Losing Game

by Niham87

Six years ago Beth had a one-night-stand with a tattooed stranger, she thought she would never see him again. Now he is back... a threat to her life and her deepest buried secrets. *Warning* Slight Canon Divergences/Domestic Violence/Rape/Non-con/Drug Abuse

11. Truths, Dares and Consequences Pt3

Happy New Year! I know, I know, I'm super late... don't throw stones pls.

So sorry this took so long! RL has been a bitch, but this chapter is like super long to compensate!

Thank you for your patience, and all the comments and favourites! Feedback is really appreciated! Let me know what you think.

Also a warm welcome to the newer brio shippers!

As a special thank you for my dear friend Hilda, I hereby decree this chapter in her honour... thank you for keeping me on track, darlin'!

Songs:

Jazze Belle - Shoulda Coulda Woulda (SCW)
Gert Taberner - In Need
Zac Apollo - Discover Each Other
Tuvaband - Everything We Do Is Wrong
LION BABE - Treat Me Like Fire

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Beth clutched to his hand like she was gripping to a floater, shaken up by his words - whatever they meant - her nerve started to wilt, her brain boggled with all the possible outcomes when she spilled the truth about Emma. None of the conjectures had been favourable so far.

Trying to eradicate the uneasiness from her system, Beth shared the little piece of information she had gathered from the exchange in the restaurant's restroom, "I suppose you are aware of the mayor's taste for luxurious escort services."

Rio smirked, "And how did you come across that information? Your acute sense of deduction?"

"No... his wife was pissed and talkative. I'd keep an eye on her." Beth snickered, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

He hummed, seizing the opportunity to prod, "Is that experience talkin'?"

"It may be..." Running over Dean's vainglorious cardboard cutout and taking that ludicrous inflatable pig on a joyride had been extremely satisfying, however, Beth was not pleased that her butt-hurt pride had instigated her into acknowledging that skank in vagina highlighter.

Tossing money to make her go away, hadn't been her finest moment, but in a way she was thankful, the whole situation acted as a sort of tocsin, awaking her from the Stepford Wife Syndrome she'd fell slumber. "The Mayor got away awful easily…" She continued resentful, "Did you even bother to show him your mighty gun, or you save your thug act for troublesome housewives?"

Rio's beaming bright grin was powerful enough to melt steel, let alone her little wannabe cold-heart, "Why, sweetheart, it ain't the thug part that is the acting. I know how much you like my mighty gun but I don't go 'round waving it for everyone."

Beth flushed at the explicit slur, her lungs seizing when he unexpectedly led her hand to his mouth. His tongue swept over the thin scar on her palm, wet and lagging behind his breath, hot and... problematic. The erotic actions completely contrasted with the cold and calculative words muttered against her skin, "A gun will get a fellow's attention, for sure, but there are better ways of doing business. Everybody has a past, a secret. You own that, you'll get more than momentary attention."

He began avidly sucking and rolling his tongue over her fingertips. Beth swallowed audibly, her hand wasn't the only part of her body that was moist and slick any longer, "The Mayor's wife… she-she's into prescription drugs."

He smiled approvingly, "It's good to be observant. It becomes easier to choose a weapon when you know whom you dealing with, sometimes it's all it takes between victory and defeat."

His words sounded more like a warning than apprising advice. God, she was so stupid! He had warned her so many times… It was all a game, a challenge. "And what is your weapon of choice against me?"

Rio took his eyes from the road to look at her, "I'm afraid where you are involved, sweetheart, I am completely disarmed. But we… we ain't enemies, right?"

His eyes were burning so dark with devilry that Beth had a hard time believing him, "No, I wouldn't say enemies. But opponents? That's another story." His malicious smile joined in, devising a devastating combo to her senses, "What do you do when your enemies find out your secrets?"

"Made sure, a long time ago, that I ain't got any left. " Done with her fingers, his hand came to rest over her thigh, his warmth penetrating under the jeans fabric and lingering over her skin. "Like I said... I'm an open book, quite literally."

And what you do not know cannot hurt you. Or Emma. Beth mulled to herself, uncertainty crushing her chest like a ton of bricks… No, there was no room for doubt, at least where Emma was concerned, she was completely sure he would ensure her safety, above everything.

Beth entwined her fingers with his, his thumb swiftly caressing the side of her hand as he smiled his native half-way, "You willing to share yours, one of these days?"

Beth observed his elegant long fingers, as per usual, the choice of jewellery was unique and tasteful. The pinky ring, some kind of intricate mixture of precious metals, contrasted beautifully with his skin. The same melanated tone that ran the extension off his body, he had beautiful hands, capable and lean with defined knuckles and tendons. They could have been pianist's hands, instead, they were attuned finger-triggers, stained with blood.

She'd only felt the gentleness of his touch but she was plainly au fait with their strength. Would those hands turn on her with the same haste they turned her on?

A temporary beacon of light, that's what he was. Was it wrong that she wanted to absorb the most possible of him, take what elation he offered, even if short-term?

At this stage, she was very close to not caring for wrong and right anymore, she could wrap herself in him, and when the time came... she would too take what she was bedevilling due.

Rio always collected, and one way or another, she always paid her debts.

Beth smiled forlornly, "Perhaps its time that someone learns my secrets."

He gave her a curious look, "That easily?"

Beth shrugged and he didn't say anything else until a minutes later when they stopped in front of a warehouse. The huge garage door lifted and the guy with the skull tattoo on his head - Carlos, she'd finally learned his name - appeared by the frame. The noise of power tools breached through their silence before his words, "Not all secrets are bad, momma."

Rio turned the engine off as the garage door screeched to a close, skull tattoo guy making retreat behind a clear plastic division. Beth was able to blurrily distinguish numerous performance and luxurious cars being worked on by a team of people, but when Rio leaned over her to unclasp her seatbelt, he took her full attention, "I don't think we'll ever understand this magic that makes us... converge, so perfectly."

While Beth was preoccupied with his slightly crooked mouth and the way it purred words, one of his fingers slid over her thigh all the way up to her breast, his drawl slumping over her gradually and lingering like sweet honey, "And that, sweetheart, is the only secret I'm willing to let go off."

Then he proceeded to show her exactly how they merged to perfection. His dark head swooped, aimed to sensitive spot on the crook of her neck, Beth quivered as he inhaled her scent, his large hand framed her breast gloriously, sharp teeth sank into her skin, bringing her to the edge of pain, eased to pleasure - P.D.Q - by the successive flicks of his tongue, hot and wet. Divine.

Humming, he travelled his way up, finding a wicked way to bite on her chin, tongue scanning her dimple. Meticulous, he kept working on her breast, kneading and squeezing while his lips shaped hers.

The kiss deepened, draining her with its ravening demand, nonetheless sustaining her starving soul. Muzzy, under such fervid audit, Beth held on tight for the ride, giving as much as he asked, demanding in double.

It was like a key. His tongue glided between her teeth smoothly, brushing over hers with stellar mastery, just the right grit and combination to coax the rusted lock on her heart to open. She was more than seduced, more than tempted, she was willing, eager to let him in.

Want, desire, once thought gone, taken from her, laid extant and primed for her grasp… If only she didn't feel like prey, her heart about to be captured and crushed in between a predator jaws.

Rio might have given her something precious back, but all the invisible scars were raw and bleeding… wanting and being able were different things. Beth doubted she could perform normally in the moment of truth. But extensively than flesh... just the possibility of being used and discarded for the sake of his game was enough to keep the bolt tight and secure.

Beth didn't think she had it in her to be wielded one more time, she had survived long enough on her bent backbone, she wouldn't be able to do it again. She pretended to be strong, to have everything under control, but most times it felt she was about to lose her footing, dangling by her toes at the abyss's edge, thin air tickling the sole of her feet.

Rio might have slid in and turned the key smoothly, but she still had the bolt in place, her heart in safe keeping... for the moment.

Rio sighed in anger, as she distanced herself from him. In the blink of an eye, her beautiful face transformed into a cold mask of control. Her chin jutting with stubborn poise. Her nipple was taut against his palm, but her eyes... although dark with lingering lust, turned cold, chilling him to the bone.

God damn her.

Was her heart made of stone and encased in ice? Was she a consummate actress? A cock-teaser, deserving of an Oscar perhaps?

And God damn him too.

He hadn't been completely honest, he had used seduction as trump, aware it was a double-edged weapon, he just hadn't anticipated being cut so deeply and so fast. She was indeed his true adversary, the only human being he truly felt threatened by... for some unreasonable reason.

He liked to think he had all the answers, but right now, he had no idea how to deal with her, his proclaimed self-control was hanging from a thread, but like hell if he'd let her see how much she affected him.

Six years ago, she'd entered his life like a nova, erupting and disheveling everything in her path, making him want things he'd deemed impossible, reviving dreams he'd think forgotten ghosts. Transient, she'd disappeared as swiftly as she emerged, but taking a chunk of him with her.

She re-entered his life a supernova explosion - resurgent, in cataclysmic fashion and tenfold more powerful than before - the expanding shock waves triggering an unavoidable gravitational collision.

God, how he wanted not feel bound to her… Their entanglement too complicated for him, for a man in his position, however... she was light, and he had been standing in the dark for far too long.

In the dimness of the car, Rio gazed at her intently, wishing he could hate her with the same strength he wanted her. Still in his arms, he could feel how she trembled, how her breasts moved up and down following the rhythm of her erratic breathing, her eyes, two dark pools staring at him wide... but it wasn't all residual lust… there was somethin' else, somethin' that shouldn't be there, that didn't belong.

