Reinhardt Rodriguez

He stared at his masterpiece, satisfied with how aesthetically pleasing it looked. Fluffy, golden pancakes lathered with her favorite apricot syrup, shredded and fried potatoes its serving alongside poached eggs and the crispy bacon that curled around the stack of pancakes. He set it atop the breakfast tray along with the large pitcher of orange juice.

"Hey," she was just walking out of the bathroom in a new robe, a towel damping the strands of her wet hair, when he let himself into the room.

"Hey," he greeted back, going over to the side table to set down her breakfast.

"Breakfast in bed?" she smiled, going to her wardrobe to pick out an outfit for her day. "You're so sappy. Besides, I'm already up."

"Doesn't really matter," he said, coming over to gently steal the free hood and leggings she'd pulled out to wear and guide her back to bed, draping the clothing choice over the desk chair as he passed by. "How do you feel?"

"Can't feel my legs," she said, rolling her eyes when his gaze seemed to light aflame all over again even as he helped her settle in bed, back against the headboard. "Could get used to this."

He just hummed in response before going to get the black hairdryer from the cabinet within the closet, coming back to where she had already situated the breakfast tray over her legs, caging herself in and digging in with relish. "Come on, love," he said. "Scoot over. I'll help you dry your hair while you eat."

She didn't respond, having just stuffed her mouth full with a helping of the pancakes but adjusted forward the slightest bit so he could get in behind her. "Did you eat already?" she asked, eyes narrowed in the comfort induced by the warmth of the dryer blowing on her scalp and his fingers sifting through her hair.

"Not hungry for food," was all he responded with.

Donnie ignored the underlying meaning of his words, scooping a bit of eggs and shredded potatoes then turning around slightly so she could raise it to his lips.

"It's alright, Mads," he reassured. "Really."

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," she reminded. "You won't get this meal elsewhere. It was specially crafted for me, you know?"

"Of course," he said, lowering slightly so he could eat from her fork. When she turned back around, he returned to treading his fingers through her soft hair that now hung inky down her back, seaweed-like in its waviness.

"Are you weaving my hair?" she asked at the feel of his large hands interlacing the locks of her hair.

"Yeah," he said, finishing the simple French plait with a knot and wrapping an arm loosely about her waist, nose finding the crook of her neck. He smiled against her neck when the slightest shiver racked through her body at the unexpected contact. "I missed you, Mads. So fucking much."

She paused, before letting her body completely relax into his and then continue her meal.

"All that time we spent apart," he began, letting his eyes slip shut as he greedily breathed in the scent of the soap wash that still lingered on her. "I don't even know how I got through it all, to be honest. I didn't think I could."

She was silent, having stopped the rest of her meal with only a few poached eggs left to go. He wasn't sure what her silence counted towards but didn't dare to dwell too deeply on it, first wanting to get the whole weight off of his chest and see what she had to say about it.

About them.

"But I really can't, Maddie," he murmured. "How can I? How do I live without you. . . when you were the first to see me, really understand me and love me?"

She pushed the breakfast tray aside before turning so their gazes were level. "I love you too, Art," she said. "I don't think I could go any longer without having you in my life. Honestly, I don't even want to consider it being an option."

She tugged him close after that, pressing their lips together in a soft, gentle conveyance of all of her emotions.

He kissed her back, letting her withdraw first so she could continue leaning back into him. He kept his hold steady around her waist, only tightening his arms the slightest bit. He, too, could stay like this all day.

He cursed, knowing he'd wished the sentiment a little too soon, knowing there was the high chance he'd just jinxed himself when her phone started ringing.

She picked it, voice quiet as she conversed but mostly listened to the person on the other rend of the line, soon shutting the call after a series of affirmations.

"Work?" he called, bummed when she nodded in agreement. He loosened his hold, arms still wrapped around her but loose enough she could get out whenever she finally wanted to.

