A/N: The Joey mentioned is the same Joey that is the vet that's helping Sparky get better :)
Meeting the Ex (Part 2)
"Riley, is everything alright in there?" Sophie asked as she applied an extra coat of lipstick.
Sophie straightened up, fixing her strap on her dress before turning for Parker to zip it up. Sophie's dress was a deep, red wine color. It was floor length with thin straps. She wore a pair or red strappy heels and a diamond necklace with a pair of matching earrings.
Parker's dress was a short black one. Pearls lined the neckline and the bottom. She had on the pink diamond necklace that she had stolen a couple years prior and a pair of pearl earrings. She wore a pair of white heels.
"I feel so girly," she said, pulling at the fabric.
"Oh, hush," Sophie replied, fixing Parker's hair. "You look lovely."
She knocked on the bathroom door, earning an almost feminine version of an Eliot growl before the bathroom door opened. Riley stepped out in the dress Luciano had sent her. It was purple sheer with a purple silk covering the chest and waist. The bodice matched the dress with a sequined design on the side. Her shoes were silver strappy three inch heels.
"Wow…that is a dress," Parker said.
Riley looked down at the dress, wrinkling her nose. "It's so purple," she mumbled. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Purple was always his color, she thought.
"You ladies ready?" Nate asked as he, Hardison, and Eliot walked into the room the girls had made into a makeshift closet/dressing/changing room for cons and regular group outings.
Nate wore a black pin stripped suit with a gold colored tie and a cream blue dress shirt. He had the silver cuff that had his initials carved into them, the ones Sophie had gotten him for an anniversary gift. His hair was combed back and actually neat, and he was clean shaved.
Hardison wore a plain, almost charcoal black suit with a red tie and a deep blue dress shirt. He had a pair of gold cuff links borrowed from Nate. Eliot had on a black suit with a dark violet dress shirt and a black tie. He wore a pair of black cuff links and had his hair pulled back.
"Wow, that dress does not do you justice," Hardison told Parker as he grinned at her.
Sophie went over and stood next to Nate, slipping her arm discreetly through his. Parker and Hardison followed them out, leaving Eliot and Riley alone.
"You look nice," he said.
She stopped chewing her lower lip long enough to crack a smile. "You don't look half bad either. Pretty Boy."
She lightly punched his arm and before he pulled her into a kiss, wrapping a free arm around her waist. Riley closed her eyes and gripped his tie fighting him for dominance, frowning when he pulled back.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Can never resist a pretty girl," he answered.
"Keep talking like that and you'll make me think you want more than a casual set up," she laughed.
He let go of her and took a step back, flashing a signature grin. "We should hurry or they'll wonder where we are."
Riley clutched the champagne glass in her hand tightly. She knew most of these guests. Some friends of Luciano, some friends of her own, who she cut contact with.
"Riley, it's so good to see you. It's been what? Almost two years now?"
Riley smiled and hugged the woman. "Maria. How are you? How's Marcus?"
"Oh, he's fine. Still smoking hundred dollar cigars, but what can you do?" she answered.
They shared a laugh. "We must do lunch sometime," Maria smiled.
Riley smiled as she walked away and finished off her champagne before motioning over a waiter. "Give me the strongest drink you have," she told him.
"Of course, Ma'am," he nodded.
"My God, it's like you're royalty," Sophie whispered through her comm.
Riley smiled. "He's part of the first five families," she clarified.
"Well that explains a lot," Eliot muttered as he drank his champange.
"Riley! Oh I'm so glad you could make it."
"Ana? I thought you were in Venice," Riley said as the older woman pulled her into a hug.
"Well, when Luciano told me you were coming to the party, I just had to come home," Ana replied. "Oh, look at you. All grown up and still just a beautiful."
"Luciano picked it out," Riley told her.
"So he did," she replied. "Mingle with me, hmm? I'm sure your friends won't mind."
Riley nodded and allowed the older woman to lead her around the ballroom.
"So how have you been? I feel terrible for how things ended between you and Luciano," Ana said. "I raised him better than that."
"No, Ana don't blame yourself," Riley replied. "You raised him just fine."
They took a seat on a couple of open chairs and Ana took her hands. "I have no idea what's gotten into that head of his. Did you know he fired Joey? Poor boy has been with this family for years and Luciano just fires him for no reason."
"I had no idea. Joey didn't say anything," Riley said. "He fired him?"
Ana nodded. "Where is that boy's father when you need him?"
"Federal prison," they both sighed.
"Well, you enjoy yourself. And give your brother my regards. I better go and find Marcell and Tony and make sure Luciano hasn't gotten into any trouble," Ana told her.
Riley leaned back in her chair and sighed.
"Was that Ana Montenegro?" Sophie asked. "Heiress to the Montenegro fortune that is more than three billion dollars?"
