𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐨

VII. Ride or die

A knock on the door causes me to look up from the file sitting on my thigh, a man walks in, immediately greeting us with a respectful nod, "Ma'am, sir, we found them."

Me and Javier catch each other's eyes, sharing a look before he motions for him to continue, "Their locations, full names, the missions they accomplished since they started and everything else." He hands two files to Javier who flips through it, examining the information. I stand up, closing the gap between me and the back of his seat in two strides, looking down over his shoulder at the papers. Jason Hale and Mike Scott, it said. With their photos attached, their ages, addresses and even their birth certificates.

"Send the men right away." Javier commands.

"I'm afraid there's a problem," He pauses, we look up from the files at him waiting for explanation, he hesitates for a second, "They are under the Siciliano's protection."

Crap. Javier frowns, his fingers rubbing his forehead as I let out a sigh, pacing behind him. We can't just sidestep the Italians like that, they are our strongest allies, one of the five ruling families and most importantly we were friends, we had to take their permission. The Russians took us a call, but the Italians need more than just that.

Romero turns to me with a look that I caught on immediately, "You came to me because I had connections, it's time to use yours."

I bring my hands to my waist, shifting my weight from side to side, trying to think of a way out, "Is this the only way?"

His shoulders rise and fall in a shrug, "It's your friend who needs the help, so can you pull some strings?"

I sigh, defeated, "I will get you a meeting."

"Us, get us a meeting." He rests his elbow on the armrest, lazily, turning his attention back to the file on his desk, "Also bring your friend, no one saw her since last night."

I know where to find her.

- - -

Strolling into the house, the guard lets me in without a question, it was like a second home to me, really. I look around the unusually quiet house when I hear sounds coming from the kitchen. Dragging myself in the direction of the low voices, I find Nando sitting with another guy, they were pretty occupied with each other, not noticing my presence until I decided to clear my throat,

"Am I interrupting something?" With a smirk plastered on my face, I look at Nando who rolls his eyes the second it fell on my figure leaning against the door frame. Beside him, the guy who was giving me his back the whole time tuns around, and I immediately recognize him, Bruno Mars.

I open my mouth to say the remark when Nando cuts me off, "Don't."

Raising my hands in mock surrender, I step inside the kitchen making my way to him, pecking his cheek before looking at the curly-headed man seated in front of him, "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

With a sigh escaping his lips, he turns to his friend, "James this is Mia, Mia, James."

"Hi, nice to meet you." He throws a million-dollar smile my way, offering his hand which I gladly shook, "Nando told me a lot about you."

"I wish I can say the same but I only knew you existed because I stalked his phone." I pull my hand back, placing it on Nando's shoulders, squeezing gently, "He takes some really good photos of you, also talks about how cute you are when he's drunk." James chuckles looking at his boyfriend who had his face shielded by his hands, done with life.

I lean down to Nando's level, teasing, "So, is it official? Should I start searching for dress?"

He pulls his hands away from his face, ignoring every word I just said, "What are you doing here?"