"Shhhh. You're going to wake up the kids." Beth hushed Ruby as the latter shook from laughing. It had taken her a while to get all her kids to bed that night. She did prefer Ruby's response to a tight lipped glare and chastising, but she suspected that was barreling in right behind the chuckles.
"No, no," Ruby held her stomach as she tried to slow her breathing. "You got out, you were safe. You have an interview in three days." she pointed three fingers in the air. "And he doesn't gets you back not with threats... No, you stroll right through the door with the bright label that says 'crime'." Ruby swirled the wine in her glass. "She's serious." She said to Annie.
"Whatcha gonna wear?" Annie's eyes shined.
"Annie." Ruby pushed the glass away from her lips.
"What? She needs the money. I need the money. I haven't heard you saying medical bills stop rolling in after a transplant." She added gently. Ruby lowered her eyes for a moment.
"I'd do it in a second." Annie snapped her fingers. "They'll get on some love boat, she'll cover for him-"
"Whatever that means," Ruby tilted her glass at Beth.
"Make it look like he's an upstanding guy, whatever," Annie waved off Ruby's comment. "In and out, she's done. And we're back in." She finished with big smile and raised her index finger. "Right in time too, cause I can't be held responsible for my actions if Boomer gets out of line again."
Annie rarely brought it up but Beth knew Boomer's attempted assault left a lasting scar. She was sure her sister preferred to quit but didn't see other options.
Ruby gave Annie a "some help you are" look.
"What? She rescheduled the interview already, OK? Right?" Annie nudged Beth.
"Yes." Beth said.
"See?"
"What? What is that face?" Ruby asked.
"I had to schedule it for next month." Beth clasped her hands.
"What? Why?"
"They do it in time with the training schedule."
"Just one more month." Annie said. "No biggie."
Ruby tapped her forehead. "Am I the only one who understood the lyrics to this song? Guy gave you a gun. Asked you to-" she mimicked a gun being shot. "Himself! Of all people—"
"It sounded more of a 'me or Dean' situation to me." Annie said.
"Dean!" Ruby's eyes widened as if she had just remembered him. "Who your good friend beat up."
"Slick gangfriend. He beat-" Annie slid her hand in the air. "Me to it." She wiggled her eyebrows.
"You're saying I was safe like he didn't say he was coming back that night." Beth said. "I wasn't completely out."
"He gave you a choice." Ruby said resolutely.
"Some choice." Annie said. "She owed him a job. So do a job and get zilch? If she's gonna do something, she might as well get something out of it."
Ruby sighed into her drink. "Get what, the possibility he takes her back, on a whim? And she's not babysitting his cat. It's a three day trip doing lord knows what. Four days." She corrected herself.
"Maybe the fourth's not a full day." Beth leaned to grab the whiskey bottle. "Anyway, I can't see him as a cat person-"
"OK stop it both of you. It's been more than a month since we got paid. Like paid," Annie stressed the last word. "Sadie's not staying with me but if I want a real chance at getting her back I gotta start working on padding a nest for her. Her school fees alone." Her voice trailed off. "Right now I'm – well I'm broke and you two can't be doing much better. Am I right?" Annie glanced between Beth and Ruby. "Being broke was good while it lasted. Sign me up for getting back in gangfriend's good graces."
"Doesn't any part of you think this is a bad idea?" Ruby asked.
"No." Annie put her hand at her hip and shook her head. "I mean, if I was doing it maybe it would be. Who knows what I'd get into. But this is responsible Beth. Don't be such a downer. Maybe she'll even have fun. If I were her, I'd be flattered." Annie added, mischief in her eyes. "I mean, we know he wants it, right?" She peeked at Beth.
"Excuse me?" Beth asked as she poured another drink.
"You. With your clothes off. On top of him. Or under him. Probably both." She winked. "Or maybe-"
"Annie!" Beth said, relieved she was able to keep her pouring hand steady.
Annie raised her hand in defense. "Out of everyone he knows he invites you on an overnight trip. We haven't met any of his lady friends, but you can't be the only respectable woman he knows."
"This is a business proposition." Beth resisted pointing her index finger at her sister.
