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Her chest is heaving from the rage she’s been feeling for the past ten minutes. Rio went MIA for almost two weeks –again–, and now he’s suddenly reappeared from who knows where –probably Disneyland this time– with a long list of demands and expectations–with no commentary, of course!
“You know, usually when people go away for a few weeks, they come back bearing gifts and souvenirs. Why is it always… this with you?!” Pointing to the four empty duffle bags Rio has thrown between them on her kitchen floor, ordering to deposit both her legit and funny money hidden in random corners in her house. Along with any evidence regarding their business into the bags for him to take away.
“Darlin’, what can I say; I ain’t that sentimental.” Says dryly, dismissing her. “Now, C’mon.” Jutting his chin towards the bags on the floor.
Beth’s had it with him. After working with Rio for years, she knows the only way to retrieve any kind of explanation from him is by standing her ground. So, she crosses her arms under her breasts and, “No.”
“Elizabeth,” closing his eyes to pinch the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, pinching hard before starting to massage the area to relieve tension. Then moving and spreading his fingers across his forehead to squeeze his temples. “I ain’t got time for this shit right now. Give me whatever you’ve got tucked away in your mama jeans drawers and whatnot. Right quick.”
She can visibly see his frustration. Another benefit of knowing him for years is that she has masterfully picked up on all the little signs. It’s in his calculatingly impassive features that he always insists on portraying, the tension in his sharp jaw, the clench and unclenching of his fists hiding in his coat pockets, and the way he stands, legs apart and firm on the ground. But she has grown to see through his bullshit.
She lets out a scuff thinking about how unfazed she’s become to his acrimony. “I am absolutely not giving you my money!” pushing one hip out before putting both hands on her hips, “I don’t know why you think you have the right to barge into my house in the middle of the night after ignoring my calls for weeks! Your goons have been following me around for two straight fucking weeks, guarding my house 24/7 without any explanation! And now all of a sudden you’re back from Neverland trying to take what’s mine?!” At this point she’s almost yelling at him out of exasperation. “I thought we were past this!”
Rio shuts his eyes with force as he drops his head, chin almost touching his pecks, “Elizabeth, don’t make me do it myself cause you damn sure know I would.” Says through gritted teeth, trying to control his slowly brewing indignation.
“Why are you doing this?” Pointing a finger to him and then the bags, holding herself back from stomping on her kitchen floor –he is impossible.
“It ain’t personal, darlin’.” Shaking his head, jaw twitching as if he wants to say more.
“Then what is it?” Throwing her hands up. She can feel her face and chest burning from how hot she feels. She wants to grab him by the collar of his coat, shake the answer out of him and spill it all over the floor.
Rio turns his head to the side before making eye contact with her, “There’s heat comin’ from our clients up north. And it ain’t nothin’ good.” She can feel the irritation oozing out of him and prepares herself for his outburst, “Don’t you forget what line of business we are in, yeah? It ain’t always rainbows and sunshine. So, are you gonna make this hard for both of us or what?”
“Noted. Thanks for the warning. I can take care of myself just fine. Anything else?”
As soon as the words leave her mouth, Rio wastes no time. Taking a couple of long steps towards her, quickly in her orbit, towering over her. Hands still buried in his pockets, trying to control his fury. Beth doesn’t budge and looks him dead in the eyes, feeling his controlled breaths fanning on her forehead and the top of her nose. Her soft and bare lashes sway with each exhale.
“They might wanna get to you and what’s yours. We’re talkin’ your money, your books, your kids, whatever else you might have in value to force information outta you ‘bout our little operation, yeah? To provoke you, scare you, threaten you cause they tryna get to me. We’re talkin’ ‘bout a bunch of thirsty animals who’d do anythin’. Can’t risk all’a that.” His voice got angrier as he said the last few words. There’s something waving in his onyx eyes she can’t name. Well, she kinda can...but doesn’t want to acknowledge it. At least not now that she’s adamant in remaining angry at him.
Her eyes search his, evaluating what he just laid on her. She nods her head slowly, remaining eye contact, “All of this so they can’t get to you.” Her voice deflating as each word leaves her mouth.
Rio’s face changed in a matter of few seconds as her words sank in. Tucking his lips in his mouth before letting them slide out, licking his bottom lip, eyebrows frowned –oh how she loves the lines between his eyebrows. The intensity of his eyes locked on hers makes her stomach flutter as he blinks slowly, watching her contemplating. “Elizabeth,” he turns his head to the side, letting out a harsh breath through his nostrils, shakes his head slightly before facing her again, “if they ever wanna get to me, first they gon’ wanna get to you, cause they know I ain’t gon’ think twice to go cap their asses.”
Beth’s eyes flutters, her mouth forming a small pout, her chest’s about to betray her of what her lungs are doing beneath her rib cage as she processes the words spilled out of his mouth. Eye's locked on one another, saying a thousand words they would never admit out loud. His glistening eyes are like a galaxy in the dark beyond, intimidatingly deep and mysterious. But she can always find the softness seeping its way through.
For her. All of it.
All just for her.