"Legs wider, imbécil! Ain't you payin' attention to nothin' I say, boy?"
An icy finger trails down his spine like. The familiar voice an unwanted ghost from the past. And his legs move further apart on their own mind, the golden gun feels heavy as he aims, too large for such small hands.
"That's it! Now, keep your goddamn hands steady, boy! Elbows strong or the gun gon' hit ya in the face. You remember the golden rule?"
His stomach churns in anticipation as he looks over his shoulder, his father's face, almost identical to the one he sees in the mirror, stares back at him.
"Always go on two," He mouths softly.
His father drinks the rest of his beer, squashing the can and throwing it to the pile on the grass, then takes a hit from the joint smiling approvingly, "Asi es, mijo. Get ready,"
Rio aims at the empty glass bottle, following the instructions as his father said.
"Five,"
He always tries to do what papá says, he doesn't like when papá gets angry.
"Four,"
Sometimes he hits him.
"Three,"
Mostly he hits mamá when he's mad. His hands start to shake under the unfamiliar weight of the gun. What if he missed the bottle?
"Two,"
He couldn't miss, papá would get angry, very angry if he missed.
"One."
Rio squeezes the trigger, surprised by how easy it was. The kickback thou, transforms his thin arms into jelly and he loses the grip, the gun flies backward and hits him the face. He falls on his ass, covering his eye socket with both hands, it hurts so much that he starts crying, fat tears trailing down his cheeks.
The sobbing converts into a yelp as his father grabs him by the neck. The closed fist hits his gut and the remains of his lunch come up, burning his throat.
"WHAT'S THE GOLDEN RULE?" He yells over him, picking up the gun from the grass.
Rio barfs dryly, this time had nothing to do with the punch, it was from pure fear.
"Are you fuckin' retarded? Or you just like to defy me, boy?" He growls low, the intense smell of alcohol and weed on his breath making Rio even sicker to his stomach.
Grabbing him by the neck again his father places the gun to his head, a crazed twinkle glazing over his dark orbs, a crooked smile twisting his lips.
Rio couldn't move, terrified as his father starts a countdown, "Five. Four. Three. Two…"
The click made by the empty gun comes out muffled under Rio's scream and his father laughs, "Always go on two, boy. Always."
His inflamed eyes shot open, the scream still clawing up his raw throat. Breathing seemed impossible. Disoriented and confused by the old memory, it takes him a few seconds to re-order his thoughts... What the? Something was burning. He was.
Filled with pain, he looks down to see his own leg ablaze.
He manages to crawl away from the fire, tapping the pants fabric with his bare hand to put down the flames. Dizzy and weak, he leans against the stone wall, the heat so intense that it seems to scorch his skin. Every hard labored breath was like inhaling fire itself down his lungs.
A coughing fit makes him throw up, most of it was black, thick slimy soot. Jesus, how long was he out? David Ortega's lifeless body laid just a few feet away, a thin line of blood trailing from the dark hole on his temple.
His father lessons still taunted him to this day. At least this one saved his life.
Groaning he tries to get up. His back was killing him, literally. The bullet had not come out clean, there was not much blood from what he could see, which could only mean internal bleeding, he wouldn't last long. That was if the fire didn't get to him first.
This is not how he imagined he would go.
Once he had said he would gladly burn to death for her. He didn't think he was ready for that just yet.
Refusing to believe that the pearls around his wrist were the closest he would ever be to her again, Rio musters everything he could to get back on his feet, another session of coughing almost has him back to his knees but he manages to hold on against the wall. Disoriented, he starts a slow pace, just hoping he was going in the right direction. It only took a few more steps for him to collapse, he was too weak.
Closing his eyes, he kicks himself mentally for not kissing her one more time… he thinks of her sweet laugh, the way it reached the dark corners of his soul, how it made everything better and all the pain washed away with the remnants of his conscience.
"Aguilar! C'mon… Wake up!"
The shouts seemed to come from miles away, muffled by the fog in his brain. An arm rounds his waist, grazing over his wound at the back, the shot of pain brings some sense into him and he starts walking instead of being dragged. He tries to breathe through his nose, but it wasn't any better, everything burned and he falls to his knees coughing violently. His heart was madly pounding like it wanted to come out of his tightened chest.
