CUBAN HIRE (CARTEL GXG)

BETWEEN FEAR AND FORGIVENESS

Sitting in the patrol car outside the station, Olivia struggled to hold back tears of relief, her hands tightly gripping Phoebe's. The past twenty minutes had been a blur, her words tumbling out in quiet explanations—how she had met Wilson and how, against all odds, the officer had managed to save them. Wilson had left them alone, recognizing the weight of their unspoken emotions.

"How did you know she was going to get us out of there?" Phoebe asked softly, her thumb gently rubbing across Olivia's knuckles, trying to comfort her.

"I just... knew," Olivia murmured, her voice still shaky from the adrenaline. "When she started talking to them, trying to send one away, I knew she had a plan. I acted on instinct."

"So the nausea wasn't a lie, huh?" Phoebe chuckled weakly, trying to inject some humor into the moment.

"No," Olivia laughed, the tension in her chest easing just a little. "That was very real. It just got worse when Wilson showed up, and I knew I had to play it up. But everything after? It was survival."

Silence settled over them again as they sat in the car, trying to process everything. The night was far from over, but for now, they had a brief moment to breathe. Olivia's mind wandered to what would happen next, the fear of Ezmeralda's retaliation creeping in.

The sound of the car door opening snapped her back to the present. Wilson stood there, her voice gentle but firm. "Are you two ready to give your statements?" she asked, holding the door open for them.

"Yeah," Olivia breathed, feeling the weight of the next steps. She pulled herself out of the car, lifting her ruined dress to step down. Phoebe followed close behind, her hand never leaving Olivia's.

Inside the station, the late hour did nothing to quiet the constant bustle of activity. Officers moved about, their hurried strides contrasting with the stillness Olivia and Phoebe felt within. As they turned the corner toward the statement room, Olivia's breath hitched at the sight ahead.

Near the Commander's office, Captain Wilson was standing with a man in a dapper suit, clearly a lawyer. But it wasn't him that sent chills down her spine—it was the figure standing beside him. Ezmeralda.

Her dark eyes locked onto Olivia's the moment she stepped into view, a slow, dangerous smile curling on her lips. Wilson froze, her stomach flipping as she realized who stood next to her father, Captain Wilson.

Time seemed to slow as the Captain shifted to reveal more of Ezmeralda's presence. Her poise was unnerving, completely relaxed, as if she wasn't fazed by what had just happened. Wilson's throat tightened, her mouth dry as she watched the scene unfold.

"Again, I sincerely apologize for the confusion earlier," Captain Wilson's voice filled the corridor, too loud, too casual for the gravity of the situation. "Sometimes in this line of work, officers get caught up in their missions and, unfortunately, lose track of the facts." He smiled warmly at Ezmeralda, and Wilson's heart sank.

Olivia's stomach twisted violently. She couldn't believe it. How did Ezmeralda get here so quickly? How was she here, smiling, in front of the police as if nothing had happened?

"W-what?" Olivia breathed, her voice barely above a whisper, every muscle in her body stiffening with fear.

Ezmeralda's eyes glimmered with amusement as she took a slow step forward. "Baby, what happened?" she asked sweetly, her voice dripping with faux concern. Her gaze flicked down to Olivia's dress, now dirty and torn. "Your dress is all ruined. You poor thing."

Olivia recoiled slightly, her heart pounding in her chest. "How did you...?" Her words faltered, confusion mixing with panic.

Ezmeralda's hand reached out, brushing over Olivia's shoulders as if to dust her off. "Find you? Oh, sweetheart, my security informed me that an officer came in while you were very unwell. She attacked my guards and manipulated you into leaving with her." Her smile was predatory now, the subtle edge of a threat in every word. "Even your mother is worried sick."