She didn't just yet, turning about once more to press a kiss to his cheek, eyes soft as her hand smoothed against his jaw before she finally retreated to her wardrobe, picking out a simple white sundress with small sleeves and a simple floral.

He walked over as she picked up a little purse she slipped her cell and some lip stains inside, picking her sandals and crouching so he could help her put it on.

"Thanks, babe," she said when he'd walked her to the doorway, smiling as she slipped a quick peck to his cheek, chuckling when he caught her lips afterwards for a longer, much fuller kiss.

He retreated first, pulling open the door and then pausing, she too with one foot forward at the sight of Gio standing at the door, hands raised with how he'd just been about to ring the doorbell.

"Hey, Gio," she greeted, donning on a smile he instantly returned and then breezing past with how tight she was on time with the event her assistant and manager had more or less pulled out of their asses.

Rei met his gaze, arching a brow, "you got something already?"

Giovanni Jensen

"Not exactly," he said, nailing his questions to the roof of his mouth and following Rei's lead to his kitchen where he cleared an arsenal of dishes into the sink before pulling open his fridge.

"Drink?" he offered and when all he got was a shake of the other's head, brought out a tumbler and bottle of whiskey for himself, tossing him a bottle of water.

Gio uncorked it, taking small sips to wet his throat. If their body language was any indication, then they'd since gotten back together though he was most curious why it'd taken them so long and what circumstances had fostered the whole thing. He kept his little observations to himself and just sipped on his water while the other man drank in silence.

"Did you have something for me?" he finally asked on his third refill, swirling the light content around the ice he'd poured in the tumbler.

"Just came to drop off an update," he said, setting the bottle aside so he could bring his gaze level with Rei's. "I handed the encrypted emails to my uncle. He said they were deeply encoded and whoever wrapped it seemed dead set against anyone finding out their location."

"So," he trailed, expression deep and abysmal. "Dead end?"

"Freddie said to give him an hour, two tops." His uncle was the craziest hacker he'd come across. The man knew his stuff, he'd give him that. It was just great he was willing to help, the only reason being he considered Gio family. He'd stopped dabbling in that kind of work long ago so Gio was just glad he'd made an expression. "That was half an hour ago. He should send a location or something. Soon enough."

"Thanks, Gio," the relief that flooded Rei's expression was instant, all the nerves that had had his body tightly strung with tension fleeing his body with a single exhale. "Breakfast? I can whip up a couple more pancakes if you like."

"That'd be great," the words faltered out. "Thanks." He watched him get to work, making a mix from scratch and then greasing his pan. If anyone told him he'd be sharing a meal with Rei after he'd pointed his rifle at him, then he'd have just laughed at the bluff.

He watched him set the pan over the cooker, making quick work of getting the pancakes fluffy and golden, setting a stack out on a plate not long after. "Syrup's over there," he said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the cabinet to the left and right over their heads before turning to start on his own meal.

When he joined him at the island, his forkfuls were measured but he still ate in a tempo that assured Gio that he probably hadn't had a good meal in a while, stressing and poring over who could really be behind the whole plotting with Donnie and what they'd really set out to achieve in the first place.

The meal finished quickly and Gio got up, replete with that and the fruits Rei had let him have as much of as he wanted, to help the latter load the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. The process was quicker with double the effort and soon the were sat back near the island while waiting for it to dry.

That was when Rei's phone started ringing.

He glanced to it instantly, perhaps having expected a call but soon scoffing at the number that flashed on his screen and averting his gaze.

"That's Aleks' number," Gio said, lip twitching at the realization that it wasn't even saved up.

"You can pick it," he shrugged, going to set the plates back in their racks. "Ask him what he wants or whatever."

Gio did as he asked, sliding the call icon right and placing it on loudspeaker so he got firsthand whatever it was Aleks wanted to say. "Hey, Aleks," he greeted just before the man's frantic voice came on.

"Gio," he called, tone sharp. Though if the worry and need for help in his voice was anything to go by, he didn't exactly understand why he was turning to Rei. Aleks still believed the man would be happy to gut him from the inside out anyway. "Is Rei with you right now?"

