AN: I don't know Rio's real last name, so until I do know his name will be Rio Sanchez. If we do find out his last name then I will come back and change it, but for now, it is Rio Sanchez and Juan Carlos Sanchez.
As a local gangbanger leader, there aren't many days that Juan Carlos, better known as JC, had time off to spend with his kids. He tried to keep his business and personal life separate. When he's at work he is focused fully on work and when he's with his kids his sole attention is on his kids. He has two kids. Mateo is eleven, while Marianna is only five. Most days it is their nanny that raises them. It isn't something that he's proud of, but in his life, he is always so busy. He's glad they are so understanding.
"Papai, what about this one?" JC smiles as he looks at his little girl. She was playing with dolls and changing clothes left and right, asking him about each outfit every time.
"I think it's perfect docinho." JC says as he brushes a dark curl from her face.
"Hey, JC." He glances over and his smile becomes a frown as he sees his brother. Normally he'd be glad to see his brother, but he can clearly see that something was wrong.
"Uncle Rio!" Marianna cries as she runs towards her uncle, who swoops her right up into his arms.
"Hey, neném." Rio smiles as he kisses the girl's little cheek.
"Hey, uncle Rio." Mateo smiles as he gives his uncle a fist pump.
"Do you want to play dolls with me?" Marianna asks.
"Oh, I would love to Mary, but your papai and I have some things to talk about. How about you go and see if Raza will let you bake with her."
"Okay." He sets her down and she runs off to the kitchen.
"Can I stay? I'm fourteen now. I can talk business." JC smiles as he kisses his son's head. His son looks just like him. They both have the same wild curly black hair, the same dark (almost black) eyes, and the same dark rich skin. While Mateo lets his hair run wild, JC has his hair cut short to keep his curls tamed.
"Mateo, we agreed you'd wait another few years."
"But, Papai-"
"Mateo, enjoy being a kid as long as you can. One day you're going to miss being a kid. Go on, go play outside, but remember to stay inside the yard." Mateo huffs.
"Mateo, listen to your papai, enjoy the bliss of childhood."
"Fine, but if I can help-"
"Then I'll let you know, kiddo, go on now. Uncle Rio and I got to talk business." Mateo nods and he runs off. "What's going on?"
"Have you seen the news?"
"You know I don't pay attention to that crap when I'm home." JC says as he begins to pick up the toys that were covering his living room floor.
"Someone stole our money." The Barbie doll fell from JC's hand.
"What?"
"Someone robbed from one of the places we were holding our money."
"How much?"
"Half a mill." JC curses as he throws the toys in the toy bin.
"Do you know who?"
"Yeah, got an address too. Come on, I think we ought to pay a visit." Anyone stupid enough to steal from the Sanchez brothers has a death wish. Nobody steals from them, which is why this is all the more interesting to JC.
"Who's the idiot that stole from us?" He asks as he finishes up cleaning up after his daughter.
"Here." Rio tosses his phone to JC, which he catches. He sees a picture of three women on it. They all look like innocent suburban ladies.
"You're joking, right?" JC asks as he lifts his eyes from the screen.
"No, I'm not." JC can't help but laugh. "You're laughing."
"Because it's insane. These women stole from us. From us. Do you know how many men thought of doing that, but never had the balls to do it? And then these… women come around and steal half a million off of us. It's just…" JC shakes his head, a smile on his lips. "I don't know whether to be angry or amused." Rio is always smiling.
"It doesn't matter who stole it, we still have to get it back."
"Oh, of course. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy this." JC grins. "Mateo! Marianna!" He calls as he grabs his leather jacket from the hook. His brother and him had different styles. Rio is more often than not in a button-down with slacks or a hoodie and t-shirt with jeans. Today he is dressed in one of his hoodies with the hood half on-half off, which is something JC expected because today was supposed to be a casual day for them. JC is always wearing his worn out leather jacket with a t-shirt underneath with his own dark jeans and his bone breaking boots. "Mateo! Marianna!" He calls again as he ran a hand through his short curls.
