"What happened? Is Annie OK? Are they-" Beth started moving around the table towards him, like his proximity would shed light on what was going on, would stop her knees from shaking. He'd spoken his words casually enough, making "something" sound more like a nuisance, but there was more behind them, a serious tone she didn't like.

He quickly put his hands up. "Yeah, yeah. They're at my mom's."

Beth stopped in front of him. "She's all right?"

"Yeah."

Her shoulders loosened a little but her stomach was still in knots. Despite his words, something was wrong. If they were OK, he wouldn't sound like this.

"What did they do?"

Rio shook his head. "Not a whole lot." He opened his mouth again like he was going to speak, shook his head one more time and exhaled. "Just pissed off some of my guys and-" He looked away for a second and back at her. "Some other people."

Beth's mind flashed through the possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. "What other people?"

"Just wanted to let you know she's all right. That's it. Figured it was better you heard it in person," he started to turn away from her.

"Wait," Beth stepped after him, shaking her head. "Wait. If they're OK, why's Annie at your mom's?"

Rio rubbed his hand over his chin as he faced her. "Better for your sister to be in one place, not running around with mine causing more trouble."

"Are they – are your guys gonna hurt her?"

Rio didn't answer.

"I mean they're your guys, you can stop them right? You're their boss."

He shook his head like he didn't want to get into it. He was choosing his reaction, she could tell, remembering who he was talking to, but he was giving her nothing and her heart wasn't slowing down.

She stepped closer to him. "I want to see her."

Rio shook his head once, resolutely.

"It's my sister," she pointed to her chest.

"She's a big girl."

"For all I know you're holding her prisoner somewhere. Keeping her as leverage," Beth spat out.

Rio lowered his face with a laugh. "Yeah, my mom's. Some secret location."

Beth crossed her arms. That's if she even believed that's where he had her.

"Besides," He opened his mouth and his tongue slipped behind his teeth. "If it's a trap what makes you think it's a good idea to join her?" He asked sweetly.

"I can take care of myself," she quickly looked him up and down. He was unpredictable and could turn on her but it didn't matter. This was about Annie. "Please. I need to make sure that she's OK."

"I'm gonna decide what to do with her, yeah?" he said ominously, making the pit in Beth's stomach grow.

"I'm going with you," she stepped closer.

"You're staying here." Rio had already began walking away.

Beth narrowed her eyes. "You're forgetting I know where you live."

"I could be lying," He shrugged at her.

"It's my sister," she repeated sharply, swallowing, no longer caring who she was speaking to and whether or not he was carrying a gun. "Wherever you are I will hunt you down until I find her."

They stood across each other, neither of them moving. Beth thought of the other night, when she and the woman in the green sequined dress waited each other out. A minute stretched between her and him, neither willing to give.

"OK," he finally said, interrupting her thoughts. "Car's leaving in five. You might want to bring a change of clothes."

"What? What do you mean?" She shook her head, trying to catch up with the whiplash of his change of heart, ignoring how his eyes slowed over her for.

"Pack a bag," he said simply. "It might take a minute."

"Does my sister have clothes?"

Rio shook his head.

Hurriedly she moved to her and Dean's room, grabbing a couple of bags from the top shelf. Leafing through her hangers and drawers she packed away the basics. As she moved her ears stay peeled for any sound of footsteps or a door shutting. If he'd use this moment to try and slip out- but she had told him the truth. She'd find him. Who knows what a minute meant but she'd take enough for a few days just to be safe. Her eyes drifted to her and Dean's made bed as she zipped the bag. Her ring was in her side table, in her drawer. She'd taken it off when Dean left. It didn't mean anything she just – needed to set it down.

It was a good thing Annie had left some clothes behind when she'd stayed over. From Rio's response she guessed her sister didn't have any clothes and how would she? He probably just dropped in and grabbed her wherever she was. In a few minutes Beth had a second bag ready to go. It was easy. She knew what her sister's go to were, her comfort clothes.

She slowly drew circles with her left foot as they quietly drove. The way to Mona – his mom's place was by now a hazy memory and while the car made its way through familiar roads she wasn't sure she'd remember if this was the right way. It had been a year since she'd been there. Maybe she should've gone to the police. Rio didn't speak and Beth kept her eyes out the window. Him not talking didn't help, though honestly when he did it didn't help either, so when the car slowed down recognized the house she breathed more easily.

