Queen of the South (La Reina Del Sur)

A Wager and a Masquerade

(Later)

"Where did you go?" Epifanio asked.

"What do you mean?" Camila answered.

"Well you had to have stayed somewhere right? You couldn't have just stayed at the hospital the entire time."

"After the studio I used to dance at closed down, I bought it and turned it into a safe house. I stayed there for the time being."

"So Isabella gave you the idea to do this?"

"Payback. Besides, do you know how hard it was to explain that you died but somehow came back to life to pretty much all of Sinaloa. They bought it, but some still question what the hell it was about. Then again, now that I think about it, we thought this whole mess was Teresa from the beginning. It wasn't. So who tried to assassinate you then?"

"I think it would be better if we stopped talking about all the near death experiences altogether," Epifanio said, his grip getting tighter. "There's another problem that we need to discuss right now."

"And that would be?" answered Camila nervously.

"There's a military ball tonight, and it's required that we go. All of the governors will be there. I don't necessarily mind, except the fact it's a ball for the military. Cortez is-"

"Considered military. Fuck. Do you know how odd it will be to show up with more security than the others probably will?"

"Very. There isn't any way for me to tell them no. Even if we are on vacation for the next few weeks."

"Damn politics," Camila groaned.

Epifanio laughed at her. Camila only stared at him. To think that they used to fight all the time and were on the verge of divorce.

"I have something for you," said Epifanio, interrupting her thoughts.

He got up and walked over to the dresser. As he did, Camila noticed he had a limp. Epifanio opened one of the drawers and pulled a small leather book out. He walked back over to Camila and handed it to her.

"Your other one started to fall apart somewhat, so I figured you could use a new one. I won't read it like last time," he said.

"You didn't have to get me a new one. Besides, I'm glad you read it actually. I don't know where we would be right now if you hadn't. What's with the limp?" Camila responded.

"I was shot in the knee, remember?"

"Right."

"Cute. Anyway, now that you're back from the so-called dead, can we focus please?" asked Esa (Maddog).

"How long have you been there?" Camila asked.

"Not long. As before, you have a military ball to go to right? I'm going too."

"What?"

"I moved on with my life. I'm dating a military lieutenant and he invited me to go with him. I'll bring a gun with me. Not only that, I'll be blending in. Now the real question is, how do you feel about me bringing others in on this that work for me?"

"Others?"

"Us," said several female voices.

The other women walked in the room. It was Kara, Vida, Alyssa, Lizzie, and Pena. They now worked with Esa.

"Pena doesn't talk much," said Esa.

"They told me already. I learned that after she spoke," Camila replied.