"Yeah, he is," Gio answered for when the man himself didn't bother to deign the other with a reply, just setting plate after plate in their racks.

"Donnie was kidnapped," he dropped, a loud shatter resounding in the otherwise quiet space as a china fell through Rei's hands in his shock.

He marched over, snatching the phone out of Gio's hold and asking, "what happened?"

"I don't know," he said, voice breaking amidst Rei's sudden loud cursing. "Someone under Vyn got the call. It was rerouted to us because it had to do with Donnie and we're the ones involved in the case with her."

"We're at the precinct, trying to figure this out, especially since her stalker was simply picked away."

Rei ignored the lilt in his tone and cut the call.

"I'll take care here and follow after," Gio reassured, getting to his feet when Rei, body rigid once again with his nerves. "Go see what you can do about it first. I'll put a call to my uncle on my way over."

"Thanks, Gio. Key's on the mantle piece," he said before rushing out, grabbing his rifle placed behind the door on his way out.

Gio got to clearing the broken pieces of ceramic, trashing them before locking the penthouse and heading out to the precinct after Rei in his beat up truck.

They'd thought it to have ended with the stalker but apparently he hadn't. Someone had been out after Donnie and had been able to get her. Hopefully, they weren't looking to end her swiftly.

He placed the call to his uncle.

Donnie Ramos

The photoshoot had gone well. Her manager had arranged it with the hope that she could update her fanbase with the news that all was well after the whole thrilling episode and that it wouldn't be cutting her from her work like had been the speculations.

It hadn't hit the news just yet and she had to reassure her ever supportive fans so the idea came about. Reassurance done, she was more than ready to head back and dive headfirst into Rei's arms, maybe spend the rest of the day in bed with him since their morning had been abruptly cut short.

Her mask was already in place as she tried to flag down a taxi that could take her back to his pent. One stopped next to a couple minutes later and she immediately got in, keeping her gaze polite as she directed, "Dale Estate."

The man nodded and accepted her fare, starting out not long after. She dropped her gaze to her phone to leave Rei a message that she was on her way back but thought better of it, backspacing as she decided to give him a surprise. He hadn't known when she was going to return anyway.

She tucked her phone back in her purse, gaze finding the driver's. He was dressed in a black turtleneck and dark pants, a leather overcoat thrown over the front passenger seat. The ensemble reminded her of how Rei looked in the ensemble when he'd set out to break the stalker out of prison.

That had her cheeks tinting the faintest even as her lips quirked up a bit at her own train of thoughts. She yawned, not sure why she suddenly felt so tired, wanting to be back home with Rei so she could cuddle with him.

She yawned again, eyes narrowing at the sight of the driver, young and not like any of the cab drivers she'd ever come across herself in the city, stretching his hand so he could adjust the vent of the air-conditioning.

Drowsiness hit her harder. "You. . ." her words tumbled out in a slur and she hastened for the lock she found unsurprisingly bolted. She tried again, clawing at it loosely in face of her quickly sapping strength. Soon, she found herself slumping against the door, giving way to her unconscious with only one thought in her mind.

It was for Rei. And that he found her fast.

When she came to, she was in a dimly lit room and took a glance after adjusting herself to the lack of light filtering through. That was no wonder with how the only thing the room had going for it in regards to ventilation was the one broken window. She cut a quick glance around the peeling red paint and rusty metal beams, bringing her gaze away from the old crates, boxes and debris scattered about at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Who are you really?" she asked at the sight of the driver from earlier. The guess was that he had something to do with Victoria but she was nearly dismissing of the idea. He carried himself with a sophistication that seemed to be engrained in his bones, not nearly the fake carriage she was used to with most people in the entertainment circle.

"You can call me Reggie," he said simply.

"Why did you kidnap me?" she asked, more interested in that than anything else in the moment.

"I just need you to act as bait for someone," he shrugged. "I'll consider letting you go, depending on the result or reaction this brings about."