"C'mon, man! We're almost there," Agent Turner says between coughs, grunting he drags him, the massive double door almost invisible in the thick smoke.
Turner struggles with the door, pushing it with his shoulder as he drags Rio out, the flames almost too close.
They both drop on the floor, the door closes behind them, enclosing most of the heat inside. Turner coughs and gasps for fresh air as Rio does the same.
"How-did-you-find-me?" Rio asks between labored breaths as sirens howl in the distance.
"You were two steps away from the door, I didn't find you, I stumbled on you," Turner says.
"Beth... " He says with resignation, she had done it again. Afraid he didn't have the time to hold the grudge or even process the pain of betrayal.
"Just save your breath, you going to have all the time for answers when they fix you up,"
Grimacing in pain Rio grabs at his chest, "You cops... are always too late…"
"You know how many churches there are in this city? You're lucky I even got here!"
Rio half chuckles half gags for air, black spots nearing into his vision, he had to make sure... before he could let go, "There's a vault inside… keep Beth out of it… keep her name clean…" He slowly lifts his arm showing Turner the pearls around his wrist, "Make sure she gets... them back."
Horrifying short gasps leave his chest before he goes still. Silent.
"Shit!" Turner reaches for him taking his pulse, there was none. He quickly starts performing CPR as firetrucks line to a stop at the front.
Beth wakes up with Annie curled up against her, feeling sick, she makes a quick run for the toilet. She doesn't miss this part of pregnancy, at all. When she emptied everything that was to empty she runs the shower and gets in.
Shower thoughts never worked for her, maybe she just never had the time to dwell on problems under the hot water but today she made it work… she needed to talk to Rio and set things right, mostly she had to tell him about Turner before it bit her in the ass, although the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach tells another story… he wouldn't take another betrayal, and again she had her motives, he just wouldn't see it like that. But she was ready to fight with all her weapons. Hugging her belly with both hands a soft smile spreads over her lips, the twins would sure soften him a little bit or so she hoped. She was done dwelling, she would make him understand, she would apologize for being such a bitch and tell him what she should have said from the beginning... to bury David Ortega six feet under and come back home, where he belonged.
Set on her way she turns the shower off and grabs the bathrobe, drying her hair with a towel she walks to the bedroom, Annie was up and by the faint smell of burnt oatmeal, ruining her kitchen.
"Annie! You left the stove on for christ sake!" She shouts, removing the pot from the flame.
Annie shows up on the door frame holding Beth's phone.
"What is it?" Beth asks.
"I-I… It's," Annie stumers.
"What?" Beth asks with uncertainty.
"Your phone… had like fifty-seven lost calls, I-I picked up, It's Rio. He..." Annie mouths barely audible, pale as a ghost.
An icy finger travels down her spine. She drops the pot. Shaking she shrieks a howl of agony into her hands. God! Please no, no, please, no, no!
She hadn't realized she was on her knees, or that she was shouting the words until Annie wraps her arms around her.
"Shhh! Beth! Listen to me… he is alive, Okay? You need to calm down!" Annie shouts over her screams. "The babies, Beth! Calm down… C'mon breathe with me, deep breaths, that's it,"
Beth nods as she takes deep breaths with Annie, her blue gaze glued to her sister's light brown like an anchor.
"He is in hospital, he is alive and I'm going to drive you there as soon as you calm down, Okay?"
"Okay," Beth mutters still in tears, "I'm calm." She says between deep breaths. "Take me to him."
Annie frowns in worry, perfectly aware that her sister was barely holding herself together, she didn't want to think what would happen if… this wasn't the time for ifs, she quickly changes her line of thought.
"Alright, let's get you in some clothes," Annie says helping her from the floor and guiding her back to the bedroom.
Annie is behind the wheel, stealing worried side glances to her beyond pale and silent sister, they are midway to the hospital when Beth finally mutters another word.
"What happen?" She asks, her eyes fixed on the road.
"I'm not sure. Stella didn't say much…" Annie sighs. She couldn't lie, never could, not like Beth. "Beth, you need to keep yourself together, you need to think about the babies… it's bad."
"How bad?" She asks swallowing hard.
There are a few seconds of silence and Beth finally looks at her, repeating the question to which she already knew the answer. "Annie, how bad?"
"They don't think he's going to make it."