"Oh yeah," Annie nodded slowly as she leaned hr arms on the counter. "He definitely wants to get down to business with ya." She rolled her shoulders and arms.
"Stop it. You look like a jellyfish." Beth said.
Annie laughed as Ruby shook her head slowly.
"What?" Beth asked.
"Just be careful." Ruby said.
"What-" Beth said before deciding not to go down that path with her. She turned to Annie. "You need to take down your fantasies a hundred notches down." She settled on raising her index finger at her sister from the glass she was holding.
"Mmmm, it's not me." Annie gulped her drink. "That's all gangfriend." She smiled tauntingly.
Another comment from her sister about how long it's been since she had sex was right around the corner, Beth could tell. Sure, she noticed how Rio looked at her sometimes. All right, often. Even that night when he pulled her outside she saw flickers of it.
It wasn't just that, was it though? There was something more, she thought, as she gulped her drink. The time he'd given her, Ruby, and Annie more fake cash and told them they delivered. His surprise when she pushed back at the warehouse. He had called them bitches more than once but she had seen his respect for her grow in the short time they worked together. She'd have to galvanize on his respect to remind him that she was reliable and worth rehiring.
He had to consider her to be a potential asset. That had to be the reason he asked her to help him. Even if he'd checked her out a few times, she was obviously a safe choice for him to take along Someone who wouldn't be a distraction. For her, anything beyond business, any attraction was something that was best left alone. Attraction was fleeting and at the end of the day, Rio didn't trust her and she didn't trust him. Even before she thought he put a hit on their lives her relationship with him had been consistently tense.
She hadn't forgotten the terror that shook her when he grabbed her neck and pulled a gun on her. Going by their last meeting his fury at her still lingered. For her part, she'd think she had let go of her anger at him until she'd remember how he'd broken up with her. Business ties, broken business ties with her. Instructed her to go home with the thought that it was only a matter of time before he or his men would be after her, Ruby, and Annie, to finish them off.
Wednesday night careened its way as the week sprung forward. Beth had planned on having some family time and brought cards and a few game boards out to the living room. Emma wasn't in the mood and she preferred to lie on her stomach and play with a game that Jane had decided she was too old to play.
"I wanna play Go Fish." Danny grabbed the deck.
"Mom said we could play Monopoly first," Jane patted the game board.
"That game takes forever."
"Where are you going?" Jane asked.
"Business trip. It won't be far," Beth said. She wasn't lying exactly. She wasn't sure where she was going.
"Is dad going to stay at the house?" Emma asked.
"Course he will. This is his place too," Kenny said. "Mom, is dad going to stay?"
"He will for the weekend."
Kenny looked down at his cards. Beth felt guilt as she looked at her son. Her kids missed their dad. Despite that, it wasn't fair for them to live with two parents whose relationship was in tatters. She and Dean would find a way for him to be present in their lives.
After a few games were played after all, including Monopoly and two rounds of Go Fish, a few kids' arguments diffused along the way, showers taken, and children tucked in, Beth sat down with a huff on her couch. She could finally take a shower but first she wanted to text Annie and catch up in a chapter on her book. A week ago she had stopped on such a cliffhanger. As she leafed through it she couldn't remember which character was in danger and which one was after the next clue. She skimmed the pages more carefully trying to refresh her memory.
Buddy padded over and snuggled at her feet. The clock's ticking echoed in the living room and her thoughts slid from the book, taking her outside her living room. Thoughts of bills, of lies, of betrayal, kept fighting their way into her mind trying to carve a handy slice of her attention. She closed her eyes and drew a picture of sinking her legs in a hot spring. Her kids splashing around her. Happy and safe. She returned to the image again and again as darker thoughts tried to pull her back to a valley of distress. She saw herself lean against the stone, feel the sun warm her skin. Back in her living room, the comforting tranquility of the night hugged her like a blanket.
"Sweetheart."
Opening her eyes, she quickly made out Rio standing in front her. Buddy stood at his feet and Rio knelt down to pat his head. Shaking its tail Buddy happily went on his way.
"What are you doing here?" She blinked, sitting up, feeling her pulse quicken. She was going to see him the next day, she remembered. She'd fallen asleep. Her mouth was dry and instinctively she looked for a glass of water on the empty, brown coffee table.