"Who?" she asked, none coming to mind immediately. Her mom was dead and her dad, well, people who would be after her because of her dad didn't seem like they'd be much prone to talking so much nonsense with her. Plus, her circle was pretty tiny. She didn't keep any friends over the years. In fact, the only ones who'd be befitting of such a description would be Gio and the others. But that seemed even more unlikely.

"Your ex-boyfriend," he said, gaze pointedly coming to stay on her neckline, that had been turned scruffy during the whole hassle of getting her here and now exposed the litter of now purple love bites that trailed down and disappeared into her collar, as he continued, "well, I guess you both are still together?"

"Rei?" she frowned instinctively. "How would you even know him?"

"We're in the same line of work," he said and when she just blanked, staring vacantly, he frowned. "Assuming you know what that is?"

"Sure," her tone was clipped. She'd been sure he was embroiled in something dark. His whole aura basically alluded to it but she'd never have realized this misfortune would be as a result of Rei's choices.

And that just annoyed her.

"Now what?" she asked, shifting her wrists slightly in the noose her wrists were bound in. It felt frayed, pricking against her skin and seemed to adjust with each slight movement she made. And her kidnapper hardly seemed to be in the know. Perhaps he couldn't get his hands on more durable rope but she wasn't really complaining.

"Now, we wait," he said, tone gruff as he brought an iron chair around to back her, sitting on it in a straddle. "For him to do something thoroughly foolish."

Donnie snorted. If there was anything she appreciated her man for, then it was his meticulous attention to detail and approaching the situation with the the best tact possible.

"What do you like about him even?" he asked.

"It's Rei," she said, brows arched as though the answer was pretty obvious and that was as much a response was needed. "What's not to like?"

His eyes turned into mini glaciers of ice.

"Why?" she asked, lips quirked when she found herself making even more headway with the knots her wrist had been bound in behind her. She was rubbing her wrists raw with the effort but anything would prove worth it in the long run. "What's your whole vendetta about anyway?"

The man's eyes darkened but he didn't give a response.

Donnie hadn't been counting on him to.

Almost there.

Aleksei Thompson

"What. Happened?" Rei's eyes were hot coals in his rage as he glared at him, Gio lingering at the door to Vyn's office.

"She was gone by the time we got to the scene," he explained as clearly as was possible for him with Rei looking like he was just steps from breathing fire through his nose and incinerating him to ashes. "But the cameras managed to capture the car and some of the plate so we're looking into things from that angle. We should get some feedback in a while."

"That's it?" he sneered. "Maddie doesn't fucking have a while to wait for you to fuck around with her life."

"I don't see you doing anything to help," he said, tone even and that only seeming to irk Rei further, a muscle jumping madly in his jaw. "I'm doing what I can. All I can. And you? All you're doing is hampering anyone from getting into the thick of anything."

"Hampering?" A mirthless chuckle burst from his mouth before he could help himself. "I just got here."

"And last night?" he said. "Taking away the stalker to satisfy your rage was what? Where is she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, gaze turning bland.

Aleksei snorted before getting out the ruby ring still attached to the silver chain that Vyn had found at the scene.

Rei, quite literally, combusted, his gaze setting aflame as his hand flew to his neck, rubbing the spot bare of the accessory he was only just realizing had gone missing. "Give it back," he said, words coming out forcefully with the restraint he was using to bay his rage.

"It's alright. I'm sure it's not yours," he said, knowing just how infuriating his words were especially when Rei took one long stride forward, Vyn snagging his arm before he could make good on whatever threat was brewing in him. "You don't know what I'm talking about, remember?"

"Aleks," Vyn called and he saw it in her eyes that she wished he hadn't handed the accessory over to him.

"Where's Miss Lee?" he asked but tossed the necklace over to a tightly wound up Rei who immediately grabbed it before it could complete its intended parabola.

His hands wrapped tightly around it, veins pulsing against the skin of his neck with the strain of his emotions. "Basement," he said simply.