This obstinate woman, who constantly confronted and defied him, who presented him with sharp claws whenever she felt threatened... Hell, he knew she was no milquetoast, but right now? She was as terrified and as vulnerable as a child.

It had a more powerful effect on him than her lusty response. It angered him even more, unable to understand what game she was playing at... Why did she tease him so unmerciful? Wasn't leaving him wanting for so much more it's own kind of seduction? Was he being outplayed with is own trump? Was her fear even real?

In an epiphany moment, Rio realized that the mask she was wearing was, perhaps, not so different than the one he wore, vital for self-preservation.

T he question was preservation from what? Dean motherfucking Boland?

Everything had checked and come clean. Their life a textbook on middle-class suburban phlegm.

What the hell was she afraid of?

The mix messages didn't make any sense, it's was like he was missing the central part of the puzzle and she was the one keeping the pieces from him. On purpose.

Although seduction was doing its job, he'd perhaps come with the wrong approach to win her, in the end, it all came down to trust. He would have to take a leap of faith and grant her with trust of his own. Give in order to get was not an easy feat for him, not when he demanded trust to be earned.

"I won't take long, better if you stay here." Rio said, suddenly glad for the little stitch he had to solve, violence could be a fine vent for frustration.

"Okay." Her broken and barely audible voice haunted him, her widened blue eyes reminded him of Emma's, asking him to scare the monsters under her bed away.

Even fading, she burned so luminous... All he wanted to do was squeeze her tight and keep her close, under his skin, warm... safe.

His hand cupped her cheek, thumb running over the slightly rugged surface of her lip, he wished it could be that easy to erase her troubles, "When I come back, I want you to tell me what are you so afraid of."

She stared at him in surprise for a tiny second, the subsequent dauntless unnecessary, already given away by her earlier body language, "Does that count as one question?"

"Yes." He retorted already on his way out of the car, annoyed by her staunchness. This must be what chewing bone felt like, fuckin' hard work but such a damn tasty reward that he simply could not let it go. He was a goddamn obsessed idiot.

"You... " Her breathy voice stopped him in his tracks. Those vast and bottomless blue pools stared at him dead in the eye, "I'm afraid of you."

"Me?" He dropped back on the soft leather, genuinely surprised and mildly insulted, "What have I done to scare you?"

"Really? You have no idea?" Beth raised her eyebrows in utter disbelief as he shook his head, "You broke into my house and waved a gun in my face! More than once!"

"Nah... It ain't my gun you scared off, every time, you've faced it game-on. Last time, you even fuckin' enjoyed it!" Rio tsked amused, "And I can't take off my mind that necklace resting between those amazing tits of yours… You wearing nothing else but that necklace..." Finding irresistible to tease her even further, Rio cocked his head to the side, his crooked smile widening as Beth turned at least two shades redder, "...and maybe that blush."

Beth tried her best to ignore his comment and the ploddingly heat wave scorching her skin. Fuck her... one smile! It was all it took, and here she was gushing over him, again. "I'm not sure if you're aware how much danger you embody... and not exactly because you're carrying a gun... " Beth waved her hand all over his figure, "YOU are very intimidating."

"When I need to be." He conceded, "But again, you always butt heads with me. You ain't no coward."

"Doesn't imply I'm not afraid." Beth retorted.

"I care for mine. You have no reason to be afraid..." Rio slanted his eyes as if trying to read through her, "...unless you betray me."

The word, mine, reverberated in her brain, poking the open wound like a branding iron, shame burned her with the strength of an open flame. Unbeknown to him, she already had.

His daughter called another man Daddy. He would never see her first steps, or feel the inexplicable faith that the world just became a better place when you hold your flesh and blood for the first time. She had stolen something of immeasurable value, unparalleled. Waiting so long to tell him about Emma just added a whole nother level to her betrayal. "And what happens to the ones you can't trust… like me?"

His undecipherable pitch black eyes bore through her soul, "You haven't exactly inspired confidence sweetheart. I want to trust you, but every time we take a step further you do somethin' stupid and we're two steps back."

"That doesn't answer my question." Beth said sharply.

"You have run out of questions, sweetheart. And I ain't on the mood for charity." Rio said with an impish smile, "You ready to bargain?"

"I don't think I should bargain for something I can predict the answer to." Beth remarked audaciously.

His renowned malicious smile framed his mouth and, Beth instinctively knew she was about to get in trouble, "What you shouldn't do is purse those lips so often, I get these urges to kiss you until they are soft and supple, and you... moanin..."

"You talk too much nonsense." Beth interrupted him, already seeing where this was headed, the response was immediate, her body roared its need at her, and Beth was in no condition to oppose, her strength depleted in their previous battle, "Don't you have somewhere to be going to?"

"Do I?" He drawled full of mischief.

Beth screeched when she was suddenly lifted her from the seat. She clawed at his shoulders and ducked her head avoiding the car's low ceiling while he somehow pulled her over the middle console.

His hard cock nudged against her core as he straddled her over his lap, the large leather seat accommodating both nicely. He hastily grabbed her ass, firmly bringing her down as he lifted his hips, hitting her sweet spot with surprising ease. Unavoidably, Beth moaned.

Rio's dark orbs flashed smugly, and Beth had an almost irresistible impulse to strike out the tiny presumptuous smile from his handsome face.

Her hands got a mind of their own, but instead of striking, they glided from his shoulders to the hard planes of his chest, his heart beating steady and strong under her palms. She travelled further down over his taut abs to find the hem of his shirt. Beth lifted the fabric without thinking twice, his bullet wound was healing nicely but the old white scar on his side quickly captured her attention.

She ran her finger pads over the rugged surface, his lean carved muscles weaving and contracting under her touch, the small and sparse scars over his abs reflected the dim light almost shimmering, the low cut jeans partly revealed the grooves of an Adonis belt. Over the dark golden skin, a thin line of dark crisp hair disappeared under the snugly belted waistband, a massive bulge stretched against the dark material of his jeans.

Beth had no idea what got into her, or what the fuck was she doing, but her hands didn't have her problems... they didn't hesitate in undoing his belt, nor flicking his button loose and running his zipper. They greedily scooted under the waistband of his boxers and cupped his cock… both of them! But Dear God... he was perfection.

Groaning, he squeezed her ass cheeks, breaking the spell she'd fallen into, she lost herself in those dark orbs of his. One way or another, Beth had effectively removed the smug smile from his face, replaced it with fierce want.

There was no saying who moved first, the kiss was a mixture of pure lust and insatiable hunger. Her head pounded, murky with desire as his rough hands progressed under her sweater, seizing her soft skin on his way up. The clasp of her bra was undone with ease while he pulled at her inflamed lower lip with honed teeth, kissed her chin and down the expanse of her neck, his facial scruff tickling her wickedly, the purr coming from his tattoed throat making her throb deeply and gush freely.

With her heavy breasts released from confinement, he cupped them with urgency, kneading the juicy pale jugs in his tan hands. Raring, he tugged at her nipple, the small hint of pain was enough for her to tense. Burning with need Rio lifted her sweater and bra in one go, latching on her taut nip with a groan.

Pleasure shot through her spine, usurping her breath and leaving her gasping. Beth just stood there straight as an arrow, trying to overcome the bout of jitters. She focused on the pleasure, on his eyes, half-lidded in bliss, the bristly long lashes that shaded most of his cheeks, the hard lean muscle of his shoulders, pinched under her nails, the eager but still considerate touch... all so different from Dean's.

She took a deep breath while Rio held the weight of her tits in his palms, the wonder flaring in his slanted dark eyes instigated womanly gratification. He squeezed them against each other, groaning and muttering a strained 'fuck' that left her damp, not only in her core but also in pride.

He then swooped his head between them, tongue sailing smoothly over her breastbone. Beth held onto his round skull, arching her back to give him better access, his soft lips left a trail of wet, toothed kisses as he made way to her nipples, giving unbiased attention to each, rolling his tongue over the tight tips, suckling on her pink areolas avidly.

Beth craved for a taste of him, ached to take him deep in her until all the bad was redacted and replaced with the pleasure he rendered. As if reading her mind, his long fingers spread into her hair, capturing her fiery tresses into his fist, bringing her into a fierce kiss.

With her bared breasts smothered against his clothed chest, he headed for her derrière, rounding both cheeks with his palms, guiding her centre against his protuberant erection while he devoured her mouth. Moaning and throbbing, Beth ground his cock relentlessly.

His fingers played with the button at her waist, popping it open and undoing her zipper with ease, he pulled at her hair, parting their mouths just enough, "Your taste still haunts in my dreams."

His drawl dripped raspy, idyllic, like the fingers sliding under her panties, over the neat patch of reddish-golden curls, gliding down her slick labia, and up, pressing against her clit. "I want you to flood my mouth… I want to drown on those sweet juices of yours."

Beth was unsure if it was anxiety or his words that made her belly froth, but reassured by his burning black coal orbs, she instructed her body to relax while he prodded her entrance with two thick fingers, wooing his way into her body as easily as he had found his way into her heart.

Her swollen lips parted, allowing an unquenchable moan to escape while he pumped in and out. The shallow and methodical nudges quickly gave way to deeper and faster thrusts.

Rio groaned, partly frustrated by the tight clothes impeding him to go as deep as his fingers allowed, partly going insane as the limited space filled with the scent of her arousal. With his free hand, he guided one of her succulent pale tits into his mouth, the pink nipple firm and ripe against his tongue, tasted like heaven itself. Her velvety inner muscles contracted around him, sucking him in greedily, his cock throbbed in response, demanding his own share.

