Chapter Four

Pictures of dead bodies clouded in front of my eyes. These images were terrifying. Agents that I respected, who worked for the agency butchered. Videos of them being tortured continually played for me to see, was the aim to fill me with fear? Alfredo De El was quite treacherous.

“It's okay”

I screamed, there was silence and awkward stares then they looked at me again. 

“Put it off, I've hard enough”

Said it like I was giving up. Mumurs continued and the videos didn't stop. I heard screams. I couldn't take it. I just wanted to break loose and leave that place but I couldn't my hands were strapped to the chair. After a few more videos, one of the men standing there got a call, I couldn't hear what he was saying but I was extremely curious. After ending the call he walks up to and removes the straps on my hand. Immediately my hands are free, I use my leg to kick him in his crotch and hit him with a punch. The other two come for me and I swing my leg across the face of one while I I use my head to hit the one and counter him with a blow.

They get up and are about to fight me and I am ready to beat the shit out of them until I hear a voice.

“Stand down”

To my not to shocking surprise it was J. Grudgingly they evacuate the room. I turn and fold my hands while I eye him.

“Well, this is a pleasing surprise”

“I had to rescue them before you killed them”

He said as he bows his head

“You don't need to flatter me, I've always been better than you”

I smirk and walk out

“You don't get it, do you?”

He's still bowing his head 

“There's no need to bow your head in shame, if you were as strong as me they would have picked you for this mission”

Then I head out the door

“Octavia, I love you”

As he sniffs his nose, he sounds frustrated 

“I don't want to lose you”

“Hmm”

I remark with pride 

“I don't need your empathy or pity, you can save it for your mother”

Then I leave him there dejected and confused, for a moment I almost believed him for the sake of old feelings but no way. J is just as slimy as Greta. I find my way to the board at the agency.

“Agent Octavia reporting for duty”

I stood in front of them, this time I was sure what I wanted. I was done with Greta and her games.

“I'm ready for the mission”

I could see looks of shock and confusion on their faces accompanied with murmurings. Why did they look confused? I mean I assumed this was why they wanted, a lamb to sacrifice for their failed missions. 

“Are you sure”

One of the members asked 

“Yes, I am”

“Your supervisor has made remark on if you are prepared enough for the mission”

“Well, she must be underestimating me”

“If you choose to go unprepared, you choose to die”

“Then so be it”

I told Greta, I was done being tossed around. If they wanted to kill me, they should. I was truly done with Greta.

In the conference room. Alfredo De El’s pictures were displayed. Carlos was helping me get basic and important information about him.

“He had about six safe houses or more”

“More?”

“Well, our intelligence isn't sure because the last time we counted there where only two”

“So there could be more?”

“Well from the looks of it”

“He's pretty powerful and young too”

“Tell me about it?”

“I thought cartel Mafia bosses were supposed to be old”

“Says who? Haven't you read the godfather?”

We both laughed Carlos definitely had a way making me feel at eased.

“Now more about him-”

“Hold on, why are there two different pictures of him?”

Carlos stands up and points at one of the pictures 

“This was him when the CIA was frying his ass. His dad had just died he was barely twenty something he was making mistakes and making everything messy-”

“Oh”

I say as I slightly rub my lips

“Yes, Alfredo was very sloppy in the beginning, his shipments and consignments were always getting busted and somehow they would find a way to trace to him and then he'd use a million dollars to clean up the lawsuit which wasn't favorable for the cartel”

“Okay”

“Okay what?”

“How is he this super villain he is today”

I blurt out of frustration, like you're waiting for your favorite movie clip to play but it keeps delaying 

“Ohh, Sorry”

He giggles then clears his throat, I sigh out of humor 

“Now to start the story, you have to start the story from the origin”

“Tell me about it”

I reply with as much sarcasm as I can, Carlos loves a big entry even when we are out on missions

“Italian mob culture have this term called the “consigliere”. Now what is a consigliere you may ask?-”

“I know what a consigliere is Carlos”

“Oh oh, okay”

“So who is his advisor basically the person running the cartel for him”

Bring another picture to the screen Carlos points out

“They call him Scarfaced but his real name Donatello Luigi”

“Interesting, go on”

As I fold my arms and stroke my chin

“After Alfredo was arrested, Donatello Luigi also known as Scarfaced came into the scene, we don't know how he came or from where he came but we know for sure that he fixed everything for Alfredo”

I hear the door open and I turn to look and it's Greta, why wasn't I surprised.

“Good afternoon”

I say sarcastically but she looks furious 

“What do you think you're doing”

As she tries to slap me but I hold her hand

“Don't you even try it”

We're facing each other looking eyeball to eyeball. 

“Ok ladies, let's ease up a bit”

Carlos tries to separate us. Greta retrieves her hand and I let go. We both walk towards the end of separate sides of the room.

“Now that the tension is ease can we go back to talking about our mark”

“You ruined everything”

“How?”

I snort

“You're not ready, can't you see how dangerous this mission is. This isn't some small fish, we're talking about a man responsible for one of the biggest arms and drugs network in the world, no agent had ever gotten this close to him”

“Well you put me here”

I yell as I cut her off

“You put me here. You knew this mission was suicide and you did. You think I don't know that it was J that was supposed to go”

I continue yelling, and yes when I was unconscious I remember how Greta told J that I took his place in this mission and if I failed he would have to go and he better hoped I didn't. Both Carlos and Greta stand in shock. Greta is embarrassed and Carlos is disgusted. 

“Now if you don't mind, I have some planning to do. If I have to die I better prepare well”

Greta bows her head and leaves the room. This almost makes me emotional but I refuse to bargain into her games anymore. Apparently it was a plan from day one. Greta didn't want J to be sent on the mission because she felt he was too weak I remember her whispering it when they thought I was asleep in the theater playhouse.

“J you're too weak, you'll get killed. That's why I had to make sure Octavia replaced you”

Greta didn't know I was listening to her, she held J’s hand and whispered. 

“Did you think I was sleeping”

You could hear the pain in my voice as a brought those memories back.

Greta couldn't speak and I liked it

“So yes, I might die but I don't need your help. You already killed me once. I won't let you do it again”

Eyeing me, she flips her head and leaves the conference room.

“Now where were we Carlos”

I say with a smirk