"What did you do to her?" he asked, a frown down turning his features.

"Nothing," he spat, still incensed.

"Or you just hadn't gotten the chance to carry out all your nefarious plans?" Aleks pressed, earning a disapproving look from both Vyn and Gio, the latter who had come to sit in front of Vyn's desk, diverting his gaze from the screen of his cell to Rei who he worriedly stared at.

"It was Donnie who wanted her," he said. "And yeah, that didn't give me the chance to do any of what I wanted."

Aleks just stared, having not exactly expecting him to admit to it.

"Are we done here?" he scowled, features tight. "Or do you want to snap a cuff on me?"

"No," he forced out, the words coming out strangled. "I wasn't going to."

"I didn't think so," he said, very expression condescending. "You've always been a damn hypocrite. Preaching one thing and practicing another."

"Do you want me arresting you or something?" Aleks was just confused now.

But Rei was done paying any attention to him. "Gio," he called, the journalist jumping slightly when the attention was placed on him. Rei's gaze softened the slightest bit. "Give me the address. I want to run it by someone."

Gio handed him his cell phone before turning to meet Vyn's questioning stare.

"What address?" Aleks asked when Rei rang someone up while walking off, calling out a soft, "Michal."

So, Gio briefed them. When Rei had picked Victoria up, he'd come to discover that she had someone behind her who'd been plotting the whole thing with Donnie, someone who went by the alias RG. Freddie had traced the emails down to an address enough to discover the sender.

One Reginald Andrews. Not much could be dug up on him except for the fact that he'd been in the mercenary only to be expelled from it later on.

They'd sat to discuss motives– he and Rei both– and agreed it was most likely this mercenary had been targeting Rei from the start, even if the latter had confessed the name didn't even seem to ring a bell to him. Stalking had been left up to Victoria and doing all she wanted with those she killed. He hadn't had much to with it, so wanting to spook Donnie herself was out of it.

Letting someone target Donnie for the sake of getting to someone on the other hand, in this case, likely Rei, was another possibility entirely they leaned in favor of.

When Gio was done, Rei had also rounded up his call and just went to take a seat on the long couch in the corner of Vyn's office while he waited, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers, gaze vacantly staring into the distance.

"You shouldn't have held it over his head like that," Vyn said before rising so she could go over to the rigid man.

Aleks felt his throat work, a guilty prick hitting his conscience before he stood up to go call for the officer overseeing the plate number search of Donnie's kidnapper and handing the new information over to him.

He returned to Gio's side, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Vyn and Rei conversing in too quiet a tone for either he or Gio to pick up on, his hands fiddling with the necklace in his hand.

Vynessa Patel

"That must be really important to you," she remarked, keeping her voice light and fleeting to let him know it was up to him how much he wanted to share. He didn't respond, not at first, and just fiddled with the accessory in his hand. Finally, he tugged the ring free of the chain that held it, tucking the chain in the pocket of his pants and slipping the ring on his finger.

"It is," he murmured but that was all he said right then, rubbing slightly over the surface of the shining ruby, gaze slightly damp and melancholic.

"Donnie?" she asked even though she truly doubted that could be even a bit right.

"No," he said, a slight smile tugging his lips though the very depths of it remained sad. "It belonged to a friend. We served together in the military."

Vyn faltered, "he's late?"

"Yeah," Rei's voice cracked on the word and then his gaze was hardening as he raised them up to meet with Aleks' across the room where he was still seated at his desk. "I don't get what you see in him."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Vyn said, letting her poker face come to play.

"Sure."

"Is it very obvious I have the hots for him?" she asked, a blush working its way over her cheekbones. That just earned her a look. It was Rei's special what-do-you-think look.

"And he, you," he muttered afterwards. "It's how any of you could see there was something between Mads and I even when we were apart. It's basically written all over you two."

"Him too?" Vyn hadn't really noticed.

