Against the law (Armando Aretas)

002

‧₊˚✧Against The Law✧˚₊‧

After what happened with Marcus, Mike and I had been staying with him at the hospital since he was still under observation. Today I had just gotten back from seeing Armando, and I stopped by a coffee shop, grab some coffee and some breakfast for Mike. I reached the Hospital and walked in and went to see if Mike was awake. I reached Marcus's room and noticed he was not in his bed, I set the bags down and shook Mike. "Where the fuck is Marcus?" I said as Mike woke up. "Ah shit," Mike said and we both ran out of the room and noticed Marcus was about to hop on the elevator. Mike called out Marcus but he got in the elevator. "Fuck, we have to take the stairs," I told Mike as we ran to the stairs to the roof. We reached on the roof and noticed he was standing on the edge of the building. "Ok I give up on this man," I said as Mike began talking to him. "Hey, buddy. What you doing?" "I spent my whole life being scared, Mike. I wasted so much time." Marcus began saying as I said under my breath, "No shit." Mike heard me and just eyed me and returned to his conversation with Marcus. "Wh-Why don't you, uh... why don't you just, uh, step back from the ledge a little bit, please." "What year is it?" Marcus asked which made me question if he wasn't high. "It's Tuesday. the same year your ass was wobbling in." I told him to move beside Mike. "Oh, wow. Felt like it was five years. I was in the basement of the ocean. All my bullshit was gone. Just freedom. And full-body love, Mike. Full body love." I smiled at Marcus' little dance that he was doing. "All right, okay. Wh-why-why don't you uh, love your full body back from the-the ledge, please?" Mike said as he got closer to the edge to see how far up, we were. "Nothing to be scared of," Marcus said, and I was seriously get concerned for this man. "It's not my time, baby," "Well, you will make it your time if you don't pull back from the ledge Marcus," I said replying to his comment. "It's not my time Isa." "Mr. Burnett!" we heard a voice say. I turned around to see the nurse and told her, "Uh hey, don't worry we got him, he is just um.... You know what not even I know what the fuck his doing. But we got him. Hopefully." "We are great!" Marcus said as he lifted his hospital gown showing a part where the sun doesn't shine. "Oh, c'mon Marcus. I am done I will see you later. Now I have to go wash out my eyes with Clorox." I said to Mike as I started leaving Mike alone with him.

After I left Mike with Marcus, I went back home since it was my day off. As I reached home, I went up to my room and went into my closet, got changed, and then went back downstairs and jumped on the couch as I turned on the TV and continued watching my series.

THE NEXT DAY

I was at Marcus's house, waiting for Mike to come home with Marcus since Marcus had signed himself out of the hospital. I was talking to Megan and Christine, while Theresa was on the phone with Marcus. After Theresa finished talking with Marcus, she walked over to us and told us what he said making us all laughed at Marcus' nonsense.

After about 10 minutes later Mike and Marcus arrived. "Daddy's home!" Marcus said as he walked in. We all got up and went to welcome him home. After the hugs, I stood behind Mike as I analyzed the scene in front of me. Mike was happy with Christine, and Marcus was back with Theresa, Megan and Reggie were happy with little Marcus and another baby on the way. Everyone had the love of their life and they were happy, while I was here out in the world and the love of my life was behind bars, I couldn't hug him, I couldn't kiss him, I couldn't go to bed, and wake up the other day and have him beside me, sometimes I just wished I could just hug Armando, that's all I ask but I just can't.

I had zoned out until I heard Marcus say, "Oh no baby all I need is you. Just let me get some electrolytes," and he walked away into the kitchen. "So, what's going on with my dad?" Megan asked as Marcus walked away. "Um, well, he-he was on the roof, uh naked. And, uh, he said he had been at the basement of the ocean. Uh, oh, and he said, uh, I have a stupid baby soul with no penis," Mike said as we all laughed until we heard Marcus call out Reggie. "Did you eat my snacks?" Marcus asked as he walked towards the living room. "No... no sir," Reggie said to Marcus. "I was looking forward to my snacks, Reggie," "You know what? You need to get a job." "I'm a U.S. Marine, sir." "Well, then you need to deploy," "we just got back from Yemen." "Thank you for your service." "You thought I was dead, didn't you?" "Dead?" "One thing you don't know, Reggie: I got a camera up in here. Yeah," Marcus said as he took out his phone to see the camera footage, only to find his wife throwing away all his snacks. "Theresa!" Marcus shouted. "It's the doctor's order, Marcus. You are on a strict diet: no salt, no sugar, no fats." Theresa said as she walked away to the kitchen with Marcus on her tail. "No stress, no loud noises, no physical exertion. Just sit your ass down somewhere, man. Before you drop dead again," I said to Marcus as I sat beside Mike and Christine. "Tell him, Isa," Theresa said as she reached the fridge. "And, honey, I'm doing it with you. We're now vegetarians." "Vegetarians? Look at me. look at all this man, baby. I'm brand- new. I need animal sugars to survive." "Well, baby, I have a salad for you," and with that, Mike, Christine, and I took it as our cue to go. "Uh, T, looks like you got this under control. Uh, my tour duty is done." Mike said as I took out my keys to my car. "Bye, Christine. Bye, Mike. Bye Isa," "Bye T," I said as I walked behind Mike. "Hey, Isa wait up," "Yeah, sure," "What are you about to do? Can you run a quick-quick for me?" "Sure Marcus, anything." "Um, I'll give you a thousand dollars for some skittles." "Marcus, I am not buying your ass no candy, man." "Okay, fine, 2,000, Isa, for some ding dongs and that's my final offer." "Well, stay with your offer Marcus, I won't buy you any candy. Plus, if I did Theresa is going to kill me. Sorry Marcus, I love you but I won't buy you any candy," I told Marcus as I walked away.

