Mission Failed



One of the things I hate about Carmen is how much she nags. For example, I let her stay the night yesterday because I knew that if I didn't, she would keep on nagging until I agreed, so I saved my time and agreed immediately.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a mother.

I wake up the next morning feeling drained. I only feel this way whenever Carmen decided to sleep over. I just can't get used to sleeping beside her, especially when I feel awkward hugging her to being intimate with her. It just doesn't feel right.

I head to the bathroom before she wakes up and takes a shower. When I finish, I wear my navy blue suit to get ready for work.

Fortunately for me, no one knows what Rafael Santos looks like. I always take my fake ID whenever I go and no one knows the real me. It is one of the clever things my mother did when she married my father. She knew the life he was in and didn't want us to be involved in it. So, she married him secretly, registered us with fake names in the government, and made sure no one knew about that.

I have an Albanian passport, however; with my real name from the years I lived there.

When I left the bathroom, Carmen was wide awake.

"Good morning, baby," Carmen says, yawning. "This is the best sleep I have had, what about you?"

"Yeah...me too," I reply, not looking at her.

I style my hair quickly before she has the chance to climb out of bed and make her way toward me.

I open the door and leave her inside, whining.

I go to my father's office and enter without knocking. I was done with that shit.

"Rafa? What's wrong? Did something happen?" My father asks. Ana is sitting on the chair across from his desk.

"We need to talk," I firmly say. The look on my face looks alarming.

He narrows his eyes at me and nods. "We'll talk later, Rafael. We have important business now. Alba and Andrew arrived in Vancouver. Andrew called his parents this morning and told them that he was coming with his girlfriend. In an hour, he's going in."

I wanted to yell at him, saying that I don't fucking care about the mission, but I don't. I know he'll be sad and I don't want Ana to think that I don't care about her situation because I do.

"Fine." I bit back.

Ana is avoiding looking at me. She looks nervous and a little angry.

After waiting for almost an hour, talking about random stuff, Andrew's earpiece is finally activated, followed by Alba's.

"Can you hear me?" Andrew's voice blasts through my father's laptop.

"Yes, we do. Where are you now?" My father asks.

"We are still in the car. We just arrived," Alba says.

"Okay, be careful. Make sure to look convincible," my father warns.

We hear the sound of the car's door shut, followed by a doorbell.

"I am scared," Ana suddenly says.

"Don't be. Andrew and Alba are great at their jobs. They will get the job done," my father assures her.

"My baby!" We hear a woman's voice. I see Ana tense in her seat when she hears it.

"Hello, mom," Andrew replies.

"Oh, gorgeous girl! Hello,"

"Hello, Mrs. Wright," Alba replies.

"Oh, please, call me Michelle."

Ana rolls her eyes when she hears her mother, making me frown.

What happened that made her hate them so much? I think to myself.

After about thirty minutes, Andrew tells us that he's looking for the book, while Alba distracts his parents, and one thing you should know about Alba is that she a master when it comes to distraction. We always take her with us on missions because she's of great value to the team. My father doesn't like the idea of her coming with us, not because he thinks that she is weak or anything, but because she's his princess and he would die if anything was to happen to her.

What about me? Well, who am I when it comes to Alba? Nothing.

Nah, just kidding.

"I am in his office now." Andrew's voice blared through the laptop.

I see Ana fidget in her chair, waiting impatiently for the book to be found. I could tell she is anxious and nervous even though she is already guilty of helping criminals escape. But being guilty of murder in front of the public for something that she had to do, is worse.

"Ahh, found it," Andrew finally says, making Ana sigh in relief. "Who would put an important book on his desk for everyone to see?"

"Because everyone at home knew that no one was allowed inside. Are you sure no one saw you?" Ana replies.

"Yes, don't worry."

"Open the book and make sure it's the one. There's a flower painted on the first page."

We hear shuffling before Andrew replies, "It's the one, sis."

I could tell Ana fought hard not to reply with a sarcastic comment when he called her sis.

"We are leaving in ten minutes," Alba whispers.

"Be careful, mi amour," my father says.

Ana suddenly frowns, and I immediately know what she's thinking because I am thinking it too.

"This was too easy," Ana points out.

"What is?" my father asks.

"This...this mission. Why would my father leave the book on the table and the door unlocked? If I had something very important, I wouldn't want to take any chances," she explains.

"She's right, dad. I think her father knows that Andrew came for the book."

"Andrew, Alba, get out of there as soon as you can," my father orders.

"We are out," Andrew replies.

"I am so sure that my father photocopied the book," Ana says, burying her face in her hands.

"I am sorry, mi hija. We pulled you into this mess."

She looks up, and her eyes land directly on him. She gives him a small smile and says, "It's not your fault, uncle. It was my choice and I don't regret it."

A question rises in my head. Why would Ana help my father escape, destroying her career? What is she after?

My father nods in gratitude.

* * *

At midnight, Andrew and Alba arrived. He had the book in his hands when he came inside the house. He gave it to Ana, which she took without hesitation. It was only when she opened the book that her face paled.

"What's wrong?" I ask, crossing my brows.

"I told you. This was too easy," she says, whirling the book our way so we could see.

'I HAVE ANOTHER COPY THAT'S ON ITS WAY TO THE POLICE' is written in capital letters on one of the pages.

"Call Edwardo and inform him to take care of it!" I tell Cash, who takes out his phone quickly and dials Edwardo's number. "Alex, send some men you know from Vancouver to every police station. Make sure they look for anyone delivering a package."

"Don't worry, honey, we will take it before the police do," my mother tries to comfort Ana.

After a few minutes of silently crying, Ana storms out of the living room and walks to the backyard. I see Cheddars follow her like the softy he is.

Without anyone noticing, I slowly back away and walk to the backyard to make sure she's okay.

If I was in her place, I would be scared too. She maybe never did anything illegal in her life and then suddenly kill someone for something he did to her. I am certain now.

"Ana?" My voice is soft and gentle.

Her back faces me as she cries, while Cheddars whimpers beside her. When did those two develop a deep relationship?

"Please, I need to be alone."

I ignore her and sit beside her on the bench. I sigh as the wind gives me a whiff of the nature surrounding us. I look at her face and wipe the tears with my thumb. "I promise you, nothing will happen to you."

"How can you promise such a thing?" Her voice cracks.

"I can make people disappear."

She sniffs and asks, "Why are you even helping me?"

A deep frown settled on her face as she waits for my answer. I massage my temples, not wanting to give her the answers she's looking for, but she deserves it. "You helped my father, Ana. I will forever owe you."

"No, you don't. I did it because I wanted to."

"Why did you?" I ask gently, not wanting to sound rude.

She sniffs a couple of times and wraps her arms around herself as a cold breeze passes by. I take off my jacket and put it around her.

"Thank you."

I nod.

"I helped your father because...he's the father I have always dreamed to have."