CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

           THE BRUNETTE SAT CURLED UP ON THE COUCH, LEGS UNDERNEATH HER WITH HER LAPTOP RESTING ON HER THIGHS. She scrolled through numerous listings for nursing positions at hospitals across Detroit. Her old unit didn't have any openings for the foreseeable future, which left her feeling frustrated. 

Lucy had loved her job but she had been forced to quit not too long ago and now she needed to figure out her next step. She couldn't stay stuck, even if the thought of returning to work while carrying a baby left her feeling oddly conflicted about it.

As her eyes skimmed the job descriptions, her thoughts kept drifting back to the child she was growing inside of her womb. She could still see the screen of the ultrasound from a few days prior and the awe she had felt overpowered the rest of her emotions. A sense of quiet joy slowly took root deep within her. 

She absentmindedly placed a hand on her stomach, as if she could feel something but it was way too early for any of that. Her and Rio's lives weren't perfect, far from it but there was something special about this unexpected situation they were now responsible for.

In that moment, as she scrolled past yet another job listing that didn't feel like the right fit, she realised that she was actually happy. She never imagined being in this position but now that it was real, it felt... right.

The thought of Rio coming home kept her spirits up as the hours passed. She hadn't heard from him all day, but that was how it usually went when he was handling business. By the time the clock hit eleven, she had settled into her pyjama's with her laptop still in front of her, the glow of the screen casting her in ambience lighting.

The sound of the door creaking open pulled Lucy from her thoughts. She twisted her head as he stepped through the door, his frame coming in her line of vision.  He shut the door behind him, and the tension seemed to ease from his shoulders as his eyes landed on her.

"Hey," she greeted him softly, setting her laptop aside and leaning back into the cushions.

"Hey, sweetheart." Rio's voice was warm and gentle as he made his way across the room, his usual intensity softening the closer he got to her. His eyes scanned her face, lingering for a moment, as if checking to make sure she was alright. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." she replied with a small smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Spent most of the day looking at job listings, trying to figure out where I'm going to work."

Rio raised an eyebrow as he moved to sit beside her. "You don't need to worry about that."

Lucy blinked, unsure of what he meant. "What do you mean?"

"You don't need a job." Rio said, his tone matter-of-fact. He rested a hand on her thigh, his thumb brushing gently against her leg. "I'll take care of you. Whatever you need, whatever you want, you can get it."

Lucy let out a scoff in amusement and shook her head dismissively. She turned to face him, shifting her legs beneath her and pulling the blanket tighter over her lap. "You know I'm not expecting you to pay for my entire life, right? Not because of this nor for anything else."

He just gave her a shrug with a grin on his face. "I know you don't expect it, Luce. That's not the point. I want to take care of you. Let me make sure you don't have to worry about anythin'." He paused for a moment as he searched her face. 

"It's not about money or control. It's about the fact that I want you to feel safe, to know you can lean on me whenever you need to. Especially now, with the baby coming. I love you. And I want this... all of it. You, the baby, our life. I don't want you to feel like you have to struggle or do it all on your own. Not anymore. You've already given me more than I deserve. So yeah, I want to take care of you. I need to. I've never had something this important to fight for. Not since Marcus."

"You love me?" she breathed, disbelief written on her face.

Rio's grin softened, his expression shifting to something more vulnerable, more raw. "Yeah, I love you." he said, his voice low but steady. "I didn't think I was ever gonna feel this way again. But you... you make me want things I didn't even know I needed." His eyes stayed locked on hers, his hand moving to cup her cheek. 

Lucy felt her heart stutter in her chest, the words sinking in slowly, almost too good to be true. She hadn't expected this, not from him. Not from the man who had built his life around walls and defences.

"I love you too, you know." she said softly, her lips quirking into a faint smile. "Even though you drive me absolutely crazy sometimes."

He chuckled, his grin returning. "I'll take it."

Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver key, holding it up between them. "Speaking of being all in... I had this made for you. I want you to move in. For real this time."

Lucy stared at the key, her eyes widening in surprise. "I already have a key," she pointed out, her voice tinged with amusement.

