"He's Back"

Happy birthday, mama, he said - and I instantly couldn't suppress my smile when I locked onto Rio's ardent brown eyes.

As he stands on my doorstep in a navy blue t-shirt and black jeans, the only emotion to surface next to surprise as my heartbeat incessantly flutters--the emotion he visibly shows, too--is happiness.

It almost feels overwhelming while my smile is broad and unfeigned.

"Rio," I beam as he hands me the roses. I instantly wonder how he knew.

How did he know about the day I myself tried to not recognize?

"Thought I'd stop by on this special day," he starts huskily, his voice all too smooth while a mischievous grin begins tugging at his full lips. I step aside for him to walk in. "Plus, there's somewhere I wanna take you." he says as he walks by me.

Still surprised, a faint blissful laugh escapes me when I close the door behind him. Rio's taller frame wanders into the kitchen and I follow behind.

"How did you know..." I ask; my confusion evident as my eyebrows furrow - but a genuine smile is still canvased. I place the flowers on the kitchen island before taking a seat at one of the barstools.

I watch Rio stop in his calm steps across from me, remaining stood with his hands folded behind his back. His intent stare glues onto my own.

"I knew Cal's," he informs me; a flicker of sympathy blazing behind his eyes a second - before I catch another vague emotion that's almost unrecognizable for his tough demeanor.

Sadness.

And I feel the same at the unexpected mention of my twin brother.

But it only lasts a moment, for the both of us I think, as his lips curve upward again. "So you ready or what?" he asks smoothly, leaning a broad shoulder against my fridge just feet away from me, claiming the center of my gaze.

I can tell he only wants for this to be a good day, too.

In return I barely suppress my laughter, "in a moment. Where is it you wanna take me anyway?" I ask curiously.

Rio watches me with the familiar twist of deep intent and dangerous mischief burning onto my bright gaze - he then gently bites down on his lip. "You'll see."

Only seconds after his response, a small grin plays about on my pink lips as I glance to the beautiful roses a moment.

"Okay, fine. I'll get ready after we catch up a bit." I carry my gaze up to Rio again, putting my elbow on the island's surface to rest my chin in the palm of my hand. I send him a sheepish smile.

And looking at him, fixating on the dark pair of mischievous eyes I've grown use to, only one thought surfaces. And unlike telling Vince and anyone else, this one hurts the most.

I have to tell him about the promotion. The transfer.

I have to tell him goodbye.

And even knowing I would still be able to visit everyone - knowing I'd still be able to visit him - there's still an uneasy twist imploring the pit of my stomach at the thought of telling him.

But, I did mean what I thought over earlier: I'm going to make the days ahead better for everyone. I'm at least going to try. I don't want there to be sadness. But instead... the mere piece of what I felt when I opened that door just minutes ago.

Happiness.

"What's going on in that mind of yours?" I hear Rio question, huskily and curious, breaking the silence I didn't realize I had welcomed. My brows almost instantly raise when I meet his eyes.

"Oh, nothing," I state casually - calm enough to reassure him as I lazily shrug my shoulders.

"Nothing, huh?" he says, his full lips twitching upward while he plants his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans.

In turn another thought washes over me, nearly a reminder. As if right on cue. "Actually," my eyebrows knit together when I continue, "back at the Station today I heard that the gang hasn't been making any moves..."

A smug grin instantly forms across Rio's face as a brief chuckle escapes his curving lips. He glances down to the floor beneath him a moment. "Yeah." he answers, licking his lips before fixating on my eyes again.

"But that doesn't stop me from hangin' around you." he adds rawly; his deep brown irises twinkling gallantly on mine for a while. And never tearing from his stare, I notice his gaze gradually softening the longer he looks at me.

For some reason, his silent action causes for the beating in my chest to begin rapidly at it's task. And inevitably, a warm feeling then spreads throughout my entire body as I'm locked onto Rio's gaze. It's a mix of content, excitement, even a sliver of mischief - and an unusually riveting spark of danger.

And I can't ignore the fact that the feeling is only coming from the sight of him. But I do hide it.

"Taking a little break?" I ask him, my tone soft.

Gazing at me, Rio lightly runs his tongue across his teeth. "Something like that."

Slightly parting my lips for an intake of breath, I vaguely nod before clearing my throat. "Whatever you say, boss." I fail miserably at holding back a small smile as I spin around in my seat, before hopping off and making my way to the fridge.