"She and I have brunch once a month. I'm sure she'd love to meet you," Riley murmured as a waiter brought her her drink. She thanked him before getting up.
"You and Ana have brunch?" Sophie asked.
Riley nodded and she sipped her drink. "She makes a mean burger. Better than Eliot's."
"I think you made him angry," Hardison said as they all heard a low growl in the coms.
"It's not that. I spotted Luciano," Eliot muttered.
"Hello, Darling."
Riley turned around and the glass in her hand fell to the floor and shattered. "Oh, oh God. I'm s..s...so..s...s...sorry," Riley stammered.
"That's quite alright," Luciano smiled gently. He motioned a waiter over to clean it up.
"Alright, just, just stay calm, and we'll be right there," Sophie assured her.
Luciano placed a hand on her lower back and guided her towards a set of double doors.
"You look absolutely stunning," he said.
"You're the one who picked it out," she replied.
He smiled. "Why don't we talk somewhere a bit less crowded," he mused as he opened the doors.
"Eliot don't-'
"On it Sophie," Eliot interrupted as he started to follow Luciano and Riley.
"Make sure no one gets past," Luciano whispered to the bodyguard at the door. He closed the doors behind him.
He returned his hand to her lower back and guided her outside and over to maze. "Remember when we would get lost in here and just hide out for hours?" he asked, leading her through it.
She nodded her mouth suddenly dry. "Y...yes."
He grinned, took her hand and, pulled her flush against him, wrapping his free arm around her waist. She blushed and turned to look away. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.
"I was very sad to hear that you left me, and then you go and disappear? Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a very bad girl you are," he said before letting her go. He smiled again and her gut churned. "Come. I have a present for you," he added, taking her by the wrist and leading her to the center.
"Don't worry, I'm on my way," Eliot assured her.
Riley let Luciano lead her to the middle of the maze and winced as his grip tightened on her wrist.
"Y...you're hurting me," she stammered.
"Good. Pain is excellent discipline," he replied, yanking her forward.
She bit her lip to keep from saying something she would regret and followed after him, being careful not to trip over the dress.
"Keep up, Angel," he said.
"Maybe if you'd stop dragging me, I-"
"I really hope you're not talking back to me," he interrupted.
They made it to the center of the maze and Luciano pushed her onto the stone bench. He sat down next to her and smiled.
"Our first kiss was here wasn't it?" he asked leaning back.
She nodded.
"I wonder if the sparks are sill there," he said, smiling at her. "What do you think? Shall we test the waters?"
He pulled her closer and Riley pushed him back before getting up.
"You said you wanted to talk. So talk," she said.
Luciano raised an eyebrow and got up, following her movements until he had her back against the maze hedges. He put his hands on either side of her head and leaned in close, causing her to look away.
"Look at me," he whispered. "I said, look at me."
He grabbed her chin and turned her face. "Look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me anymore," he whispered.
"I...I...I..." Riley stammered and a satisfied grin crept onto his face as he kissed her. He grabbed her wrists as she tried to push herself away and squeezed. She winced and bit his lip.
"Why you little bi-"
"Hey! That is no way to treat a lady," Eliot snapped.
"Ah, yes," Luciano sighed as he turned to face the Hitter. "Eliot Spencer is it? How did you get past my guards?"
"I hate guns," he answered straightening his tie. "Now if you'll kindly leave my date alone, that'd be mighty nice."
"Well, well, well, first Italian and now country? You're quite the busy body," he smiled at Riley.
Riley raised her hand to slap him but he caught her wrist and tsked. "Ah, ah, ah. Remember what happened last time?" he asked.
She nodded and he let go of her wrist. "There's a good girl," he smiled. "Mr. Spencer. Perhaps we'll be better acquainted in the future. Lunch maybe."
He grabbed Riley by the waist and kissed her again. "Run from me again and I'll make sure it's the last time," he whispered before letting her go.
Luciano whistled as he walked away and disappeared around the corner.
"You okay?" Eliot asked, walking over. "Let me see your wrists."
She obediently held out her arms and he winced. Bruises were already starting to form. Eliot took out his com and hers and set them on the bench before pulling her into a kiss. It was gentle and soft. Not hard and messy like Luciano's.
"I will never let him hurt you again. You got that?" he asked. "I swear."
She nodded and he put their coms back in.
"We're leaving," Eliot announced.
"Car's all ready," Hardison told him. "We'll meet you guys out front."
Eliot held his hand out to her and she placed her hand in his.
"Do you know a way out of the maze?" he asked.
"Yeah...there's a, um, back way," she answered.
It took them about a ten minutes to get out of the maze and another ten to get to the car. No one questioned why Riley was wearing Eliot's shirt or how she was unusually close to him or the way Eliot kept his arm around her the entire ride home. Not even Hardison batted an eye.