Rio released her nipple with a loud pop, lashing at it successively with the tip of his tongue while his fingers worked in and out, Beth's moans became louder as the pressure inside her intensified, accumulating for the ultimate release.

"Fuck…" He growled over her lips, his eyes gleamed, lecherous and awed, "You feel so good... fuckin' exquisite. Cum for me, sweetheart."

God, she was so close... But, somehow his words made something shift in her. A sense of dread overcame her, apprehension began to flow conjoined with pleasure. It was all so intense that she felt compelled to close her eyes… terrible mistake.

The thoughts she'd been easily keeping at bay, metastasized in her brain like cancer, corrupting her to the very soul.

Repulsive, confusing visions flooded her mind's eye, leading to panic to take control over her body.

Dean's icy blue eyes mocked her, his fist plunged into her stomach, taking her already scarce breath away and replacing it with asphyxiating bitterness. Then blinding bright light and red toenails hovered above her, then there was nothing but darkness.

It wasn't Rio's… it was Dean's hideous touch she felt, a slug crawling under her skin, vitiating her body. The shivers became uncontrollable, her heart started to palpitate, so irregular that she was afraid she was having a heart attack, her mouth watered excessively in a clear sign that she was about to get sick.

A knock on the rear windshield startled both of them, effectively - and for the best - breaking his touch. Beth blinked blearily at the dark shadow moving away from the car, Carlos, the tattooed guy from before.

With their tryst exposed, Rio clasped her bra with expert, quick moves. Like a cat on hot tin roof, Beth jumped back to her seat, pulling her sweater down just as the first wave of nausea engulfed her. Her hands shook so much it was near impossible to do up her jeans button.

Rio's breath was as ragged and laboured as hers, his voice harsh with unfulfilled desire as he packed his cock back in his jeans, "Beth..."

"Just go, Rio." She snapped, closing the sweaty hands over her lap into tight fists, "Don't worry, I won't raise hell for being five minutes alone!"

He got out of the car and banged the door, not before scowling at her, "You keep that pretty ass in here until I come back."

She watched him walk away with his feline dip while she sat there, trying to control the urge to vomit, the back of her neck drenched with cold sweat, she rolled down the windows and took large deep breaths.

She closed her eyes in search of relief but an unnerving tick tock started to resound in mind. At first, it was mild and she tried to ignore it by focusing on her breathing, but it became louder and louder with each ticking second... it was like she was transported back to her kitchen, bent over that butcher block, the tick of the kitchen clock mingling with the laugh of happy children.

Beth shot her eyes open, the images gone, but the clock kept ticking in her ears. Desperate, she reached for her purse, searching for those goddamn pills in a frenzy. The original plan was to take them if she needed and she needed them more than ever.

She popped the container lip open and dropped the backup pills in her palm, her fist immediately closed around the tiny pills, for a moment the urge to throw them out the window greater than the one to consume. Her hand flew through the open window, but a devious part of her brain sparked doubt, her fist trembled but remained closed.

You need them! How do you expect the pain to fade, if you don't take them? You think you can lean on Rio? *scoff* What has love done for you... done to you? You think he loves you? You know better than that, he just wants one thing and you can't even let him touch you without going neurotic, and when he finds out the truth, he won't even want that from you.

You don't need anyone… you don't have to feel anything… It's so easy… so good… Just. Take. The. Pills.

"Shut up! SHUT... UP!" Beth growled, forcing her hand open and throwing them as far as she could. The pills tinkled away on the smooth concrete floor, her heart stopping in a second of doubt and subsequent dread as the sound reverberated, fading into the heavy machinery noise and the faint Spanish rap on the background.

Beth pressed her palms against tightly shut eyes, forcing the tears back into their well. No more crying... no more. She repeated over and over as her mantra.

It was something, wasn't it? To be betrayed in the most unexpected and hideous way by the person who's supposed to love and cherish you?

Dean had managed to mess her up pretty damn good. She felt so filthy that she was itching, so soiled that she didn't think she could ever be clean again, let alone normal.

Although her "trauma" was part justifiable, Beth knew it was too, part illogical. Ultimately, she was as well versed in pleasure as she was in pain... perhaps that was what made it worse, she had always so much to give, she'd given it so easily and unwary. It had all been twisted too much, it was too late for her, nothing to be done of her half-numb and broken self.

Blaming Dean for clipping her wings was so easy... he might be the culprit but she was far from being exempt of guilt. She stood hamstrung by her own lies and omissions. Stuck, using the drugs - and Rio - as a shield of relief that only brought her even more pain and trouble.

She never felt this trapped before, every time she tried to move, she'd smash against a wall of lies, and climbing it, grant possible, meant her financial plans could be cut short. Meant she would remain anchored to Dean and their 'till death tear us apart' promise, because she would never abandon her children.

Meant that Rio would hate her… never again would he gaze at her through those warm obsidian eyes as if she was worth burning for... worth everything.

She had already lost Ruby's trust, possibly her friendship, and had failed Annie too many times… What did she had left to lose that hadn't been taken, maimed or destroyed anyway? God... She was so weary of balancing on that damn edge, using air as grit… Sometimes she'd wonder if it wouldn't it be easier if she just... let go?

A bark startled her, effectively blowing the black clouds hanging over her head. Bella - Rio's dog - appeared out of nowhere, running in her direction. Beth opened the door, and she immediately jumped onto her lap, wiggling in ecstasy, "How did you get here?"

A wretched smile spread over her lips as she scratched the dog's ears, not that she expected an answer but the beady black eyes shone with intelligence and understanding. In response, Beth's eyes filled with tears. She buried her face into Bella's thick neck and let herself sob, in silence, for a couple seconds. Pathetic, that's what she was.

Once she'd calmed down, she patted Bella's head as a thank you and set herself into fixing her ruined makeup, not only by her crying but also by Rio's ardent kisses.

"Did Rio sent you to spy on me?" Beth questioned the dog while fixing her hat, which had fallen during their sexual interlude, "You know we girls should stick together… But I know he is fine as juicy bone, so I can't really blame you, can I?" Bella's ears lifted at the mention of her owner, she jumped out of the open door and barked, running in the direction where she'd come from, "Wait! Come back here, girl!"

Beth murmured a 'shit' under her breath, already out of the car as the dog stopped to look at her as if expecting Beth to follow her. Which, imprudently, she did.

They crossed the clear plastic curtain that served as a division, the music and the odour of weld and metal dust even more overpowering on that side. The warehouse was bigger than she initially thought, some of the men working on the cars stopped their tasks to look at her, none of the faces familiar. Beth nodded in their direction while she tried to keep up with Bella, chin high, she affronted their ogling eyes until they turned back to work.

She knew a thing or two about cars, after all, Dean dealt with them. She had heard of this type of thing, chop shops, where stolen cars were dismantled and sold for a quick return. But this was in a big scale, mostly luxurious performance cars and they were intact, only the plates being removed and VIN's replaced, then loaded into containers to be shipped overseas, where the black market prices would justify. It only made sense that Rio would be involved in something like this with his passion for cars and tendency to 'flip his game'.

Bella made a sharp turn and she followed her into the back of the warehouse, only to stop dead on her tracks at the appalling vision in front of her.

Rio was beating the shit out of a guy. His dark features never more resembling the devil he alleged to be.

The sound of flesh and bone meeting all too familiar and raising the hair at the back of her neck. Rio's profiled face twisted in a sneer of crazed violence, he kept pounding at the man's already bloodied and unrecognizable face. What Beth thought to be a tooth twinkled on the concrete floor, and the metallic smell of blood seemed to fill her nostrils.

Carlos and the other tall tattooed guy that served as usual henchman, stood behind Rio, watching the carnage. The bruised man fell to his knees, chest heaving heavily while thick scarlet blood spewed from his broken nose, his eyes so swollen that they were glued together.

Beth thought it was over, but Rio wasn't finished. He bent over the man and whispered unintelligible words into his ear. The man spat a slurred a 'fuck you' with a distinctive Russian accent, blood trickling from his chin, pooling black and congealed near Rio's immaculate shoes.

It all happened too fast. Rio lifted his knee, a crack audible as it met with jaw. The man's limp body had barely touched the floor, Rio already had his gun out.

The golden metal sparkled under the light as Rio pulled the slide back, the click of the gun cocking echoed in her ears. Beth's eyes widened in shock… Dear God, she was about to witness more than she'd bargained for... murder.

A dead set calm seemed to wrap around him, time slowed as he crouched, brutally grasping the moaning man's nape, bringing him to close range.

Rio smiled viciously, loudly kissing the man's sweat and blood-drenched forehead, pure scorn. His voice beamed, seeping sadism, "Send my regards to Sasha, motherfucker."

She should be skedaddling the shit outta there, but she was transfixed, her body paralyzed in a mixture of horror, amazement and oddly... curiosity. She had seen cruelty, had felt it in her own skin, but this was of a distinct nature. This was the wickedest thing she'd ever withstood... yet it was impossible not to respect the power bred from savagery, not to admire the beauty running alongside the macabre.

Even Bella stood completely still as Rio pressed the gun muzzle to the man's temple, her heart skipped a beat and began hammering full force against her rib cage. His finger moved gently over the trigger and Beth started buzzing.

Suddenly, Rio snapped his head in her direction, acknowledging her presence, his black eyes deadly cold, like Michigan's winter, freezing her breath in place. It took a long second to realize that she was literally buzzing, her phone ringing in her pocket.

"Pick it up." He snarled at her, eyes flashing with anger.

