By Malice Through Agony

"You weren't stupid enough to call the cops or anyone, right?" Charlie asked as he stared at the brunette who had been his one and only for years.

"My family's life in on the line, do you really think i'd jeopardize that?" Normally Riley would feel guilty for lying, but when it comes to Charlie she wouldn't give a damn.

He sneered and said, "Good. I wouldn't like to use this on anyone..." he took out a black handgun from his leather jacket and placed it back inside his internal pocket. He looked back at the brunette who seemed to be getting more attractive by the second. "Such a shame you're married."

"Who said I was married?" Riley asked hoping he'd forget about Lucas, and leave him alone.

"One night stand?" The man with the sunglasses-that Riley despised, smiled as he slurped his soda.

Riley didn't nod or say anything, she just watched him smirk.

"Missy was wrong..."

"Your bitch got the ring on the wrong hand and wrong finger," Riley said as she stretched out her right hand showing him her friendship ring.

Once again, he smirked as he fixed his hat. "Why didn't you give her any mercy?"

"She tried to kill my daughter." Riley examined Charlie for the first time in a long time, he was gaunt and looked lifeless. His haggard expression made Riley smile.

Charlie was impressed by the brunette's valor. His jail days have made him crave every inch of her, not a day popped up that she was in his mind. He imagined her naked and moaning as he was on top of her. "How have you been?"

How have you been? Riley laughed at his try for a conversation. "How have I been?" she asked as he nodded. "I've been living a better life than you have that's for sure."

As ominous as he looked Riley kept going, "all those days you spent in a cell trapped like the rat you are, brought one of the biggest smiles to my face. You're a disgusting man and just being here with you makes me want to get that staw and shove it up your eye."

"If you're disgusted to see me, why did you invite me here?"

"I realized my mistake."

"Such a shame...you never really learned how to fix those, did you?" He crossed his hands tucking them under his biceps to make them look bigger, it didn't even catch Riley's attention.

"How'd did you escape, Charlie?" Riley asked trying to change the topic she caused.

"That's not your business," he looked around at the horde of people like each one of them were cops.

"Scared, Gardner?" Riley asked as she looked at him, ominously. "I didn't call anyone if that's what you think."

"Never learned to trust, Matthews. Not after my years in jail."

"You deserved those years." Riley brushed her hair of her shoulders and she leaned back on her chair, getting comfortable. "You're considered a murderer and now since you're a fugitive, jail's gonna be the place you call home."

"That's only if they catch me-"

"Have you really thought of it? Where are you gonna stay?" Riley asked trying to make him realize how stupid he was.

"I've thought it through, I had a lot of spare time that I took for granted."

She hardly smiled as she looked around the mall watching goers proceed into the next store, or watching family's eat. "You look rather ravenous, wanna eat?"

He sat upright and payed close attention.

"I'm sure you'll find some food in the dumpster or in the middle of a sidewalk."

"Never realized how big of a bitch you can be." He said.

"Never realized how big of a dumbass you are running from the law."

"I can now see why Lucas just used you for the sex then decided to leave you," Charlie fixed his cap once again and smiled.

"At least I enjoyed every single bit of it."

He hardly managed a smile, "I've driven by your house, Riley. What does a woman like you do that has a house that big for two people?"

Riley didn't know how to answer that question, but she didn't panic even though she felt like that inside. "Finance."

"Where do you work?"

"Why? So you can follow me?" Riley asked.

"Curiousity."

"That's not it. Are you planning on trying to rape me again?"

"This time I won't be stopped."

Riley looked away and clenched her fists. As much as she wanted to make her fist land on his face, she took steady breaths and sighed. She remembered her plan, and continued. "How much do you want Charlie?" Riley asked.

"Excuse me."

"You want money, right?"

He nodded.

"If I give you that, will you leave my family and friends alone?" She saw how he was thinking about it, Missy and him were so similar. They both knew each other and planned this from the very beginning, but that never worked. Riley and Lucas were inseparable from the outside world and she wanted it to stay like that.

They both got into the elevator that took them up to the parking structure, this was all going according to plan. She grabbed onto the railing as Charlie's hand landed on her waist. He was trying to seduce her, but that wasn't working. She wanted nothing more than to just end him just like she did with Missy, even though years of guilt would be added, she would learn to live with it. As the elevator doors opened, Charlie walked next to her. His hand on her forearm holding her close in case she tried to escape or not give him the money. They made a sharp left and stopped when they reached the car Detective Charles told her to stop at. Riley's heart suddenly beated faster with fear, "Just let me open the trunk."

He let go of her and let her open the trunk, when the door lifted up he saw nothing. It was completely empty. "Where's the money?"

She saw the officers slowly walk behind them, with their guns out. "In your motherfucking dreams, Charlie."

Before he could say anything or take out his gun an officer yelled, "SMPD! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"

Charlie glared at Riley as she stepped back, he nodded as he turned around and faced the officers, dropping his gun.

"GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES!"

He did as told.

The officer ran towards him and put his cuffs on. Yanking him up, Charlie smiled at Riley which sent chills through her back. She'd won, she finally made Charlie face justice.

Officers ran towards her wanting to see if she was okay, but she waved them off walking back towards the office where Lucas was in. Every step she took felt like it was a step closer to hope, closer to home. She opened the white thick door and ran towards the end of the hall where she made a right, from there she walked.

Lucas ran a hand through his hair, he'd been pinching on himself to try and calm down the tears that threatened to come out. It had been minutes since he last saw Riley, it hurt that she planned all of this without his consultation. She went behind his back and he hardly payed attention to it. She was the woman he was in love with, without her he no longer lived. His daughter would never be satisfied with her life if he lost Riley. The worries and guilt built up, he tried many times to go see her, but the guards would stop him and send them back to the chair in the corner like he was a little boy who just got in trouble.

As he sighed into his hands the door opened and he quickly looked up to find his wife, a huge weight of relief lifted up from his shoulders as he got up and embraced her in a hug, "Thank God." He kissed her cheek and held her tight, "I love you so much, Riley. Don't ever-and I mean it Riley- do that again."

She smiled as his hands wrapped around her waist, no other man can make her feel like this. Lucas was the only man she let hold her, he was the only man Riley let make love to her, he was the only man that can say he was in love with her. When he would say the three magical words every girl wanted to hear, she wouldn't say it back, but now...now that Charlie would spend years locked up and away from her as possible...Riley didn't fear no man and the meaning of affection.

"And I love you."

I've decided to end it at that. It might've not been what I planned, but it felt right.

This has been an amazing experience, this was one of my first stories and to know that it was a success...makes me want to do more. Thank you for staying with me and always expect more.

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Don't forget to always have hope in your darkest days because you're never alone.

Always expect more...and Kill Em With Kindness.