"Thought I'd take you to an abandoned lot?" Rio asked, parking the car.

To think she expected they were going to have a completely different conversation tonight, she thought, not responding to his question. Here she was thinking she was calling him when her sister was taking care of it all by herself.

"What's that?"

"Nothing," she said, realizing she must've murmured something under her breathe. He must've not gotten her necklace or he would've said something. It didn't matter. Not right now.

"You sure it's OK us staying here?" She asked, ludicrously thinking of her manners. Truth was that she needed him right now, as much as she preferred to be stung by a thousand killer bees. She trusted her and Annie could find a way out, a solution that wouldn't involve him. But first she'd have to find her sister for that.

"Guess so," He said, opening his car door. Beth grabbed the two bags and followed him down the path, shaking her head as he put his hand out to take one of her bags off her. "It's a short walk."

A couple of kids rushed past them as they stepped into the house, heading up the stairs. Carpets with bright colors laid over the hardwood floors and paintings of the countryside and of families, oranges and yellows decorating the walls. A group of adults speaking in a mix of Spanish and English looked up from their seats in the living room and greeted Rio and Beth as they walked in, the two responding in kind. Beth's eyes were peeled for Annie but she didn't find her in the group.

"Who's your friend?" One of the men called after them.

Rio got a look on his face like he wanted to grab her and push her through the door to the kitchen. "It's Elizabeth. Everyone, Elizabeth."

"Hi," Beth said, trying to nod and make eye contact with everyone. "Nice to meet you."

"We'll talk to you later," One of the women promised, waving at Beth, as Rio hurried her along.

"Hi ma," Rio said to a woman slightly shorter than him, with short curly hair and brown skin.

"Finally, you're back," Rio's mom kissed his cheek. Beth watched, taking the picture in.

"I was gone for twenty minutes," He said.

But her attention was already on Beth. "You're Annie's sister? Elizabeth?"

"Beth is fine," Beth replied. Why Rio was insisting on introducing her as Elizabeth, who knew. "Thank you for having us over."

Rio's mom smiled like it was nothing.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs..."

"Ramirez. You can call me Katy," She smiled brightly and leaned towards Beth kissing her on both cheeks. "Christopher said that your name was Elizabeth."

Christopher Ramirez. She collected the detail of Rio's full name and shelved it away somewhere safe, sensing him stiffen at the escaped secret.

Rio put out his hand for Beth's bags. "Here, I can take that."

Beth passed one to him. "Where's Annie?"

Now that she'd met Rio's mom and walked through a house full of guests she felt calmer, but she was still trying and failing to hear Annie's voice.

"She and Sylvia are up in her room," Katy said, opening a package of small peppers.

Rio glanced behind him and leaned towards his mom. "Are they staying much longer?" He lowered his voice. "It's probably better we don't have a lot of people here right now."

Katy lifted her hands from the counter. "Where are they supposed to eat?"

Rio put his hands on it, looking like he was going to argue back. "Ma-"

"Sis, you're here," Annie came up behind her. Beth exhaled. A young woman around two inches taller than Annie with long brown hair stood next to her.

"Hi," Beth smiled sweetly at her sister. Too sweetly. "Sylvie?" She turned to the woman beside her.

"Sylvia," Katy easily corrected before returning to speak with Rio.

Sylvie smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to finally meet you," Beth nodded.

Annie sheepishly exchanged glances with Sylvie before grabbing a bag from Beth. "Here," Annie grabbed one of the bags. "I'll take you downstairs."

"What were you thinking?" Beth asked as they set their belongings on the floor, near the bed in a far corner of the room. While some of the space was taken up with shelving someone had taken care to make this corner of the room more homey, with scarves and decorative blankets on the walls. Though Annie had closed the door on the top of the stairs before taking Beth down the rest of the way the commotion of kids and adults was still audible.

"OK. First of all it wasn't my fault."

"Yeah, let's skip that part," Beth sat on the bed, her eyes drifting for a moment to a piano that stood against the wall not far from the bed.

"We were going to a party," Annie paced in front of her. "We were going to meet Sean there but then he didn't show. But a few other guys did."

Beth listened, couldn't help but remember the days she'd show up at the principal's office because her mom couldn't, to hear what Annie had gotten herself into that week.