Walking up to Rio's taller body still leaning against the side of it, I open the fridge door - but not before spotting Rio roll his eyes in response.

"Are you hungry?" I ask him casually, peering through the food inside.

In return, the sound of Rio's unsuppressed chuckle next to me makes my smile widen. He stays where he's at; only inches near with the refrigerator door separating us.

"You think you're funny, huh," He says huskily through a smile - I can hear it.

Before I know it he pokes his head around the open door, before taking a step forward to stand next to it, resting his arm on top of it while the rest of his tall frame comes to view.

His brown eyes latch onto mine. "C'mon Detective, you know we gotta get going." he says as he tilts his head against the door he now holds open himself.

Gently sucking on my bottom lip as I turn to face him, I squint my eyes in thought, as my appetite kicks in heavy. Rio raises his brows in wait for me to say something.

"Fried Oreos." I whisper, before spinning around to head for the pantry across the kitchen, releasing a triumphant sigh. "That's what I'm craving!"

I hear the refrigerator door close behind me and I glance back over my shoulder to see Rio purse his lips into a thin line - before I catch the sight of them twitch. And he lazily follows behind me.

"Have you ever had them?" I question enthusiastically, not once taming my smile as Rio's is contagious. I then face ahead, grabbing the Oreos and sitting them on the counter.

"Detective," he says far behind me, his tone almost in warning.

"You're gonna love them," I chime, opening the pack of cookies.

Suddenly, I slightly jump to the feeling of Rio's chest barely brushing against my back, as he places his hands on the counter by either side of me. With my frozen hand just centimeters from grabbing a cookie, my shoulders tense.

As Rio's masculine yet light cologne lingers the kitchen, I can feel his breath fan the side of my neck.

"It's your birthday, Detective." he whispers. "You can make all the fried Oreos you want. But later, I'm taking you somewhere. And there's no questioning it."

With my back gently pressed against him, I take in a soft breath in return, understanding his every word. But beginning to quietly exhale, I feel the corner of my lips curve upward, and I can't stop it. I bite my lip to keep from smiling so wide.

And with the very little space I have left from Rio's close proximity, I turn around. Just inches away from his face, I look up into his eyes. The moment he glimpses down to see my twitching lips, a smug smile tugs at his own, too.

"You got it, boss." I manage to say strictly, though shortly after I watch Rio silently click his tongue.

"And if you say 'boss' one more time..." he remarks, hiding the amusement I can see in his eyes, and I can't help but laugh before he does the same.

Rio's hands return to his sides before stepping around me and claiming the spot next to my slightly shorter figure. After I turn to face the counter too, Rio momentarily places his hand on my upper back carefully, before deliberately dropping it and parting his touch.

Still feeling overly content, I look over with a genuine smile, watching Rio take an Oreo into his own grip and taking a bite.

"So you gonna show me how to fry these or what?" he manages to say amidst chews, before I playfully roll my ocean eyes and get ready to grab the batter.

--

Just two hours later after going through each simple step on how to fry Oreos with Rio - and later having numerous conversations after another as we ate - I find myself throwing my head back from laughing so hard while we sit on my living room couch.

Rio sits leaned back comfortably on the other end, my laughter seeming to be contagious to him as he does the same.

"Are you kidding? Only when you were eight years old!?" I say in result of him telling me a hilarious story from his past.

Rio's bright smile widens as he folds his hands over his lap, his brightened gaze fixating on my own. "I was the best prankster in Newport Beach. After that my cousin never trusted me again."

We both boom a laugh simultaneously, and instinctively I shake my head after. "I use to do the same to Cal, many years ago, I would prank him all the time. He hated it." I smile to myself in reminiscent.

"If only we knew each other way back then." I comment, looking at Rio as he averts his gaze down to his lap a moment. "Gosh, the entire city would hate us." I add, my amused smile widening as I keep my gaze centered on him.

In return Rio cracks an even wider smile, his gaze still refracted as he diffuses a brief chuckle.

The second I part my pink lips to speak again, my cell phone rings from the coffee table in front of the couch. "One sec," I state briefly to Rio before I reach over at arm's length, taking the phone into my grasp before answering it.

"Hello?" I start with it against my ear, mindlessly coming to a stand before deliberately wandering in my tracks around the living room.

"Hey, C..." the unusually wary tone of Vince's deep voice over the line causes me to pause in my steps. "Um, would you be able to come down to the Station?"