Oh, boy … this wasn't good, he was pissed… at her. Beth struggled with the phone, not taking her eyes off of Rio's. The fingerprint unlock, as per usual, didn't work, perhaps because she was shaking like a leaf in the wind. With a hard gulp, she finally dared a peek at the phone, her husband's name flashed on the screen. After three attempts at sliding the answer button, she finally got it.

Rio's eyes never left hers while she exchanged minimal words with Dean, his fingers were squeezing the man's neck so tightly that they had turned white, leaving indentations on the clammy skin. Rio's jaws ticked while he pressed his lips into a thin line, the spine-chilling scowl a reminder that she had directly disobeyed his order to stay in the car. It also reminded her of how dangerous he really was, much more than the gun still attached to the man's temple.

"Okay, I'll handle it." Beth muttered into the phone. Ending the call, she scanned Rio's boys' mood, which stared blankly at her, giving nothing away. Beth pondered on what to do for a moment, licking her lips which suddenly felt as dry as her throat, "I, hmm, I-I have to go... It's Emma."

Rio released the man carelessly. Unconscious - possibly already dead, for all she knew - he fell limp and hard onto the concrete floor. Rio holstered the gun at his back and walked towards her, Beth took two steps back, "I… I-I c-can call an uber."

He didn't even blinked, hooked his bloodied hand around her arm, probably with the same strength he was holding the man's neck, and dragged her back to the car. He must have noticed her wince of pain 'cause his grip relaxed, his scowl didn't. None of the mechanics dared a look at them, probably because Rio looked like he was about to murder her and whoever stood in his way.

Once they reached the car, he leaned her back on the side panel, not particularly gently, it was almost a shove, Beth had to grind her teeth to contain another wince.

"What's wrong with Emma?" His voice still held an icy tendril but his frown was of worry.

"Nothing." Beth quickly reassured, "Dean is stuck in traffic with the kids, some kind of pile-on in the highway, he won't make it in time to pick her up from after-school ballet… I... hmm... have to get her."

Beth was surprised by how steady and easily her speech came, she was disturbed by the wrong motives, seeing him like that was just validation to all her theories, what she didn't expect was the erotic frisson that came with it.

"Get in." He said, opening the door for her. Bella, who had followed them, jumped in and made way to the back.

Beth balanced on her heels, fidgety, "I-I'll call a taxi or something, you seem to be..." She struggled to find the right words, "Ahem... busy."

"Elizabeth… get in."

Fuck. She held his stormy and black as night gaze for what seemed an eternity. She needed space, but that was obviously something he wasn't willing to give her right now, so Beth scooted in and he followed suit. The quicker she abided the quicker he would let her go, and Beth really needed to put her head in order, impossible with him so close.

The tension was palpable as they drove, the only words exchanged were the address where to pick up Emma from, even Bella seemed anxious. Beth was extremely confused and mortified with the reactions of her flesh. She did not condone violence by any means, although she did struggle with her own urges... sometimes. She had felt capable of killing, but that was in a private space on the dark corner of her mind. Rio would have shot that man if her phone hadn't rung, and with a knowing audience, cold-blooded… not a thing in the heat of the moment... it was calculated like everything else he did. Rio was not a man you wanted to mess with, yet his frown softened with visible relieve when assured Emma was okay. She didn't know what to make of her feelings. He was all she'd always suspected yet so much more.

Before she knew they were parking in front of the ballet studio, Rio shut the engine off and turned to face her.

"What you saw, it had to be done." He simply stated, the dark eyes open and inviting trust, "There is somethin' 'bout me you have to understand... I'm not a good man. I've done things I ain't proud of. I might have spilled more blood than needed but I never did it without a reason, without an aim. I'm not justifying it, I did most of it for money... but when you're on top of the food chain, you start doubting your own shadow… you are alone. I never wanted that for me but I've never known anythin' else… I… what you saw it's part of me..." He took a long pause, his jaws clenching as he chewed his thoughts, "There this quote, Power tends to corrupt, and… "

" ... and absolute power corrupts absolutely. " Beth finished with him, "Lord Acton."

Rio smiled stoically, "I know you think you can keep doing what you doing for six months and you're out, but I see how hungry you are, how badly you want more... you must be aware Elizabeth… everything, comes with a price. You remember that when the time comes."

Beth frowned, "Time for what?"

"The time when you decide if you want to be a Queen or just another pawn."

Suddenly, it was hard to swallow, her throat constricted, Beth had no idea how to react, but her heart surely soared with pride at the possibility of being his Queen. Her face must have broadcasted her surprise, the low rumble of his laugh stupefied her almost as much as the bombshell.

"God, how I wanted to be able to read what's up in that pretty head of yours… I got this constant feelin' that what your body tells me is not what you want to say." He added with a sombre half-smile.

Beth was even more taken aback, he read her pretty well most of the time and on the contrary to her, he wasn't a man that held back his desires, but he didn't exactly expose himself either, trusting her with that much about him touched her deeply.

Guilt fell upon her almost unbearable, she was so undeserving of his trust, the cause of so much trouble… Maybe if she'd never crossed the doors of Lucky's that night he wouldn't be lonely, perhaps he would have the family he craved so much, perhaps power wouldn't have corrupted him. But then, she wouldn't have Emma. She couldn't possibly be sorry for that night, ever.

Beth knew not everything was black and white either. Yes, he wasn't a good man but he wasn't a bad man either, he was one of those complex grey spots.

Beth found herself retributing a smug smile, "Right now… my brain is asking if you are aware that the Queen is the most powerful piece in game?"

His eyes flared with a hint of lust, "But the King, sweetheart, is the most important."

"Not until endgame." Beth riposted swallowing the hard lump in her throat, incapable to understand how he made her lust with one simple look, one mere move.

He leaned over her, his drawl a low raspy whisper, "And what phase do you think we at, uh?" His chuckle made sinful things happen to her nervous system, "We've been playing for a while now, and I admit you had me threatened a couple o' times, but it ain't over until one of us says checkmate."

Beth arched a reddish-golden eyebrow, "I thought it was bad etiquette to continue playing in a completely hopeless position."

Rio licked his lips amused, "Why, sweetheart, you're welcome to resign anytime."

Beth leaned over his lips, barely brushing the soft and wet pillows, her voice didn't even sound her own, "In order to secure a game the Queen can sacrifice herself, the game just needs to be worthy of her sacrifice."

His eyes softened while he tucked a wild strand of copper hair behind her ear, "Then, I've already lost. There is no King without a Queen by his side."

His lips captured her softly, coaxing her mouth to open. It was impossible not to warm to his words, not to abide to the sweet promise of his lips. Even the way he kissed her was a contradiction, all of him screamed brutal viciousness, but his kisses were torture by pleasure.

The light pressure of his lips, the sweeping of his tongue on hers, the gentle bite to her lower lip, all so provocative and familiar, yet, so different from all the other kisses they'd shared before.

He'd opened a little gap for trust, and she eagerly slid through it, healing close some of her doubts, but cracking open so many more.

She felt how lonely and isolated he was, almost detached. He knew what was being alone in a crowd and she understood it better than she would have liked to. Everything was separated... compartmentalized, they were not so different where it came to self-preservation, even if valued in different ways, using different methods, for different reasons, ultimately with the same objective… they didn't want to be hurt.

The kiss ended with a last swept of his tongue, Rio parted from her lips with a lingering peck. When she opened her eyes, he was studying her with those indecipherable deep-set eyes of his, his hand still cradling her cheek, "Go on and get your daughter."

Our daughter... Beth flushed, pinning her lips into a tight line as the words threatened to shove each other in order to get out of her mouth. The daughter, whom she had momentarily forgotten about.

She took a glance at the dance studio entrance, some parents were already leaving with their children by the hand. She'd lost track of time, all her senses captured by him, completely adrift in the warmth of his body, his scent, his taste. He'd disarmed her with his trust, leaving her humming with the unexpected exposure.

"Right… I… hmm, should go." She said like the idiot she was, his smirk widened by the same her blush amounted to. Beth quickly got out of the car before she managed to embarrass herself even further.

It didn't take long to get Emma, she was stopped by a couple of mom's, part of her secret shopper army, who were anxious for the next shopping haul, Beth avoided details, saying it wasn't up to her but corporate. Shopping was on hold until she could fix this thing with Mary Pat tomorrow. She had texted Ruby with time and location for the drop-off but was still unsure if she'd show up. She was aware she might have overreacted about Ruby, their friendship had survived through a lot, still... She would have to learn tomorrow because that bitch hadn't even bothered with a simple yes or no answer.

Beth cut short the goodbyes and set on her way out. Emma immediately spotted Rio leaning against the car, patting Bella's head through the rolled down window. Her screech was of such happiness that it wrapped around Beth's heart like a painful reminder of all her sins.

Emma released Beth's hand and ran in his direction, so fast, that Beth was sure she'd left rubber imprints on the sidewalk. Rio smiled in that special way he reserved for Emma, crouching as she wrapped her little arms around his neck and smooched his cheek loudly.

Beth watched from the sidelines as he lifted her in his arms, not daring to interrupt as he made introductions to Bella.

Beth frowned as jealousy steamed way to the top, again. Another fun dad... Her thoughts, suddenly turned 360 degrees, leaving her dizzy.

If Rio learned about Emma, there was the possibility we would want her custody... He could take her baby away.

Rio's voice startled her, "Beth?"

He held the door open for her, Emma was already inside and belted on the back seat next to Bella. "Do you have somewhere to be or can we stop by a park? Bella could use some activity."

"Could we go, mommy? Please?" Emma pleaded with her.

