Two months later and I still didn't know how he knew my name.
"Earth to Val," Rico waved his hands in front of me, "Do you need to see a doctor?"
Snapping out of my thoughts, I uttered a quick apology to Rico for spacing out for the umpteenth time today.
"Seriously what is wrong with you, Val? You can't possibly still be thinking about Brazil," he presumed.
We were currently in our warehouse in Mexico in the observatory overlooking our workers packing our next shipment. Just one week ago I had a meeting with my separate personal security firm regarding updating old security systems. After careful consideration I decided it was best to send our new shipment bound for New York along with our new line of security devices.
A smile spread across my face as I recalled Serena's usually soft voice full of excitement as she showed off the giant rock on her finger. Ajax had finally proposed to her one week after we returned from Brazil and I can honestly say this is the happiest I have ever seen her. Ajax Kline has been a close family friend for little over a year and although Serena's parents and I thought it was too soon the entire family is overjoyed at the idea of two weddings in the same year. My heart swelled at the fact that Serena and Ajax would get to experience a love like Tristiano and I's. The kind that brings you peace and security and shields you from such a dark and violent world.
"Valentina?"
"I'm sorry what," I responded as I was pulled away from my thoughts.
"When are you exporting the new sensors and drones," Rhea from logistics asked.
I leaned back in my chair and considered her question before answering. "We are hoping production will be finished within three weeks and ready for export in four."
Rhea shakes her head and a small frown tugs at the edge of her mouth. "That won't work. Marketing needs enough time to get familiar with the device and push the new system to our clients. We're hoping to reach out to existing clients with an older system to make the upgrade."
"How soon are you thinking?"
"Can you have production be done this week and export within two?"
I paused for a second and jotted down the new timeframe. "Our employees will need to pull doubles, we'll need to pay overtime and submit a notice to customs, but it can be done. Rhea can you have a report on how much it'll cost to make these changes done by tonight?"
"Perfect. I'll have that sent to you as soon as possible. Well, ladies and gentlemen I think we are done for today. Valentina, thank you for being as accommodating as always. Thank you all for meeting on such short notice. This meeting is now adjourned."
"You're right. I shouldn't. It shouldn't bother me, but it does, okay" I shamefully admitted.
Rico leaned backward as he pondered what to say next. Smart man. The man standing next to me was anything but a cruel person despite what others might assume based on his appearance. Standing at six foot two Rico always had his tattoos and scars on display no matter the occasion. He's been through a lot in his earlier life, but he didn't let that dictate his future. Coming to work for me gave him the opportunity to make his own choices, something that he had been deprived of for over a decade.
"Claudio did say he ordered some of his men to follow the team as back up. I know it's not what you two agreed on, but it happened and we can't change the past."
I sighed. He was right. It's been two months and yet I still couldn't get Brazil out of my head. So much has happened in those two months, yet I couldn't get the image of that man with the onyx eyes out of my head. Even now as we stood overseeing production at our warehouse in Michoacan I was still plagued by the interaction. Maybe he was right. I did need serious help. It wouldn't be the first time either.
I glanced at my employees hurriedly working hard to get the product made and packed. What Rhea didn't know was the drones and sensors were done last week and have been sitting at the warehouse collecting dust while we wait on production to be finished. Both shipments need to be shipped at the same time through the predetermined route.
Buzzz.
I pulled my phone out of my slacks and saw I had a new message.
"Who's that?"
"It's La Mor," I said without glancing up as I read the message to him, "I've been assigned to install a complete new security system for a client named Silas Syndril in Colorado. They want drones, seismic sensors, and infrared cameras. You know the works."
"Oh," I continued, "and it seems that Darien recommended us."
"That's great, Val," he peeled his eyes from the factory workers and turned to fully face me. "La Mor's really taking off. If you keep getting more recommendations like this, you can finally leave-"
I quickly shushed him despite us being in the soundproof observatory room. I couldn't risk this getting out. No one can ever know I plan on leaving this industry behind for our personal security firm—no one except the family. I scanned the face of every worker, before facing Rico again after feeling satisfied that no one had heard him.
"You can finally leave this life behind for good," he said encouragingly.
"I don't know if I should even take this assignment. I'm not in the right head space. Brazil brought some bad memories back up to the surface and I don't know if I can do this, Rico."
I know I was coming up with excuses for myself. But I just kept picturing myself back in that dark cell. Waiting until they came to take me to the Pit and the blood— Oh god, all the blood coating my mouth and hair. Feeling my hands start to tremble, I took in a few deep breathes like my therapist taught me to do and felt my frantic heart begin to calm down.
"Hey, hey, hey. We are not in the hands of the Ingril anymore. You killed Arhanghel and his organization died with him," he stated firmly, looking into my brown eyes reassuringly.
"It's been almost six months since I've been on assignment for La Mor. I don't want to be gone for a month. Not when we are sending shipment to New York. This is too important."
"Take the assignment. It'll do you good to get away from all of this for a while," he said while motioning to the workers below us. "Go to Colorado. Accept the assignment and once you're done you can meet me in New York and you can shop for your wedding dress there."
I considered his words. Getting away for a while would do me good and New York would only be a short flight away. Once in New York, Rico could help me shop for a wedding dress.
"You're a good friend, you know that Rico?"
"What would you do without me? And it's best friend, thank you very much," he said while shooing me away from the glass window. "Now go pack. I'll keep an eye on the shipment and make sure it gets to New York safe and sound."
I paused in the doorway. I should leave, but I just had to ask.
"I thought you didn't like Tristiano."
Rico didn't just not like Tristiano. He down right hated him as he has said many times. It should unnerve me that my own best friend hates my fiance's guts, but Rico hated me too when he first saw me. And now we are inseparable. Deep down I hold on to the illusion that the same can happen between Rico and Tristiano.
Rico turned to face me, his neck tattoo peeking out from the collar of his suit.
"I don't, but if he makes you happy then that's all that matters. Plus, I want an excuse to visit New York."
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "Ha, ha," I fake laughed before exiting the room and shutting the door behind me.
So it was settled. I'm going to Colorado.