Chapter 12

She stood in front of her bedroom mirror in what felt like the hundredth outfit she'd tried on. His text had only said to be outside at seven. No details of where they were going or what they were doing. Do I dress formal? Casual? Ugh fuck this guy, he's about to get me in sweats tonight. She let out a long groan and pulled the floral print dress from her body and looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a simple matching black bra and thong set. What if this is a mistake? Surely, he can get girls prettier than me, skinnier, taller.

She tore her eyes from her body, shaking away her insecurities. Rio had seen her at her absolute worst and for some reason he was still pursuing her. She grabbed a pair of dark wash jeans from a shelf in her closet and a red long sleeve lace shirt with tastefully placed layers of lace to cover sections of her torso giving an appealing pattern while modestly showing some skin through the first layer. The V neck of the shirt gave her a nice amount of cleavage without being too trashy. She was going on a date after all.

A thin layer of makeup was on her face and she had curled her hair into loose waves. By the time she was done it was almost seven. She pulled on a pair of short heeled black ankle boots and a black leather jacket. She gave herself one last look in the mirror as she pulled on a simple silver necklace. As good as it's gonna get.

She turned her light off and made her way downstairs. The house was quiet, her parents had taken the kids to chuck e cheese to celebrate some good news from her father's doctor about his cancer. Apparently, the tumor was responding to treatment and could be operable. As much as she wanted to spend time with her family, it just felt off. How her mother was acting like nothing happened, like the cheating never happened. Just played mommy in front of Dean then would be a badass who washed money for a game. Putting up a front all night wasn't something she felt up for doing. As much as she loved her father, she couldn't forget about the cheating about what he did to her mother.

7:30. She had been standing outside her own house for a half hour. There was still no sign of a black Cadillac anywhere. Screw this. She turned to make her way up the driveway and back inside, feeling even shittier about herself than before.

"Going somewhere sirenita?" She spun around to see Rio's car with the window rolled down, his head was leaned down so he could see her and vice versa. His face held a crooked smile. It made her angry at how casual he was being about not showing up on time.

"You're late." She crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one foot.

Rio chuckled and let his eyes take in her appearance, the skintight jeans, red lace allowing some of the skin on her torso and arms to peek through. "Ya sorry bout that darling, got tied up." He shook his head in annoyance at the circumstance he just came from.

She rolled her eyes. "You could have texted." She was giving him a chance to see if this could actually work, if there was actually something more than physical connection to what they feel. Least he can do is show up on time. Rio noticed her soured mood and stepped out of the car.

She watched as he took long strides towards her, it didn't take him long to be a foot away from her. "Ya ready to go?" He reached out to gently uncross her arms and lead her to the car, but she jerked away from him. "Ah c'mon darlin', don't be like that."

"Are you going to tell me why you're…" She glanced at her phone. "Thirty-eight minutes late?"

He let out a breath through his nose and smiled slightly. He knew how stubborn the woman in front of him was. He was aware that she wouldn't be satisfied with a bull shit answer from him. He figured it was as good a time as any. "Was with my kid."

That was the last thing she could have expected to come out of his mouth. Her mouth opened to say something, but she wasn't sure what, so she quickly closed it again. Rio watched her wide eyes as she processed the information he had given her. "You - you have a kid?" He nodded at her words. "What … how?"

He smirked. "Birds and the bees, sweetheart."

She let out a small laugh and Rio was surprised by how happy he was that her mood had lifted. His day had been long, he'd been running on an hour or so of sleep, the only highlight was seeing his son for an unanticipated few hours. Dealing with the mother was not as fun. "I know how sex works." Her words brought him out of his train of thought.

"Good to know." He gestured towards his car. "Ready?"

Allison paused before following him to the car. He pulled open the door for her and let it close softly behind her. At least chivalry isn't dead. His words did make her wonder exactly where he was taking her, what they were doing. "Ya look gorgeous, sirenita." His words tore her from her thoughts just as the car jerked forwards. "Get all dolled up for me?" The cocky, confident tone made her want to respond in a snarky comment, but he was right, she did.