"They knew Sylvie. They knew she was gangfriend's sister-"

"Can we please not call him that? Not in his house."

Annie shook her hand. "They were uh, a rival gang. I guess. They— They had guns," Annie said quietly. "It's OK," she motioned at Beth who'd gotten up and moved towards her, taking her arm. "They didn't hurt us," Annie held Beth's hand for a moment before breaking away gently. "They said that we had to get these plates from Rio's warehouse or they'd hurt us. We didn't know what to do. So we did it. We got lucky. No one was there. Sylvie texted someone for help but he was too far. So we broke them. The plates. And we tried to stall them until Sylvie's friends came."

The ceiling above them creaked.

"Sylvie's friends? You mean, Rio's guys? Why didn't she text Rio?"

Annie turned her palms over and she paced to the bed and sat down. "She wanted to figure it out on her own."

Beth sat beside her, thinking about Annie trying to figure out her money situation on her own, trying not to involve Beth. "So by the time his guys came-"

"The guys who were waiting for the prints figured out what we did. Boy, were they angry," Annie said humorlessly.

"Annie, this is serious. If something happened to you, Ben-"

Annie got up. "You think I don't know that? I know. I'm always careful. I really calmed down since Ben was born," She tapped her chest.

Beth blinked at her.

"Well, compared to before!"

She wasn't wrong. Still, that didn't help now. Beth wanted to sink her head in her hands. Sylvie Rio had to protect, but her sister? He had no loyalty to her.

The best part was her baby sister managed to get in trouble not just with one gang, but two, all in one night. Beth pinched the bridge of her nose.

Annie put her hand on Beth's thigh. "Sylvie had my back. If it wasn't for her-"

"We just need to figure out a way out," Beth cut her off. "We will."

Annie's eyes widened. "You mean us?" She motioned between her and Beth.

Beth's eyes widened. You're not thinking of staying here?"

It may have been Rio's mom's house and she didn't think Rio was going to hurt them but Annie couldn't possibly think they'd stay at the same place with him.

"Sylvie's my friend. She's not gonna let him do anything."

"Really? Where was she when he pointed a gun at my face?!"

"She didn't know he'd do that," Annie exclaimed, shaking her head. "I trust her. It's why I'm here and not- handled."

"Handled?!"

"It's what he- nevermind," Annie closed her eyes, maybe responding to the distress on Beth's face. "It's his mom's house, you think he's gonna do something to us here? His mom loves me, by the way."

Of course she did. Annie always seemed to get on with the in laws. Didn't Judy love her? Her future mother in law liked Beth well enough, but always seemed to have these little comments. About Beth's job. When the topic of kids came up she'd tried to find out how soon she'd have a grandkid. Made some side comments about Beth not being able to have it all.

"Is his mom going to get you out of this?" She asked her younger sister.

"No. But this is outside our line of expertise, sis. It's his. Even Sylvie knows a little. Just not enough to get us out."

"Just enough to get you in," Beth picked at a piece of lint off her pants.

"What happened was on both of us. Anyway, you know Mona. What's her deal? I thought you were friends."

"We weren't so close." Beth's stomach sunk as she thought about it. Now wasn't the time to get into it. "We were coworkers more than anything and she hasn't worked at DQ for months." She lowered her voice. "Look, even if he doesn't do anything to you, his- friends aren't happy with you. Not to mention-"

"I'm staying here," Annie said. "If it's something that's keeping me from Ben, you know I think it has to be the best choice."

"We could go to the police."

"Gee, officer, I just robbed the nice gang member but don't worry, we worked it out when I got some bags for him. Some bills, drugs, no biggie." Annie made a face.

Beth groaned, exhaling. "I don't trust him."

"I don't either. But I trust her."

"Annie," Beth studied her face. "How long have you known her?"

"Uhhh-" Annie glanced upwards for a moment, shaking her head like she was trying to remember. "It doesn't really matter," She waved her hand in the air. "Enough to know that we can count on her. Besides, this one's above our pay grade, sis."

Beth leaned back and fell on the bed, her legs dangling. Annie joined, facing her.

"We'll figure out a way out and everything will be back to normal," Beth made a line in the air with her hand.

Annie laughed and glanced upwards, shaking her head. "What were the odds that we'd both meet gang- Rio's sisters?"

