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“Mapimi… Never heard of it,” Dream mutters. “Why couldn’t we go somewhere with more people?”
“Are you looking for your cousin or are you trying to spend all your time at a beach resort instead?”
She groans. “Obviously, my cousin, but I don’t feel safe out here. Bad things happen in small towns.”
“I hate to break it to you, babe, but bad things happen everywhere.”
“I told you not to call me that,” she snaps, which seems to be her response every time I put her in a difficult position. She changes the subject, and somehow, I’m always the one who’s in the wrong.
“What I call you doesn’t matter if you die, and the fact of the matter is, you’re far more likely to get killed in the city than all the way out here. The Cartel doesn’t touch this place. That’s why we’re staying here,” I say, no longer in the mood for her attitude, however playful it might be. I suspect it isn’t.
She scoffs, folding her arms and falling back into silence for a minute before springing back into conversation. “So, Diego hasn’t texted me yet. I’m starting to think he’s waiting for me to go first.”
I sigh. “You can text him, but remember what we talked about. You’re only going to tell him the bare minimum, and you’re not going to mention anything about me. You have the drugs, there was a slight delay, but you’re arriving Friday.”
“You think he’s going to be angry that I was supposed to be there on Thursday?”
“Diego is just your contact. He doesn’t care at all, and he’s not in charge of your cousin’s fate. That’s someone else’s call to make, but we’re not showing up in Dimalona in the middle of the night to meet with the Cartel. It’s either broad daylight or never.”
“I don’t like how you’re treating this,” she replies, pulling out her phone. “Eddy’s life is on the line. We can’t take risks with these people.”
“They’re used to negotiating. They expect it, and the fact that you haven’t is probably more suspicious to them than anything. Trust me, I’ve dealt with these guys before.”
“Yeah, and someone from your Bratva got eaten alive by snakes as a result. You’re a real trustworthy guy,” she replies, her words drenched with sarcasm as she finishes up her message and sends it.
My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I glance at her, a mix of frustration and admiration for her boldness building within me. “I guess Iama real charmer, then, if I can get you to trust me even after you saw that video.”
“I never said I trusted you. That was sarcasm,” Dream fires back, her eyes locking with mine, challenging me once again. “I’m here because I have no other choice, and you’re helping me because you want the same thing as me – Eddy.”
I soften, realizing the pressure she’s under. “We’ll get Eddy back.”
She looks away, her lips pursed, and I know that my words aren’t enough to console her.
We drive for a while, the only sound keeping us from being in complete silence being the engine of the car and the crackle of the dirt road beneath us.
The landscape outside changes, the flat terrain giving way to slight hills and scattered clusters of trees. I feel like Dream is looking at me again, but when I glance over, she’s staring out the window, lost in thought.
“You never answered my question about dinner,” she finally says, breaking the silence. Her tone is lighter now, teasing. This is becoming a cycle. “Do we at least get to eat at this mysterious hotel you’re taking us to?”
“I think we can manage some food,” I reply, “But don’t expect anything fancy.”
We continue our drive, the conversation flowing more easily now, drifting from food to music to the absurdity of the situation we’re in. We even argue about the worm in the mezcal bottle, and I can’t help but feel a connection growing between us, a bond formed out of this unusual journey.
We’re just two people who were ever supposed to meet, and now we’re stuck in a car together in Mexico, heading toward a very strong possibility of death while arguing about worms and alcohol.
But as we pull up to the hotel, a plain, unmarked building nestled in a town that feels abandoned, I can feel the tension return. The moment of fun together is over, and the reality of our mission comes crashing back down.
“We’re here,” I say, my voice suddenly serious.
Dream looks at the hotel, her eyes wide. “This is it?”
“Yes. This is it.”
“God, I hope this is a joke. There’s not even a sign on the door or anything. How are you supposed to tell they’re open for business?”
I put the car into park and turn to her. “You’re not. Listen, this is normally a place for my guys to stop on long trips. So just relax, try to smile, and whatever you do, don’t mention the Cartel. The owner is terrified of them.”
She groans as I open my door. “I hope you got us two separate rooms, at least.”