"She hasn't been doing great since Monty's..." Annie trails off softly, stealing a glance to her sister sitting quietly at the back of the waiting room, rolling the goddamn pearls in her hand. It was the same picture every day for the past weeks since Agent Turner gave her the pearls and it was fucking aggravating. She had lost weight again, and the dark circles under her eyes told how much sleep she was getting. "I'm worried."
Stella scoffs in Carlos direction, "You're a fuckin' jackass, you know?"
He sighs, "I shouldn't have told you anythin',"
"What?" Annie asks looking at them confused.
Stella just shakes her head, "I'm going to get some coffee," She informs on her way up, strolling away fast paced.
"What the hell did you do?" Annie presses with concern.
Carlos sighs again, "I might have said some nasty shit to your sister… the night I called you,"
"Why would you do that? She is pregnant! High-risk pregnant!" Annie says almost too loud, glancing at Beth again in worry but she didn't seem to be paying attention to them.
Carlos just shrugs, "I was pissed and she pissed me further,"
Annie rolls her eyes, giving him a little push, "That was like... three weeks ago! Go fix it!", she said exasperatedly. His solid body doesn't even sway a tiny bit. His face does. Throwing her a scary impassive look before he finally goes sit next to Beth.
"You look like shit," He says once he got comfortable on the seat.
Beth snorts, "Well, I feel like shit."
He grabs his long beard, stroking his length a couple of times, broody. "I feel like I might have contributed to that…" He admits.
"No way!" She replies with sarcasm. "Don't worry, I'll be fine! The first trimester is always a rock-bottom low for me." Beth adds, turning to him amused, "But it was nice to finally learn that you can say more than a grunt and three words in a row."
He stares at her with that familiar mean strike, only this time the corners of his mouth quiver and a toothy grin flashes under his beard, followed by a laugh that Beth quickly joins. This was the closest to an apology they would get from each other.
"Is my nephew givin' you that much trouble?" He asks smiling.
Beth chuckles, digging in her purse for the photos from her latest ultrasound, "Nephews, plural."
Carlos scoffs amused looking at the photo, "Figures. Man, Rio's gonna be over the moon..." He trails off as the wave of sadness reaches him.
"He's gonna pull through," He says, circling an arm around her.
Beth leans on his shoulder, "I know."
She was sure he would, or she wanted to be. It was hard to keep thinking that when you didn't see improvement day after day when you knew how vital and strong he was, but there in that hospital bed he looked so far away from that. "You want to come in with me? Visiting hours just started." She asks shaking the bad line of thought away.
"Nah. You go first. I have to smooth things over with another lady."
"You're just a cuddly bear, aren't you? With fucking giant paws, but still." She says on her way up.
He smiles sly, "Just don't let anyone else know."
One would think that almost five weeks in an induced coma would be all the sleep you would need for a while. But staying awake for more than a couple of hours seemed to be asking too much of his beaten body, so he catnapped most of the time. The first days after he woke up were horrible. The smoke had messed him up pretty good. More than the bullet to his kidney. He was lucky to be alive. Extremely lucky.
Still left him with enough time to muse about what he had to do. The one thing he got out of his encounter with David Ortega was a reality check. A reminder of what he really was and what he did to those who came close. He had a taste of something it wasn't meant for someone like him and he had poisoned it, ruined it.
The knock on the door takes him out of his thoughts. Beth pops her head inside, the copper strands never more bright under the dim lights. Rio's heart beat so fast that he worried it might jump out of his chest and start throbbing away on the bed. She looked radiant, her alabaster skin glowing with a soft pink over her cheeks. She never looked more beautiful.
"Hey," She murmurs softly, "It's good to see you finally breathing on your own," She adds sitting on the bed edge as he popped himself up.
He grabs her hand but avoids her lips as she leans in for a kiss. It felt like a weight just dropped on his chest.
"Elizabeth, we need to talk." He says seriously and without ceremony.
Beth frowns, the worried expression marking her perfect dollface. For a second he almost doubts himself. He quickly pushes the thought aside. He had been betrayed, once again. That's the thought he had to keep fresh in his mind.
Not the way she parted her lush red lips. The casual tuck of her soft hair behind the ear, all so unaware provocative. Or the way the top of her creamy mounds moved with each breath she took.