As I walked outside, I saw Mike waiting for me. "You should go I am just going to take a spin, I'll be home in a couple of minutes," I said as I walked towards my car. "You okay Isa, Christine and I noticed you zoned out for a second in there. Everything cool?" Mike asked as I stopped walking and turned to face him. "Yeah, I'm fine, hey don't worry, I am fine Mike," I said to him and kissed him on the cheek and turned towards my car. After I left Marcus's house I went for a drive towards the beach, to see the sunset. Every day I always come to see the sunset by the docks hoping one day I would watch the sunset with Armando. Over the past few years, Armando and I were still in a relationship, I went every day to visit him in the mornings before going to work. I would always share how My day went and he would always laugh at the stories I would tell him about Marcus. Yes, I got to see him every day, but every time I saw him, he was caged up, and it hurt me to see him like that. After watching the sunset, I went back home and got home just in time for dinner. I took my shoes off and placed my keys on the coffee table and headed towards the dinner table. Mike, Christine, and I ate dinner and talked and laughed. After dinner, I helped Christine clean up, and then headed to my room, not before reminding Mike to wake me up so we could go for a run tomorrow morning.

THE NEXT DAY

Mike and I had just come from a run and he was skipping rope, while he did that I just stretched out. After I stretched out, I got up and was about to grab my skipping rope but Mike called me to look at something on his phone. "The Department of Justice has been investigating the corruption in the Miami Police Department, and we now have credible intelligence that Captain Conrad Howard was directing these elements in coordination with the cartels." We heard the News say. I looked at Mike and then told him, "I'll get changed, I'll meet you at the office in 15," and with that, I left. After I got changed, I locked up and got into my McLaren 720, and drove off towards the office. As I reached the office, I noticed Mike and Marcus getting out of the car. I caught up to them and went inside. We reached the conference room and noticed there was a meeting going on, but we didn't care we walked and everybody turned to face us. "You knew about this?" Mike asked Rita. "I found out two weeks ago." Rita Replied which made me start to get pissed off. "A press conference? Really?" Marcus said to her. "I'm sorry about the way you had to find out, but given your closeness..." Rita said but got cut off by Mike. "Our closeness? Neither one of y'all would have a job if it wasn't for Captain Howard." Mike said. "Rita, you know this is not true." I told her. "Honestly, Isa, I don't." Rita said in response. "The investigation has turned up new evidence." Adam said until a guy stepped in. "Miami Law enforcement's been a leaky ship for years now. Witnesses turn up dead. Informants disappear. Events appear random until you aggregate them over years. Then a pattern emerges." "Who the fuck is this bitch?" I said all angry. "Bud Grice, FBI, heading up the KTF on this show. That's how I am." The guy said which made me roll my eyes. "Now, we knew someone was providing intelligence to a cartel moving product into south Florida. We just didn't know who." Grice continued to say. "Cartel banker turned up dead weeks ago shot by his girlfriend. They found a phone with Howard's contact to it. Years of communication with the cartel, account references offshore." Adam said making me sigh in frustration. "Millions in Howard's name." Rita said with hurt in her voice. "Final piece we needed to nail that dirty motherfucker," Grice said which made me lose it. "Oh no the fuck you did not," I started saying to him as I walked towards him. "Hey, hey. Let me holla at you. Um, you know I was with him when he went down, right? And so, was Mike? You call him dirty one more time and I will show you why he trusted me to deal with bitches like you," Rita got in between me and Grice signaling me to calm down but I didn't. "We know he had others who were with him. We're gonna find them, too." "I was with him. Put the cuffs on me right now. I was with him." I shouted at Grice as I felt my blood burning. "Isabella!" Marcus said to me trying to calm me down. "No, no these bitches think that just' because he is dead and can't defend himself, they gonna dump all this shit on him, burn his legacy. Not on my watch." I said as I walked back towards Mike and Marcus. Suddenly we heard the door opened and turned around to see Judy Walk in. "This is Judy Howard, U.S Marshals." Rita said to the men in front of her. "I realize I have no jurisdiction here, but as a professional courtesy, I'd like to request visibility into the sources of the allegations against my father." Jude said which made Mike step closer to her. "Judy, we're gonna figure this shit out, all right? How's Callie?" Mike said to her which only made her reply. "How do you think Mike?" "We're on the same team here, Judy." "Like hell, we are, Mike. My dad would still be alive if it weren't for your bastard son. If I ever catch him out on the street, I swear on my father I will put him down." Judy said which made my eyes tear up and walk out of the room as Marcus told Mike that it was time to go. I started walking out with Mike and Marcus on my heels. "So, what is our next move," "They said he was working with the cartel. Let's ask the Cartel." I told Marcus answering his question as I got in my car and drove off with Mike and Marcus driving behind me.