Beth didn't have the heart to say no, "Okay, but the one close to our house. It's getting late."

Rio's smile could melt steel beams but when he high fived an equally side smiling Emma, it withered her heart and raised her fears.

The usually long ride passed - thankfully - extremely quickly as she analyzed Rio's and Emma's conversations, her previous thoughts fresh in her mind, eating at her courage nibble by nibble. She was a good mother, he had said so… he wouldn't take Emma from her, right? He wouldn't do anything that could potentially hurt his own daughter, would he?

Rio parked and turned to Emma, "Why don't you check what's under my seat?"

Emma's blue eyes sparkled with delight, "Is it a present? For me?"

Rio chuckled, "Maybe." His dark brown gaze turned towards Beth, almost a squint, so broad was is smile, "Hope you don't mind."

How could she mind? Beth shook her head negatively as Emma got a bag from under the seat, "Can I open it now?" She asked already peeking inside.

"Let's do it outside, Bella is already getting anxious for a run on the grass." Rio suggested.

Rio grabbed a tennis ball from the trunk and threw into the grass for Bella to catch. The park was nearly empty as they sat on the nearest picnic bench.

Beth almost laughed as Emma fidgeted with the bag while she sat in between her and Rio, dying to open it, "Go ahead."

It was all she needed, the wrapping paper was destroyed in seconds. Wrapped in transparent cellophane was a cute brown bunny plush. Emma squashed it against her chest with a squeak of happiness.

Rio smirked, "I gather you like it?"

Emma nodded, handing the package for him to open. Beth threw the returned ball for Bella to fetch again, side glancing Emma. "What do you say, young lady?"

Emma was too excited to remember manners, "Oh! Thank you, Rio. I love it."

Rio scruffed her hair, "You're welcome, conejito. But you see, this isn't just any plush bunny…" He said removing it from the package, "This bunny will scare any monster out of your bedroom. Forever."

Emma frowned in doubt, "How?"

"Like this…" Rio pressed the back of the plushy head, the sweet mellow eyes turned into a vicious frown, the mouth opened showing rows of sharp white tooth, completely changing the toys demeanour.

Emma giggled, "I'm not scared."

Beth chuckled under her breath while Rio scratched the back of his head, "Well, hmm… It's not supposed to scare you, just the monsters."

Emma frowned still not convinced, "Do you think it will work?"

"100% sure." He reassured.

Emma smiled coyly, "I think it's still better if you come by... sometimes."

Rio sat her on his lap, "One day you will have to face all the monsters by yourself, sweetheart, but until then I will scare those monster how many times you need. And if I'm not there... Pedro?" He suggested as a name.

Emma giggled and nodded, "I like it."

Rio continued, "If I'm not there, Pedro the bunny, will do it for me. Deal?"

Emma wrapped him in a tight hug, "Deal."

Rio heard a sniff coming from Beth, a frown of worry formed in his brow, "Why don't you go play with Bella for a little bit, uh?" He said to Emma, which quickly agreed.

Once she was happily following Bella around, Rio turned towards Beth, whom had her back to him, "What's the matter, sweetheart? Should I have gotten you a bunny plush too?" He teased her.

When Beth turned, he was shocked to see abundant, fat tears rolling down her cheeks, "Rio… t-there is something you should know…"

Beth had watched the whole scene with her heart in her hands, even with all her doubts and fears, she couldn't keep it any longer. Her mouth opened but no sound came out, it was like she had swallowed Bella tennis ball and she was choking on it, choking on her lies, on her cowardy.

Noticing her distress Rio squeezed her hands, "You don't have to tell me just yet."

"Yes, I do." She retorted annoyed with herself for being so weak, with him for being such a perfect gentleman… most of the time, when he wasn't, it was usually because he was busy making her want him with those wonderfully wicked kisses. To her dismay, fat sobs started to rock her body.

He cleaned her tears away with his thumbs, "You know what I like to do when I'm frustrated?"

"Beat people up?" She asked between teary sniffs and a chuckle.

Rio chuckled, "Well… that too. But besides what you might think there isn't always a target available. So, I scream."

Beth looked at him with doubt, "You scream? Like, shout, out loud?"

"Mmm-hmm. It helps... Try it with me." He incited her.

"Now? Here?" Beth nudged her chin towards some people sitting a few yards away, her voice a tiny whisper, "In public?"

One second his smile was flashing wickedly the next he threw his head back and screamed his lungs out like Tarzan.

After the initial shock, Beth found it was impossible not to laugh, "You're crazy." She shouted over his Tarzan impersonation.

"And you need to loosen up a bit, unless... you want to keep that Miss Uptight crown over your head." He teased her with that disarming half-smile.

Beth pursed her lips, "I've told you… I'm not uptight."

"Prove it." He goaded her with an arch of those unruly brows.

This time when he screamed, Beth joined. At first she was conscious but after a few seconds she couldn't care less for the few people gawking at them… she found it relieving and liberating, just like he had promised. Rio eventually stopped but she kept going. At one stage it wasn't even frustration, it was pure anger, and at the end, it was her pain she was pouring out.

When she was finally finished they just stood in silence looking at each other. By then Emma was back, with Bella on her toes, and curious why mommy was screaming. Beth was too shaken up to come up with something but Rio had the answer.

"We were scaring monsters."

Emma looked around, eyes wide, clutching Pedro the bunny tightly, "Monsters? Here?"

"Don't worry, conejito. They are gone." He kissed the top her head, his eyes met with Beth's, "The scariest monsters mostly live in our heads."

A recognition, an unspoken understanding, fuelled with sexual chemistry exchanged between them. It was the same recipe from six years ago when their eyes met for the first time, but somehow the ingredients had fermented, the potency was intoxicating.

Reassured, Emma scrunched away to play catch with Bella, leaving them and the tension in between to friction.

Rio scooted closer to her, his thigh touching hers, "So… what'd you wanna talk to me about?"

Whatever contradictions Rio portrayed were meaningless under the genuinity of his actions, he had absolutely no conscious reason to care for that little girl, to give her such a thoughtful gift. Beth faced the idyllic picture of her daughter playing with the dog, they deserved the truth, they belonged together and Beth could only hope Rio understood her reasons to have kept her from him far too long.

His slanted deep-set eyes regarded her with unwavering patience. There was no way of revealing something like this the right way, so Beth took a deep breath and conformed with diving head first. "Emma... she is yo…"

"Beth?" The unfamiliar male voice startled her, "Elizabeth Marks? Is that you?"

Beth frowned at the tall figure stopped in front of them with one of those posh small dogs on a leach, she would recognize that ginger hair anywhere, "Oh my… Tom?"

She had barely got on her feet when Tom McBride's - her 1st everything - bear hug engulfed her, the hairs at the back of her neck raised with apprehension at his touch, she went immediately stiff, he had certainly gotten beefier since high school, the long ginger beard gave him a total hipster-zaddy vibe, but he still kept his boyish charm.

"How many years has it been… Last time was… that party in college? Wow!" He said once they parted, "You look amazing."

"Well… thank you." Beth said, voice as stiff as her spine, the spark in his eye was making her nervous. She heard Rio clear his throat.

"Oh! This is my, huh… this is…"

"Rio." He said extending his hand towards Tom, his scowl was not nearly as friendly tho.

"Yes, this is Rio." She added, stupidly, as they shook hands, We… hmmm… he is my… huh…"

"Partner." Rio said with conviction, eyeing Tom with pure contempt.

"Oh…" Tom muttered, "You and Dean…"

Both Rio and Beth answered at the same time.

"Yes, they are getting divorced."

"N-No, we are just business partners… " Beth sent Rio a killer look as her voice faded, "... we work together... at work."

Tom looked at both in utter confusion. Unconcerned, Rio smiled like the cat that got the cream, circling Beth's waist and bringing her as close as humanly possible, "It's complicated."

"I can imagine," Tom said eyeing Beth with interest again, "Well, I just moved back with my kids, my wife passed early this year, I thought coming back home was a good change… Your kids are about the same age, right? Maybe we could… arrange a playdate or something?"

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your wife. I'm sure my kids will love to make new friends. This is my youngest, Emma." Beth introduced her as she made her way to them.

"Are you a ballet dancer?" Tom asked, noticing Emma's tutu under the winter jacket, "My daughter, Tilly, has been begging me to join a class, she's just a bit older than you. I think you will make great friends."

Bella arrived with the tennis ball in her mouth, only for the small dog to start barking at her. Bella mostly ignored the annoying dog, calm as a cucumber, but the small dog was going nuts and Tom had to excuse himself with the promise of seeing Beth again and also her phone number.

Beth eyed Emma, making sure she was at a safe distance before turning towards Rio and raise her hands to the air, "I cannot believe you!"

"Highschool crush or ex-boyfriend?" Rio asked in return.

Beth crossed her arms under her breasts, "Both."

His gaze dropped to her boobs, the half-lipped smile made her legs wobble. "Boy, he certainly has more taste in women than dogs."

Beth rolled her eyes, "Why, thank you."

Rio placed his hands over her hips, bringing her so close into his body that Beth had doubts even air was able to circulate between them, his deep voice lowered to what should be considered forbidden-by-law levels, "You gonna invite me for a playdate too?"

Beth squinted her eyes, unsure if he was trying to annoy her, insult her or… "Why? Are you jealous?" She smiled at his scoff... he was jealous. "My playdates are exclusively for children."

Rio's eyes flickered with amusement, "Oh... but I could play all day with you, momma."

Beth swallowed the hard lump in her throat, "I think we had enough playtime for today."

