Miss Bala

Chapter 4: Hell followed

"Are you sure?" Gemma hesitated, holding the scissors to my hair.

"Yes," I exhaled, "now hurry, before I really change my mind."

She laughed and started cutting. I wanted it cut just above my shoulders.
I was thinking it time for a change, and I'm wanted for federal charges, not that cutting my hair would make such a difference.

"All done." Gemma stepped back, proud of her work. On the floor, loose waves of hair scattered around the chair. I looked in the mirror, getting a feel for this new look.

"Thanks Gemma," I smiled, and she nodded at me before patting my shoulder and leaving the bathroom.

"Hey chula-" Lino walked in, seeing my hair.

"Hey,"

"What did you do?" His expression was unreadable. Did he like it? Did he not like it? He let a few strands slip through his fingers, "this looks really good on you, I like it."

I couldn't help the smile that was forming as he caressed my cheek, bringing his lips in close to mine-

"Lino." Until Tucán interrupted.

"What?" He snapped, not even looking at him.

"The trucks are ready." He left without saying anything else.

"You ready?" He questioned, grabbing his black rosary necklace from the bathroom counter.

"For what?" I asked, confused. He didn't say anything about going anywhere unless we were changing locations again. If so, I didn't want to leave, especially not Gemma.

"We got something to do, Adriana should be in the truck already," he stated, grabbing my hand.

We headed down stairs, the house was cleared out except Gemma, who sat on the couch flipping through some mail.

"Are you sure you're good here by yourself?" He asked her. She stood up and walked to us.

"Because I can always leave one of the guys with you." He assured. I know it's because Gemma is basically like his second mom. She took him in after his birth mother passed a few months after they got deported from California. Lino was only 15 and on the street. She doesn't judge him for the life he lives now.

She shook her head, "no, I'll be fine," she kissed his cheek, then hugged him. She followed through, doing the same to me, "you guys be careful." She said sternly.

"Be back in about an hour or so," Lino reminded, as we headed out the door.

In the first truck, we had me, Lino, Tucán and Ortiz. The second truck was Adriana, Chivo, Alex and Carlos. Alex and Carlos were the same ones from the other morning who got recruited, along with Alvarez but he was ordered to stay back with Gemma and to make sure she didn't see him out front, watching out for her. She called it baby-sitting. Something she said she doesn't want.

15 minute drive later, we pulled up to a grey warehouse. A diesel truck already parked on the side.

We all walked in, Lino walked alongside me.
On a large table were riffles, handguns, empty clip magazines, and a few small gadgets.

"Testing hardware." He cleared up, already knowing I was going to ask.

"Take your pick," He walked forward grabbing a riffle.

"Come on, girl." Adriana showed up beside me, nudging my elbow, basically encouraging me on.

I picked up one, same kind Lino grabbed. M4.

"Let's go." He called. The rest of them each grabbed one and we headed out to the back. Stacks of hay with shooting targets all around with human silhouettes.

"Alex! Switch them out when needed." Chivo ordered.

Everyone carried on, testing at their own pace. Lino walked over to me, "you got it, chula?"

Magazine. Charging handle. Safety off.

I reminded myself and nodded at him. I checked the magazine, and pulled back the charging handle.
This riffle had a little more kick to it than the AR-15 I last shot. My targets ranged between 8 and 9, both body and head shots.

"Alex. New targets. Put them up!"Chivo yelled over the commotion, at Alex. He ran over, taking down the used targets and started putting up new ones.

Lino bumped my shoulder, nodding towards Alex. I shook my head as he aimed a MP5 at him, shooting at the space around him.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Alex shouted, restraining himself from moving too much. The guys around us laughed.
Lino stopped and looked at me, smiling like it was supposed to be the most impressive thing he's done. I laughed causing him to laugh along with me. I shrugged and started firing near Alex too, empty the clip.

"Yeah, way to go guys. Nearly made me shit my pants. Great sponsor." He called back, continuing to put up new targets.

"What do you think, gentlemen?" A man showed up out of nowhere, asking Lino and Tucán. He had an Irish accent. Had no hair and wore plain jeans and a light brown flannel shirt.

"All right, lets talk." They put the guns down and headed back inside. Lino stood back, taking his rosary off and putting it over my head, letting it hang loosely around my neck. "Hold on to this for me." He leaned close to my ear. He headed inside while I stayed out with Adriana.

Narrator's POV

"What do we got?" Agent Hefner asked, throwing down a file of documents on the table.

"Las Estrellas, buying guns from Ireland. True I.R.A."

"And the females?" Hefner questioned, looking at the photos taken from when they arrived at the gun trade.

"They don't seem to kept their women in the dark. They're smart. They use them." Another agent answered, pulling both files on Gloria Fuentes and Adriana Castillo.

"Good, we go after the ones who have the most to lose. Job." Gloria. "Family." Gemma. "And freedom." Adriana.

"Gloria isn't one of them." Agent Brian Reich stepped in.

"Well we've had surveillance on the house for the last few days and Gloria has spent every night with him. Poyo was right. DEA pushed her straight into Esparza's arms." Hefner held up surveillance photos, showing the many times Esparza and Fuentes we're together.

"Send in another mole. I want someone inside in the next 48 hours." Hefner ordered, watching as Lino's group loaded up wooden crates around back.

"It's time we bury these assholes."

——————————————

A/N if any of you guys would like a character in the book, inbox me. Im down for any new characters or suggestions.