Victoria

"You nervous?" Tall and content Rio peers his gaze over to me - a flicker of excitement beaming within his dark brown eyes as he plasters a cherishing smile.

I swallow next to my fiancé's side, as we stand firm outside of his parent's front door. I shake my head.

"No." I take in a breath, remaining latched onto the gangster's lulling eyes. "Not really. I have you with me so," the corner of my lips quirk up, "I'm OK."

Earning a irresistible smile in return from Rio, I feel his warm and comforting hand grasp my own, as he curls his fingers around each of mine. For a moment I think I feel my heart skip a beat.

Then, the unfamiliar front door is swung open. I feel my naked shoulders slightly tense.

OK, maybe I am nervous after all.

Absentmindedly, my hand mercilessly squeezes his.

A man who stands tall to Rio's height begins with a welcoming and very wide smile - that seems to appear much wider when he glances at me after he does Rio. I watch the man's dark and twinkling eyes avert down to our locked hands.

"Pops," My fiancé starts next to me, his warm hand soon slipping from mine when he goes to pull the man into a hug. I feel my lips twitch as I watch the two of them.

"Rio! How have you been?" The man's deep voice travels down the small front porch I stand upon while the two chuckle cheerly. And as the two greet each other for the first time in a long time, I notice the severe resemblance of Rio's Pops and Chris. The two share the similar style of a shiny bald head, and intimidating dark brown - merely black - bold eyes.

Once the two men release each other, Pop's familiarly dark eyes fixate on me. He smiles a warm yet mischievous smile.

"You must be the girl." He says, searching my light brown eyes. I shelter in a light breath, before nodding and sending the man a small smile. When I release an airy chuckle the two men laugh after as the three of us smile.

"I am." I finally answer.

"Oh! Are they here Micheal?" A woman's piping voice sounds from behind the man's back as he stands in the open doorway. "Are they-"

She comes to view, moving past Pop's tall and buff figure. Her light hazel irises dance between either Rio and I, and she immediately forms a smile.

"You're here!" She beams, hurriedly pulling Rio into a welcoming embrace as if she's about to loose him. Rio hugs her tight.

"Good to see you, Mom." Rio breaks into a genuine smile.

"Oh my! You brought her!" She squeals, gently but quickly letting him go and jolting her gaze onto me. I offer my soon-to-be mother-in-law a toothy smile, standing before her.

Her excited hazel eyes pierce mine. I stand still.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you." She walks over to me; her straight brown hair tucked away behind her ears for her perceptive and excited eyes to showcase.

I keep my smile plastered as I watch her look at me a moment longer, that is, until I notice her bright eyes start to water. But her small and admiring smile is still showing.

"You're the one that loves him as he is." She hurriedly wipes away the tear that just slipped, stopping in her tracks before me. "You're the one that he let in." She then grins, deliberately pulling me into a hug shortly after.

Hugging her back, I begin to think for a second that I'm the one that'll be forcing back tears. I flutter my eyes shut with a puny delighted smile, hugging the woman that raised Rio in turn.

The very moment I'm released, the sound of a car engine speeding down the dirt driveway behind my back causes for all of our gazes to jolt over. Each of us watch Chris's truck park next to Rio's sleek BMW, before he soon exits himself.

Chris's tall and buff figure is vestured in a dark grey suit and tie, as he hurries over. And it then hits me that I don't think I've ever seen him in a suit - or anything besides his usual black or white wife-beaters in that matter.
"Sorry I'm late. I was right behind you guys but the traffic kicked in and I got caught up." He sighs, making his way over to the porch.

I watch Rio's best man with raised brows, observing him in his formal suit, noting my fiancé wears one too. Chris takes notice of my surprised gaze before he walks up to the three of us.

"We're very family oriented." He explains to me, releasing a winded breath. "Well we tend to be when we actually get the chance to get together." He adds, and I shake my head to myself, failing at suppressing my smirk.

--

After a short introduction of names, the dining room soon becomes filled for everyone to sit for the feast. So yes, Rio was right of course - the family did prepare a vast dinner for today.

And seeing all the food on the long dinner table, centering the family's smiling faces, kinda makes me think of Italians. They're similarity of gathering to dine with everyone as being family oriented, I mean. The tiny thought summons up a small grin on my face.

I think of the most random things when I'm merely nervous.

Though I must admit, after I gradually met Chris and Rio's dad, mom, and fashionista of a sister, my coiling anxiety dialed down a ton. They are all very welcoming, and kind. Angela, the sister who appears to be only a year or two younger than me, couldn't keep her bold hazel eyes off of my red silky top.

And soon enough after we dived into some random conversation about the Dolan Twins, she inclined her head making her blonde curls bounce, and in anything but ridicule did she compliment my style.

Rio did already feed me the warning of Angela's eagle eyes, but she's nice, decent; a sister-in-law that I know I can get use to having around. And not because of her 'approval' of my outfit, but rather the glimmer in her eyes that reveals nothing but happiness when she looks at Rio - showing that she really is happy for him. That's what I admire. I think that glimmer is what I really and truly wanted to see from his family today.