"I needed to give you this."
Her head pounded. She had fallen into a deep sleep.
"You didn't answer your phone." He continued.
Her eyes focused on an outstretched arm. She took a plastic card from him and took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. Her eyes swept over it quickly before she looked up to Rio, only for them to fly back as something clicked. The only familiar detail on it was her own photo.
"Alanna Becker?" She read the name aloud. "A fake ID?" She turned the card over mindlessly. "How did you get my picture?"
"Facebook."
Impressive work, she thought, as she flicked her thumb over the card's thickness. Whoever made it managed to find a decent photo of her as far as IDs went. But what did she need it for? Her curiosity piqued only to belatedly feel concerned that her first response wasn't alarm. While she thought she massaged her neck, easing it out of the uncomfortable position she'd fallen asleep in. She caught Rio's eyes resting on her hands before he tore them away and returned to her face.
"Do you get a fake one too?" She set the card on the table.
He tsked at her. "I'm cool, don't got to worry," he non answered. It was her grogginess, she was sure, that was making his voice weave in more slowly.
"I should know what to call you at least, right?" She asked.
He nodded. She leaned her back against the couch and waited for him to speak and wasn't unnerved when he predictably didn't. She was too tired to be irked at his refusal to talk. She'd find a few names to call him if she couldn't use his name – and there it was. Like she'd be too exhausted to not be irked by his reticence. Still, as much as it pained her, she'd have to follow his lead.
"One more thing. You talk on the phone," he said. "You don't tell anyone what you're doing, yeah?"
"They'll know less than I do." She said with a little attitude.
"Nothing," he repeated. "To no one." He raised his index fingers to indicate upstairs.
She snickered a little, unable to stop herself.
"Something funny?" His eyes narrowed.
She recognized the sharp tone and underlying threat under it. She stopped laughing, picked at her pants, and though it wasn't his business and she didn't want to tell him, she looked up and said plainly, "Yeah, that my husband's going to know anything about this. You noticed I'm sleeping here and not upstairs?"
"What, you in the doghouse?" Amusement unmistakably sneaked in his eyes as he looked between her and the stairs. In small moments like that, she thought, that he turned on and off without notice, but where he wasn't the hard boss, he seemed approachable, almost friendly. Like when he had commented on the crispiness of potatoes in his omelet.
She managed a small chuckle. "No. He's not staying here and we haven't talked about much lately."
"Musta done something to get kicked out of his own house," He rubbed his chin.
Yes, after he treated it so well, Beth thought bitterly. "He crossed some lines he shouldn't have. Let's just say that."
Dean wasn't even the reason she fell asleep on the couch, at least she didn't think he was until that moment. Rio continued standing, not making himself comfortable but not seeming to be in a hurry to leave either. Still curious about the weekend, she couldn't be blamed for trying to make use of it.
"Do I need a story with this too?" She lowered her eyes to the card.
"If you want. Less you say the better," He said.
Wouldn't he know all about that? She could count on one hand, if that, the details she knew about him. What she figured out between the lines.
"It's for your safety." He added.
"OK, good, cause I wasn't worried before you said that," she looked away. She couldn't help it. His concern baffled her a little.
"You can use your old ID on the trip." He put his hands in his jacket's pockets.
Beth nodded.
"But you can't check in with it." He shook his head, playfulness slipping into his eyes.
That was enough for her. She got up, yawned, before remembering to pick up the card. Rio didn't move from his spot as she walked closer, ready to walk him out. As she neared him that familiar, low buzzing started humming from her stomach to the rest of her chest.
"You need a ride?" He asked.
She shook her head. "I'll get there. Thanks." Talking about her safety, offering her a ride. If she wasn't so exhausted she'd probably ask him if he hit his head hard on something, but she wasn't in the mood. She'd take it.
A few seconds later Rio was gone and she was drowsily grabbing the banister as she headed up the stairs. If it wasn't for the ID card lying on her bedside drawer when she woke up she would've been sure she had dreamt him.
