Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Newsies, but I own the others.
Jack Kelly, the leader of Manhattan, was hurt.
Spot and his crew got back to Brooklyn close to midnight. Spike and Smalls were helping Jack walk; his arms slung around their shoulders as they brought him into the Lodging House.
Riley had fallen asleep on the couch, but was woken up by the commotion of the group returning. Blush was sitting on the couch at Riley's feet, but once she saw that one of them was injured she roughly pushed Riley's legs off of her so she could stand up.
"Back up, back up." Riley heard Spot's voice echo in the common room. Most of the Brooklyn newsboys had stayed awake to wait for them to return.
Riley opened her sleepy eyes and propped herself up on her elbow. She pushed her hair out of her face and saw Jack limping. Her tired mind was trying to wake up and process what this might have meant.
"Jack?" Riley said groggily, her voice too quiet for anyone to hear. He looked fine, despite being unable to walk on his own. She sat up and pulled herself off the couch so he could have a place to lie down.
"Oh, shit... What happened?" Blush asked once they all made it inside.
"I'm fine," Jack said with a wince as they slowly helped him limp to the couch. "It's just my knee."
"It got twisted or something." Smalls, one of the Brooklyn boys that was helping Jack, said to all of the questioning faces. "He just can't walk too good."
"Your knee? How did you hurt it?" Blush asked as Jack settled on the couch, his leg lying across the cushions. Her voice was wary, as if it were unusual for one of them to get hurt during one of these night missions.
Her brother, Spike, let go of Jack and gave Blush a quick warning glance. "No more questions, Blush. Just drop it." He mumbled to her. Spike then walked over to a nearby table and grabbed a bottle of whiskey.
Blush took the hint and stopped questioning, but a suspicious glare remained on her face. She exchanged a quick look with Riley, then looked away just as fast.
"Here," Spike said, handing the bottle of whiskey to Jack. "Your medicine. The pain will be gone once you take a few shots."
Jack smirked and twisted off the cap, taking a swig of the whiskey.
As Riley's mind became more awake, she remembered the reason why she had fallen asleep in the common room. Still feeling half awake, Riley ripped her eyes away from Jack and scanned the room. She thought she woke up hearing Spot's voice, but she couldn't find him anywhere in the room.
Blush was bringing a few shot glasses over to the couch when she brushed past Riley. "He went into the kitchen," she heard Blush murmur in her ear, low enough so nobody else could hear.
It was amusing how Blush knew that Riley was looking for Spot. She thanked Blush with a tired smirk and walked away from the crowd that was now forming around the couch that she was just asleep on.
Riley couldn't explain her need to see Spot now that he was back at the Lodging House. Was it just so she could make sure he was okay? Was it just so she could feel safe knowing he was back? She wasn't sure, but for some reason she found herself automatically approaching the door to the kitchen, hoping to see him.
Riley peered into the dimly lit room and saw the Brooklyn leader standing in front of a basin full of water, alone, cane in his hands. A glint of red met Riley's eye and she held back a gasp. Spot was washing blood off of the gold tip of his cane.
Spot must have sensed her presence, but he did not turn around. "Not now, Cardoni," he warned, knowing it was her standing in the doorway. The warning in his voice should have made Riley turn back, but she couldn't take her eyes off of the scene in front of her.
She held onto the door frame for support. "What - what did you do?" She breathed, watching him expertly handle the weapon in his hand as he cleared it of his victims blood.
"Business," he sarcastically replied, snorting with a half hearted laugh as he wiped his cane dry with a rag.
"The kind of business that involves beating someone with a cane?" Riley asked in disbelief, her voice cracked with the sleep that she was ripped out of by their return. "Who were they?"
"Fuck if I know," Spot replied with a shrug, throwing the rag to the side. "Some dumbass Harlem kids," he turned to face her, "what's it to you?"
Riley held on tighter to the door frame as she spoke. "You said that I'm involved now, whether I like it or not. Jack got hurt out there, Spot, and you are acting like it's nothing..."
Spot pointed the cane at her. "Right, and your job is to just stay here, look pretty, and keep your mouth shut." He took in her sleepy appearance; her wild long hair tousled and her dress wrinkled, one sleeve hanging low on her shoulders. "On second thought, you can 'open your mouth' when I tell you to; in the right situation, obviously." Spot winked. Riley looked at him with disgust; she knew exactly what he was insinuating.