Beth put her hands on her stomach. If Annie wasn't going anywhere she'd stay too. They were out of their depths and going to the police wasn't going to be an option.

"What were the plates of?" She asked, remembering Annie's earlier comment.

Annie scrunched her face. "I don't remember. They had a printing machine though, but there was nothing there when we got them."

Beth turned her eyes upwards, thinking.

"Let's go upstairs, they'll be asking where we are," Annie said, pushing off the bed.

Where was Annie? By the time Beth made it back after quickly checking her phone and texting Ruby back, she was gone. Probably with Sylvie, maybe even charming an adult or two.

The kitchen was a flurry of activity, with two women slicing and cutting and Katy moving around, checking on the oven and the pots and pans, kids wandering around her.

"Hijo, will you please take Renita and Thomas out?"

Rio turned from one of the women he was talking to, and the way his eyes met hers Beth had a strange feeling he had been watching her look over the kitchen.

"Sure, hey, come here," He called out to his brother and sister, picking up Renita in his arms and putting his hand out to Thomas.

The two women burst into laughter and Katy turned around, laughing too but speaking in Spanish, causing one of the women to open the drawer and seem to start a new task.

Beth looked back at Katy adding beef to the pan. "Can I help?" She asked.

"You don't have to, yeah?" Rio said, stopped at the doorway to the living room.

"I'm OK," Katy assured her. "Thank you."

"I'd love to," Beth insisted. "I like cooking. I'd love to help out."

Katy wiped her hands with the kitchen towel, set it down and finally nodded. "All right. The adults are cooking," She said to Rio. "Keep the kids out of my kitchen."

As Beth washed her hands she knew it was absolutely true. She did enjoy preparing meals, putting them together and just as much she wanted to give a helping hand. It wouldn't hurt to get on any good side of Rio's relatives, mom including. Watching him being mildly chastised by his mom was nothing if not bewildering. She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and stepped up to get instructions on the vegetables that needed prepping.

"I don't ask anyone to help," Katy said as she mixed the ground beef. "But my son tries."

"Him?" Beth motioned with her head towards Rio who was sitting with Renita on his lap and Thomas next to him, Thomas holding a toy plane in the air as Renita flapped her arms like she was flying. He didn't seem so- domestic. But then she wouldn't imagine him playing with two young children, whom she learned were his younger siblings, from listening to the women chat about them as she got ready to help.

Katy nodded. "Mona always has something to do, and when she was usually helping it was usually with the kids. Sylvia- it's better if she doesn't help. She can clean," She smiled and burst into laughter. Beth smiled. Some of Rio's laughter rang in his mom's laugh.

It wasn't Rio she learned much about in talking with her but she learned about his mom, how she moved to Detroit when she was a teenager and met Rio's dad. Beth got the sense that they weren't together anymore but they were still in each other's lives for the kids' sake.

They stood beside each other, slicing onions and chicken, and helping wash dishes as they made the food.

Once the table was set and more chairs added to fit in all the guests, Beth, Annie, and Sylvie ended up at one end of the table. Bowls of salad and plates of tortillas, rice, fish, and meat were passed around as chatter and laughter filled the room.

Rio was sitting at the other end of the table, having been nabbed by one of the adults.

She wasn't used to big family dinners apart from the holidays and even that was mostly as an adult. Dean had some uncles and aunts but the whole family didn't usually get together. It was something she looked forward to having when she had her own family. Feeding a big group of people, sitting back and watching them enjoy the meal, laugh, and talk. To have her own family.

Annie was showing something on her phone to Sylvie and Beth wondered just how much her mom knew about what happened. She didn't get the feeling Katy knew much.

When she forgot where she was, that Rio was a few feet away, what Annie had gotten herself into, she was able to relax and enjoy herself too, though the worry still pecked at her, that something had to be done.

She almost wished that Ruby was there too. Ruby could help her make sense of everything.

It wasn't silly to be on edge around him. Even if the images of him playing with his sibglings and his easy way with his family didn't match up to her memory. Of course he wasn't just the man who'd stood in front of her with vengeance in his eyes, but she would've never been able to imagine it. That kindness wasn't directed at her though, she reminded herself. She couldn't trust it. Still when she'd seen him before she couldn't imagine him having a life outside of his business. Was it here he lay his head?