"Of course," I peer over my shoulder back at Rio - who remains seated comfortably with his long legs parted. His dark brown irises instantly lock on mine, and I send him a small smile. Though his own smile from just a few seconds ago never seemed to have faded anyway.

"Why what's up?" I ask Vince, carrying my gaze elsewhere again.

"It's..." Vince pauses, "something came up. I'm gonna need you here, Costellanos." His tone shifted to something more strict, nearly authorizing. Maybe he's around officers at the moment.

My brows instantly knit together. "Oh, okay. Yeah I'll be there shortly." Ending the phone call, mere concern begins to coil it's way inside me, but I try mentally pushing it aside.

I spin around to face Rio, who already came to a stand on his own two feet. He picks up on the visibly apologetic expression across my face, I'm gathering, from the way he attempts offering an understanding smile - but it's faint.

"I'm sorry, they need me at the Station." I explain to him softly, proceeding in my steps to stop in front of Rio.

"Duty calls, Isabel." he states rawly, his deep gaze piercing mine. "Everything alright though?"

In return I sigh, putting my phone into the side pocket of my black leggings. "I'm not exactly sure. Vince sounded... off."

In my oversized light pink t-shirt, I comb a hand through my blonde waves then fold my arms against my chest, before hearing Rio sound a low 'hm'.

"Well call me when you get back, keep me posted yeah?" he says, fully attentive.

I nod when Rio seems to check the time on his cell, a second. "Almost six o'clock, darlin'." he remarks, soon planting his hands into the pockets of his black jeans.

"Looks like we're gonna have to raincheck on that big present of yours." He smirks, shrugging his broad shoulders. "We'll make it work, always do."

I feel my lips twitch when Rio takes a step forward, only to lean in and place a delicate kiss on my cheek - one of his hands vaguely resting on the side of my waist for a moment.

Then, he stays in place for another second longer. Remotely, I can feel his minty breath settle upon my ear while he stands close - very close.

My heart begins to race immensely, as the ink across Rio's neck is near and detailed.

"Happy birthday, mama." he finishes smoothly, it's low, but almost soothing. A small smile begins tugging at my lips, and his hand is removed from my waist to return to his side, when he turns around and makes his way to the front door.

Watching Rio walk away, I think over everything he's done for me today—everything he's given me. The roses. Countless conversations. Laughter.

Contentment.

It probably didn't seem like a lot to him, or maybe it did. But it surely was for me. It was something I didn't know I needed.

"Rio," I call him, watching him stop in his steps after he opens the door. He turns around to meet my blue green eyes, gently biting down on his lip.

Slightly parting my lips with his attention now drawn onto me, a genuine smile then plays about on my pink lips, I don't suppress it.

"Thank you." I say gratefully, skimming my gaze across his own blazing pair across the room.

In return Rio delivers a half nod with a forming grin, before deliberately turning and heading out the door - shutting it behind him.

Uncontrollably, my smile widens the second the door closes. But I immediately note I have to quickly head to the Station, so I hurriedly grab the nearest pair of shoes next to the front door - yellow low top Converse - and slip them on before grabbing my car keys.

--

Around fifteen minutes or so, I arrive at my job, heavily thankful to finally be out of that traffic.

Entering the Station in what I've been comfortably wearing ever since I got home earlier, I instantly search the Lobby for Vince.

There are several police officers pacing the entire floor, phone lines at Delilah's Help Desk are ringing incessantly, but Vince is nowhere to be—

"Costellanos," I spin around to see Vince walking towards me, his steps are nearly urgent. I didn't realize I had smiled at the sight of him, before I feel it slowly fade by the look of unfamiliar worry in his deep brown eyes.

Once he finally reaches me, as we stand in the hall away from everyone else, the emotion behind his gaze deepens.

"I know you were just here earlier but I had to call you in..." he starts, his gaze hanging low and barely centering on mine.

Vince always looks me in the eyes. A deep furrow looms over my brows in confusion as I instinctively glance around us a second, at our surroundings.

"Vince what is it?" I ask, soon watching him carry his gaze up to meet mine.

His exterior is his usual solemn and strict demeanor - but it's vague. I see past it, towards the sympathetic concern behind his eyes.

"I couldn't tell you this over the phone," Vince adds lowly, clenching his jaw a moment before he parts his full lips.

Instinctively I stand frozen, scanning across my partner's eyes in wait.

"They found Peterson, C." he tells me.

