Dark Paradise

chapter twenty-five

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - F I V E

AS MUCH AS JAVIER DIDNT WANT TO LEAVE CELIA, HE HAD TO. With Diana, the daughter of an ex-president, dead work was busier than ever. Now, the most prominent people of Colombia were the ones demanding something to be done. Besides, the chair he'd been sleeping for the past few nights wasn't doing any good for his back.

The day Javier had returned for a full day at work, he and Steve received news that President Gaviria would agree to what Escobar wanted.

"If your Congress abolishes extradition, we lose our teeth. We're a paper fucking tiger!" Javier stated angrily as he was pacing the room in circles.

"Everything we have done is lost," Steve added as he looked at Eduardo who himself looked defeated.

"We have no choice," Eduardo defended as he met the gaze of everyone else in the room. "The people, the public...it's tired of all these bombs and bloodshed! Don't you think Celia is tired of it too? She's been affected by it just like the rest of us and the people of Colombia."

"Don't you dare fucking mention her," Javier growled his only warning to Eduardo as he took a seat in one of the chairs in Noonan's office. "So business goes on as usual. He just runs it from that jail."

"Exactly," Steve agreed with his partner as he stood by Noonan's desk.

"All things considered, it's a victory to put Escobar in jail." Noonan finally butted into the argument between the DEA agents and the man in charge of the president's security.

"For public relations?" Steve asked in disbelief. He couldn't believe Noonan was taking Eduardo's side in the argument. "It's capitulation."

"You want Escobar," Eduardo stated after letting out an irritated sigh. "Why? Why? Because you to parade him in your DEA jackets? You think this is a game, right? This is Colombia, and our people want peace! This is not a fucking game!"

Noonan, Steve, and Javier all remained silent as they just stared at Eduardo after lashing out at them. They all understood Eduardo and Colombia's desperate need for peace, but as long as Pablo Escobar was alive there would be no peace.

/ / /

CELIA LAID IN HER HOSPITAL BED ASLEEP. The nurse smiled a little upon seeing her patient getting some rest. She was in horrible condition when she was admitted and after having another successful surgery, Celia still had a long road of recovery ahead of her.

Connie had wanted the nurses to keep an eye on Celia while she headed home with Olivia to freshen up and make a quick dinner. The nurse was jotting down Celia's vital signs when a Code Blue was called. She set aside the chart and pen in her hands, running off towards the room the code was called in. Celia's room was now empty and all the attention of the staff was on the person coding.