CUBAN HIRE (CARTEL GXG)

SINS OF THE SISTER

5 Months Later

"Are you okay, mi alma?" Carlos asked gently, concern etched in his voice as he watched Phoebe clutch her belly, wincing slightly.

"Yes, just a cramp," she muttered, brushing it off as she stood up from the bar stool, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her hand instinctively went to her lower back, massaging the strain as she waddled towards the garden entrance.

Carlos couldn't help but watch her closely, the sight of her rounded belly a reminder of how close they were to meeting their baby girl. "I'll be out in a few minutes," he murmured, his eyes warm with affection. Phoebe nodded, sliding the glass door open, carefully balancing the bowl of fruit in her hand as she made her way outside.

She spotted Olivia lounging by the pool, looking out at the garden's greenery, and made her way over, lowering herself gingerly onto the lounger beside her. "Don't laugh," Phoebe grumbled as Olivia chuckled at her struggle to find a comfortable position. "I am perfectly capable of peeing on you from here, you know."

Olivia laughed louder, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright," she teased, reaching over to pat Phoebe's arm. Together, they looked out over the sparkling surface of the pool, where sunlight danced across the water in rippling patterns.

The last five months had been calm for Phoebe and Olivia—a welcome reprieve from the chaos that had previously consumed their lives. But as peaceful as it was, they were both acutely aware of the storm brewing behind the scenes. Carlos and Ezmeralda were still entrenched in delicate, sometimes dangerous work, securing new alliances, arranging shipments, and carefully avoiding detection. Ezmeralda had promised Olivia that once this was over, she could live a normal life, free of the shadow that had followed them for so long. But there was still unfinished business—and Liam, the man who had set everything in motion, was the final target.

Ezmeralda had confided in Olivia about her plan, the culmination of nearly two years of careful preparation, of maneuvering and sacrifices, all for this single purpose: to avenge Elena. To make Liam pay for the brutal act that had shattered her heart. And while Ezmeralda didn't talk openly about it, Olivia could see the toll it had taken. Beneath her lover's fierce determination lay a pain too deep to put into words, a resolve that went beyond revenge; it was a mother's need for justice, for closure. The day was fast approaching, and with it, an air of tension seemed to tighten around them all.

"Do you think she'll be okay after this?" Phoebe asked softly, her eyes not leaving the pool. She didn't need to say Ezmeralda's name; they both knew who she meant.

Olivia sighed, her expression turning somber. "I don't know," she replied honestly. "She's been driven by this for so long. It's become a part of her, a reason to keep pushing forward. But once it's over... I really dont know what she'll be like" She trailed off, her voice heavy with uncertainty.

Phoebe nodded, resting a protective hand on her belly. "It's bittersweet, isn't it?" she murmured. "The excitement of the baby coming, and then... planning something like this. It's a strange balance."

Olivia smiled wistfully. "Bittersweet doesn't even begin to cover it. But for Ezmeralda, this is necessary. She needs to close this chapter—to know that Elena's death wasn't left unanswered. And maybe... maybe after that, she can finally be at peace."

They sat in silence, letting the weight of their words settle between them. The garden was still, the only sounds the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant hum of Carlos's voice from inside the house. Both women knew that the next few days would shape the rest of their lives, for better or worse. They clung to the hope that after this last act, they could finally find the peace they had so longed for—one way or another.