Victoria

I stand in my kitchen, a warm mug in my firm grasp as my brown eyes scan over the countertop of the kitchen island. On the cool granite countertop plasters a pile of cash - cash that I spent about twenty minutes counting.

$50,000...

My gaze trails up to meet the only other irises before me in the room. My sister's hazel specks are wide with surprise as she glances below in awe. Ann then latches onto my eyes.

I bring the warm mug up to my lips, taking a smooth sip of the coffee.

"It's 50,000, Ann." I inform, reverting the mug filled with satisfaction back to the countertop's surface again. "I want you to keep half of it."

In return, an odd sound escapes Ann's lips before she sounds a faint humorless laugh. "Whoa, whoa whoa...how much?!"

I breathe out a sigh, averting my gaze down onto the money once more. I divide the cash evenly; pushing the fair half toward her standing frame. "I get 25, you get 25. Even."

"Hold on!" Ann holds up a hand, and I roll my eyes in turn. "Did the gang banger give this to you?! Wh-why so much?!"

I bite my lip, and shrug my shoulders. "I don't know."

Ann's hazel irises glint with entertainment as she watches me in disbelief, her glossed lips quirked upward. "What even are you two?" She questions, her green specks piercing into my light brown irises with curiosity.

"I-" I lick my lips, before pursing them. "I don't know. We're...together...and he just gave me half of what I delivered." I shrug once more, seemingly careless. But I do care. I bring the ceramic mug up to my lips again.

"Only half?! Hold on," My sister humorlessly chuckles again, still in shock. "This 50,000 is half of what you 'delivered'...so you're telling me that the man had $100,000 and he gave you a whole stack-" My sister shakes her head, pausing herself.

"Mhm, oh you got it bad." She nods with a smug grin. Suddenly my brows raise in turn.

"What do you mean I-"

"You got it reeaaal bad, sis. He's got it bad." Ann's glossed lips tug to beam a smile, and she briefly squeals.

"What?" I ask in utter confusion - my voice slightly cracking. Shaking my head firmly, I maintain my solemn expression. "No. I don't have it 'bad', Ann."

"Doesn't he? Oh honey, if that answer isn't right in front of you you've gotta get your eyes checked." Ann smirks, gently pulling her fair split of the cash her way, claiming it. "He's got it bad alright."

I huff out a breath as I run a hand through my brown hair. "Whatever, Ann. Just take the money, please." I say. I peer my gaze onto the large duffle bag she pulls out - the bag I had to plunge out of my closet earlier to storage the money.

My sister swipes the cash from the countertop for it to only land in the duffle bag. I shake my head, suppressing my laugh from watching her - until she speaks again.

"So, how did you guys get this kind of money anyway? What, did you have to rob a bank or something?" She questions, concentrated on the last bit of her half that she hasn't collected yet. She claims the last couple thousand, I presume, into the duffle bag.

I clear my throat, carefully brushing my fingertip around the mug's edge as I fiddle with the glass. "Who's watching Abby?" I shift the subject, and Ann instantly drops the duffle bag as her hazel irises land on me.

She watches me dumbfounded, and my coffee lips part before I lick them. "What?"

Ann sighs before bending down to gather the straps of the bag again. "Gregg has her." She finally responds.

I perch a brow, bringing the ceramic glass of coffee up to my lips again. "How is Gregg? I haven't seen him since the last time I saw him...which is a very long time." I point.

Ann scoffs. "Eh, Gregg is Gregg. He's doing alright." I watch my sister place the bag onto the kitchen island.

"How come I haven't seen him inna while? I mean, why won't you bring him over?" I arch a brow, turning to the kitchen sink preparing to wash my mug.

"Um, I don't know. I just...maybe he's just busy with work. He is. He's busy with work. " I hear my sister respond from behind, and my lips tug upward.

"Uh-huh, that's why." I grin, my back still turned. "I mean I would go over to his place for a visit but last time I did he was at your house...huh." I trail, smirking.

"I- what? OK, no. He- when?" Ann stammers. "Maybe he had to watch Abby for me that day." She blurts, and I shake my head, grabbing a clean towelette to dry the ceramic mug.

I turn to face my sister, who at the moment is biting her nails, presumably nervous. I succeed in holding back a smile. She is so seeing him...

I tuck a strand of my brown hair behind an ear, approaching her side. "Well, you better head back home before it gets too late, isn't the first day of the new school year start tomorrow for Abs?" I ask, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Ann throws her head back in an exhausted manner. "Right, school has returned." She mutters, and my brows raise again.

"You say it as if you're the one attending." I grin.

Ann shakes her head as she gathers the duffle bag into her firm grasp, pulling the straps over her shoulder just before I remove my hand from her. "No, it's the fact of how early I gotta wake up to wake her up. You know, parenting." She explains.

"No, I don't but..." I follow Ann toward my front door. She twists the doorknob when I avert my attention onto my duffle bag again. "So, considering that you get to keep the bag, where am I suppose to store my fair share of the money?"

"Erm," Ann turns to face me. "Cereal boxes?" She beams a wide smile, before spinning on her heels and stepping out onto my front porch. "I'll see ya, sis. But thank you a bunch for the money, you didn't have to. And stay outta trouble, will you?" She pipes, glancing over her shoulder as she makes her way down my driveway.

I plaster an assuring, bright smile. "Can't promise you that!" I then beam in return, sending a wave as she gets into her old car - 'Old Beat Down Susan', she calls it.

My sister backs out of the driveway, and as I watch her car cruise down my street, I release a smooth breath - and close the front door behind me.

Standing close to the wooden front door, I face it's dark oak surface. Behind me, a faint shuffling sounds, though I'm not alert. I'm perfectly aware of who it is.

I hear my back door shut from across the house, soon following steps that draw near my standing frame.

Finally, the footsteps come to a stop - and warmth trickles down my back as he breathes against me, lowly, calmed. With either of my palms planted on the door's wooden surface, I suck in a breath when his chest presses against my back.

"I need to talk to you." He breathes, beginning huskily. Slowly and carefully, I turn around, coming face to face with the gangster. My brown irises flick up to latch onto his own.

"So you sneak in from the back door? I gave you a key for a reason..." My voice trails the moment I spot a small bruise below the gangster's eye. While his hardened jaw is clenched, my lips part near his as his taller frame still hovers.

"What happened?!" I question him quietly, moments before catching onto the foil flashing in his dark eyes.

And I immediately know that something is wrong, very wrong, as Rio's blazing irises burn into my own - angrily.

---

I know it's been a while since my last update, at least longer than it usually takes. But a family member just passed away, and he was dear to us all. I'm not asking for your apologies, but for your patience. I love you all a bunch!

Thank you for reading, loves. Next chap will be up pretty soon.

Much, much love,

xx