"I didn't know what we were doing." She replied as she looked at the dark blue shirt and black jeans he had on. She hoped he would give her some indication, but he just lifted his head and shot her a smile. "So, boy or girl?" His brows creased and he shot her a questioning look. "Your kid." She clarified.

"Boy."

She couldn't help the image of a little mini Rio from flashing through her mind. "How old is he?" She almost asked how old Rio was, she wasn't exactly sure. She realized, in that moment, there was so much she didn't know about him.

"Eight. He's in ya sista's class, figured ya mama would've filled ya in on that." She looked away. There was so much that her mother tried to keep her in the dark about. It wasn't doing anyone any favors.

"She didn't." Allison shrugged.

"Dealbreaker?" His brow rose.

She let out a laugh giving him absolutely no indication as to what she was thinking. "Just never pictured you as much of the parental type."

"Lots of things ya don't know, sweetheart." Got that right.

She shot him a smirk. "So why don't you enlighten me?"

"Thought that's what tonight was about."

She resigned and glanced out the window at the passing scenery as they made their way towards the highway. "You're right. So, what was up with your son... what's his name?" She couldn't help but notice how the air shifted.

"Marcus. Just some issues with his ma." Marcus. Cute.

She knew it wasn't her place to ask him to elaborate as much as she really wanted to know more. "That's a cute name, you have a picture?" He raised a brow at her. "What? I love kids. Just wanna see how cute yours is." She flashed him a smile that brightened her eyes.

He chuckled as he stopped at a stop sign. He pulled his phone from the counsel under the radio and opened his photos. He handed her his phone as he sped through the intersection. She looked at the photo of a smiling little boy, his skin was the same soft tan tone as his. The black curly hair was surely from his mother, but the kid had his eyes and smile. It made something in her heart crack wide open for the man next to her. The appeal of a softer side of him was almost too much.

She swiped left and was fearful that she may see a picture of some girl, but it was only of his boy, smiling, some selfies, it made tears well in her eyes. "Ya okay there?" He asked her.

She snapped her eyes to his. "More than okay." Her lips pulled up.

They were on the highway heading into the city. She questioned once more where there were going. "Ya trust me?"

She thought about that. She trusted him, to keep her safe. She trusted him to be there. He had proven that. But she did not trust everything that he said. She knew he had and would lie to her. Even if it was in her best interest, with the best of intentions, he would still lie, shield her from some parts of himself.

Her silence was answer enough for him. And he maintained that silence until they pulled into the small parking lot of a restaurant in downtown Detroit. "This my favorite place. Been comin' here for a while."

A smile pulled at her lips. She felt touched that he brought her to a place he enjoyed. She pulled the car door open and bounded out of the car, determined to make her date with Rio fun, determined to see another side of him, to learn more about him. He followed her movements and caught her by the waist at the front door.

She giggled and let him spin her around in his arms. "Glad to see ya mood lifted darling."

She stared up at him, glancing at his lips before looking away. His fingers lifted to her chin and pulled to gaze back towards him. He leaned down and placed a heated kiss on her, it only lasted a few moments and she barely had time to react before he pulled away and led her into the entrance of the restaurant.

Her head was still spinning from the kiss as she took in the dimly lit space. Soft music played in the background. All tables in sight were filled, but the space still gave an intimate illusion. The host greeted them politely and asked if they had a reservation. "Two for Alvarez."

The host's eyes widened, much to her surprise. "Of course, right this way Mr. Alvarez." The host led them to an intimate booth towards the back of the restaurant. It overlooked most of the tables without those being visible to others. It was the best table in the house. "Chef's already putting your plates together. Christian will bring over your requested wine."

"Well you do have decent taste." She noted as he sat down next to her in the circular booth. "And you already ordered for us?"

"Nah. Chef must've seen the reservation." He shrugged.

She got comfortable in the booth. "So, are you a regular here?"

"Something like that." She didn't miss the ominous way he spoke.

"I thought you were letting me get to know you." She baited.

"Road goes both ways." He looked at her.