No. Nope. He was fuckin' tired of dancing to her tune. She was trouble for him and he would never be good enough for her. No variables. No grey areas. Those were the facts.
Besides, it wouldn't be much longer until the cops were on him now that he was on the path for a full recovery, the least he could do was spare her from all the shit storm that was to come.
"We do? I had something else in mind... snuggle in bed with you and steal what's left of your virtue," She trails off with a charming provocative smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
And just like that, she peels all his defenses away. He manages to stop the chuckle before it starts.
This was much harder than takin' a fuckin' bullet to the kidney.
"Elizabeth, we're over." He says, cutting straight to point because there was no other way he could do it.
She stares at him surprised, the pained look that masks her face has him regretting his words immediately. Then, fire starts spitting out her blue eyes and he was pretty sure he saw her hackles raising.
"After four weeks, the first change we got to talk and this is what you want to say? Just like that? We are over!? " She snaps at him.
"No. Not just like that, Elizabeth. You keep doing shit behind my back. You fuckin' hand me over to Turner! AGAIN!"
"You don't know what you're talking about! And I didn't exactly go behind your back… I-I swerved around your words." She adds slyly.
"You fuckin' kidding me? I don't know what I'm talkin' 'bout, huh? You think you can you can... charm me, and get away it everythin'? Even betrayal, huh? I'm so fuckin' done with this games you play, Elizabeth."
"It saved your goddamn life! So call it games if you want! I don't regret it!" She screams at him, turning around as tears start to fill her eyes.
"Fuck me! Don't do that. Don't cry..." He mutters exasperated. "It's was crazy to take this relation of ours further than it should. Don't you fuckin' see what we do to each other? "
She turns on her heels completely shocked, "What we do to each other? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"We bring the worst out of each other. It isn't just about you betraying me... we're toxic. We ain't are right together. Look at what I've done to you. The things you went through, the things you've done because of me. I've tainted you. I ain't good enough for you."
She scoffs exasperated, "Don't you dare to fucking patronize me! You didn't make rob a grocery store. And you certainly didn't taint me. I was always like this and you know it. You've seen first, even before I could understand it. And don't even start me on you not being good enough… After all this year we spent together, you still don't get that I love you. That gangbanger that was waiting for me in my kitchen. That wears his hoodie funny. The man that made me feel whole again. That one that always forgives me. That's the man I fell in love with, that's the man I want by side."
"I'm afraid you have me too high on the pedestal. I ain't no fuckin' saint to forgive you all the goddamn time, darlin'. This time your betrayal wasn't a consequence, it wasn't some misunderstanding. It was a fuckin' choice. One that you made after I clearly expressed my feelings against it."
"I'm not going to say I was right to go behind your back, but I'm not going to say that I'm sorry either. I did what I thought was best and it justified the end."
He scoffs with contempt, "How very Machiavelli of you."
Beth sighs, closing her eyes, a wave of tiredness creeping over her. "You love me." She says softly. It wasn't a question, still, she waits for some kind of confirmation from his part. The tight line of his lips pressed together after a grunt, seemed good enough. "Then you'll understand. You would have done exactly the same for me,"
There was some truth to her words and he felt is will weaken. There was so much he could read in her eyes. Resilience. Vulnerability. Love. Hope.
He was going down for David Ortega's murder, not even Gabriela would be able to do anything for him. There was no hope for him, for them.
So he throws a low blow.
"Sometimes even the best isn't good enough, and what we have… it's far from being the best."
She visibly winces, like he landed the blow full force. Buoyant as ever, she tries to bounce back, her lips part but he silences her with his thumb before she could do much else, ready to strike again.
"Let me finish… All my life I followed set rules. You managed to make me break all of them, Elizabeth. It scares me how easily you did it, it scares me I want you so bad, even when you betrayed me again and again… You are like a drug to me. And I'm so fuckin' addicted that I'll do anythin' for a hit of you. It makes me go crazy that I want to forgive you when I have all the reasons not to. Do you understand what that means to me? What does it do to me? It fuckin' sickens me."
Beth felt the childish urge to clamp her hands over her ears and start singing La-la-la-la-la, bloody murder.
Of all the things he said so far that was the one that almost breaks her. Her stomach drops and a knot forms in her throat. It wasn't their relationship that was toxic, she was. For him, she was like the drugs he swore off so long ago. She had no place in his life.
