For Rio, Beth was a distraction. One that in his line of business could get him killed if he was not careful. She was his rotten egg, however; he couldn't find it in himself to deal with her as he would any other problem. This to Rio was as lethal as his purest dose of cocaine, yet his addiction, he couldn't kick. He'd told himself that she was beneficial to his business- that her ambition and preciseness to detail would make them both a lot of money. In turn, the risk she'd also brought to his business, with her moral dilemmas and naivety, seemed small and as each problem arose, he couldn't help but solve them in his own way. Making her an equal partner was also something he'd never do. Sharing his Kingdom was not part of the plan, but when it came to Beth, nothing ever seemed to go to plan. The sex had been a surprise to him, although, the tension between them had been growing and leading somewhere from the moment he'd first laid eyes on her. Still, he never intended to mix business with pleasure, he had a few girls that he'd entertain on the occasion for that purpose. Now that lines were blurred, he found it difficult to steer clear of her, to think clearly without the interference of his feelings for her getting in the way. Yes, Beth was a distraction to Rio, but only because he'd allowed her into his mind, even his heart, he hated to admit.
So when things with Turner had escalated and he'd found himself lying in a pool of blood, three shots to the fucking chest at the hands of his muse, he didn't know whether to be proud that the boss he had been molding finally became the Bitch he knew she was always meant to be, or hurt that the very Bitch he created, had tried to end him despite all that he had done for her. She didn't even look at him, admire her work, before hastily leaving the scene as Turner had instructed. Turner on the other hand did not hesitate to divulge his plans for him, for Her, and THEIR business.
That was nearly six months ago and still the pain from that night haunted him. He'd taken care of Turner months ago, sending his lackies to do his dirty work. He still couldn't believe that Turner actually THOUGHT he'd rat out his entire organization and just go into witness protection like some little bitch. He lived by the code and he'd surely die by it. If only Turner had kept his nose where it belonged, then maybe he'd still be alive, instead of another victim of a proposed drug bust gone sour. Turner had proven easy enough to get rid of, Beth on the other hand, was something far more personal for him. Taking care of her, he'd do himself. He wanted to look her in the eyes when he rightfully took her out. He wanted to own her impending murder in the way he'd wished she'd done for him when he'd found himself staring at the opposite end of the barrel. He'd stay with her, of course. He respected her enough to not want her to die alone. He'd even forgo his usual chop and dump and allow the authorities to discover the suburban housewife, everyone knew her to be, slain in the exact warehouse where she'd thought he'd met his end. It was the perfect ending to the nightmare that had been Elizabeth Boland.
She'd gotten way too greedy for her own good. I mean, the Bitch thought she could kill him, and cut him out of his business, and look at her now. Playing the dutiful housewife and PTA mom during the day, and counterfeiting money by night. He'd have to give it to her, she thought like a Queen, and if she hadn't tried to kill him, He'd make her HIS. Thoughts like those were exactly the reason it was time for him to come out of hiding and end it, end HER, before she made him remember just how valuable she was to him. There was no better time then now, he thought as he spotted her outside her home lugging a large duffle behind her. He didn't want to imagine what was inside said bag, but knowing his girl, and the panicked look she bore on her once lovely face, he knew now was the perfect time to take a stroll down memory lane.
He was parked across the street a house up from hers, just close enough to see who came and went, and still remain unnoticed. He stepped out of his car, keeping to the shadows, as he made the short trek to the other side, stopping just at the foot of her driveway. She wasn't facing him now, her back to him, while she struggled to place the duffle in the back of her minivan.
"Aye you need a hand with that?" He offered.
She stiffened at the sound of his voice and the bag and its contents toppled to the ground resounding in a blundering blow. She didn't turn around, afraid he assumed, not even when he grabbed her tote and swiftly placed it in the back of her trunk as she intended.
"What's wrong Elizabeth? I thought you'd be happy to see me?" He said with a sly drawl in his voice.
This indeed grabbed her attention because now he found her staring right back at him, her face as white as a ghost.
"R…Rio" she stammered, " I ki…., she stopped again, her voice notably low.
She shook her head then dared to glance at him once more before redirecting her gaze to the ground where her feet remained planted firmly.
"You're supposed to be…" she started again.
"I'm supposed to be what Elizabeth?" He questioned, although he knew exactly what the red head had been trying to say.
He cupped her chin with his hand, bringing her gaze back to his. He wanted her to see him, to feel the intent of his next words. He could feel her heart beat quicken as he inched closer to her, their chests meeting. He lowered his lips to her ear, grazing her lobe.
"You should have stayed to finish the job," he whispered.
"I didn't have a choice, she pleaded. Turner, he…"
"Turner got what was coming to him, and now, so will you. Get in the car Elizabeth?"
"No, Please, she said looking back over her shoulder at her home. "I have Kids."
This statement made Rio angry, so angry, he impulsively rammed his fist into the tail of Beth's van. It startled her, but she didn't move. Instead, she just stood there, tears rolling down her face as she awaited his next move.
"And what about Marcus? Did you think about him, my FUCKING Son, when you pulled the trigger, not once, but three times. How about when you left his father for dead?"
He paused, examining her expression, she wasn't remorseful. He knew better.
"Look, I'm sorry Ok, she admitted. But you didn't give me any choice Rio, and Yes I thought about Marcus. I thought about him so much that I inserted myself into his life. I needed to see that he was ok, without you."
"Yeah I know about you and my baby mama, two peas and a pod, right. But who gave you the right to decide my son was better off without me?"
She reached for his hand, gently rubbing her fingers across his knuckles. He didn't know why he allowed it, only that for the moment the sensation of her fingertips touching him felt right.
"I can fix this,"she said sweetly stepping into him as if they were reacquainted lovers.
She placed her palms on his chest, they were trembling, but the familiar heat in her eyes told a different story. Apart of him wanted to let her fix everything, because Beth really was a problem solver. She had to be with four highly active and demanding children, it's what had made her uniquely fit for their line of business. It's also what made him fall so fucking hard for her.
"She's winning," he thought to himself unable to tear his eyes away from hers. Beth knew exactly what she was doing to him, she was using her feminine prowess to manipulate him out of doing what had to be done. Fuck that, he wouldn't let her get out of this so easily. She was as good as Dead.
He lowered his lips to hers, feeling her quickened breaths on his chin.
"Baby this is the end of the road for you. For us. You can't patch this shit up like one of your little projects. Now get in the Fucking car Elizabeth," he spat back at her.
She didn't refuse his request this time, instead, she followed him across the street to his sedan and got in the passenger seat without a fuss.
After he'd gotten in, he started the ignition leaning over to look at her once more. Even now she was painfully beautiful. Her eyes were tear streaked and swollen, but in this moment she seemed at peace. It was admirable.
"That's my girl, he grinned squeezing her thigh affectionately. "It'll be over soon."