Peterson...

My entire body stands tense. And suddenly, an unwelcoming darkness coils inside me, and I freeze.

"What did you just say?" I manage to speak, my tone soft but almost shaky - the quickening of my pulse complying with the bitter mix.

And standing before Vince, instant flashes of everything that happened that night come crashing onto me like vicious waves: the first moment I saw Peterson; the lethal danger fuming behind his eyes. When the four of us stood amongst the uneasy tension in the desolate lot of the mechanic shop.

The moment he shot my brother.

The moment I didn't hesitate to shoot him.

Now, my heart brutally hammers in my chest, and I instantly note I have to act as normal as possible. Even when I can't stop thinking over what happened on the worst night of my life.

"He-he's dead?" I ask, remotely swallowing down the lump in my throat.

Vince parts his gaze to glance down, a silent moment, not even having to deliver a direct answer in return.

And as much as I want to already tell myself it's going to be okay, another grave reminder gets caught in the crossfire.

My fingerprints being on the bullet that killed him.

I hold my breath, forcing myself to settle on Vince's eyes - that are now deeply clouded with sympathy and concern on mine. He's worried about how I feel.

The last thing Vince spoke of about Peterson's case, nearly half a year ago, was the search to find the Wanted criminal - after setting Peterson as the prime suspect for Callum's 'drive-by' homicide.

Trying to stay collected, trying to avoid gaining racing thoughts again, I keep my attention latched onto my partner.

"How did he die?" I ask quietly.

In turn, Vince takes in a low breath, almost as if in preparation before responding. His brown irises don't tear from mine.

"When the team found him, his body seemed to have been dumped. Hidden. It was clear that wasn't the approximate crime scene, so we called the team to bring him in for proper examination." he informs, crossing his arms firmly against his chest.

I feel the tensity in my shoulders increase.

The autopsy...

"C, he's in the morgue." Vince clarifies sympathetically; completely mindless of my threatening worry.

I calmly release a breath I didn't know I held, before sending my partner an understanding nod. And I clear my throat.

"Have um, did they perform an autopsy yet?" I question.

"They're gonna perform it tomorrow morning. As far as we know, we're not even sure about the cause of death. Some officers said it could be a stab wound or gunshot, any sort of fatal puncture. They weren't allowed to fully examine, so we don't know for sure, yet." he states.

Before I can respond or even think, I watch Vince take a step closer to me - his deep brown irises still grasping my blue green set.

"Look, C. I don't know how you feel about all of this, I know you wanted to catch him..." Vince's deep voice seems to fade out the more he speaks, and I can't make out the rest of what he's saying. I don't think I want to.

Instead, an incessant yet slight ringing begins pulsating in my ears. Amongst all the sounds I know are actually going on inside the Station, the ringing is all I gather. And though staring at Vince, reading his lips to make out the words 'I'm sorry' - all I can process is that there hasn't been an autopsy on Peterson, yet.

With my heart still pounding rapidly, I then begin taking a couple steps back before turning around and quickly heading for the back door - leaving Vince behind.

I don't know if I'm in shock, if that's what to call it, but I do know that I'm not able to think straight - not now. I make my way around the building and back to the parking lot, without looking back. I get into my car, and I don't think twice to drive out of the lot.

It starts to rain, more heavy than light, as I eventually make my way across highways I've never encountered in the vast city of Richmond. The steady raindrops smacking against my windshield become the only sound to fill my ears.

And before I know it, I'm parking alongside the street of the address my mobile GPS directed me to--the address I didn't realize was my first response to all of this.

I didn't even realize this is where I was headed, until now.

I exit my car in the pouring rain without a jacket, instantly getting soaked the moment I hurriedly walk across the unfamiliar front yard.

And stopping right outside the front door, luckily to have remembered the address he sent me earlier today, I stand on Rio's doorstep. I knock on the door, slightly shivering from the colder weather settling in.

And the second he opens the door - his face immediately softening with vivid worry the second he sees it in my eyes, too - I only manage to begin with four words.

"I need your help." I say, hearing my voice slightly crack as I stand before Rio.

---

Hello, loves!! HOW WAS YOUR THANKSGIVINGGG?

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I LOVED THIS CHAPTER!! MUCH more coming soon (concisely)!! I'll try to update as frequently as I can as I'm wrapping up Rivals!! Ahhhhh!

Love you all so much, I'm eternally grateful for every one of you!!

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