Tears start to well behind her eyes. As if flicked by a switch, the despair that had been nibbling at her for weeks took a bigger bite. She couldn't do this, she had to get out of there.
Instead, she does what she does best, she explodes.
"I'm so sorry I broke your perfect rules." She says with sarcasm, "You should have added one forbidding falling for a poisonous bitch like me."
"Elizabeth..."
The despotic way he says her name, almighty and prick like, in equal parts, infuriates her even further.
"Since when did you start to act like a… a... bitch ass pussy, anyways? What? You think you're the only one afraid of your feelings? I have been dreading this since I realized how much I love you! Since I realized there was no line I wouldn't dare to cross for you, for us! You think I made the deal with Turner for the fun of it? I knew damn well it could backfire. All I could think about was you dead and Goddammit if I would let anyone else die because of me when I had a chance do something about it…" She stops abruptly, "You know what? Fuck you and fuck your rules! And your condescending, righteous ass too!" She adds with all the resentment left inside her. Grabbing her things, she makes way to the door, the unshed tears blurring her vision.
"Deal? What deal? Elizabeth! Come back here." He orders, his voice thundering, powerful as a mighty storm and she has to force herself to keep walking. "Come. Back. Here." The low growled words have her shaking like a leaf in the wind, her hand poised over the door handle for a second of doubt.
"Not until you get your head out of your ass, Rio Aguilar." She adds fiercely, closing the door behind her with a loud bang and leaving Rio completely perplexed.
He groans, never more pissed about his bedridden state. Sweet Jesus, what had she done now? Besides labeling him a coward.
It wasn't until one week later that he finally learned about Agent Turner's deal. All that time she cold-shouldered him hard, ignoring his efforts to contact her and blatantly refusing to see him.
Oh, she might be pissed but so was his... what was the word? Ah! Yes… righteous ass.
Well, kinda. He was sore more than anything else, after all, she had left with the last word, and him feeling like a complete and utter ass and looking like a fuckin' pansy.
Talk about being sandbagged! He was a man that liked to have all the cards on the table, this situation was completely out of his control and he was literally loosin' his fuckin' mind with no idea of what kinda deal she had pulled with Turner.
The lack of law enforcement guarding his door had him scratching his head since he woke up and managed to put two thoughts together. Everyone was tight-lipped or had no idea what happened. Carlos had sworn he didn't do any cleanup. So if there was a body laying around, there was a crime. One that would be easily traced back to him. There was no way he could get a free pass for Ortega's murder. Somethin' shady was up and he suspected it had Beth written all over it.
The physiotherapist stretches his fuckin' arm again and he groans in pain. Perhaps sensing his bad mood, the casual chit-chat stopped long ago, every word was kept to the necessary instructions. The apologetic smile doesn't make it any better as he goes for another set of painful and strenuous stretches.
He was really a sadistic, twisted fuck. The more she hurt him the more he came back for.
He simply couldn't stay away from her. What kinda idiot falls for the same trap over and over again? 'Cept it didn't felt like a trap to fall back in her arms. It felt he was trapped right now and she was his escape.
Ironic, when she had this hold on him. Invisible strings that she didn't seem aware to be controlling, but she still played him like a fuckin' puppet.
God forbid, that he learned a lesson when it came to Elizabeth Fucking Marks!
The knock on the door throwing him out of his brooding over Beth. "Come in,"
Not surprised when Agent Turner steps in, he sends the therapist away.
"I was wonderin' when you would show up," Rio says once they are alone, his drawl drenched with sarcasm.
"So it's true, 'The Eagle' lost his wing?" Turner asks nodding to Rio's left arm.
Rio shrugs, just the movement enough to make him feel pain, he would never box again that was for sure. "Are you here to arrest me?" He adds straight to the point.
"No."
"No, huh? How's that?"
"I was keeping tabs on David Ortega, so when you two met at that church, it picked up my interest. There was a fight and he tried to kill you. I had no other option but to interfere, Ortega shot you, attacked me and I killed him in self-defense. Unfortunately, with all the smoke inhalation and the sequential coma, you don't recall any of the events from that night."
Staring at him from under his lashes, Rio gives him a cynical twist of the lips. "Is that so?"