"You're an asshole. That situation would never happen."
Spot tutted her condescendingly, tapping the cane into one of his palms. "Now, now... What do I keep telling you? Girls shouldn't swear, love - it's unattractive."
Riley gritted her teeth. She hated, hated, whenever he said that.
Spot must have sensed that she was determined to talk about what happened, and he rolled his eyes. He put his cane on the table next to the lantern, took a few steps forward, and pulled Riley out of the doorway so she was fully in the room. He closed the door halfway so they were out of sight from those peering into the kitchen.
"Do you have a bad memory or something?" Spot asked quietly, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "I talked to you before I left, didn't I? I told you how it was around here - so get used to it, a'right? This is Brooklyn. This is something your innocent little mind is going to see a lot of, kid. I can't nurse you back to health every time you see something that scares you."
Riley took a deep breath and mimicked his stance by crossing her arms. She stared into the corner, lost in thought. It wasn't until Spot stepped closer that she snapped out of her thoughts and noticed the look on his face.
Spot was watching her intently, stormy eyes glinting in the light of the lantern as he looked down at her. He broke the silence in the room after a few tense moments.
"Tell me - are you scared of me, Cardoni?" He asked, voice low and husky.
The question caught Riley off gaurd. She parted her lips, then closed them again.
Spot laughed at her, arms still crossed over his chest. "I ain't no genius, but I'm gonna take your silence as a yes."
Riley couldn't find the right way to respond. Was she scared of Spot? She couldn't think of an answer. She was certainly scared of his lifestyle; his violence, his reputation... His talk from earlier that day had definitely shaken her.
Spot studied her reaction for a moment before speaking. "That's good," he stated, nodding his head. "It's good for you to be scared of me. Don't get too comfortable around me if this shit scares you."
Spot reached for the half opened door, making to leave the kitchen, but Riley caught his arm to stop him.
"Stop acting so full of yourself! I'm not scared of you," she replied, quickly letting go of his strong arm. "But I'd be lying if I said that all this fighting didn't scare me. Waking up to see this," she gestured to the cane that rested on the table; to the gold tip that was just recently washed of the blood that stained it. "I mean, what do you expect from me? This isn't how I grew up! I'm not - I - I'm from Staten Island, for Christ's sake! Come on, you can't expect me to act like this isn't a little nerve wracking."
Spot reached to the door beside her, closing it so it was no longer half way opened. It shut with a loud snap, separating them completely from the crowd of people in the common room.
"So, let's get this straight, sweetface" Spot said, his curiosity turning into impatience. "You're not scared of me, but you're scared of Brooklyn?" He smirked, shaking his head. "Cardoni, I am Brooklyn."
His words were true, and she knew it. Riley couldn't pinpoint the reason why he was questioning her, but she knew in her heart that it was best to be honest with him.
"I know, but, I don't think I'm scared of you..." Riley said quietly, feeling vulnerable. "I mean... Should I be? Scared of you?"
Spot seemed like he was contemplating the correct response. "Yes," he said after a moments hesitation. "I already know that I scare you. Ever since I first talked to you, and you knew exactly who I was. You had that look in your eyes... It was fear. I know what fear looks like."
Riley couldn't deny that. She was petrified when Spot showed up at the Romano Lounge the night after the murder. The memory flooded into her mind, and she didn't notice Spot moving even closer to her.
"So, did you come in here to welcome me back?" He said with a sly smile, his hand reaching up to her face.
Riley, still thinking about what Spot had said, looked to the side, turning her cheek away from his touch.
Spot sighed loudly with frustration. "Jesus, woman, why do you do that?" He asked, impatience and confusion clear on his face. "I don't get why you stop yourself when you want it so damn bad!"
Riley's eyes shot back up to his face. She blinked a few times, thinking that the light was playing games with her eyes. Spot Conlon, the influential leader of so many people in Brooklyn, had dropped his usually taunting look. His eyes were questioning, like he was peering straight into her soul. Riley was afraid to move or speak; she didn't want to ruin the moment, afraid that he would change back to his tough and cold demeanor.