Rio licked his lips, sucking his teeth in the process, "A'ight, minx... We done for today but far from over."

From this close and with the winter sun shining on them, Beth could see the deep dark streaks that rimmed his pupils and mixed with the rich chocolate brown of his iris. His eyes matched his soul.

His darkness was as soft and inviting as sable, and shone like an eagle's wing. Rio might be pitch black on the inside but on the right angle, he exuded a warm light to the outside.

She guessed her eye colour matched her soul too. Rot covered edges with an icy blue interior. She was being consumed from the outside in, bleak and putrid.

"I have this feeling that you and I will never be over." She said cryptically morose.

Rio chose to ignore her sour tone and tease her further, "That's the smartest thing you said all day, sweetheart."

Beth giggled despite herself. He kissed her palm and slowly let go of her, his eyes burned holes in her soul, "And then you laugh like that and expect me to leave a sane man?"

Beth had no idea what to say, so she called for Emma who had returned to playing on the grass with Bella, and right quick... before she dropped her panties and asked him to fuck her as sweetly as he talked. God, she was a nutcase.

Rio gave her a knowing smug smile, say what he may, he took great pleasure in disturbing her.

On the way home, she couldn't help but feel like she'd dodged the bullet on more time, but playing Russian roulette was a death sentence, sooner or later.

---

"Open up." The knock on the van's window was nothing but a surprise for both Beth and Annie. Ruby made her way into the back seat casually, shivering from the cold outside while they smiled at her, "What?"

"We just didn't think you'd show." Said Annie.

"Please." Ruby shrugged off her concern, "I'm stuck with you guys."

"Good. 'Cause we need you." Beth filled in.

"Where the hell would I go anyway?" Ruby added morosely.

"I don't know, the diner would probably take you back." Annie said, eyes on the outside trying to spot Mary Pat.

"Ugh. There's no going back." Ruby said firmly, "Ever tell you guys about the sauce? I don't think I've even told Stan." That got the girls attention, "You gotta swear…"

"Promise." Beth said solemnly.

"Ride or die." Annie said with her pinky out, Ruby took it with hers and the deal was sealed.

Beth and Annie listened in horror to Ruby's suffering as a conductor for the Philharmonic of Cheap-ass Tony and his special sauce symphony.

Ruby shuddered as the end neared, "One day, a customer comes up to Tony, opens up his sub, and in the middle of those peppers and onions is my Band-Aid." Annie teary eyes surprised her, "Bih! Are you crying?"

"It's just so gross, I…" Annie's voice vanished into a whisper, "I can't."

"You never have to go back there, okay?" Beth reassured her.

Annie groaned in agreement, "We got you. And, hey... You know you're our blood." She added as an apology from her outburst at Mary Pat's door the other night.

Beth exchanged her own apologetic eye contact with Ruby, "You know that, right?"

Ruby nodded, "I love you guys. How was your 'date' by the way?"

Beth's eyebrows shot up to her hairline, "And how the hell do you know about my date?"

"Your sister, who else. She didn't stop texting about it. So... how was it?" Ruby pressed.

Beth gave Annie the look, "Fine."

Annie scoffed, "Well, good luck in trying to get details, she been more tight-lipped about it than our aunt Georgina's kisses."

Ruby frowned in disgust, "Ew!"

Beth rolled her eyes at the two, she was still trying to process the events of yesterday, she was most definitely not ready to talk about any of it.

"I sure hope you didn't spread those pretty white legs!" Ruby stuck in casually.

"Dude! Oh my God... quit the twat swat already!" Annie turned to Ruby in anger, "Rio exhibits every sign of a vagenius, not to mention... she already gave him the pussy once! Her marriage is more than over! What's there to fiddle-faddle about?"

"You guys... I'm right here." Beth reminded calmly.

Ruby shot Annie with a thousand deadly daggers, "And you do not know your sister?! She's a fucking emotional sponge! When she falls… it's hook, line and sinker. She is in love, and he's fucking playing her, that's what!"

Beth squeezed the bridge of her nose and sighed. Fuck her life.

"No, no, no, no…" Annie chanted, "You beat the rug, dust the cave, unclog the pipes... no one is talking about love… you just fuck him… Right, Beth?"

Ruby scoffed, "I know he isn't… No one ditches men like him, like she kinda did. What could he possibly want from her besides a little revenge for her defiance? But tell that to your love-stricken sister!"

"Jesus Beth, is that true?" Annie looked at her like she had grown another head all of a sudden, "You are in love with him?"

"We have bigger concerns right now. Mary Pat on two." Beth nodded towards the outside.

They got out of the car and helped Mary pat with the shopping bags and buckling up her children.

"Thank you. So much. Wow. Thank you so much for the help. I really appreciate it." Said Mary Pat.

Beth handed her a kraft paper bag, "$10,000."

"Yeah, that too." She giggled counting the money.

Annie rolled her eyes, "It's all there."

"So we're good now, right?" Asked Ruby.

"Yeah... Yeah, we're good... Till next month."

The girls' faces dropped. Annie was the first to express her shock, "Excuse me?"

"Whoa, I thought this was a one-time deal." Beth said outraged.

"Yeah, I... I mean, I thought I was a secret shopper." Mary Pat said with contempt, "Bye."

The women just stood there too flabbergasted to move while Mary Pat drove away.

/******/

After finally falling asleep at the wee hours of dawn, Beth woke up with the sound of dog whines and loud chewing. Still confused from sleep, she shot up from Bed with a yawn, sliding into her silk robe and fluffy slippers. Rubbing her tired baggy eyes she followed the sounds into the kitchen.

She immediately noticed something was off, the kitchen drawers and cabinets were open, and the noises were Buddy slurping at the dog food spilled all over the floor.

The money. Her heartbeat sped to an intense hammering as she searched empty containers and her hiding spots, only to find it gone. It was all gone.

Her first instinct was to run to Danny's room... Dean. She almost tripped on her feet as she saw him in the makeshift gym room. Panicked, she didn't even think, she just blasted her lasers, straight into accusation.

"The money, Dean, where is it?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked confused.

"The cash that was all over the kitchen, it's gone, it's all gone. Did you take it?"

"No!" He finally removed his headphones, "Are you seriously accusing me right now?"

"You don't have the best track record with money, Dean." Beth stuck in.

"I didn't touch your stupid money!" He screamed at her, eyes flashing with a streak of anger.

Beth's brain immediately recognized danger, she took a step back. Dean sighed, "I didn't take the money." He reaffirmed calmly.

"Okay, who took it?" She asked still doubting him.

"I don't know. Who knows about it? Jeez, man."

Beth quickly did the math, the girls would never touch it, the only other person who knew... Rio. She turned on her heels like the Devil itself was poking her ass with his pitchfork, leaving Dean back to his stupid exercising. How the hell he had energy for that with all the treatment side effect beyond her comprehension.

/***********/

When she arrived at the coffee shop, he was already there in his usual all-black statement and golden chain, looking way more delicious than the plate of food placed in front of him. Her hammering heart slowed, but only marginally, as he immediately confirmed to be the culprit.

"Why did you take my money?" She asked outraged, still awaiting an explanation.

"Mm-mm." He shook his head while he chewed, "My money. Mine. We're gonna be shutting things down for a while."

"What does that even mean?" She asked baffled.

"I ran into a little stitch. When I feel heat, I don't mess around." He said, forking another mouthful and lifting it towards her, "My bad. Do you want some?"

"No…" Beth frowned, "What kind of stitch? The FBI kind or the gang kind?"

Rio ignored her question blatantly, "You sure you don't want to try it? They put the hash brown on the inside of this thing…"

Beth interrupted him, confused how he seemed so unconcerned, "I don't understand."

"Me neither, like... it's still so crispy." He said in high spirits.

"No," He brought the fork into her half hanging mouth and Beth had no other option but take it. He smiled with pleasure while she chewed, his eyes heating up with unmistakable desire as she swallowed, "I'm talking about the shutdown."

"Good, ain't it?" He asked as Beth stared at him with annoyance, gracing her with one of his smug half-smiles, completely aware he was pushing her buttons, "Mm. Yeah, you closed for business."

Beth couldn't afford a closedown, not with that leech, Mary Pat, sucking her money. Hell not even without her, she had plans for that money, "But you took all of it."

Rio shrugged unconcerned, "So?"

"So part of that was our cut!" She tried to keep calm, but she was being totally screwed over, "We worked our asses off for that money!"

"What do you want me to say? It's a company-wide shutdown. And if I got closing costs, everybody feels the pain." Rio explained.

Livid, Beth finally lost it and raged at him, "You can't just mess with people's lives like that!"

"You want to know what I can't do?" Rio eyed her as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the red zone. Beth sat straight as an arrow in her chair, the good-natured joking from before nothing but a mask that he'd let go off. "I can't do five to fifteen in FCI Milan 'cause some bitches need their pocket money."

He shot up from his chair, reached into his pocket and dropped a few bills over the table, Beth quickly snatched his wrist before he could leave, "How long?"

His eyes focused on her hand, "Excuse me?"

"How long are we shutdown?" She repeated.

"Till further notice." He grabbed her fingers with his free hand and leaned over the table.

She saw how his jaws ticked, the small scar that caused one of his eyebrows to be so unruly called to her, the urge to run her finger over it and fix it almost uncontrollable.

"We won't be seeing each other, I'm going off grid for a while…" He leaned even closer and his scent took over her personal space. Beth thought he was going to kiss her but his lips barely touched the corner of her mouth, the effect was even more devastating.