Claiming a seat at the table after Rio scooted out one kindly for me, I bite my lip glimpsing across Amanda, Michael as Pops, and simply Angela who sits on the other side of her mother. Chris has claimed the seat next to his dad - leaving Rio and I to ourselves on the other side of the long table.

The dinner table plasters a plate before each seat, a large bowl of dinner rolls center platters of steak and bright vegetables. The feast results in quite the strong aroma of savory, or any homely given dinner.

I feel Rio's warm hand reassuringly rest across my knee as he sits close.

"So," Amanda softly clasps her hands together, settling her delighted eyes on my own. "When did it happen?" She beams with an intrigued grin. Either of my brows escalate for clarification as confusion piles within me.

"The spark! When did you two first feel it?" She asks, glancing between either of us.

I bite my lip gently, curling my fingers around Rio's from where he had his rested on my knee beneath the table. Then I take in a smooth breath. It doesn't take much thinking to deliver the answer.

"Um, I first realized I felt something for Rio when he came to the Hospital I use to work at." I say, as Amanda begins plating her a juicy steak. Michael reaches for the vegetables as Angela watches me to continue; her bright hazel eyes wide and entertained in the spilling details of Rio and I's romance.

I smile. "It actually wasn't too long after we happened to bump into each other," I tuck a strand of my loose brown waves behind an ear, before scooping myself some veggies onto my plate, "but it was the first time he showed up at my job. He didn't care who saw him. I kinda pulled him over to the side," I didn't realize how defeated I had become by a grin, glancing elsewhere as I'm drifted into thought, "we started talking and I realized that I liked having him around. It was then when I knew I cared for him, anyway." I finish, teeth tugging at my lip as I peer up again.

Amanda watches me with raised brows, her red coated lips curved in awe. Pops has his head inclining momentarily as his dark eyes glint at Rio, I briefly glance to Rio who sends his dad a smile before looking at me. Angela watches us with a sparkle of entertainment in her eyes.

"But realizing when I first loved him? That had to had been..." I drift away in ponder again, that is, before I feel my fiancé's hand graze mine.

I think back to one of my best times with Rio, on a day where the warm breeze was just perfect on an Autumn day. It was the day he first taught me how to shoot a gun. And the funny thing is, it was in the field that we are now planning to wed at.

I know this is why I chose it.

I remember the way I felt when his chest pressed against my back, and I realized how comforting, intensifying his presence was. He guided my aim by his warm hands, and I made the shot.

And by this time I knew I liked Rio, and cared immensely for him. But love was another word for it. For the rest of the days since I never wanted to pull away.
There was a time that I parted myself from the kingdom, and the king, but he ended up finding his way to me. Now that leads to the night on the Boulevard, when I never felt more alive with him. That's when I decided to thrive for the whole package offered: Rio with the kingdom.

I still don't regret my decision.

"When I first taught her how to shoot a gun, way back when." Rio instead concludes huskily, next to me. I glance at him, my heart beginning it's task and racing.

That's what I was going to say...

Rio licks his full lips, his ardent gaze soon latching on mine. "It's when I knew I had never felt that way for anyone, ever." He says, seemingly lost in my gaze. "And I knew she was worth it all." He adds, his low tone laced in rawness.

As my smaller hand is still in his, I feel my pink lips twitch. I get the sudden urge to kiss him, not caring who sees.

But instead, as I watch my fiancé watch me, and as I catch the inevitable sight of the twinkle in his chocolate brown eyes for the thousandth time, I break into a smile. And I think it's contagious, from the sudden curve of Rio's lips afterward.

"Wow..." Chris Attwood speaks, across the long table. I glance at his familiar bold dark eyes to see him grin at his brother by my side. Chris then looks to me. "You two have something that's gonna last forever." He says within his usual deep and booming voice.

My smile can no longer falter.

"Oh it will." Rio remarks infallibly, squeezing my hand.

I turn to fix on my fiancé's irrevocable gaze again, looking into his chocolate brown irises.

"It will." I say, whole heartedly.

---

Hello loves!! I know it's been a while! I just started working and I will be going into full-time, but just know of course I'll be trying my very best to update when I get the chances to!!

Just wanted to thank you guys for sticking with me!! I love love love you!!

Please be sure to spread kindness, any simple act of kindness could make a huge impact in not only yourself, but for those around you!

Also, this chapter mentioned two past scenes, so I figured I'd inform you of what chapters they referred to! In Crashed Into a Gangster, chapters 12 & 39 are the mentioned ones!! Have a look at them and see where Rio and Victoria's love first kinda took off!!

**Oh! Oh! IT's RIO APPRECIATION MONTH!!!! Lets make this happen!!! If you have Rio fics of your own please add the tag #rioappreciation to the list of tags or for anything - whether that be a post of Rio for everyone to see, add the hashtag!!! Show our favorite gangster some love, he deserves it!!

#rioappreciation ❤️

Updating again soon!!!!

xx