Chapter Text
6 Months later
The party was in full swing at the winery, the happy couple was surrounded by congratulations all around. Teresa was wrapped in a black Alexander McQueen jumpsuit while Javier was dressed in a suit without a tie.
Teresa was standing in the center with Javier’s arm around her. A brand new shiny 7 carat diamond ring sitting on her finger.
Pote was looking on like a proud father. He walks over to them and he raises a glass to them, “To Teresa and Javier, may your life be full of happiness…”
Just then there is a slow clap that can be heard from the side door.
They turn and Javier is quick to pull his gun he had hidden in his waistband.
Teresa is stunned to see who is standing there.
“Devon?”
“Hello Teresa.” He grabs a champagne glass and takes a sip. “I hear congratulations are in order.” he has two other men behind him with their weapons drawn.
Javier still has the gun pointed at him. Pote starts to clear out the room.
“What do you want Devon?”
“I hear from some sources you are leaving Phoenix.”
Teresa stands her ground, “Why would that matter to you?”
Devon smirks, “It's advantageous for you to stay here and run your business.”
Teresa is confused at that, “What are you talking about?”
“Let’s just say, my associates and I, need you to continue to run the Sinaloa to Phoenix markets, and to keep your deal with the Columbians.”
“And why should I?”
Devon smirks, “If you do work with me, I can give you something back that you want.”
“I don't need anything from you.”
Devon looking amused at that, “Ahh! But you don't know what I have...Or shall I say who I have.”
Just as if on cue, the door opens again and in walks the last person she would have expected.
Teresa is stunned and she lets out a soft “James.”
He walks in and stands next to Devon, not saying a word.
“That’s right Ms. Mendoza. I have the man you love. You really didn't think he was leaving you on his own accord, did you? You see he has been in my custody all this time, he has been an asset to the agency.”
Teresa perks up at that, “Agency? Are you a Fed.?”
Devon smirks, “No but I work close with them. I needed James out of the way so you could move up. He was only going to drag you down when he got caught for that Texas mess.”
Teresa hasn't taken her eyes off James, but he won't meet her eyes.
“He sat in prison for over 5 months, while you moved on.” He stares at Javier at her side. “You didn't give him one thought, did you? When the truth was he turned himself in to protect you. And he did it all for love. I was going to let him rot in prison but then I found out that you were going to leave the Phoenix market all together and move somewhere else. Finally settle down. So I saw an opening, I will give you what you want and you give me what I want.”
Teresa stares at Devon taking in everything he was saying, “You are working with the Columbians? Castel?”
“They are all assets.”
“So the question I am asking you Ms. Mendoza, or will it soon be Jimenez? Are you going to stay and I will release Mr. Valdez or are you going to leave and you will never see him ever again?”
Teresa stands for a minute, she looks at Pote and sees that he is lost as she is, then she turns to Javier and lowers his gun.
“Fine, Devon. You win.”
James finally meets her eyes and she sees a glimpse of the old James in there. Every feeling and emotion she had for him comes back full force.
Devon practically beaming at that, “I always win, Ms. Mendoza.” He turns to James, “Mr. Valdez, you are hereby free of the agency. You may return to your previous life. I would recommend you stay out of trouble for now on. Good luck.” He looks over at Teresa and Javier, “You are going to need it.” He turns to Teresa, “I will be in touch Ms. Mendoza.”
He waves his hand and his men follow him out leaving Teresa, Javier, James and Pote in the room.
It's quiet, everyone unsure of what to say.
She feels Javier wrap his arm around her, “its late Babe. Why don't we all go back to the house and get some sleep?”
Teresa nods and he guides her out of the room to his car. Pote and James stay back. Pote sighs and addresses James, “C’mon cabrón, you can ride with me.”
James follows Pote out as he sees Javier helping Teresa get into the car.
The ride back to the compound was eerily quiet. Teresa was looking out the window not saying anything while Javier was driving. He didn't know what to say to her. He knew deep down that Teresa missed James, probably still loved him. But Javier loved Teresa and he wasn't going to let anyone take her from him.
He reaches over and links her hand with his and that makes her turn to him, still not saying anything. He ended up taking the long scenic route to get back to the compound.
~~~~~
In Pote’s truck he is driving and he watches James looking out the window. “Any idea what you are going to do cabrón?”
James just shrugs his shoulders. Pote knows he isn't going to say anything so he just drives on.
They reach the compound about 15 minutes later and they don't see Javier’s car in the driveway. They get out and James walks in after Pote, “Your room is still yours, Teresa didn't let anyone mess with it.”
James nods, turning to take a look around. Not much had changed since he was gone. He slowly makes his way upstairs He heads to the dresser and grabs some clothes to take a shower.
He must have been in there a long time because he heard Javier and Teresa arrive walking to her room. Teresa god she looked beautiful. He should have known Devon had something else up his sleeve when he told him they were on their way to the winery. He just never expected to be seeing Teresa at her own engagement party. He knew she had taken off from Phoenix for months with Javier and Pote at her side, he just never expected that they had gotten together. All the time he was locked up all he thought about was Teresa, about somehow finding his way back to her. Then one day Devon Finch came to him and said he was being released only if he came to work for him again. So James wanting his freedom, agreed. He was able to keep tabs on Teresa a lot easier and he knew that Javier was the one at her side and in her bed but he didn't know how serious they had gotten. He sighed he didn't know what he was going to do, he loved Teresa, he always will. But if she was truly happy he would leave her be.
He sighed turning off the shower getting out and getting dressed. He looks around his room and sees everything is exactly as he left it.
~~~~~
Meanwhile in Teresa’s room she is in her closet changing into some pajamas for the night. She is taking out her earrings when she hears Javier walk in and he wraps his arms around her kissing her on the side of the head.
“Devon Finch? He’s from Chicago right?”
Teresa nods her head, “I thought he was out of my life for good after he bombed the mansion and almost killed me. He was just there to eliminate El Santo. Take out all of the competition for the Columbians.”
“And he has had James all this time.”
Teresa not wanting to talk about it, turns in his arms and reaches up to kiss him softly. “Let’s go to bed.”
He nods his head quickly stripping down to his boxers and climbs in bed to pull Teresa against his chest. He wraps his arms around her and just wants to hold her. “I love you Teresa. You know that.”
Teresa nods her head and she is still unable to say it back to him. She feels him sigh behind her but he pulls her closer. She feels his breath even out after about a half hour later. Teresa is unable to sleep. She has about a million and one thoughts running through her mind. She sighs, carefully extracting herself from Javier’s arms. She quietly slips out of her room to make her way up to the top. Her most favorite place in the whole house. She gets to the top of the stairs and feels a cool breeze come in. She sees James standing there, leaning over the railing smoking a cigarette. Just like he had done a thousand times before. She sighs making her way over to him.
~~~~