CUBAN HIRE (CARTEL GXG)

CROSSING BOUNDARIES

"Are you ready?" Ezmeralda's voice carried a weight of finality as she glanced back at Olivia, her hands gripping the last of the bags. The front door stood open before them, like the beginning of a new chapter that neither of them could fully predict.

Olivia gave a small, tense nod, her lips barely moving as she muttered, "Yeah, let's go." She turned back briefly to look at Phoebe, who stood a few steps behind with her own bags in hand. The shared smile between them spoke volumes—an unspoken promise of safety and solidarity. This would be the last time they'd see each other for a while, and the unknowing future stretched out like the road ahead.

Carlos stood beside Phoebe, his posture tense but his face calm. He waited silently for Ezmeralda and Olivia to leave before he and Phoebe could follow in their own car. The usual easygoing confidence in his stance was tempered by a faint hint of worry—he took a deep breath, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle in his chest. The unknown scared him. Even with all their plans in place, there was no way to predict what was coming next.

Two weeks had passed since the chaos of Ezmeralda's wedding. In that time, Carlos had tied the knot with Phoebe in a much smaller, more discreet ceremony. Unlike the firestorm that surrounded Ezmeralda's event, their wedding had been a brief escape from the constant intensity of their lives. But the reprieve didn't last long. The rest of those days had been consumed by late nights, endless phone calls, and complex plans—coordinating visits to various immigration centers, dodging legal scrutiny, and filling out forms with half-truths to cover past crimes. Every moment had been steeped in tension, and Carlos felt like he was holding his breath, waiting for something to go wrong. He needed a break—one that would take him far from the chaos of their everyday lives. This trip seemed like a glimmer of hope, a break he could finally savor.

Ezmeralda cleared her throat, breaking the quiet as she opened the car door. The sound startled Olivia out of her thoughts. Things had been so quiet lately—almost too quiet. Since the wedding, Ezmeralda had been more absorbed in business than in her usual domineering ways, leaving Olivia in a strange limbo between relief and anxiety. The space between them was still filled with tension, but there had been fewer sharp words and icy glares. Perhaps the storm had passed, or perhaps it was only a temporary calm.

Sliding into the passenger seat, Ezmeralda tucked her gun into the glove box, her movements efficient and controlled, as always. It was an automatic gesture—a habit of self-preservation. The familiar weight of the weapon out of her reach didn't ease her nerves, though. As the driver prepared to pull away, she could feel the flutter of unease creeping up from her toes, filling her with a restless energy. They were finally on their way to the airport. The plan was in motion, and they had everything they needed: tickets, cover stories, and—most importantly—an escape route. But even with all the pieces falling into place, Ezmeralda couldn't shake the sense that something could still go wrong.

Carlos watched them drive off, his heart thudding in his chest as he and Phoebe got into their own car. His eyes followed the back of the departing vehicle, thoughts swirling. They had been through so much already, and there was still so much at stake. They were all playing a dangerous game, and he knew better than anyone that, in their world, the smallest mistake could have devastating consequences.

As they merged into traffic, the city around them humming with life, Carlos exhaled slowly. This was supposed to be a break—a much-needed pause from the constant fight for survival. But he knew better than to let his guard down. Just like Ezmeralda, he was all too aware that, in their line of work, calm was often just the prelude to the next storm.

The drive to the airport was smoother than expected, the streets still quiet, untouched by the usual morning rush. Ezmeralda's pulse quickened, thudding deep in her stomach. The simplicity of the trip was deceptive; she knew that once Olivia was out of her immediate reach, even for a moment, everything could unravel. Despite all the groundwork she'd laid—teaching Olivia how to act, what to say, how to think like her—there was always the fear that it wasn't enough. She had to believe that everything she'd drilled into Olivia would stick. There was no room for error.