"It's Sylvia," Katy instructed Sylvie as she overheard Sylvie telling a story and mentioned a friend calling her by nickname. "Your father and I called you Sylvia. Not Sylvie, not Syl. Sylvia."

"I like Sylvie," Sylvie insisted.

Beth's eyes went up when she heard Mona's voice. Last time she saw her wasn't a far way from DQ, and she hadn't been back since. Her attempts to make eye contact didn't work, though she was sure Mona saw her. Finally Mona's gaze met hers and an expression of recognition crossed her face. After making her rounds of hellos on the other side of the table she stepped back and into the kitchen. As she left Beth met Annie's eyes and she got up to follow her.

Mona was scooping Renita into her arms as Beth stepped into the kitchen, the little girl having run off after her big sister the moment she'd left the living room.

Mona glanced at Beth as she maneuvered opening the fridge and Beth expected she would've preferred her and Renita could've disappeared behind it.

"Didn't expect to see you here," Mona said, taking out soda and pouring it into a glass. She murmured something to Renita who nodded her head.

"I tried to call you."

"Oh yeah?" Mona put the soda away and took a gulp of her drink. Renita put her head on Mona's chest.

Beth glimpsed back at the dining room. It wasn't easy to have privacy here.

Mona set her sister on the floor and spoke to her softly. Renita nodded, and ran back to the living room. Mona took another gulp of her drink before setting her glass down. She stepped towards the kitchen door, leaving it open for Beth to follow her.

"Too many people listening," Mona murmured as they stepped outside. Beth followed Mona down the steps. The back yard was large and bushes surrounded its periphery. Katy had mentioned she spent time on her garden.

Beth turned around to face her. "When did you get back?"

"About a week ago. Sounded like things worked out," she put her hands in her pockets.

"Did he tell you what happened?"

Mona nodded, in her expression a weariness that suggested to Beth that this has happened before.

"Your sister always was trouble," Mona shook her head, leaning against the porch's wall.

"Both of them, I guess."

"I talked to him. You worked it out."

"Yeah." Fireflies illuminated the back yard in rhythm. If things had worked out, Beth thought, what was she doing here?"

"Look," Mona put her hands behind her. "I got your messages. It didn't end so good," Mona said, and Beth knew she was referring to what had happened between them. "No matter what went down between us, I don't want something bad to happen to you. But this-" She pushed herself off the wall. "Me and my brother, we stay out of each other's business when it comes to this."

"Comes to what?"

"Business," Mona repeated. "You get between him and his money…That's outside my big sister control of things. He stays out of my way and I stay out of his."

Beth nodded. "What would you do if you were me?"

"Send Annie away. Let her ride it out."

Beth huffed a laugh, thinking of what she was going to offer Rio before everything else that happened tonight.

Mona glanced back at her house and back at Beth. "You're bringing this to my mom's house. If you were me, you'd ask me to keep my mom out of it." She said before turning on her feet and stepping up the stairs.

"I am sorry," Beth said, words she'd said before.

Mona paused and faced her, putting her palm out. "We're good. It was probably best I stopped working there."

"What have you being doing since-?"

"Working at this food joint," Mona waved her hand. "Do odd jobs. I get by. Tina still gives everybody a hard time?"

"It's not her anymore, it's Cal. Exactly," Beth said to Mona's widened eyes.

"He became manager?" She laughed. "I'm sorry."

Beth smiled in return.

"You'll figure it out."

Beth wasn't sure but she nodded. Of course she did. There wasn't a choice. "I know we can't stay here-"

Mona shook her head to stop her. "It's good she has you." She motioned for Beth to come inside.

Ready to take a breather, Beth sneaked downstairs. Once the plates and bowls were picked up from the table the guests started mingling, with pairs approaching her with questions that quickly echoed each other. Katy shooed her away from the kitchen, saying she'd helped enough.

"I'm not his girlfriend," she kept saying, unsure where the idea had even come from because Rio hadn't introduced her this way and they hadn't at all interacted in a way that suggested it, not even spoken during during. She figured it was more teasing than anything else. "His sister's good friends with mine."

Even with this explanation came more questions.

"Is that how you met Christopher? Through Sylvie?"