Spot's face inched closer, the sounds of the packed common room muffled by the closed door.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Riley denied, nervous by his sudden closeness.
"Yeah? So why won't you kiss me, Cardoni?"
Riley's mouth parted again, her jaw dropped with surprise at his question.
Spot narrowed his eyes as he waited for a response, a demanding tone coming to his voice.
"I asked you a question, Riley," he said impatiently. "Answer me."
"I don't think that's any of your business..." Riley responded, trying to buy time, unable to think of a good reason.
"Know what? I think if I did kiss you, you wouldn't want to stop." Spot answered for her, his egotistical voice smooth as silk. He smiled knowingly as Riley uncomfortably shifted her feet. "Yeah, you know I'm right. Is that what you're so scared of?"
Riley couldn't hide her emotions when he was this close. His eyes were reading every thought inside of her; judging her. Spot showed no signs of weakness, just a demanding power that Riley couldn't fight with.
"Fine, I'll answer you - I won't kiss you because you will stop, and it'll all be for nothing." Riley blurted out. "Are you satisfied? Is that what you wanted to hear?" She felt her cheeks reddening. "Your pride will be intact, finally making me give in to you, while I get brushed aside as another foolish girl. Another name on your stupid list."
Spot didn't seem phased by her response. "I don't keep a list, sweetheart." he said with a cold laugh, denying nothing else.
Riley scoffed with disgust, "because it's all just a bunch of names you don't care to remember!" The anger was rising in her chest; the tension in the room growing thicker. This was why she had refused to open up to him, and she immediately regretted the hole she just dug herself into.
Spot was growing angry with her attitude; his blue eyes were now a swirl of gray. "I've been a God damn saint with you around here. I've been patient as hell, and this is the thanks you give me?"
Riley ran her fingers roughly through her hair, deciding to cut to the chase. "I know how this works, okay? I know how men like you think - and you're the worst of them, Spot, admit it."
Spot tilted his head to the side in a noncommittal shrug, not really admitting it, but not denying it either.
"Exactly. And I'm not ready for this to be over," Riley continued. "I'm not ready to face the side affects of falling for Spot Conlon like everyone else does... I'm not ready to.. to.." She faltered with her words. "I'm just not ready to hate you yet. It'll ruin everything! This is all I have right now."
Despite the growing tension in the room, the taunting smirk returned to Spot's lips as he listened to her. "So you think it's inevitable that you're going to hate me?" He gave her a lazy but sexy smile that made him look even more confident than usual. "Trust me, sweetheart - you'd enjoy every second. You'd be begging me for more, and maybe, if you're lucky, I'd show you what all the talk is about."
Riley swallowed hard, her heart fluttering at the thought of it. She brushed off his last comment and tried to finish what she wanted to say. "What I mean is that it's inevitable you're used to getting what you want. I can tell that you don't give up... But I'm not as strong as you; fuck, I'm not anything like you! So do me a favor and give up on me, Spot. Don't make me one of those girls you mess with." Riley said, resisting the urge to pleadingly clasp her hands together. "Please, please stop toying with me, okay? There's a lot going on here and I can only handle so much of it."
Spot bit his bottom lip and looked down at his feet. He looked back up at Riley, eyes dark with an unreadable emotion.
"Please?" She pleaded again, lowering her voice to a whisper, all of her pride forgotten.
The space around them was silent as Spot studied her.
"No," Spot finally answered, shaking his head. "I'll treat you how I want to treat you - I have my reasons."
A hopeless feeling ran through Riley's heart. "What reasons?" She asked, exhausted and weak from fighting his advances. "Why are you so determined to break me? These games you play - I hate them! And I'm..I'm done, Spot." Riley let out a tired sigh. "I'll stay away from you from now on, okay? I don't know why I came in here. I'm going to see how Jack is doing..."
Riley turned to open the door, but Spot grabbed onto her wrist with a vice-like grip, his patience completely gone. She looked down at the strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and then up to his furious blue-gray eyes, her breath catching in her throat.
"I'm not done with you," Spot said, gritting his teeth to control his temper.
"God, Spot, what more do you want from me!" Riley asked, her voice breaking as she tried pulling her wrist out of his painful grip. He held on tighter.
