La Mujer de Lalo (Lalo's Woman)

El Traje Naranja

Lying on his bunk bed, Lalo could only think of Ana. He never got time to inform her of his predicament. Poor thing, she'd have come all the way over to El Michoacáno and waited for him. He hoped that at least Nacho would have told her something. He felt bad for ditching her like that. But in his defense, he had to deal with El Diablo that was in front of him. He called Nacho using the cellular.

Nacho told him about what had happened. "Ah shit man. You couldn't control your sister eh." Lalo said with a chuckle. "She stomped you and probably ate you." He said with amusement.

There was no reply from the other side. Nacho rolled his eye balls at Lalo's stupid behavior. He hated the guy even more now.

"Listen Nachito, bring your sister here. I have to get things straightened with her. She probably would have been up all night. Esa chica piensa demasiado." (That girl thinks too much)

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The next morning, Nacho and Ana got down from the AMC Javelin and walked into the station. Nacho asked his sister to wait while he went to sort things for their meet. As Ana was looking around, something caught her eye. Or to be more specific, someone.

The man saw her and froze. Dressed in a grey t-shirt and a black leather jacket, the 6'2'' lieutenant who had just handcuffed a criminal, pushed him over to his partner and walked towards Ana. Ana's throat dried up and she immediately panicked. Searching for Nacho. He was nowhere near. She closed her eyes and got ready.

"Ana Theresa Ruíz. Never did I imagine running into you. Least of all, in a police station."

"Speak of the devil." She whispered to herself. "Lt. Marcus Pierce." She acknowledged.

"How long has it been Ana, since we last saw each other? 5 years?"

"More or less."

He snickered at her indifference. She really has moved on.

"What are you doing here? Did someone hurt you?" He asked with genuine concern.

"No. I-I came with Nacho. To meet a-a um, friend."

"That brother of yours, is he still in the um business?" Marcus hinted at the drug dealing.

She never said anything.

"What in the seven hells?" Came Nacho's voice from behind Marcus. "How the hell did you come back here?"

"Ignacio. Nice to meet you too. Hope you haven't been causing much trouble to the citizens of Albuquerque." Marcus spat.

Ana nodded her head, asking Nacho not to talk back. He went straight to Ana and grabbed her as they walked in.

"Ana, my dear Ana. How much I've missed you. I'm going to win you back. You're mine. You'll fall in love with me all over again. But this, we'll last. You're the reason I'm back in this shithole of a town." Marcus spoke to the walls.

Nacho waited outside, while Ana went inside the room. She sat in one of the empty chairs, clad in jeans and a pretty blouse. Anxious as ever. The door behind her opened and in came Lalo. She turned to look at him, and felt the urge to slap him.

Garbed in an orange suit, which still made him look stunning as ever, he waited till the officer took off the shackles that were bound hand to hand around his waist. Looking at him that way brought tears to her eyes. Once they were alone, he sat opposite her.

"Lal- Mm...Jorge. How are you doing?" She asked trying to look least bit bothered. But from her watery eyes and broken words Lalo knew she was hurt. And he was the reason. The bags under her eyes told him that she was probably up all night crying.

"Ana, I'm sorry." He quickly let out. "This is just a small hiccup Chiquita. Before the end of the week, I'll be out." He declared like a boss. "Don't worry about me?"

"Why didn't you say anything? I had to beat it out of Nacho. And did you... did you really...? She stopped, too careful not to utter some words. Deep down she knew that it was him. But a part of her wanted him to say no to her and deny it all. But all she got was a long stare. Tears fell down her rosy cheeks.

Lalo reached to wipe them off, but before he could get to her, a voice called out "No touching." with a bang on the door. He hands recoiled in anger.

"Who the hell is this hijo de puta (son of a bitch)? Trying to tell me not to touch my lady?" Lalo's inner mind screamed at the guard.

"Listen muñeca, we can have a big long talk when I come outside. I'll explain everything. Truth only. I swear."

"When you come out? Until then? Why did you ask me to come here?" She spoke as she bit her teeth.

"I wanted to see your face. I wanted to smell you."

God, this cabrón is romantic as hell even in prison. Getting her to blush in embarrassment.

His face quickly became serious as he bent forward and asked her to lean in closer.

"The pinche (fucking) Chilean who sent me to jail is looking to send me back to Mexico. He is snooping around the cartel and doing something big right under our noses. It's my duty to find out what it is and report to my boss. The only thing worrying about me right now is you. You pack away and move in with Nacho. He'll also give you a something. Take it."

She looked at him, taking in everything he was saying and nodding at times.

"What is it?"

He raised his eyebrows at that question while uttering "Tsk tsk".

"It's for your protection."

Ana got a clear idea as to what he was referring to. Her fingers covered her mouth.

"Hey, hey listen. I just want to keep you safe." Lalo finished.

Ana stood up and angrily exclaimed "If you want to keep me safe, you come outside and do it yourself."

"Ah... sure. Don't you worry about it eh." He playfully let out.

He got up and walked to the door, without evening saying any goodbyes. As he walked past Ana, he placed his lips on hers and kissed her. Their passion once again ignited.

The guard outside, saw this and yelled "Hey, step away son." before opening the door and walking in quickly to disrupt their kiss.

A punch landed on Lalo's abdomen and he crunched.

"Don't. Please." screamed Ana as she turned to look at the guard who'd punched Lalo.

"Haha..." Lalo snikered loudly. "Princesa, it was worth it."

But Ana didn't react looked fixated at the man who had landed the power packed punch. It was Marcus.

Two guards rushed in and forced Lalo to the wall and cuffed him. Marcus pulled Ana by her arm and put his fingers on her chin to make her look up at him. If she came upto the chest of 5'11'' Lalo, she barely came upto the 6'2'' Marcus' lower chest.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"Don't touch me!" Ana blurted.

Lalo now saw what was happening behind him. "Who's this guy?" He thought.

Ana moved towards Lalo, leaving Marcus behind. Tears flowing down like a stream.

"Esta bien." She mouthed to him.

As the guard pulled Lalo away, he saw Marcus bending down to Ana's shoulders and deeply sniffing her hair. Lalo's insides burned at the sight. Poor Ana was so caught up on the departing Lalo, she had no clue what Marcus was up to behind her. Lalo's fists clenched tightly. But he just couldn't do anything now. Not until he got out.

A hundred and one questions went through his mind, the first one being "Who the fuck does that cop think he is?"