That was one way to put it, especially since she'd more or less only gotten a glimpse of him when she'd picked up the bags from Mona. It wasn't the time to get into how she knew his older sister. She wasn't used to that kind of intense interest. Spotting him from across the room Rio seemed like he wanted to help, she was sure for more himself than for her sake, but he was in the middle of showing photos on his phone to the man who had been sitting in front of him.

It didn't get any less strange to see him in another setting, relaxed and friendly, such sharp contrast to the first time they met. Sure, he had to have a life outside of what he did, but to actually see it... She didn't think she'd seen him smile so much than in the time he was having dinner, and it was so warm, almost contagious. If she would've met him in different circumstances she'd never guess as to who he was.

She knew better than to play a piano without asking for permission but no one was around and her parents' guests would do it too on her piano. The piano they'd had had belonged to an aunt and was eventually sold. Eventually it was sold. But that wasn't until she was 14. She pressed down on a key, then another. How come they the piano downstairs, she wondered.

Her fingers fell into step, muscle memory remembering the tunes. She went from the Beatles to Queen to Moonlight Sonata. A smile broke on her lips as she played, as the songs came back easily. One hand moving in quick motion while the other pressing down on the keys more slowly. Like how she was now trying to catch up with what was going on around her.

Her and Annie could still find a way out on their own without him. She was confident on this. How warm he'd been with his siblings, she hummed, singing softly as he played. How warm he'd been. With kids, no less. She never would've imagined.

Mona didn't give her the answer she wanted but she had to appreciate her frankness. Maybe one day they could be friends again, not that they were ever close. Beth had to depend on herself. And she had Dean. Beth's fingers moved as she pushed away unwanted thoughts. Mona was right too, wasn't she? Don't get between him and his money.

She stopped, trying to remember other tunes that were in her head. What was that song that got remixed that played nonstop back in '98?

Gentle panting came beside her. Mitten, Rio's dog, which had turned out to be the family dog. She'd heard someone call him that upstairs. Her fingers petting his head and his intent expression made her want to ask him if he had any special requests.

It had been a while since she'd had an audience, well, that she'd even played. Once her parents sold the piano she played at school but didn't get as much opportunity to practice. She'd enjoyed the classics, imagined what it would've been like to grow up and play the them when they were considered modern, like a song that turned on on the radio. Her fingers started drawing out the March from the Nutracker. It wouldn't be long before Christmas. Maybe they'd have it with the Hills this year. Maybe with Dean's parents. Dean and her would have to at least do something with the Hills and Annie, who'd probably spend the holidays with Gregg's parents, she thought as her fingers worked.

"That's pretty good."

Beth's fingers hit the notes hard before freezing in place. Just how long had her audience been standing at the doorway, one leg over the other?

"Thanks." She said to Rio, her fingers still on the keys. "Sorry, I just saw the piano and had to play."

"Don't bother me," Rio said, starting to walk towards her. There it was again. The confidence. Playfulness. Turn on the charm and he could twist and turn her which way he wanted. Even without** Mona's words she knew she couldn't trust him. He may have been helping with Annie, but that wasn't for Annie. He'd sell them out as quickly as he could if he had the chance.

She was acutely aware that it was just the two of them in the large room, that was somehow becoming smaller and smaller as he stepped towards her. He stopped, sitting on the bench beside her. Conversations and laughter tapered through from the top of the stairs, Spanish mixing with English. Her left hand started playing a melody, trying to break the silence, the tension from next to someone who'd just about a week ago threatened her life. Who had her now at his house, but she still barely knew anything about him.

"This what you do?" He looked down at her hands. Beth stopped playing and flattened her hand on the keys.

"What?"

"For fun?"

He pressed down on a few keys, one at a time.

"I haven't played in years." She followed his fingers. "Do you play?"

"You know it," he said, pushing against her, moving his left hand closer to hers as she tried to put some distance between then. He set both his hands on the keys and closed his eyes for a moment. Pressing down on the keys in determination he was able to play a few chords before she broke into laughter and he quickly followed.

"I'm just playing," he said. "Sylvie's the musician. My mom plays too. I listen."

"And watch."

"Oh, I'm sorry sweetheart," He licked his lower lip. "I thought musicians liked an audience."

"Not when they're lurking at doorways."

He grinned at her and she thought it was curious that even when he was charming he easily put a wall between them. "Fair enough," he said.

