Victoria

I'm speechless. From the elevated patio that Rio guides me to, my light brown eyes gloss under the aligned lightbulbs canvased above the high and floating floor, when we step out onto the terrain.

My bare lips do indeed part, but I simply cannot find the words. Rio leaves my amazed side to head toward the small table, to pull out one chair out of the two. He stands watching me, his chocolate brown irises glimmering ever so gallantly.

Inside my deliberate rising chest, my racing heart pounds immensely. At the sight of Rio stood in his dark suit, at the sight of the serenity he embellished for me.
Finally, I gather the words to spit.

"You did this..." I state, rather question, tone intrigued and soft. Rio twitches his full lips, his angled faced almost permanently softened and eased. He never peels his perceptive eyes off of me.

"I might've made some reservations." He shrugs seemingly careless, and I crack a thankful smile. Then he gestures down to the seat, a moment. "C'mon let's eat." He adds huskily, sweeping his tongue across his lips briefly. I swallow lightly, and begin in my steps to approach his tall figure. I claim the seat before either of us scoot myself in. Rio makes his way around to claim his own, across from me.

I noticed the smooth and calm music quietly fluxing around us, on the high patio. I admire it, whatever the instrumental song is. My gaze averts up to the night sky; recognizing the starry abyss just above the luminous lights crossed upon the poles of each corner of the deck. The dimly lit lightbulbs put on quite the romantic show.

A polite 'good evening' pulls my attention, when I turn to meet the eyes of the waitress. The brunette hands each of us a dinner menu, before sending a friendly smile when Rio thanks her. I thank her, too, before she offers a grin in turn and walks off.
Opening the long menu, I scan across the sundry of dinner specials - from sizzling t-bone steaks to mouth watering fruit parfaits - I'm abundantly mazed at what to settle on for the limitless dilemma.

Which doesn't stupor me; I've always taken forever to finally decide on the perfect craving.

And just when my eyes land on a decent sounding meal, the waitress arrives again. "Ready to order, loves?" She beams, and I glimpse at Rio, but he gestures for me to order first. I clear my throat.
"I'll have the filet mignon, please." I submit. She jots it down onto the notepad in her grasp, before taking Rio's - in which he ordered the same thing I did without a sliver of thought.

"And can I get a glass of red wine?" I ask gently. The brunette nods firmly. "Sure, which one?"

My arched brows raise a moment, and I peek inside the menu for the list of crimson wines. "Uhh..."

"We'll take the House Special." The suited gentlemen before me states instead, and the waitress jots it down before disappearing behind the tall double doors that lead back into the building.

I take in a smooth breath, when the two of us are left alone, and I latch onto the gangster's deep irises - that are already settled on me. Rio's brown orbs are twinkling imperceptibly, as if he's prepared to enter questioning. Then his full lips part.

"Tell me about your family, Ms. Stone." He starts lowly, searching my brown eyes from across the table, leaned back in his chair. "You don't speak of them much." He adds. I purse my lips, and breathe.
"Ann's all I have." I say. "Aside from my niece, Abby." I tug at my lip, recalling the last time I spoke to Ann, which was only over the phone. My brows furrow, when I feel a slight frown tug at my lips. "I haven't spoke to her in almost a week, from when I called her back at that hotel..." I trail in realization.

When I fixate my gaze on Rio, who studies me with empathy, I clear my throat. But he breaks the silence again. "Where's the rest of 'em?"

"Well, my parents passed away a long time ago, and me and Ann were their only kids." I inform. "Everyone else though lives back in Colorado. It's where our ancestors were born, so it's almost like it's our family's birthplace. But when our parents were traveling down to Detroit, I was born." My eyes are glued to the gangster's, when he forms a smile. I continue, suppressing my smile from his contagious one. "When they told me where I'm from I wanted to visit it for myself, so I did, I loved it. And I stayed. Ann flew down with me, and years later she had Abby." I raise my shoulders, grinning. "So this is pretty much it."

Rio smirks, before nodding understandably. "And what's the best thing you've ever done?" He questions, his tone husky as he still collects information on me.
"Probably start at the hospital, when I did. It's what got me the house I have today." I chuckle softly, watching him drift into thought afterward. "Do you ever miss it?" He questions, curiously.

I take in a breath, and curl my lip, barely slouching in thought. "I miss the routine of helping people." I answer, meeting his understanding gaze. "But not the sight of them dying." I finish.

I lick my lips quickly. "What about you? Have any family?" I ask, fully interested in hearing more about him. But I can't help but to catch the sight of solemness flickering across his orbs.

