A chilly wind danced through the streets of Las Almas as you stood on top of a roof and looked down onto a mansion that stood at the edge of a cliff.

Red roof tiles matched a white facade with black metal gates and a fence that reached almost twice as high as Ghost was tall.

It was a nice building, obviously not made for the average citizen of this city. It was meant to keep people out and the ones inside safe.

The sight made uncomfortable shivers chase down your spine. It brought back so many gut wrenching memories, a childhood that could have hardly been called that.

"Guards in front of the gates, probably many more inside.", Soap hummed as he passed you the binoculars.

You didn't react so he had to give you a gentle bump against the shoulder. Torn from your thoughts, you blinked, took the binoculars and passed them right on to Rudy without taking one single closer glance at the house.

"If she didn't change the interior I'll be able to navigate around the traps and through the secret passages.", you said with a look to the side and crossed your arms in front of your chest.

Alejandro replied with a low sound that vibrated in his throat. It was obvious that he still needed to adjust to the situation at hand.

"I'll sneak in to support you in case of emergency.", he said. "But I don't think Sin Nombre will give away all the intel voluntarily."

You shook your head.

"Of course not. She's a business woman. I'll have to offer her something in order for her to give back."

"Any ideas?", Rudi asked.

A thin smirk appeared on your lips as you tilted your head towards him.

Shadows fell over his face. With his eyebrows drawn together and a silent cry for help in his eyes, he looked at Alejandro who just shrugged.

"A plan is a plan, hermano.", he said and have Rodolfo a bump to the shoulder.

Annoyed, his fried let out a low growl.

"Why don't you go then, eh?", he asked in a passive aggressive voice.

"Alejandro would be a great catch, true, but the cartel wants his head.", you said and looked back at the house once more to watch as two vehicles pulled up into the driveway. "If they'd get their hands on him he'd be dead within a second."

"So I'll sacrifice myself?", Rudy asked.

"No. They'll use you to get intel on Alejandro. A bit of torture, as long as you play along. If you tell them what they want to know though they'll definitely kill you, yes."

"Oh, that sounds so much better..."

"Forgive me.", you wiped your face with both hands. "But this is the plan we have. Don't worry about it. I'll make sure she won't touch you but you need to buy us some time."

"To get in and sweep everyone.", Ghost said. "Keep Sin Nombre busy so that we can get rid of the vermin and then we'll get Hassan."

"I'll stay with you anyways.", you said. "I've got... things to settle with her. You won't go through this alone. I promise."

Still not convinced in the slightest, he pulled a face that couldn't have screamed more how done he was with this shit and let out a deep sigh.

"No es que tenga elección, no?", he asked with a sour expression, just to confirm his darkest fear.

You exchanged a glance with Alejandro. He simply shrugged.

"No.", he answered.

"Sorry.", you smiled.

"Vete a la mierda.", Rodolfo snarled. "Both of you."

"We love you too.", you chuckled and did a gesture to allow him to climb down the roof first.

With a sour look he flipped you off and was gone before Alejandro could scold him for doing such evils to you.

You were about to follow, thinking that everything had been settled about the plan, as your husband grabbed you with gentle force by the arm and pulled you out of hearing range for the others.

With a chuckle, you grabbed his face before he could open his mouth and placed a kiss on his lips.

"Don't worry about me.", you said. "I'll manage. And I will bring Rudi back to you. Safe and sound."

Taking a deep breath, Alejandro shook his head.

"Don't worry about Rudy, he's a tough one.", he said and raised his hand to gently cress your cheek. "And before you say anything, I'm also not worried about you."

"Oh?", one of your eyebrows rose while a smirk tugged at the corner of your mouth.

"You managed to terminate not only Diego but also all of his men."

"I almost lost a child though... perhaps..."

"No, don't think this way. He will be fine."

"Then tell me what's on your mind. I know there is something."

His dark eyes wandered over your face for a moment. It felt like he tried to take in every single detail of you, no matter how small, how unimportant. As if he needed to look at you one last time to engrave the shape of your face into his mind forever.

"Mi vida...", he breathed a kiss onto your lips. "I need you to do me a favour."

With a soft smile yet a heavy feeling on your heart, you pressed your forehead against his.

"Anything, mi cielo.", you breathed.

"Do not stay in there longer than necessary. Promise me that as soon as there is a weak point, you will strike for it. Do not try to get closer than necessary. No matter how important the intel could be."

For a moment you just stared at him. You knew just as much as everybody else that there was more to bargain for. If you would manage to get her on the wrong foot perhaps she'd get careless and you could pass on valuable intel to the US. That way they would owe Alejandro something.

"You need to worry less.", you kissed him again. "It makes you look old, you know."