Turner drops the fat file he was carrying under his arm on the bedside table, "That's your file. From the safe you tipped me about before you died on me."
Rio shrugged, "Doesn't ring a bell. I don't remember anything at all from that night,"
Turner chuckles, "Right. Elizabeth's name is clean. And so is yours. There nothing left besides that folder."
Rio frowns, "Why? Why are you doing this?"
"Because I believe there is sometimes a fine line between law enforcement and criminals. What drives them may be the same. They simply were given different opportunities to call their own."
Rio scoffs, "That's some bull, right there."
Turner continues, "When you're fourteen you went to a police station, that cop that sent you away without a care, without a second thought, was my father."
"So?" Rio asks unimpressed.
"Remember that line I talked about? You made a choice that saved your family. My father, he was violent too. I couldn't do it... he eventually killed my mother. I turned into a federal agent. You turned into a criminal. I can't help but wonder if we made different choices, which path had it taken us."
"I don't need your charity, less your pity," Rio says fiercely.
"It isn't pity or charity. I'm making amends. I'm giving you the break you should have gotten that day."
"So you are one of those sick fucks who likes playin' God, given the chance? Shame you can't give me time back, might have ended up on the other side of the line and all, huh? Why the fuck do you care, it wasn't you who fucked me over."
"I'm trying to do the right thing here. Poetic justice or whatever you want to call it."
"I see… And what would I owe you for this big break you're givin' me?" He asks with sarcasm.
"I'm paying you a debt, not the other way around. Besides, I've gotten plenty from that vault."
"I don't buy it. It isn't your debt to claim."
"I feel like it is. I hoped you would understand, more than anyone. But whatever, you take it or you don't."
Rio considers his words for a second, "And Beth? What she has to do with all this?"
"She did what she had to do." Turner says cryptically, "She does make you sound good, though."
The shift in the air is almost palpable as Rio stares at Turner alarmingly blank. The stupid conceived smile on Jimmy Turner's face making him ponder on all the possible things she could have done. The bastard had made a move on her before... If he had as much as proposed something like that to her, he was a dead man. Fuckin' DEAD. "What are you insinuatin'?" He drawls with a calmness he was very far from experiencing, taking a few steps to stand in front of Turner.
Turner takes a few steps back in return, "Good God! I would never… She handed me her ex-husband Doctor, the fake cancer one? We got a good haul, the practice was part of a chain, we got them all for medical malpractice and financial fraud."
When Rio doesn't make a move, Turner feels like he can breath again, "Jesus man, you can be one scary fucker." He adds extending his hand for Rio to shake. "Are we good here?"
Rio just stares at his hand, "I never had anythin' given to me for nothin'."
"You're wrong about that, you have a woman that has given you her love for nothing in return. You know, she refused my help unless I accepted something in return because she didn't want you to be owing me anything. That woman will do anything for you. She will stick by you no matter what you choose to do. And you know how this ends, I don't need to tell you. You will eventually get caught. You didn't have much to lose before, but what you have now, it's priceless. Choose wisely, Rio. I wouldn't like to see her dragged deeper into this lifestyle, she's a good woman."
Agent Turner heads out as Rio takes in his words. He couldn't argue on any of that, in fact, he was starting to think he had a lot apologizing to do, funny when he was the one walking around with an open wound from a stab in the back.
"Turner. Thank you." Rio says as he reaches the door, "For everything."
Turner nods, "Oh! I almost forgot… She asked me to hang this on your door handle. I have no idea why, but she said you would understand," He digs into his pocket, taking the pearl necklace into view.
Rio takes them. "Thanks."
"If you really want to thank me... I don't see your picture hanging on my wall again, Aguilar."
"Fair enough."
Once the door is closed, Rio studies the pearls in his hand. If he felt like an utter ass before, he didn't know how to feel right now. Goddamn him.
When guilt-tripping her for betraying him didn't work, he gave her another reason to hate his guts the only way he knew it would work. By hurting her. Striking her where he knew she was vulnerable, that big heart of hers. Regardless that he had forgiven her, even before she banged that door closed and walked away with the moral high ground.
Da' hell was he foolin'? He had forgiven her the moment he saw her when he woke up for the first time after the coma and saw her beautiful face hoverin' over him like an angel… even before that, laying on that concrete footpath while he felt his life drain away.