Morning errands bustled through with last reminders to Jane and Kenny of their after-school activities. Beth's heart stung as she said goodbye to her children, comforted by a long hug from Emma. The kids were all set through Sunday, their dad coming by and Annie promising to help out with a couple of errands as well. Before Beth got a chance to properly sit down she found herself driving to the harbor with Ruby.
"You know, you have his number," Ruby looked at her side mirror, "in case you had a last minute change of plans. Maybe your ride got lost on the way. Which way is west again?" She dramatically shrugged her shoulders.
"Funny. I'm not standing up a business deal. OK, deal to possibly get back in business. Anyway, I was just thanking you in my head for not telling me to change my mind."
Ruby smiled thinly back at Beth. "You know I'm going to worry about you. Alanna."
Beth regretted already catching Ruby as much as she did but of course she'd confide in her best friend. "You have plenty on your mind. Even with having someone to talk to. You're seeing Judy today right?" Beth crossed her ankles.
Ruby nodded. "Not tonight. Sara's playing at 5:30."
"Stan coming too?"
"He can't make it to the game." Ruby sighed. "Yeah, Judy's amazing. I couldn't choose a better therapist. I should've sent you to her after what you told me-"
"It'll be fine. It's only three days."
"Four," Ruby dutifully reminded her.
"Three nights, OK?"
"Exactly. It's more the nights I'm thinking about anyway-" Ruby glanced at her rear-view mirror.
Beth stretched her legs."You're channeling Annie now?"
"That's my job. To channel her when she's not here."
"That can't be. You're too responsible for that," Beth jabbed at her sister which wasn't fair as she wasn't there to defend herself. "Listen, nothing like that will happen between Rio and me."
"I didn't mean that… So much." Ruby ignored the look Beth shot her. "Shady deals go down at night."
"Please. Shady deals are just as likely to go on at lunchtime. I'll be safe." Beth promised, knowing it was made out of sheer stubbornness. Ruby made noises of disagreement as Beth picked up her purse and started fishing for tissues. "I'm not turning back. Not just for me, for all of us."
Ruby nodded sadly. "I know. I wish you didn't have to."
Beth's sense of self-preservation would agree. Radio filled the silence that fell between the two friends. A new song started and Ruby changed the station. Beth smiled. Ruby thought the song was played much too often.
"Look, you don't really think something would happen-" Beth said. "Between Rio and me?"
Ruby drew a thin line with her mouth.
"Please." Beth entreated, ready to list the reasons the idea alone was ridiculous.
"Just be careful." Ruby echoed a previous statement and glanced at Beth. "No, I'm not blind. That's all I'm going to say," she said, making it clear with her glance that she had a lot more to say.
"Nothing's happening between us." Beth blew her nose. "He doesn't want anything to happen. And neither do I."
Ruby opened her mouth like she was going to say something. She took a deep breathe instead. "Yeah. Hold on to that. It's one thing to have him as your boss but something else? Asking for trouble."
What if she wanted a little trouble? A small, devious voice tapped her shoulders. Beth unceremoniously pushed the voice out of her mind. "At least I feel better knowing that you're not worried about my safety, but about me and Rio."
"He's not going put you in real danger." Ruby said confidently. "It's bad for business."
"And the trucks?"
"They were empty."
Beth shook her head. "They could've easily not been empty."
"He's in the driver seat with you this time. He gave you an ID so you don't have to use your real name."
The comment reminded Beth what Annie had said when she told her Rio made her a fake ID. "I think that's sweet," She had said softly, surely remembering the time she had one made for Gregg.
"No, just my real face." Beth returned to present moment. "And he knows what he's doing. I have no idea."
Ruby stopped the car at the light.
"You know what, you're right," she put her arm behind Beth's headrest. "Let's go back." She turned her head backwards as if about to drive in reverse.
Beth smiled and pointed in front of Ruby's car. "Here, we turn left here."
Ruby eyed her for a few seconds before looking forward.
Once by the harbor, Ruby parked the car leaving space for traffic to drive by.