"His is pretty obvious," he said with a disdainful look at Aleks. "Or maybe that's just because I'm a guy and the way I'm whipped for Maddie is what I can see also written all over him."

Vyn gave a hack snort that soon dissolved onto laughter. "Whipped," she snickered.

"You're really something," he said, letting his lip arc in a somewhat amused smile.

"Then why do you think he's holding back?" she asked.

"He is?" Rei retorted with a sneer, gaze finding Aleks'. "I can feel his jealousy all the way from here. Just look. Don't his eyes look like they're threatening to spear me dead?"

Vyn flushed hotter.

"I don't mean it like that," she said softly. "I mean there's always this tension between us and we always come close to acting on it but just not quite. I stop myself 'cause I find myself hoping it's not all in my head."

Rei didn't butt in with anything sarcastic this time and for that she was grateful.

"Because what if it actually is?" she paused to dart a casual glance the blond chief's way. "We have a good relationship without bringing our feelings into the whole equation and I don't want to ruin that. But if he also feels the same way, then what's stopping him?"

"It's Aleks," Rei said, tone taking on a matter-of-fact lilt. "The man thinks every little thing down to the tiniest bits. It's basically the way he's been wired. Perhaps he thinks the same way, that it could affect your relationship or even worse for him, your work."

"So I have to make the first move?" she asked, bummed as her fists turned white with how tightly she had them clenched together.

"I know enough of Aleks," was all Rei volunteered in response. "And I know enough to be sure that he won't be making the first move. Not in the nearest future anyway."

Vyn shit a hesitant glance over the blond's way, the latter looking like he was physically trying his darndest not to dwell too much on how long she was in conversation with a recalcitrant Rei.

"You don't want to wait untill you're both old and grey, do you?" he goaded. "I mean, let's see. You want to wait until mine and Maddie's first couple of children are celebrating their second decade or finding partners of their own?"

Vyn blanched.

"Calling you Aunt Nessa?" he snorted.

That seemed to be the last straw and finally succeeded in springing her out of her seat. She marched over to her desk, the fiery light in her eyes and one-track determination only serving to cause Aleks to shoot her an uneasy glance and then dart it over Rei's way as though wondering what exactly it was he'd been whispering to her all along with all the makings of a devil.

Gio shot them a curious glance over from the laptop he'd borrowed not too long ago.

"Let's go get something to eat, Gio," Rei said, rising to his feet. "I'm starving."

Gio darted a confused glance back. He didn't look very hungry and parted his lips to utter just that when his gaze fell back to the duo in front of him and he got the full brunt of Vyn's narrowed eyes stare. "Of course," he stumbled out, rising to his feet and heading out with Rei.

Vyn rolled her eyes slightly when the door shut gently behind them before bringing her gaze back to Aleks. "Hey, can we talk?" she began. "About earlier."

"Rei?"

"Much earlier," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just before Jamison's arrival when he came with news of Victoria's disappearance."

A dusting of pink wasted no time in blossoming across his cheeks. "You–" he began, the blush intensifying until his cheeks were a bright, startling red and threatening on the verge of crimson when the most reaction she gave was a bare arch of her delicately carved brows.

"I like you, a lot," she said, just coming out with it to see where it took her. "Do you like me too? Or is it all up in my own head?"

It was a fifty-fifty with pretty low risks. He either didn't and she'd dreamed everything up– the exchange of glances, the telling signs, the ambiguity. Or he did.

And he so fucking did.

"I do," he said. "I like you too." They weren't at the point of being unable to live without each other but if their feelings were any indication then they were so damn close.

She erased the inches that separated them, leaning over him and pressing a kiss to his lips.

And the rest, they say, is history.

–

This chapter was inspired by the song How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes. In the beginning of the chapter, Rei's heartfelt proclamation of his feelings for Donnie conveys how he feels he can't do without her and not having her in his life is like living his life like a blank canvass.

Don't forget to vote and let me know what you think of this chapter :-))

Love,
Evy.