The tension between them had suddenly hit its breaking point. She could see the anger rising inside of him.
"What do I want?" Spot repeated furiously. "Do you know what I think about when I look at you!" He was fuming, breathing heavy through his nostrils. "I think about you with some other guy; you letting someone else kiss you, making you bite your lip like you do when I'm near you..." Spot trailed off menacingly, his mind somewhere far away. He focused back on Riley, his steely eyes hard and cold, gripping her wrist tighter. "Itpisses me off when I think about it! It makes me want to fucking break something!"
Spot finally let go of her wrist, then clenched his fists so tight that the skin over his knuckles were white.
Riley held her throbbing wrist to her chest, her mind racing with confusion. "I - I don't! There is no other guy!" Riley argued. "I don't know where you come up with these things!"
"I know there's no other guy!" Spot growled. "And there's never gonna be another guy as long as I'm around."
Riley couldn't understand what he meant. She continued holding her wrist tightly to her chest, the bruise already forming. Something must have happened, she thought. He looked livid; like something was eating him up inside. She had no other reaction than to just look at him, her eyes wide.
Her confusion just angered him even more.
"Damn, woman, don't you get it?" Spot complained loudly. "When you walk around this place I gotta watch all my boys stare at you, looking at you like they'd do anything to get you. And I'm their damn their leader!"
"But Spot -"
"No!" He argued, silencing her interruption. "It pisses me off because I want you to be mine first, understand?" His demand was powerful; his rough hand grabbing her chin, stopping her from interrupting any further as he tilted her face upward.
Riley looked up into his wild eyes. His touch caused her intake of breath to be embarrassingly loud.
Spot's jaw was tensed as he watched her. He lowered his voice, "I want to hear you moaning my name when my lips are on you, Cardoni. Why the fuck can't you give that to me?"
Riley's heart pounded in her chest. His bright cerulean eyes were beautiful even when he was angry. She barely understood what he was saying because she was so taken by the beauty of the leader in front of her. It left her speechless, unable to answer.
Spot impatiently let go of her chin. "There ain't a girl in this city who wouldn't want to be in your position."
That was it. The familiar feeling of jealousy had hit Riley's last nerve. All of the stories, all of the girls... It was like a slap in the face. She couldn't remain silent anymore.
"Yes, I know that!" Riley cried out, infuriated, not caring if her voice carried through the door to the common room. "You think I don't know that you're like some sex god to the girls in this city? You think I don't think about it? I hate it! It makes me sick to think about it - so shut up, Spot! Just shut up!"
Spot clenched his fists again, trying to control his temper, but Riley couldn't stop. It wasn't fair; it wasn't fair that he made her jealous. She wasn't thinking about the consequences of her words; she was just thinking about the inner torment she felt when thinking about all of his conquests.
"I just - you - !" Riley let out a frustrated yell as she thought about it, stomping her foot childishly on the ground. "This is all just a huge game to you! The girls falling all over you, the fights with Harlem; you act like everything on these streets is some sick fucking game to entertain you!"
A loud, startling crash met Riley's ears, interrupting her rant. Spot had kicked one of the chairs next to him, the force causing it to topple over and fly across the floor, crashing loudly into the wall. "A game? A game? Dammit, Riley, do you have any idea what's happening around here?" He roared.
She was never given a moment to respond. The pent up anger inside of Spot seemed to roll off his body, hitting her like a brick wall with every word he screamed.
"All this shit between Harlem and Brooklyn - this war - it's on my hands!" He picked up a cup and whipped it across the room, his voice so loud that it rang in her ears, "I'm Spot fucking Conlon! Brooklyn is on my shoulders right now! And YOU? Fuck, Riley - you-" Spot ripped the hat off his head, one of his hands gripping onto his hair, causing the sun streaked strands to stand on end through his fingers, "I can't focus because of you!"
The desperate look in Spot's eyes was enough to shock her. Spot let go of his hair; his fingers leaving it wild, strands pointing in every direction.
"Yeah, that's right -- you!" He yelled, a tortured look scrunching his eyebrows together. "You're always around - always there, making me lose focus. I - I can't think straight when you're on my fucking mind! This war is at risk because of you!"