"Elizabeth…" He paused for a second, just holding her cheek in his rough, gunpowder fragranced palm, then let his thumb ran over the expanse of her lower lip, "Take care, sweetheart."

He tapped shoulder, barely a caress, and he was gone. Leaving her empty-handed in more ways than one. Pretty much penniless with a Mary Pat sized gap to fill, and very, very needy… the problem was her desire was no longer unwanted, just unfulfilled.

/**********/

Beth gathered the girls and dropped the news. Mary Pat was paid for the month, so at least they had some time, with luck they would be up and running by then. Left with no other option they decided to go "legit" for the time being. The secret shoppers were briefed on the revamping of the program, and they return to barely scraping by.

Ruby got herself a job at a donut parlour - teenage boss included - and instead of ketchup stains in her uniform she brought home donut grease, the frustration was still the same.

Annie had to swallow her pride and take Bummer's scorn while she begged for more shifts. More than having to pee into a cup at work, the supervised visits to her daughter at Gregg's were a hard lump to swallow, especially when Nancy was around, flaunting her esthetician scrubs and making sure Annie saw how lovey-dovey she and Gregg were.

For Beth, it was like someone had turned her Stepford system on, except this time it didn't fit like a glove. The old life disgusted her, the other moms annoyed her, the playdates were insufferable, the odious scrapbooking projects returned, part of her daily schedule.

Beth fought against her urges to just numb everything boldly. Withdrawal, was the worst thing she had to go through, and cold turkey-ing it was probably a terrible idea… the first days were pure hell, it felt like a massive bedridding flu, she ached, she shivered and itched. Practically "sleeping" on her bathtub for two days, unable to be more than two steps away from the toilet without puking or shiting herself, sometimes both at the same time. It was horrible and disgusting, but she did it... she never took another pill ever since.

Although she'd tried to flush the remaining of the pills down the toilet, the tub still sat on the back of her drawer... like that favourite comforter you had as a child. You knew you had outgrown it but you weren't able to let go of it, so you kept it tucked away, knowing it was there if you needed, that if you wanted you could still run your hand over its softness. It gave her a twisted peace of mind.

There were other things that she wasn't able to get rid off either, like her need for Rio.

She filled her days with nonsense in hopes to quench it, she was doing everything to try and keep him out of her mind, but it wasn't easy when your own daughter carried a photocopy of his smile or arched her unruly eyebrows just like he did.

The worst was at night when she was alone in bed, and he'd sneakily infiltrate into her dreams. Just the other night she'd woken up with his name on her lips and a mini-orgasm ripping through her sleep, only to see herself forced to seek her own release for the first time in years. It wasn't all bad, re-discovering her self-pleasure had made her realize she was on the right path to recovering her sexuality.

On the other hand, Dean was being so nice and attentive that she was starting to wonder if he really was trying to change, it left her feeling even more guilty about her lecherous thoughts.

/*********/

One month later, reunited in Beth's kitchen over coffee, they combined their efforts, which had amounted to nineteen hundred out of the ten grand needed.

Beth sighed, "Ugh... Is that it?"

"It's all I can spare right now." Ruby said.

"Same." Annie added.

"I can try and squeeze a tiny bit more out of Dean. I'm getting an allowance again." Ruby looked at her in surprise, "Don't look at me like that, he offered it and I took it."

"Hey, I am not throwing stones." She quickly riposted, "Last night, I got donut fat in my eye."

"I found a dead cat in a produce truck," Annie said cheerfully, "...not that it's a competition."

Ruby closed the envelope addressed to Mary Pat, "Well, it's not ten grand, but it's still a payday in my book."

"I mean, do you think she'll take it?" Annie asked with doubt.

"She'll take it and she'll like it." Ruby said, "Screw this bitch! I am so tired of this trick! We are shut the hell down. What does she want? Blood?"

It turned out Mary Pat did have a taste for blood. Beth and Annie heard Ruby's tale on how she'd been cornered at Sara's soccer game, Mary Pat threatening to tell stan about their ordeal.

"And if she tells him, he's not gonna look the other way. He's not Dean."

"No, he's a good person." Annie stated, only to get a murderous side look from Beth. Well, it was true… She hated what he had done to Beth. She hated the fact that a woman like her sister, so beautiful, intelligent and cunning had ended up a housewife for a man like Dean. Not that Annie herself could talk highly of her life choices, but Beth's philosophical and sophisticated tastes did not compute - at all - with her terrible taste in men, especially husbands.

"He's a cop, you guys! He'll leave me so fast he'll leave tread marks." Ruby assured.

"Then we've got to get her money." Beth declared.

"How? I'm working seven days a week, doubles and graveyards, and I still can't afford all the multiple genres of lawyers."

"You don't have to tell me!" Ruby screeched.

"I hate to say it…" Beth shrugged, "What else are we gonna do?"

Annie scoffed, "Wow! I'm just surprised that you want to rob something again."

"I don't want to."

Ruby barged, "But you don't not want to."

"I want to stay ahead of a bad situation, and I'm not just talking about the Mary Pat thing." Beth explained.

"Every cent I saved went towards those damn hospital bills."

"Exactly," Beth continued, "And my mortgage is paid now, but what about next month?"

"So what are we talking about here?" Ruby asked, already brought by Beth's pitch.

Beth was secretly happy for finally getting some action, she had already thought about it, extensively, "I was thinking something kind of low-stress, like a 7/11."

Ruby quickly agreed, "I can get behind that."

"Except for the one on Lynwood, because I got him to sponsor the school."

"Good for you."

"Well, I'm out." Annie said, uncharacteristically the spoilsport.

Beth had to smile, "You're out?"

"It's just not a good time for me to get back into crime."

"Well, can we sync up iCals so I know when is?" Ruby said sarcastically.

"I'm facing a felony drug charge! I gotta keep a low profile."

Ruby scowled at her, "Well, you bitches didn't ask me if I wanted to kidnap a dude!"

Beth tilted her head in agreement, "That's true."

"It's different." Annie muttered under her breath.

Ruby fingers tapped the butcher block, stating her point, "Well, now it's my turn, and I ain't asking."

Beth and Annie exchanged a look, while Ruby read a text from the school principal, Sara was in some kind of trouble, they agreed to reunite the next day and discuss details.

Much later that night Beth shuffled through the mail, gawking at the amount of bills she had to pay and the barely on the black bank account statement.

Tired, she squeezed the bridge of her nose. The knock on the backyard door made her heart race, her first thought was on Rio. She practically jumped from the stool, dragging a hand through her hair before she opened the door, the disappointment was immediate. Annie stood in the door frame.

"Do you know what time it is?" Beth asked her.

Annie smiled and scooted through her, "It's showtime, baby! Hey, have you ever heard of hair oils? Is that like a thing people say?" She added straddling the breakfast stool while Beth closed the door, "I mean, it's definitely not, right?"

Beth frowned, waving her hands all over her sister, "What is going on?"

Annie smiled like the lil' devil she was, "We're not robbing no 7/11! We gonna hit Nancy's spa!"

Ruby joined them early in the morning, Beth and Annie had spent all night planning the robbery. It was the perfect target, Annie had set Nancy as a chaperone to Sadie's field trip, no one would be there to recognize them. Three locations with the same exact layout and no cameras, although there was no 'real' money, the loot was flush.

It was a redistribution of wealth, like Beth had thrown so thoughtfully, insurance would cover it, and in Annie's mind Nance, had it coming.

Come Saturday, the simultaneous hit ran smoothly. Even tho, Annie, showed up late at the exchange location. They set the botox filled bags in her trunk and waited for Annie's contact, the deal already pre-arranged. A deal that never happened because Annie had fucked up, again.

"What are we gonna do? We still owe that bitch eight g's." Ruby said once they made themselves comfortable in Beth's living room.

Beth eyed the botox vials over her coffee table, "I wonder how much we can get for it."

"30, maybe 40 grand." Said Annie.

"We got nothing, 'cause we can't unload it!" Ruby stated the obvious problem.

"So we hit a snag!"

"Don't worry, done deal, piece of cake." Ruby rolled her eyes with contempt, "What am I leaving out?"

"Easy peasy." Offered Beth.

"I would never say easy peasy!" Annie said in her defence, "So sue me, I didn't know it would come down to drug dealer semantics."

"There is a difference between injectables and injecting heroin." Beth nagged her.

"Well, this is how we learn."

"I can't believe you made us do this for nothing." Ruby stuck in, sore.

"Oh, I made you?" Annie raised her eyebrows with outrage, "That's rich coming from you, Ms. I ain't askin'." Then she turned on Beth, "And you, with your judgey face that I can feel from here, I cannot! 'Cause we all know that this month has been killing you."

"It has not." Beth stated meekly.

Annie scoffed, "Oh! You've been crawling out of your skin like a frog in a slow boil, baby."

Beth turned to Ruby for help, only to be snubbed, "She's not wrong."

"Oh, great. You too? Pile it on."

"Oh, it's all so banal, the PTA, the playdates, the yoga! Each day, the flame grows a little hotter."

Ruby hit her chest with a closed fist, "She's been missing that hood life!"

Annie tsked,"Right? Peace."

"Whoa, whoa, wait, you're just gonna leave us here with this?" Beth muttered as Annie got up.

"You know what? I did my part. You handle this." Annie stopped on her way out, "After all... it ain't exactly the hood life but Rio you've been missing."

Beth rolled her eyes, but Ruby was already halfway up too, "Wait, wait, wait, you're leaving too?"

"I gotta haul Sara's fast ass down to the station - and scare her straight." Ruby said.

"Why?"