It couldn't be helped how she could take a closer look at him when he was up close, when he wasn't threatening her. Lean, muscular. He'd grown out a beard, she vaguely realized, since the first time she saw him. He was attractive. Not to her, exactly. Well, maybe. That warmth in his face when he was holding his siblings, when he spoke to his family. A a hint of that warmth was playing back in his expression as he studied her. She reminded herself that it was just temporary. He could turn on her just as quickly. Her fingers played a little as they sat quietly side by side.

She turned to him. "How much trouble are they in?"

Rio looked down at the piano keys and didn't answer her.

"Are they safe here?" She pressed.

Rio rubbed his chin. "My guys ain't gonna come around if that's what you're asking."

"And the other guys?"

"I got it," He said, in a tone that discouraged further conversation.

She pulled her hands from the keys. "We can't just stay here. They must know where you live."

He leaned towards her slightly. "What do you suggest? Talking to them?"

"Maybe," She put her hand on her thigh.

"Got experiencing negotiating truce with a bunch of pissed off guys with guns? Nah, I didn't think so."

"I worked it out with you."

"That was different."

She held his gaze. "I just know we can't hide out here."

She knew he agreed with her, remembering what he had said to his mom about their guests.

"You tell your husband what happened?"

She looked away. "He's not my husband."

"He know what's going on?"

"What's your point?" She asked curtly.

"I just wanna know if I need to worry about him looking for you." He lifted a shoulder and dropped it. Beth followed his eyes to her hand. "Deciding to play hero, yeah?"

"He's the last person you have to worry about," she said, trying to catch his eyes.

He rubbed his chin, his tongue slipping behind his teeth before his expression changed. "Why did you invite me over tonight?"

"What?" Beth shook her head quickly.

"In the car. You said something about expecting me to stop by. Come to find out someone left me a necklace. Looks real familiar. So why did you come over, Elizabeth?"

His eyes were deep and brown and she found herself wondering if someone could get lost in them. She remembered who he really was. If he tried to put on his charms it would be wasted on her. An understanding passed between them and she narrowed her eyes.

He'd found out, she thought as she tried to keep her expression blank. Had he known the entire time they were speaking at her and Dean's place? No, she would've been able to tell. More annoyed than feeling put on the spot, she opened her mouth to answer, deciding she'd know what to say the moment she'd hear the words.

"Chris."

Beth and Rio turned to Thomas who stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Federico wants to meet your girlfriend."

The little boy's tone was so serious that Beth couldn't help but laugh.

Rio sighed, tired. "I didn't tell them that."

Here she thought she'd met everyone tonight. Thomas came up to Beth and put out his hand.

"Show the way," Beth got up and followed him, thankful to postpone the conversation with Rio.

"Yo, wake up. We gotta talk."

The sharp voice broke into the conversation she was having with Ruby while the scenery changed from her house to a park with a dancing crowd to Ruby's house. Beth opened her eyes to find Rio at the edge of the bed, standing like he'd just walked in on her reading the newspaper. Annie was out cold, fast asleep as if he hadn't said anything. It was like her sister's brain was wired not to respond to voices or cries outside Ben while she slept.

To be fair Annie had also gone to bed much much later after Beth had. When the mattress shifted Beth had woken enough to see the clock. Sleeping might help her think, she had thought when she made her way to bed. Keeping up with Sylvie and Annie's inside jokes wasn't easy either, so when the last of Sylvie's friends left she'd called it a night. Rio had disappeared at some point and she'd noticed he hadn't come home by the time she went to bed.

Beth rubbed her eyes, glancing at her phone. 7:14 AM. "We'll be right up," she said, turning to wake up Annie.

Sylvie was sitting already sitting upstairs with Rio. The dining room was empty, a stark difference to the activity from the day before.

"What's up?" Annie asked, sitting next to Sylvie.

"Chris and I were talking," Sylvie crossed her arms. "We think it's a good idea we clear out of Detroit for a few days."

Annie glanced at Beth, who glanced at Rio.

"Go where?" Annie asked.

"Our uncle has a place up north. We could chill there for a few days."

"I can't – I don't wanna leave my kid," Annie said.

"Just for a few days," Sylvie nodded her head at Rio.

"As long as it takes," Rio said resolutely, leaning against the counter.