"Papai?" Marianna asks as she walks in, flour all over her little face. JC can't help, but laugh.
"What on earth happened to you, querida?" Marianna giggled and goes to wipe her face, but JC catches her hand. "Don't do that. Flour will go everywhere. Let Raza clean that up in a minute." She nods as she looks at him and Rio. "Now, listen, baby girl, papai has to go handle some business with uncle Rio."
"But you said we'd play today." Marianna pouts.
"I know, baby, I know, but papai really needs to help uncle Rio. I promise you that once this is taken care of then you and I are going to do whatever you want."
"Even play dress up." JC chuckled.
"Sure thing, fofinho." JC promises as he kisses the top of her head. "Now, go say bye to uncle Rio."
"Bye, uncle Rio, I love you." She says as she hugs him.
"Bye, neném." Rio says in return as he kisses her head. "Love you too."
"Mateo!" JC calls.
"I think he's outside, Papai." Marianna says.
"I'll be right back." JC heads out to the back yard where Mateo is kicking a soccer ball into the net. "Hey, Mateo!" JC calls as he walks down the steps. "Uncle Rio and I have to take care of something, so I want you to go inside. Play some video games and rot your brain, ya?" He smiles as he ruffles his son's hair. "I don't want you out here when I'm not home."
"Can I come with you?" Mateo has been begging to be a part of their business since he could walk. JC knows that Mateo knows what kind of 'business' that they do, but he's also eleven and JC's job isn't exactly safe.
"Mateo, it's dangerous, I know you want to help and be my little man, but I really think you ought to stay here."
"Papai-"
"Mateo, I know you're a big boy now, but papai worries. I promise by the time you're eighteen you'll be working right beside me, but for now, can't you just be a little kid for a while longer?" Mateo sighs before nodding. "Great, now, how about you run on inside and say goodbye to your uncle."
"Okay." A part of JC hated how comfortable his son was with this life. How he didn't even flinch when JC grabs his gun or even blink when JC comes home sometimes with blood on him. A part of JC was scared with how okay his son was with this, but JC couldn't really judge Mateo. When JC was Mateo's age he had a lot of worst things going on then a good father that happens to be a criminal/killer.
"You okay?" Rio asks once they're in the car with their boys.
"Yeah, Mateo just keeps insisting on joining us." JC tells his brother as he checks the bullets in his pistol. Rio always has his golden pistol on him, a little corny in JC's eyes, JC prefers his standard black Glock.
"He's getting older."
"He's eleven. You telling me you want your son joining us once he is Mateo's age?" Rio doesn't answer JC, but he doesn't have to. JC already knew the answer to that, which was no. "I don't care if he's thirty, I still will hate him being apart of this."
"It's our lives."
"I know that Rio, but it's dangerous. I've accepted the consequences and risks that come with this job, but there is no way I'm accepting the idea that I could end up burying my son. There's a line I will not cross and watching my son get himself killed is one of those lines." Rio nods in agreement and the two settle into a slightly uneasy silence.
The boys park the car down the street a ways from one of the woman's houses. The plan was to sneak in and surprise the woman. The car wasn't in the driveway, which told them that she either wasn't home or didn't have a car. Chances are she wasn't home, so they plan on being there when she does get home.
JC goes to pick the lock, but Rio stops him. "What did I tell you, JC, always check being picking." Rio turns the knob and the door opens with ease. "In these suburban homes people never lock the door, can't imagine anyone breaking into their perfect homes."
"Gotta love high-class ladies." JC mutters before slipping into the backdoor after Rio. "Check the house, make sure no one is home." JC orders his men as Rio makes himself comfortable on top of the kitchen's island, his golden gun resting beside him.
A golden retriever runs over and begins sniffing them all over. "Hey, bud, how are you doing?" JC smiles as he crouches down and pets the dog. He always had a thing for dogs, just as dogs had a thing for him. No matter the situation dogs just loved JC. The guys liked to joke and say he was a dog whisperer or a bitch magnet, which might be accurate if you look at the mothers of his children. "How about you go on out? Don't want any distractions or you having an accident." JC glances at Rio. "You mind?" Rio chuckles.