"So how about twenty questions?" She smiled.

He gave her a heated look that almost made her regret the offer of answering twenty of his questions. But her curiosity was getting the better of her. "I'll even let ya go first. Gotta answer em all tho." She nodded and looked down in thought until his fingers lifted her chin. "Stop thinkin' so hard darling." His tone was light, she appreciated the easier side of him. The one that wasn't so intense, so deadly.

She gave him a smile. "Why'd the chef make our plates?"

"He's my uncle." Rio shrugged, taking a sip of the ice water that sat on the table.

She didn't have time to question him further before someone approached them. "Ain't ya a sight cuz." A waiter appeared with a bottle of wine in his hands. He had dark tan skin and short spiky black hair. His uniform was the same as other waiters. White shirt tucked into black dress pants and a black tie.

Rio stood up and gave a quick handshake and one-armed hug to his apparent cousin. "Aye Christian how you been?"

The waiter poured them each a glass of wine before setting the rest of the bottle down on the table. "Same old." His gaze moved to her. "I'm Christian and you are gorgeous?"

"Allie." She smiled and took a sip of her wine. " Wow this is amazing." She enjoyed the medium bodied red wine.

The young man looked to be about her age, maybe a little younger. "Nice meetin' ya Allie. What you doin' this this loser?" He joked and nudged his cousin.

Rio narrowed his eyes slightly at him but held a comfortable smile on his face. He was family. Family was somewhat of a soft spot for him. It was why he took her there. Her laugh brought him out of his thoughts. "Just friends."

He smirked at her words and shot her a heated look. It made her remember the kiss he had put on her before they walked in. "Yeah friends." He looked up at his cousin before jerking his head back as a gesture for Christian to leave them alone.

The younger man picked up on the hint and moved towards another table in his section. Allison positioned her body more towards Rio and looked at him incredulously. "So, cousin?"

He smirked. "My turn." She nodded, almost having forgotten about the game she suggested. She sighed in resignation and gestured for him to continue. "Whatchya been doin'?" He noted the confused look on her face. "Since ya not handlin' the funny money?"

She shrugged and smiled at the term he used for his counterfeit cash. "Nothing really." He pursed his lips at that. "Just school, studying, chilling with my siblings."

"Partying?" His brow raised.

She frowned. "Not really. I got a job." He opened his mouth to ask for more details. She shook her head and smiled up at him. "My turn. So, who owns this place since half the staff seems to be related to you?"

He took a sip of his wine and licked his lips. She found the movement incredibly sexy. "Few people contribute."

"Including you?" She guessed.

His head ticked in affirmation. "I supply some revenue. Not really involved in the day to day."

"So, you have a legit side?"

"Wait ya turn darlin'." They playful look on his face was a welcome change and she found herself growing more and more attracted to him by the second. Shit. This isn't good… but it feels good. "Favorite color."

She laughed at the light question. "Green." Her gaze flicked to his eyes. The hazel green sparked at her. Mostly, she loved the color because of nature, when she actually got out of the city and onto some trails, she loved the endless sea of trees, the life.

She was about to ask another question when a voice caused her to look up at the man approaching their table. "Hola mí sobrino!" The man caused Rio to stand up and pull him into a familiar hug, much like with his cousin.

"Long time, Tio." He returned to his seat and moved closer to her.

The man in the chef's jacket stood comfortably at the end of the table. "And who is this beautiful young lady?" He looked at her with a warm smile on her face.

She couldn't help mirroring his expression. "Allie." She offered her name.

He took her hand. "Pleasure, Allie. Hope you like what I got cooking."

"I'm not picky, I'm sure I will." She responded politely.

He nodded at her words. "I should get back there." He gestured towards the kitchen. "Just wanted to see my favorite nephew." She nodded and looked between the two men. It was clear they had a special bond. "I'll be back for a review." He gave her a look. "Be honest."

Her lips pulled up. "Always." He moved towards the kitchen and they continued their game of twenty questions. "So how many 'investments' do you have?"

Rio smirked. "A few." She wanted a more specific answer and he could tell. "We going to spend all night talking 'bout business?"

