blood was too strong in you.

Even if you wanted to deny it, you were a narco and the narco you once had been was still a part of who you were to this day.

And you hated it. You hated it but you wouldn't be able to get rid of it. Not entirely. Not ever.

It disgusted you to know that your own husband stood behind you and watched you shoot down people who had once been your people. You knew deep in your heart that no matter how bad the situation could have been, he would never have shot one of his own men.

Los Vaqueros were the family he had once lost. In a way, the cartel had been your family too, but instead of offering protection and security, it had been an environment of pressure and violence.

Despite all the feelings that were building up inside you at that moment, you still pulled the trigger of your gun.

The narcos were caught by surprise. When the first bullets left your barrel, two of them had already been hit in the back.

Frowning, you walked a line from one house to another to make sure that no one could escape and that you yourself would not be an easy target.

Alejandro secured the other side.

Startled, the remaining narcos jumped apart and managed to save themselves from the hail of bullets.

A path opened up. Blood and dead bodies soaked the ground.

"Vaqueros, gather around!", Alejandro shouted.

Summoned from their hiding places, the remaining soldiers appeared to join you. They made sure to eliminate the remaining enemies before they could become dangerous again.

"Is everyone here?", you asked, glancing at Alejandro.

His eyes wandered over the men.

"Where are Soap and Ghost?", he asked.

"Here.", the Scottish accent sounded from behind you.

Your eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Are you hurt, Sergeant?", you approached him caringly.

A long cut stretched on his bicep. At first glance it was only a small wound, bloody but not deep.

Ghost allowed him to hold onto his shoulder, so it must have been more serious than your eyes would have you believe.

Annoyed, Ghost rolled his eyes.

"He got caught by a knife and fell down a flight of stairs.", he growled in his powerful voice.

You had to stifle a thin smirk.

"Is something broken?", you asked.

Embarrassed, Soap rubbed the back of his neck.

"Just swollen.", he replied with a grin, and stood upright on both legs again. "I was careless."

"That shouldn't happen again, Sergeant.", Alejandro replied from the edge of the group. "We should keep moving. No time to waste."

Without another word, he ordered the units to move on and took the lead.

Irritated by his strange mood, you watched him for a moment and only followed when Soap and Ghost also started to move.

Outside a house, that cut off the end of the street, Alejandro stopped beside the door and listened. His gaze jumped over his shoulder, you thought he was going to call for you, but eventually his eyes lingered on Soap.

Following the silent request, the Scotsman positioned himself in front of the door and waited for the signal to advance.

Some dark thought lingered in the back of your head. This reminded you of how you once used to sit in a drug house, waiting for a cop to show up so that you could shoot them up before one ounce of drugs was lost.

This was a trap, just like it had been and always would be. The narcos were devils in disguise and they acted like it too.

Soap was about to kick in the door as you couldn't help but interfere.

"Soap.", you whispered with bated breath. "There is one near the door. Another is waiting in the room beyond."

Alejandro frowned in confusion.

"How do you know that?", he asked.

You had to swallow hard. Again that sickening feeling of guilt arose in you.

Why couldn't you help but act and think like a narco all the time?

Even back when living in a nice house you had made sure that there were always weapons in reach, even if it meant to keep a knife hidden underneath your bed.

"Because they always do it that way.", you finally managed to answer. "It's a system that either kills you by surprise or makes you think you're safe after the first shot."

Visible displeasure crossed Alejandro's face for the blink of a second. His lips moved, a silent word crossed them and was send into the world, unspoken, unheard.

"Fine, stay alerted.", he turned to Soap again as if you weren't even there. "I'll cover you."

"I'm right behind you.", you agreed and got ready to back up your husband.

"I'd prefer you and Ghost secure the back.", his request stuck you by surprise. "I need someone capable to make sure we don't get lost again."

For a moment the two of you just stared at each other. Silent words were exchanged, your eyes begged for forgiveness or at least an explanation.

But he stood firm on his decision.

A deep breath escaped your lips. With a nod, you retreated to join Lieutenant Riley in the back to make sure no unwanted surprises occurred while the unit was trapped in a house.

"You ready?", Alejandro gave Soap a signal.