"I ain't gonna stop you. Sometimes I think you're obsessed with dogs." JC grins.
"Not my fault they love me. Go on out boy." JC holds the door open for him and the dog goes running out.
"You know, it's kind of a nice place." JC tells his brother once he shut the door and took a look around. He moves away from the door to lean against the counter beside Rio. "Real classy, homey." JC and Rio live in the bad part of town. Not because they couldn't afford a house like this, but because guys like them would draw too much attention in houses like this. Their houses are perfect for them, helps them blend in and hide the truth. That's not to say the insides of their houses aren't more expensive looking. It says a lot about them. On the outside they look like gangbangers, but on the inside they're actually half decent guys. Sure they kill people, but they have lines that they will not cross unless absolutely necessary.
A whine comes from the other side of the door, causing JC to push off the counter and go open the door for the dog. "You had a good bathroom break?" He asks as he rubs the dog's back.
"All clean." Bullit says as he walks back in.
"Great." JC says as he moves back to leaning against the counter with Rio. He winces as his gun digs into his waist. He pulls it out from the back of his jeans and places it down on the counter before leaning back again. "Why do think someone with this nice of a place would go and steal from a grocery store? I mean, clearly, they don't need the money." Rio snorts as he looks around the kitchen.
"Probably live boring little lives and wanted a good thrill." JC rolls his eyes.
The sound of a car pulling up as him standing up straighter. Rio remains as relaxed and carefree as always. JC doubted that there was anything that really could snap Rio out of his easy going nature. He is always in control, even when he was angry. It's that quiet calm nature that always puts people on edge. JC rather be screamed at then have someone like Rio talking calmly to him.
As the door opened the dog went running to greet its owner. "Hey, buddy. What's wrong?" The girl's voice was rather nice. Soft and sweet. It's still hard for JC to imagine her stealing from them. "You need to go potty? You need to peepee?"
"Nah, he's good." Rio spoke up, causing the girl to scream and drop her groceries.
"We already took him out." JC adds. The girl's eyes went to Rio's gun, which was in plain view, and then over to Rio and JC. JC was surprised as he looks at her. There was obvious fear in her eyes, but her voice didn't even waver. This girl got some balls for sure. Most men would be pissing themselves by now.
"Oh, relax, sweetheart." Rio grins as he jumps off the counter. Rio had the usual air of danger and charm to him that he always had. Deep down JC knew his brother wasn't happy, but like JC he also found a bit of amusement from this. "I just need you to call your lady friends over so we can all have... a little talk."
"About what?"
"Oh, about the money you stole from us." Rio was the main man in their gang. He was the king if you will, while JC was more a knight, he was Rio's right-hand man, his second in command. JC was also Rio's hired killer. If someone talked too much then JC handled it. JC handled the more hands-on kind of work, while Rio handled the business side of things. In this kind of situation, Rio did the talking and JC did the watching and backing up.
The girl looked at Rio, obvious fear in her eyes now. "Go on, call them." JC orders. "We'll wait." The girl stares at them for a moment before pulling out her phone. JC waited as she made the call, checking his phone in case he got any messages.
'Hey Papai, I made cookies for when you got home.' JC smiles as he sees the text from his baby girl. She was something. The sweetest thing in the world.
'Thanks, baby girl, looking forward to it.'
As the girls to arrive JC pulled himself up on the counter, while Rio took a look around. "Yo, this backsplash is dope." JC raises an eyebrow as he looks back at his brother. His brother loved cooking/baking. He loved food in general really, so it's not at all surprising to JC that his brother was actually bringing that up. It also was the fact that Rio often kept things casual and acted as if everything was normal. As if having half a mill stolen from you and having to threaten a bunch of suburban bitches was normal. "Hey, what's it made out of? Marble?" Marble isn't exactly cheap, JC can see his point. Why would they have such expensive stuff and then steal from them? It was all really interesting to JC.