Riley stood still, afraid to move, afraid that Spot Conlon had lost all control of himself. She couldn't imagine what had happened in Harlem that could've made him react this way. She winced as his raised voice echoed off the walls of the small room; her eyes wide with shock as she processed the meaning of his words. But she remained silent as he continued, tension still rising.
"How the fuck am I supposed to control that, huh?" He snapped, his eyes flicking back and forth from Riley. "Like yesterday, when I found out that those fucking bastards from Harlem knew about you, knew your name, knew that you were living here..." Spot broke off the rest of his sentence, taking deep breaths through his tensed up jaw.
"So you hurt them?" Riley asked tentatively, holding onto the counter beside her to support her weight. Her knees were unsteady, his penetrating stare overpowering her as he focused on her again.
Spot took a step closer, practically cornering her against the wall; his eyes narrowed.
"You really wanna know what happened tonight?" Spot warned, his voice deep and threatening. "That's why you came in here, right? You really want to know?"
Riley found this quieter voice even more frightening; she preferred him yelling compared to the low growl he was speaking with now.
Spot never broke his gaze from her eyes. "We beat those kids within an inch of their worthless lives," he said. "Then Jack got ambushed when we were leaving. And what was I doing? You really wanna fucking know?"
Riley wasn't sure if she wanted him to go any further, but she didn't have a choice...
"I didn't see them coming because my mind was in Brooklyn, too fucking busy wondering whether or not you were following my God damn orders and staying in the Lodging House like I told you," Spot revealed. "That's what happened. I wasn't paying attention! I was thinking about little miss Riley Cardoni, back home in Brooklyn. I fucked up, and it cost me! So don't you dare say that this is a game to me!"
It was silent while Spot stared into her eyes, waiting for her to say something. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Spot, I don't -" Riley stuttered, her head spinning from this new turn of events. "I didn't know.."
Spot tugged the hat back onto his head, moving his eyes away from her face. His cheeks were flustered with the anger he just unleashed, but his voice seemed to calm down. "Now you know. The truth is I really don't know what to do with you..." He muttered, not meeting her eyes as he spoke.
Riley felt her body shaking, but swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. Very carefully, she lifted her hand to his face. Her fingers were hesitant as she slowly placed them on his cheek, feeling his hot skin under her fingertips. Her touch caused his eyes to stop wandering around the room as he looked at her again.
"Am I.." Riley began, hesitating with her words. Miraculously, she found herself smiling at him teasingly. "Am I really on the back of your mind all the time?"
Spot stared at her, one eyebrow raised. Riley took his silence as a yes. She knew that she'd never be able to get him to admit it again, but she didn't need him to. He had already admitted it, whether it was an accident or not.
"Well.." Riley continued. She bit her lip nervously before meeting his eyes again. "Well.. What do you think about, exactly?" She whispered, letting her hand fall from his face.
Spot let out a long sigh. She didn't pull away when he lightly touched her bottom lip with his thumb; the sensitive skin of her lips tingling under the rough skin of his fingertips.
"Sometimes I think about sending you home," he said, his words cruel, but his touch gentle as he traced his thumb from her bottom lip to her cheek. "Sometimes I think about how impossible you are to deal with..."
Riley couldn't find the strength to argue with him. She felt a million different emotions inside of her as he touched her face.
Spot pondered his next words as he moved his whole hand below her jaw so he could cup her face. His eyes were now a sparkling blue that had captivated her. He glanced down to her mouth, licked his lips, and spoke more quietly. "And sometimes I think about..."
Riley didn't even hear him finish his sentence before she felt his lips on hers.
It was a feeling that Riley couldn't even explain. His kiss became more intense when he noticed that she wasn't going to push him away. Her heart raced with an ache that she didn't even know existed until she felt what it had been wanting for so long now.
Spot groaned lightly, his kisses urgent with want and his hands holding her face possessively. His experienced lips made the world spin around her, but he didn't stop. His smooth lips, his soft tongue, all of it made her feel like she had lost control. Her body became addicted to the way he made her feel.
Riley pulled his face closer, wanting more as she knocked the hat off of his head, feeling his hair between her fingers.