Annie sat beside Sylvie, the two sharing a smile.

"As long as it takes to what?"

"See first if it blows over," he answered Beth noncommittally.

She stepped closer to the group. It was one thing not to stay here, even for Annie to leave, but for Rio to go along? No part of that appealed to her, despite Annie's assurances from the night before.

"Isn't there anything else we can do right now?" She pushed.

Rio just returned her gaze, his hands in his pockets. "Got some more of those toys to sell?"

Annie mumbled something under her breathe that Beth didn't hear but Sylvie coughed a laugh.

"It ain't funny," Rio snapped at his sister.

"I said nothing much was left to cover any losses-" Annie started and glanced downwards.

"No, it's not," Rio said, looking at Beth.

"Maybe they could do a job," Beth put her hands on a back of a chair. "Like we did."

"This ain't a family business," Rio said, motionless. "You don't gotta come."

Beth shook her head. Like he could keep her out.

"Chris, you don't have to be there either," Sylvie tapped her fingers on the table.

"Oh no?"

"We didn't do any of it on purpose," she raised her voice. "What if you being there gets attention you don't want?"

"I got involved the second you and your best friend decided to take on Darryl's crew," Rio said in a low tone.

His phone rang as he squared his gaze at his sister. Pulling his phone he stepped out of the room.

Beth pulled up a chair and sat across from Annie.

"Sorry, you want some coffee?" Sylvie got up from her chair. Annie nodded.

"Yes, please," Beth said.

Beth rubbed her temples, staring at the of tiny roses sitting in a pot between her and Annie. The cupboard opened and closed as Sylvie got two mugs.

Annie leaned on her arms. "You know we have to go."

Beth eyes turned blankly behind her and she shook her head, not wanting to accept it.

Annie tapped with her index finger on the table. "He knows these guys. We're outside our depth here, sis."

He was part of that world – she knew it. She just didn't like it one bit.

"I know one guy there," Sylvie said as she set mugs in front of Beth and Annie and placed sugar on the the table. "It's not gonna help much now, so," she looked up at where Rio had stepped into. "Milk?"

Beth and Annie nodded.

Rio stepped back in the kitchen as Annie poured milk. "We're good."

"We can stay there?" Sylvie asked.

"Yeah. Gonna lay low." Rio met Beth's gaze. "And since that you're probably not going to let your sister leave without you-"

Beth pushed her seat back to turn to him. "I'm not leaving her."

He didn't reply. Beth glanced back at Annie.

"No one knows about this cabin of yours?" Beth asked him, distrustful.

"You got a better idea?"

Annie nodded at her. Beth didn't like it but Annie trusted Sylvie and it was the only way. Reluctantly, she nodded.

"All right. Let's go," Rio nodded and started turning away.

"I'm taking my car," Beth stood up. Like he'd done the day before Rio stopped at her words.

"No, you're not," he answered before she stopped talking. "We gotta leave now."

Oh no, that was not going to happen. Her shoulders tightened. "I'm not going to be stranded there. My sister has a kid. If she needs to, she needs to get to him fast."

"We'll work it out."

"Fine." Beth took a few steps towards him. "Tell me I can use your car."

He didn't answer. She held her ground, her eyes locked on his.

"Chris, just tell them you'll pay for a cab for them if they need it," Sylvie interrupted. "You'll be surprised how often someone needs one," she said to Annie. "There's always someone to do it." She turned back to Rio. "C'mon, Annie has a son. She's right, what if something happens?"

Rio's gaze finally shifted from Beth to Sylvie. Beth waited.

"All right," He said.

"Finally. Road trip!" Sylvie said.

Beth caught Annie's eyes. Her sister smiled bravely. It was undoubtedly going to be hard for her to be away from her child, but a plan of keeping their head down made sense. Mona was right, Annie getting away was a good idea. Bringing Ben would be dangerous. Where she couldn't trust Rio and she still didn't know Sylvie, Annie seemed to really believe she'd stick up for her, and Beth had to trust that. And if Rio was going there was no way she was going to stay behind. Besides, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea for her to keep an eye on her sister either.

"You're driving," Rio nodded at Beth, taking back her attention, and a clinkering sounded as he pushed his hand up in the air.

The metal narrow pieces pricked at her skin as she caught his keys.

"I could get some shut eye," he said.