"Listen, I know that you're doing this for you. For us." Ruby turned off the car. "I know all the reasons. But we can find another way that's not this. Because you're right. You don't know what this is." Ruby put her hands up indicating the dock. "And I don't know – if this does work somehow, I don't know if I can get back in. With how things are between Stan and I. Besides that, his job." She put her hands on her knees and threw her head back. "Even if the money-"
"We're not making these decisions now. OK? We'll get this done and we'll go from there. And you won't do something you don't want to do. I was the one on the hook. I suggested it-"
"Don't get me started on that. We all decided to turn him in. Just because he showed up at your house—"
"I'll text you once I'm settled." Beth said before opening her door. "I should be heading there."
"I expect to hear updates." Ruby called after her. "Hear me?"
Beth smiled and nodded. "Have a good time at Sara's game tonight. Tell her to score one for me, OK?"
She walked to to the trunk and pulled out her suitcase. After starting towards the dock she looked back at Ruby and waved. She knew the reasons she was doing this. One of them was waving back at her. With newfound determination, she turned and continued towards her destination.
The boat looked pristine. At least on the outside, but she suspected the inside looked just as lovely. Boat wasn't the right word for this vessel, honestly. Superyacht was a better fit since it appeared to have multiple floors. She wasn't sure what she expected but likely something smaller. She had navigated more foot traffic than she expected on the way to find it. The day was beautiful, bright with a few speckles of clouds, and an easy breeze that kept the weather from getting too hot. Maybe that was why the harbor drew a bigger crowd this afternoon.
Barely any time had passed between Rio dropping her ID card and her arrival to the harbor but still she took a few breaks to practice her name, birth date, and even her fake Wisconsin address. Her birth date wasn't far off. It was a few years lower than her 42 years and she decided to be flattered by that. If someone would ask, she didn't have kids. Keep it simple. When she imagined answering strangers' questions she needed to retrace her steps because she started weaving a personal story that was too intricate. Rio was right.
A short line had formed on the bridge to the yacht and Beth stepped behind the passengers. Finally inside, she stopped at a small reception area. Belatedly she wondered if Rio was going to meet her inside or outside. She pulled her phone to text him.
"Can I help you?" A clerk called to her.
"Thanks. I'm waiting for someone." She said and made her way to the back of the room where she could easily scan passengers. Maybe Rio was meaning to meet her outside? She reached for her back pocket for her phone but realized she had carelessly thrown it in her purse. She plunged her hand in her purse to find it.
"Darling, you made it."
Rio sided up to her in his usual uniform of buttoned up shirt and dark jeans. Unlike any other time she'd seen him, he had sunglasses poised on the top of his head.
"Didn't check in yet, did you?" He glanced at the suitcase beside her.
"Waited for you." Which of course he'd know. She just about avoided giving Rio a once over, which he didn't spare from her. At least she could take comfort that a few things had not changed.
"Got your ID?" He asked as they stood in line. She nodded, biting her lip not to bombard him with questions. He had to tell her more now but interrogating him in front of an audience would be a poor decision. A stray thought crossed her mind that if Rio thought it'd stop her from asking questions he'd always make sure they were surrounded by people. Maybe that wasn't a terrible idea, she thought carelessly, as she couldn't avoid stealing a glance at his muscular arms. He picked up his sunglasses and put them in his shirt pocket, catching her staring at him.
"Don't think I've seen you with sunglasses before," She played it off. Just a mindless moment, she thought. It didn't mean anything.
He opened his mouth when the clerk welcomed them aboard.
"Rio Marquez?" The clerk asked Rio after he passed his ID. Rio nodded. Beth glanced at him before producing her own ID and responding to her new name.
Was that his real name? Did she know even less about this man than she thought? After collecting the keys for their respective rooms, they started following the direction the clerk gave them.
"Is that your real last name?" She whispered outside the clerk's earshot.
Rio cocked his head. "Maybe." He echoed her soft tone. Despite his earnest effort to also keep it firm she could hear coyness in his voice. Throes of passengers passed by them as they slowed down their pace. Voices of people meeting each other lifted around them.
"Is Rio even your real name?" She couldn't resist the question, stepping closer for him to hear her. At the same time he leaned towards her and her shoulder touched his arm. She slid back to put a little space between them.
He smiled at her question, a surprisingly genuine grin.