She took a long sip of her wine and let out a breath. "Business side of you is all I really see."

He shrugged, accepting that he would have to dodge more than a few questions. So, he decided to ask a few of his own. "Why'd you start doing this? Why'd ya get involved? Could have left the real grownups to handle it?"

She scowled, not liking his phrasing. "Real grownups?" She shook her head. "Like Annie? Teen mom who popped her baby out at prom and isn't able to do anything with just a high school diploma. Or Ruby? A waitress with two kids and a wannabe cop husband? Or my mom, the perfect housewife? College dropout all because my dad knocked her up, and bam, two decades later and here I am. Supposed to be worth everything that she sacrificed. And now she's running around with some gang." Her voice turned to a whisper. "Stealing from you, holding up a grocery store." She took a deep breath. "Real grownups realize how fucked up all that is." He waited for her to continue, wanting to get as much out of his question as he could. He liked hearing her thoughts, how her mind worked. "And I'm fully aware that you take advantage of how uninformed about the real world they are."

"Think you know everything, sirenita?"

She didn't bother taking another question from him, she wanted to get her point across. "I read and stay updated. About a lot of stuff." His brow raised. "I know enough, probably more than I'd like. I'm not the… what was it you called me?" She tapped her chin in thought. "Momma's perfect undergrad."

"Oh, I know that Allison." Her heart ticked hearing her name roll off his tongue.

Still, her eyes narrowed. "Do you?"

"I stopped underestimating you a while ago." The look he gave her was indescribable. They started into each other's eyes before he broke the silence. "Your turn."

She searched her mind for a question that would lighten the mood. She was determined to have a good time. She liked him, and she wanted to get to know who he was as a person, versus what he did. "Why me? Why do you like me?" It was a question she never got a real answer from any guy that she dated. It was all the generic you're so pretty or funny or something basic that guys told girls just to get in their pants.

He took a moment to take her in. There were so many things he could answer to that question. "You interest me."

"That's not a good enough answer."

His lip ticked up at her response. "No?" She shook her head. He looked up in thought and proceeded to answer her question. "Other than the fact that you're gorgeous, sirenita. I like the way you think. The way ya see the world. It's refreshing." She smiled. She definitely felt seen by him.

His eyes ran over her body in a heated way. He leaned into her ear. His hot breath caressed the swell of her ear. "Now tell me what ya wearin' under that gorgeous outfit darling." A deep blush crept up her neck. The way his deep voice drawled out the words instantly made her nipples harden and lips moisten.

"Really?" She could barely get that out. He repeated the word back to her and pulled away to give her a look that said he was serious. She remembered how she had agreed to answer every question before he had to remind her.

She decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. To wind him up just as much as he was winding her up. She leaned in towards him so he could hear her whisper. "You'll just have to get my clothes off and see for yourself."

He could feel himself getting turned on at the innuendo. But he wouldn't waste his question in the game they were playing. "What you want out of this?"

Her brows creased in confusion. "Out of what?"

He gestured between the two of them. "This. Us."

She looked away from him. "I'm not sure." He could hear her honesty. But he wanted a real answer. "I just like being around you. I'm attracted to you." His look turned heated. "A lot. I… I just want you all to myself." His lips pulled up. "Is that selfish?"

"Nah." He took a sip of his wine. "You wanna be mine?"

"I'm not a possession." She smirked at him.

The corner of his lip pulled up over his teeth. "I know." He leaned in towards her ear. "But I can be rather possessive."

A shiver ran up her spine at the octave of his voice. "That can be hot. In bed." She felt his smirk as he ran his teeth over the lobe of her. "But you won't own me. You can't tell me what to do. Unless I want you to."

He pulled away from her. "Deal, sirenita."

Hey there! I know I haven't updated in so long. I'm sorry about that. I've been neglecting this story mostly because I don't have a clear plan written out for where I want it to go. I'm open to suggestions so drop a review or message me with what you want to see out of the story. Hope you enjoyed these few thousand words. I will add more when I can.

C