"Just the gang." He starts. "But when I was a boy, many many years ago, there was a break-in at my house comin' up," he peers down a moment, clearing his throat seconds before locking onto my eyes again, "a group of these men attacked my mom and the rest of her kids while I was upstairs. I heard all of it. But I was young, and too small to do anything about it but hide." He states rawly. "They killed 'em."

Taking in Rio's words result in my insides to turn, my heart to shatter.

"And I don't know why, but they did. It was heartless, cold. And when the police took me in Chris's family offered for me to stay..." Rio flicks his dark irises to me, evidently picking up my next planned question when he continues. "Yeah they adopted me." He clarifies.

"Years went by and I still couldn't stop thinking about it." Rio doesn't tear from my sympathetic gaze - his chocolate brown eyes flashing with darkness a moment. "Chris and I met up with our boy's one day, we were just teens, I think. I came up with the idea of justice for my family. They volunteered to help..."

Rio brushes his tongue across his full lips deliberately, searching my eyes. "We got rid of the men who did it. And ever since we've just stuck together." His lips twitch, seemingly in thought.

In turn my heart hammers abundantly, for him, for the words I processed of his backstory. I bite down on my lip, when suddenly something slips down my cheek. When I realize what it is, I hurriedly wipe away the tear.
"I'm..." My voice is merely shaky, I hate it. "I'm sorry, Rio. What happened to your family wasn't you fault, and you said it yourself you were young, too young." I swallow softly.
"But the gang, you'll always have them..." I reach for his hand, laid out across the table's surface. His skin is hot under mine. "And me."

His hand curls around my own, and his lips briefly tug upward, almost as if it's deadly for him to smile at such a moment. But he does anyway. "I know, darlin'." He says, voice laced with rawness.

My aching heart flutters merely.

Approaching footsteps near us, and I look next to our table to see the waitress walking up with a tray in her hand. She sits down my plate of filet mignon, alongside Rio's. Then she rests down the expensive looking wine bottle, next to our two wine glasses. As soon as she wishes us enjoyment for our meal and leaves again, Rio pops open the bottle, and fills our glasses halfway.

And minutes after digging in, and without a single second of regret for my choice of meal, I bring my glass of wine up to my red stained lips. "So what do you think of the stars?" I ask, and in turn the suited man across me smirks.

"The stars?" He cocks a thick brow. I nod, a faint giggle escaping my lips. Rio's lightened irises blaze under the lights, as a grin plays about on his luscious lips. "Well, I'd be crazy if I didn't think they were beautiful." He answers huskily, watching me. Rio merely licks his lips. "Yeah it's always an extravagant view..." He drags, as if lost in a summoned daze.

I feel my red stained lips curve, when he stares at me intently. Then he stands. I glance up to watch him, confused as to why he stood from the table. In his fine suit, Rio deliberately approaches me. And I glance down at his current gesture - he's reaching out for my hand. My light brown eyes flick up to meet his once again.

Oof-

I shake my head.

"I...I've never really danced..." I inform slowly, and the gangster only grins smugly in return.
"Neither have I." He smirks. My lips tug widely, at the sight of his gallantry, and I take my hand in his. I stand - brought up close to his taller frame. We center the patio, under the generous lights, before he pulls me into him.

And luckily, the soft music is still playing. I rest my free hand upon his shoulder, as he holds the other tightly. His other hand travels down to my lower back; the skin beneath my tight dress cool and tingling at his consuming touch. Maybe he can feel the incessant flutter of my heart, from our close proximity.

And carefully, gently, he leads in movement. At a slow tempo I follow into his swaying, hard figure that I'm pressed against. Rio's deep brown eyes are latched onto mine, never averting. And he seems to lean in, deliberately, teasingly. My eyes flutter down to his plump lips that are just centimeters from my own now - though the distance feels infinite.

I keep my gaze on his mouth, that is, before he presses his own against mine passionately. His lips are soft, full and tasty on mine. Our lips quicken the pace on one another, deepening the kiss immensely.

But shortly after, his full lips slowly peel from my own. His breaths are now increased against me; his warm breath blowing down my neck causing for a gentle shiver to arch my back in return. I meet his longing gaze.
"Let me know when you're ready to get home." He breathes, husky and deep.

I stare between either of his electrifying orbs, in ponder. Then my swollen lips curve. "There is something I want to do before we get back..." I inform him softly.

---

Oop- I'm crying.

*wipes tear*

Hey hey, loves!! I know this chapter was incredibly long, factually the longest one I've ever published!

Thank you SO much for reading!! And I hope you LeRvEd it just as much as I did!

More to come!
Much love!

xx