"'Cause that little heifer has been slinging stolen fidget spinners on the playground."

"Sara?" Beth asked with disbelief. Sara was most well behaved, head straight kid Beth ever knew.

Ruby shrugged morosely, "Like mother, like daughter, I guess."

"Hey, you know that's not the reason why." Beth said sympathetically.

"Yeah, right. Love you." Ruby lingered by the door, "Beth… be wise, okay?"

Beth nodded, "Love you."

Once she was alone, she picked her phone and texted Rio.

'Need to see you, ASAP.'

The first contact, in four weeks. She wasn't sure if he was going to answer, so when her phone buzzed not even half a minute later, she read it with a mixture of relief and ecstasy.

'30 minutes the cafe'

Beth stashed the vials in the garage and made her way to the van, she'd barely open the door when Dean's sedan made the corner. She waited until he parked in front of the house, Emma on the back seat.

"What happened? Isn't she supposed to be at the ballet class?" Beth questioned him as soon as he got out.

"It got cancelled."

"I have a... thing." Beth informed.

Dean frowned at her, "Well, I have chemo so."

"Right." Beth said, "Sorry, I forgot. I suppose I can take her with me. C'mon sweetie get in the van, mommy doesn't want to be late."

Dean seized her arm, "Are you meeting with him? I don't want him near Emma."

Beth tried to pull her arm free, but he didn't let go, "He won't harm her."

"And how would you know?" Dean leaned closer, "I agreed to this shit 'cause we needed the money, but I didn't agree on you opening your mouth about Emma!"

Beth held his livid gaze, "He has the right to know, Dean."

The hold on her arm until then firm but unharming, became a death grip, "Don't you forget for a second that she is my daughter, Beth. Not his… Mine."

He finally let go of her arm, but not before planting a quick, disgusting kiss on her mouth. Beth could already feel the bruise forming, so much for a changed man. God, she was an idiot. Dean gave a last warning look and turned to Emma, "See you later, munchkin."

/********/

When Elizabeth entered through the cafe door, it was like a ray of light burst in the room. When she spotted and graced him with that snaggletooth smile of hers, it was like a very own piece of the sky had fallen on earth, the room too bright, too warm, too beautiful.

Keeping himself from seeing her was the hardest thing he'd done in a while, so when he got her text earlier he'd jumped into the opportunity without thinking twice, he was damn glad he did.

He'd miss her way too much and she was looking too damn gorgeous in that curve-hugging dress. The navy colour made her beautifully pale skin come to life, her hair taking on that red tone more than usual, her cheeks bright and peachy, pink plump lips begging to be kissed. But those man killer, electric blue eyes were something else.

He would never understand how women were able to walk in those torture devices called high heels, but he was fascinated by her elegant catwalking in those stilettos, captivated with the swing of her wide hips. It was more than enough to leave him hard as rock, but the small amount of displayed cleavage was enough to make any man insane.

He was sure she must have been kissed by Aphrodite herself at the time of her birth, bestowing her with all her goddess gifts. He had never seen a more sensual creature in his entire life, and Rio had had his share in hedonism.

Then there was a whole 'nother face to her, the embedded innocence. A pureness that not even her gloomy nature was able to erase. It made his heart sing.

His heart also sung for the little girl by her hand, she was the kid he always dreamed of having. And when her tiny arms rounded his neck, and her giggle reverberated near his chest, it felt like she really was.

After smooching his face in her usual fashion, and make herself comfortable over his knees, Emma patronized him with a mean look, "You didn't visit me, I've missed you. Mommy said you were very busy with work, but my daddy is always busy and he still kisses me goodnight, every night."

He had expected Dean to be long gone by now, trying to control the bout of anger, Rio gazed over Beth, searching for an explanation but she was avoiding his eyes. She was sitting as elegantly as she had walked in, her shapely legs tastefully exposed until the knee, her ankles were as delicate as her wrists. "Well, momma was right, conejito. I'm sorry I didn't go to visit, but I left you Pedro, I hope he has been doing a good job."

"Oh, yes. Pedro is Carl's best friend, my other bunny. They have been hunting all the monsters. Kenny helps sometimes, he's not scared anymore 'cause he is almost an adult now," Her eyes shone with solemn admiration, "He's eleven."

Rio chuckled and Beth couldn't hold her smile either, "Sweetie, why don't you go and pick up an ice-cream flavour, mommy has to talk with Rio, okay?"

"Two scoops?" She asked hopefully.

Beth agreed and she jumped in pleasure, making her way to the ice cream vitrine, Beth nodded in confirmation to the awaiting barista lifting two fingers, only then she turned her attention to him.

Rio licked his lips, "So, what was so urgent, sweetheart?"

"I want you to think of this as an opportunity to grow during the downtime." Beth dug into her purse and placed a small vial on the table, sliding it in his direction, "A chance to really flip your game, in a way that, if it's not completely legal... it is totally FDA-approved."
Rio propped his chin in the palm of his hand, trying to contain a smile, "Mm-hmm."

Oblivious she kept throwing him her pitch, "This is essentially liquid money. I mean, it's literally liquid, but…"

Rio shook the Botox vial in his hand, "It's garbage. This stuff's poison."

"Not any more so than the substances your guys deal." Beth retorted.

"Who would I even sell it to?"

"Don't you know someone?"

"That rolls with a bunch of middle-aged ladies?" Rio chuckled, "Nah, man, not so much."

Emma made the way back to the table with her ice-cream and Beth instructed her to sit on the table next to theirs. They stood in silence for a second while Beth shifted in her seat with a frown, looking upset. Rio slanted his eyes, there was more to this than she was telling him, "How's your rotten egg?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said sharply.

"You said you handled it." Rio insisted.

"I did." She reassured him.

Rio didn't believe her for a minute. He tilted his head to the side and sneered at her, "Then why you trying to play me with this side-hustle stuff? I told you, we're shut down."

"And I told you I have expenses. I have four children, a mortgage. I can't just shut down." Her voice raised as she quick-fired at him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Rio clenched his jaws, knowing, "She got you on the hook, now, right?"

It obviously hit on the spot, she outbursted at him, pronto. "I said I'm handling it!"

Even Emma, who was previously totally engrossed in her ice-cream looked at them surprised. Beth sighed heavily.

"Okay." Rio muttered while regarding her pensively, "You think you're a boss, now, huh? Your lily ass does two jobs and all of the sudden, you think you run the whole game?" That got her attention, she jutted her chin at him in defiance, her blue gaze hardening like steel, "Let me tell you something, you ain't no boss. And on the real, you ain't gonna be nothing till you get your house in order."

Her hand rested over the table, the urge to touch her irresistible, he covered it with his, caressing the sensitive skin of the side with his thumb, back and forward, while he softly stated what she already knew, "And you best not put that stuff in your face. You don't need it."

"Mommy!?" Emma's call broke the heavy tension brewing between them, she'd accidentally dropped the ice-cream bowl all over her lap. The chocolate covered mouth pouted and her pretty blue eyes welled with tears. Beth quickly went to her aid, reassuring she could have another scoop while she reached for the napkins only to find the holder empty, Rio found that the one on their table was empty too. Beth decided to play it safe and carried Emma to the restroom, it was too much of a mess for napkins anyways.

While Rio waited for them to come back an old lady approached him, "You have a beautiful family."

Rio frowned in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"Your daughter is just the most beautiful girl." The lady said, "One would think that she's all mother, but when you look closer you see she looks just like you." Rio forgot how to breathe, it was like someone had kneed his guts, "And most definitely she has your smile, my boy." The woman's tap over his shoulder appeared to be in slow-motion, "Congratulations, truly beautiful family. You two should have more kids, you make the cutest babies!"

Rio just stood there unable to move, less say anything as the old lady walked away with a chuckle. His gut was twisted in a painful knot. His hands sweating as he tried to assimilate what the old woman said. His first thought was just that she was crazy, it couldn't be… but it wasn't impossible.

He didn't even know the kid's age, but she couldn't be more than six, and the night he spent with Elizabeth... it was all raw, skin on skin.

Rio ran a shaky hand through his face, spreading it over his crisp hair in desperation. It would explain all these feelings he harboured for that child. It also possibly explained some of Beth's weird behaviours, the secret she was so reluctant to let go off.

Rio had no idea how long it passed, how long he just stood there breathing through his mouth, wrapped in waves of maybes, ifs and why's. It was the why's that were killing him. Why didn't Beth told him? Why hiding it for so long? Unless she wasn't his daughter?

His brain was muddled with all the possibilities, he was so in a zone, that he didn't even notice they were back until Emma's chubby little fingers covered his and she squeezed her way onto his lap, "Mommy said we have to go after I finish my ice cream." Rio glanced over Beth's figure ordering more ice-cream, his gut twisted even further and started to boil a bitter stew.

Rio gazed deeply into Emma's cute little face, it was almost like looking into a mirror, a very specific and area focused one, but still a mirror. Her eyebrows were shaped like his and as full and unruly. Her nose might be dainty like her mother's but the bridge was straight like his. Her half-smile indeed a copy of his own. With her next words, his heart soared in equal amounts of pain and pure adoration, "Please, don't take this long ever again, okay?"

With a constricted throat, he caressed her chubby cheek and gently tucked her long golden-brown hair to the side, exposing the back of her neck, "I think we'll be seeing each alot from this day on, mi conejito."

It was unnecessary, he was already sure, even before he spotted his family birthmark. Emma was his.

Rio didn't remember the last time he was this close to shedding a tear, probably never, but he wasn't about to start now. Instead, he aimed his raging pain to one target.

Elizabeth Boland.