He really was a bitch ass pussy and she had somehow seen straight through his bullshit.
Being the unbeknown mastermind that she was, she rebounded yet again, bamboozling him into giving her an audience, forgiving her and somehow going legit in the process.
He chuckles amused. He should be outraged, except, one way or another, he had made all of those choices beforehand.
"Ah, Elizabeth. What I'ma do with you?"
The thing was, he knew exactly what to do with her. But he had no idea what to do if he didn't have her.
Having her sitting next to him, with her never-ending shapely legs crossed all so ladylike, sexy black heels on her feet, looking more than good enough to eat. He almost regrets waiting for 24hrs to ask her to come and see him. The nervous clasping of her hands over the coat on her lap gives him some satisfaction. He planned on making her more than a bit nervous before letting her off the hook.
"Still no Jordans, huh?" He drawls, looking up and down her figure once more. It doesn't go unnoticed and her cheeks tinge with a soft pink. She was absofuckinlutely gorgeous and he found himself fighting hard against the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless and boneless.
Beth clears her throat, "No, no jordans and asking Turner to leave my pumps on your door seemed a little awkward."
"Fair enough. So, what is it that you wanna talk to me about?" He drawls.
It was hard enough to face him after her last explosion. And him not giving nothing away about how he felt - besides the heated roaming of his eyes over her body - wasn't helping.
The blank expression on his face could have thrown her if she hadn't seen through it already.
The week before she stood against that door, muffling her sobs against her closed fist when she made sense of all hurtful things he yawped at her. It was very simple and he had done it before, he was trying to scare her away. The thing was, she was sure there were some truths on those words and that's why she had been avoiding him. Blatantly hiding away behind her anger, afraid, like a coward, the same way she had accused him of doing.
"I wasn't sure if you would want to see me, after…"
He cuts her off, "I called you didn't I. So?"
His coldness makes something tick deep in her.
"I'm pregnant." She blares out. That wasn't the topic she had in mind to start this conversation with, in fact, she had no idea what the fuck she was doing, as always her temper got the best of her.
He just blinks at her, silently, as the words sink in. He just couldn't have a fuckin' break with her, could he? She kept surprising him at every corner. He just couldn't keep up.
Beth tucks her hair behind her ear nervously, clearing her throat again. "I-ahem, I-I just thought you should know. I left so upset the other day... I didn't want to tell you. I mean… I did, but not..." She stops the babbling abruptly, aware she wasn't making any sense, she had not planned on telling him until they patched up things and she hated the way it sounded... desperate. Feeling stupid and conscious she gets up, "You should rest... I-I have to go,"
With the jacket and purse out of the way, the small baby bump, that seemed to show up out of nowhere the last couple of days, comes into view. Rio's astonished dark gaze darts from her face to it.
"I-I'll see you later." She says dashing for the door.
"Elizabeth, wait… Fuck!" He growls in pain, although he was in much better shape, his body was still not used to sudden movements.
"What are you doing?" She yelps turning back to him at the sound the covers snapping back only to find him halfway to the floor, "Get back in bed,"
"C'mere then," He mutters under his breath.
Like in their own mind her feet start to move towards him and finds herself surrounded by his arms, her cheek pressed against his pec as a drawl rumbles through his chest, "I swear, you will fuckin' kill me one of this days, woman." He then cups her face gently, asking sweetly, "You're pregnant?".
Beth nods, guiding his hand to her growing belly. Rio spreads his tan fingers over the rounded bump amazed, "You are pregnant!"
Beth laughs, "You shouldn't act so surprised, what were your exact words? Darlin', I just put a baby in you. " She adds making her best to copy his drawl.
"Was it that time?" He asks without taking his eyes from his hand over her belly.
"I like to think it was. It's hard to pinpoint, we were very… active."
He chuckles, "I'm sure it was, there was some magic in the air that day," He says bringing her closer, "You look so... radiant and I thought it was impossible for you to become even more beautiful,"
Beth scoffs, "Yeah, we'll see about that in a couple of months."
"I can't wait to see you in a couple months,"
"Careful of what you wish for. You did your job too well, you didn't just put one baby in me..."
"Twins?" He murmurs, she nods confirming. "Are you for real? I'm gonna be a father of two?"