She couldn't believe it. Spot Conlon, king of the territory they were standing on, was kissing her. The cold way he usually held himself had vanished as he kissed her with unrestrained passion.
Riley couldn't catch her breath. She whimpered quietly when he broke the kiss and then brushed his lips teasingly against hers again, the corner of his lips tugged up in a small smirk when she impatiently pulled his lips to hers again.
The world had stopped existing at that moment. Nobody else mattered. The cruel streets of Brooklyn were gone. The only thing she could think about was how good Spot felt against her.
Riley's head was spinning as his hands held her hips against the wall, pinning her back against the wood. She put her hands to his chest, grabbing both of his suspenders. Spot pressed his whole body against hers, fingers now laced up in her hair as he took control. He had her on the tips of her toes, her head slightly hung back because of the height he had on her.
Spot forced her to tilt her head back even further as he pulled down on her long hair with gentle control.
"Still scared of me, Cardoni?" Spot murmured, his breath hot on her neck as his urgent lips trailed to her collarbone. He found all of the spots that made her whole body tingle. Riley gasped as he sucked gently on the skin below her earlobe; his expert kisses making her close her eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair, stopping midway to grab hold.
Spot took his time slowly moving his lips across her neck, enjoying her every reaction, proving how experienced he really was. Riley parted her lips, and without realizing it, whispered his name in a quiet moan. It escaped from her mouth without her consent, and she bit her lip to prevent it from happening again.
But the damage was done. Spot's lips formed into a smile once he heard her moan his name. "That's it, doll." He urged her with a whisper, his breath tickling her ear. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
He let go of her then; his sparkling blue eyes looking at her.
Riley was still against the wall, her breathing unsteady and lips still tingling.
"So that's what I think about." Spot answered, the ghost of a smile still on his face. He grabbed his cane, opened the door, and walked out into the common room. The brighter light from the common room flooded through the doorway, but Riley still found it hard to move from her place against the wall.
She couldn't decide if she should smile or frown; laugh or cry. What the hell just happened?
It took a long time before Riley was able to recover, but she didn't leave the kitchen. She was afraid to face the real world again. She was still reeling from Spot's lips.
It wasn't until a little later, when everyone was in bed, that Jack came to see her. He was staying the night in Brooklyn, sleeping on the common room couch. He limped to the kitchen.
"Riley..? I know you're in there."
Jack looked into the room and saw her sitting on the floor, back still against the wall. Her knees were folded to her chest, tears glistening on her cheeks.
"I don't know how to feel, Jack." Riley whispered, staring into the depths of the kitchen, not looking at him. She knew that she didn't have to explain herself any further. Jack must have known, right? He was probably used to the girls who were captivated by the Brooklyn leader.
Riley chanced a glance at him standing in the doorway. The light of the lantern showed the wet streaks on her cheeks more clearly. She tried to smile sadly but the muscles on her face wouldn't work. She shrugged her shoulders hopelessly and wiped her wet cheeks.
Jack sighed as he sat down beside her.
"Everyone's asleep, you know," he said quietly. "You can come out."
Riley reached to the back of her neck and bit her bottom lip, too lost in thought to answer him.
She had kissed Spot Conlon. It was the most amazing thing she had ever felt... But what now? Why did he leave without talking to her about it? What did it all mean?
His eyes were haunting her thoughts. She couldn't explain how she felt. All Riley could think about was all of the hearts that had fallen victim to his kiss, and how Spot was infamous for breaking them.
Riley didn't want to fall for Spot. She didn't want to deal with the side affects.
She let another confused tear glide down her cheek as she sat beside Jack well into the night. Neither of them spoke about it, but it felt better having Jack by her side.
Riley Cardoni had given in to the King of Brooklyn... and it scared the shit out of her.
I wrote this whole chapter and then it got deleted! I shook my computer, I cried a little (I know, I know), and I was really upset. This was an important chapter and I loved what I wrote, but it all disappeared! I tried rewriting it but I'm really unsure about the rewritten version. Was it okay? PLEASE give me some feedback – I really don't want to lose any of my readers! Please review and let me know what you think – your honesty means a lot to me! I finished my other Newsies story and I'm finally getting into the 'love story' on this one, so I hope it's coming along okay.
Thank you so much for the support!