He eyes over the three girls. They were all sitting on the bench in the kitchen, obviously scared, they all clung to each other. JC's main focus was on the redhead and the blonde. It's obvious the redhead is their leader, but the blonde was just as interesting. She was short and seems to be the youngest out of them. She was sitting on the arm of the bench, nervously playing with the sleeves of her shirt. She was pretty too. JC always had a thing for blonds. "Yo, you ever get any problems with staining back here? Like, if you're cooking a big pot of spaghetti sauce or something like that?" JC got the hint. Red sauce. It could easily be thought of like blood. This is why Rio is such a good gangbanger leader. He just had this calm about him that just scared the living daylight out of everyone. Sure he was talking about something so normal, but underneath those words held a warning and threat.
The blonde nudges the redhead. "No, I don't think so." The redhead spoke up.
"No?" Rio chuckles.
"We didn't know you owned the store." The colored woman spoke up, causing JC to laugh, he runs a hand through his curls, noticing the blonde following the movement. He gave her a shark-like grin.
"They think we own the store." JC grins at his brother, who chuckles.
"Do I look like some kind of grocery store manager to you?" Rio grins as he walks over, he looks down to keep from laughing before looking over at JC. "Or, like Rotary club or something?" JC's grin grows. He hops off the counter, his boots making a loud thud that causes the girls to jump. He walks over to stand beside his brother as they stand before the girls. "No, let's just say that we got certain arrangements with some local businesses." Rio glances at JC.
"We help each other out and whatnot. You know?" JC shrugs.
"Like… money laundering for drugs?" The colored woman asked before turning to the others. "I told you it was shady." JC noticed tears in the girl's eyes. He would feel bad, but in this business, he can't have his opinion clouded by emotions, not if he has to pull the trigger. As the gang's assassin, he needs to keep himself back from that emotional shit.
"Why don't you stop worrying about my business dealings and start figuring how you're gonna pay me my money back." Rio says as he walks back to the wall and leans against it as JC eyes the girls over before heading back to his counter.
"We can get it back." The redhead says as JC hops up onto the counter.
"Oh, that would be great."
"Most of it." JC glances at Rio, who was looking right at him.
"Sorry, what?" Rio asks as he looks over at her.
"S-Some of it, for sure." The blonde stutters. JC raises an eyebrow at his brother, silently asking if he needed to take care of them. Rio chuckled and motions to JC.
"Oh, what, like you guys didn't spend a dime?" The girl hisses to the others.
"How much Annie?" Annie, that was a good fit for her, JC thought.
"I don't know. I probably spent, like, a hundred… grand." JC jumps down from the counter, this time he makes no sound. He picks up his gun, checking the bullets.
"What?" The other two say as they look at Annie.
"I'm gonna shoot you myself." The colored one says.
"Enough." Rio says, cutting in as JC cocks his gun, causing the girls to move closer to each other. "Nah, you're just gonna pay me back is all. I mean, right quick, too. With interest." Rio gives an identical shark grin that JC had. JC slips the safety on and tucks his gun into the back of his jeans. "So, we'll see you real soon, yeah?"
Rio moves past them before stopping and turning to them. "You've really got to be careful, ladies. I mean, with citrus on marble, like lemon and whatnot. That stuff will erode like crazy." He waves his gun as he speaks before slapping his brother on the back. "Let's go." JC eyes them over.
"See you around." He grins, shooting the blonde a wink before following after his brother.
"Don't get any ideas, JC, you already have two kids, don't need a third." Rio says as soon as they were outside.
"Hey, no harm in looking, although, got to tell you, brother. It'd be a real shame if I had to… take care of her. Real shame." JC licks his lips, the familiar glint in his eyes. Rio chuckled.
"Keep your dick in your pants, Juan, this is business. Don't go involving pleasure. It just makes things messy." JC grins.
"That's the point, Rio, and I just love making a mess." Their boys laugh as JC makes a lewd gesture before heading down the street towards the car. Those ladies sure are going to interesting.
Portuguese words I used and their meaning...
Papai-dad
Docinho-sweety
neném-baby
querida-darling
fofinho-cutie