"I'm going to be huge. Like, whale huge. I'm not kidding, I make huge pregnant bellies. Everyone was always asking if it was twins, I can't imagine what people are going to ask this time!" She answers amused by his reaction.
"Darlin', you're damn lucky you can't get pregnant while you're pregnant, 'cause Imma be all over you, and those gorgeous thick curves of yours." He says giving her a soft kiss and circling her tightly in his arms. "You're makin' me the happiest man on this earth, Red."
"Please, say you forgive me." She murmurs against his neck.
Rio pushes her away gently to look into her blue gaze, "Sweetheart, I understand why you did it but it doesn't make me less pissed, you still went behind my back. I forgave you but I didn't forget. I'm sure we'll get there, eventually. I love you way too much not to."
"Even when I called you a bitch ass pussy?" She asks with a teasing although sad smile.
"Especially when you called me a bitch ass pussy." He answers with that devilish half smile of his own.
A quick shift happens as they gaze at each other, from humor to desire in a flick of a second and their lips meet again, both moaning as tongues touch. Rio fists a handful of her copper tresses, the other hand finding its way to her lower back, to the soft skin under her blouse, pulling her as close as physically possible. Beth opens her mouth further for him, her arms circling his neck, she grinds herself against him wanton. Rio deepens the kiss, grunting appreciatively. "I love you, Elizabeth Marks." He murmurs against her lips, bringing Beth into heartfelt sobs.
"Fuck, sweetheart. Don't do that, I can't stand it when you cry." He drawls in agony, softly kissing the trails left by her tears, "Talk to me, darlin'" He begs.
"You heart stopped. Three times." She says, her bottom lip trembling.
He takes her hand and places it on his chest, just above his heart, "Can't you feel it? It's beating right now,"
"You lost a kidney…" She continues as he cleans the tears with his thumbs.
"I can work just fine with one," He informed amused.
"And damaged your liver," Beth retorts.
"Don't drink. Don't need it." He says with a smug half-smile.
Beth laughs despite herself, leaning in for his lips. "Don't you dare to leave me again, Rio Aguilar." She adds.
"Don't worry. I ain't going nowhere." He confirms before kissing her fiercely again.
A nurse enters the room, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at the two of them, "I can see why the alarms are going off," She says picking up the chart and checking the flashing monitors.
A soft pink spreads over Beth's cheeks and Rio smirks.
"We were celebrating. I'm going to be a father. Twins."
"Congratulations. Although you're recovering miraculously fast Mr. Aguilar, let's give your heart a break, shall we?" The nurse says looking directly at Beth like she was solely to blame and the blush goes from pink to deep red and Rio smirk widens.
"Not as fast as I want," He drawls, bringing her closer again and Beth can't avoid but chuckle.
"Do I need to place a chaperone in here?" The nurse asks amused, placing Rio's chart back on the bed feet.
"I don't think that would stop him," Beth says and the nurse laughs.
"You're probably right, your husband has charmed all my staff in his short-ish stay with us." She says hiding a smile.
"The question is if there's still enough time to charm you," Rio says giving the head nurse his wicked smile.
"You're incorrigible… Five more minutes, Mrs. Aguilar. By the way, more good news, we are moving you out of ICU later tonight." She adds closing the door.
Rio licks his lips still smirking, "Mrs. Aguilar... Doesn't that sound peachy,"
"I...I had to say I was your wife, it was the only way they would let me be in here." She explains herself.
Rio cups her jaw tenderly, "I like that, darlin'. I like it all damn much."
Beth snorts, "Says the man who even bedridden seduces nurses, shamelessly."
He pouts all innocence, "It's all just so I can get extra dessert,"
Beth laughs, "I don't doubt that for some reason."
He just looks at her in stunned amazement and her laugh dies.
"What is it? Should I call someone?" She asks in worry.
"No, I'm fine. Your laugh... I've missed it." He says placing his hands on her hips and kissing her belly bump softly, Beth buries her hand in his short crisp hair her heart soring in her chest despite all her doubts.
"Rio, I know we still have some things to figure out but when you're discharged from the hospital, I… I would like you to come back home."
He gently places a wild lock behind her ear, bringing her forehead to touch his. "I'm already home, Elizabeth. Home is wherever you are."