Dual Eclipse

25

“I’ve got an eye on the suspect. Blue shirt, green jeans, and he is overlooking the piñas on the stand.” I spoke into the intercom before flipping through the souvenir shirts on the line. The market was busy today and could be good or bad, depending on whether the suspect is faster than us.

“He’s moving south, Victoria. Don’t take your eyes off him.” Armando was a hard man to miss. His head peaked over the crowd. He was large, and he just didn’t fit in.

“Noted, Harold.” I smiled at the vendor, who must have felt disappointed since I didn’t make a purchase.

I caught sight of the street thug and followed him further into the bustling crowd. “Perdon.” I shoved through and caught the eyes of the target. I averted my eyes to help a child pick something she was indecisive about. She looked up and grinned before handing her mama the brown bear. I blew her a kiss before searching for the man.

He lingered with another man with a suit—Gamboa. “Not yet, Castillo.” I knew that, but the fucker wanted me to know who was in charge here since Chief fell sick last week. I clenched my jaw at how close he was to me. My skin pricked with disgust. He spoke to his street dog, and my hand twitched for my gun.

I was better than that. Violence wasn’t in my nature, but he hurt me badly. He had men hold me down, block my mouth, and use my body. I wanted to hurt him. Someone pushed me to the ground, and I snapped out of my thoughts to block the fall with my hands.

“Mierda,” I groaned before grabbing my bag and hiking it up my shoulder. I shouldn’t have let the man consume my thoughts. It’s what I was against showing him, and I failed miserably. I felt my ear and came up empty. My heart dropped, and my brows furrowed. I frantically looked at the ground around me to find the device smashed under people’s shoes. “Joder!” I’d lost communication with the team.

I would hear it from Valdes if this mission failed. I’d lose everyone’s respect for getting distracted, for looking weak. I grabbed my phone, aware that Armando was moving West. “You son of a bitch.” It went straight to voicemail. I’m sure I looked like a lost puppy just standing there and doing nothing!

My duty was to follow Armando to his secret hideout, and the men would take him from there. I am against it, but weak or scared weren’t meant to be in my vocabulary? Gamboa showing up in the open was not part of the plan, nor was losing my earpiece.

I was strapped but didn’t intend to use the weapon. I was fucked. The target was moving further away. I wiped my palms down my dress and followed Armando. It wasn’t too late to get him.

I had yet to find out where the team had the van. I didn’t have time to look. I chased him and stopped when he realised someone was on his tail. He shoved people out of his way, and I had to apologise as I followed. Pathetic.

That was so hard without getting directions or hearing someone guide me. I needed Harold to run his fucking mouth. It was almost scary.

My sandals were uncomfortable to run in, but I did it anyway. Armando shoved someone in front of me, and I nearly stumbled. He pulled out a shiny pistol, and for a second, I froze. Armando didn’t. He fired the weapon twice in the air, and people started to scream and run.