"You know my real name." She said when no answer came.
His smile froze, then faded. "I know you sold me out."
"Yes, you won't let me forget."
"No."
Beth stopped in her tracks. Rio's eyes turned upwards before he slowed his steps.
"I apologized." She fixed her purse's strap on her shoulder. They still spoke in hushed tones but it was harder and harder for her not to lose her cool even though she knew it wouldn't help her.
"You did? So that should make us good, yeah?" He pointed at her, then him.
It was her turn to glance upwards. "You know, I didn't invite myself to come."
"Must be a first."
"You had reasons to do it—"
"Yeah." He tilted his head, then shook it. "It's something, I can't remember any right now." He raised two fingers to his head.
He wasn't going to goad her, she told herself. She needed this, needed to do this job and do it well. She put her palms together. "I'd just like to think that this trip could go a little smoother if we'd focus on what we're doing, not the past."
"Good, wanna tell me more about how I should do my job?"
Hardly, when what she wanted to do was reach out her hands and throttle him.
"No." She shook her head, and taking a breath she tried to take on a more conciliatory approach. "It's-"
"Rio! You're already here." An imposing man, despite his informal khaki pants and wrinkled shirt, walked up to them. Rio kept his eyes on Beth before he turned to shake the man's hand.
"Christopher, my man, how ya doing?" Rio's face lit up like he hadn't just coldly regarded Beth. His expression was familiar. She'd seen him wear it at the warehouse. His professional game face.
"Much better now that I'm here. Glad you could join us this weekend. Looks sunny the next three days, might even be good to take a dip in the lake." Christopher glanced over at Beth. "And who did you bring with you?"
"Christopher, this is Alanna." Rio said smoothly.
"Nice to meet you," Beth took Christopher's hand. Hopefully it would take her before the end of the trip to get used to hearing her foreign name.
"You didn't tell me that you were seeing someone," He gave a strong handshake, winking at Rio and giving them both a hearty smile.
Beth laughed off the comment, hoping she wasn't insulting him. Inches separated her and Rio, she noticed. Maybe this made Christopher think something was there when it wasn't. She threw half a glance at Rio as she put more distance between them. "Oh, me?" She said with a smile. "I'm-"
Rio slipped his hand into hers and clasped their fingers together, subtly pulling her back to him. With considerable effort she kept her eyes from blowing wide open.
"It's kinda new. First trip together." Rio smiled at him, then at Beth, and squeezed her hand. She tried to hold back the shiver that captured her arms. While he spoke the words lightly she still felt the tension from his body colliding with hers. Familiar tension that she had felt for months between them, even before she betrayed him a month ago. It was only laced with more ire now.
"First trip as a new couple?" Christopher looked between them. "Must be a special one."
Rio brushed his thumb over the back of her hand. She was, indeed, going to kill him.
"Don't worry, once we set out whatever disagreements you're having now won't be worth remembering." Christopher winked knowingly and Beth realized he must have spotted the two of them arguing.
"We'll see you later tonight," Christopher patted Rio's back. Rio nodded and Beth smiled what she hoped wasn't a wooden grin.
Once Christopher was at a safe distance she turned back to Rio, swallowing the icy expression he gave her. It made her feel like he was miles away though he was still holding fast to her hand despite her attempts to remove it from his grasp.
"What happened to me being an old friend?" She again spoke quietly.
"You're not old." He lowered his cadence to match hers as his eyes wandered over her form and the tiniest hint of a smile crept to his lips.
"I didn't mean it like that." She said through gritted teeth. She tried not to let him get to her but her body responded to the languid movement of his eyes. That needed to stop, she thought, and again tried unsuccessfully to loosen her hand as he kept his eyes on her.
"I went with it. It's good." He said like he had understood something and glanced towards the hallway Christopher disappeared into. "We sell it better that way."
"Sell what?!" She nearly raised her voice.
"That we're loyal to each other."
He tugged at her hand and pointed with his head to the elevator.
"I know," He added sternly and brought his face even closer to hers. "That'll be hard for you to pull off. But try, yeah?"
Admitting right here that while I did some research I'm not an expert when it comes to boating. I hope you enjoy the ride all the same.