"That was the spare," he countered, his grin widening. "this one's yours. For our place." He pressed the key into her hand gently. "I want you with me. Every day."

Lucy ran her tongue along her teeth, trying to hide the grin that was threatening to break free. She could feel Rio's gaze on her, his eyes focused intently on her lips as she fumbled with the key in her hand. Her pulse quickened under his scrutiny, but she didn't mind. Finally, she let out a small, teasing sigh and her lips twitched as she looked up at him. "Okay, I'll move in. For real this time."

The man's grin widened and without hesitation he reached for the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her closer. In one swift motion he slammed his lips to hers, the kiss filled with an intensity.

Lucy melted into his touch, her body responding immediately and her hands found their way to his chest, gripping his shirt tightly. The force of his kiss, the intensity behind it, made her heart race but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, letting herself get lost in the moment. She held onto him as if he was the only thing keeping her alive, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingertips.

Rio's grip tightened and his hands moved down toward her waist and then lower to grab her ass, pulling her to his lap effortlessly.  Lucy let out a soft gasp, her body fitting against his like a missing piece. His lips never left hers, each kiss more demanding than the last. Between kisses, he murmured, "Got another surprise for you..." His voice was low and teasing as he briefly pulled back, glancing at the clock on the wall.

Lucy was breathless and flushed red as she raised a brow. "You got somewhere to be?" she asked, her tone light but curious as she noticed the way he checked the time.

He just grinned, mischief flickering in his eyes. Without answering, he leaned forward, still holding her tightly, her legs wrapped around his waist. She clung to him, her heart racing as he reached out and grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table, his movements smooth and confident with her hanging onto him.

He flicked on the TV, and the soft glow illuminated the room. Lucy furrowed her brows, giving him a questioning look as he flipped through channels with a quick taps of his thumb. Finally, he settled on the late night news channel, the familiar theme music filling the space.

With a sly grin, he motioned for her to look at the screen. Her curiosity piqued, she turned her gaze toward the TV, trying to decipher what had caught his interest. The news anchor's voice filled the room, but it was the headline at the bottom of the screen that drew her attention.

Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief as the news anchor began, "Tonight's extra news broadcast. A woman has been arrested and charged with murder, money laundering, and drug deals." The camera shifted to a close up of Beth's face.

She slipped from Rio's lap, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her as she settled beside him, her heart pounding in her chest. She leaned closer to the screen, wanting to catch every word.

"Police say that the suspect is linked to a series of violent incidents in the area and is currently being held without bail. Sources close to the investigation suggest she may have been involved in a larger drug trafficking ring." the anchor reported, the seriousness of the situation sending a chill down Lucy's spine.

Lucy felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her feet. The news anchor's voice faded into a distant murmur, the gravity of the situation sinking in like a heavy stone in her stomach. She turned to Rio, her expression a mix of disbelief and confusion.

"How on earth did you manage to pin everything on her?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rio's grin was unexpected, a flicker of amusement crossing his face despite the seriousness of the moment. "It wasn't hard," he replied, his tone light and almost teasing. "you'd be surprised at how many connections I actually have."

Lucy stumbled over her words, glancing back at the screen for a moment before meeting his gaze once more. "I thought ... I thought you were gonna kill her?"

He nodded, his expression sobering. "That was the plan. But I know you, Luce. You're gonna beat yourself up about it when you think about those kids growing up without their mother. I didn't do this for her or her kids. I did this for you."

She was at a loss for words, the weight of his declaration settling heavily in the air between them. The reality of the situation was overwhelming. The idea of Beth being locked away, unable to hurt them or their baby, felt surreal but comforting. "But what if she finds a way out?" 

"She won't," he assured her firmly. "I made sure of it. With the charges she's facing and the evidence we have, she's done for. You have my word, you don't have to worry about her anymore."

A deep breath escaped her, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "I guess I didn't realise how much I needed to hear that."

"Then let me say it again. You're safe now. We're safe." he repeated, his eyes locked onto hers, making her feel every word he said.

Lucy nodded wordlessly, a teary eyed smile spreading across her face as she threw her arms around him. In an instinctive movement, she straddled him again and felt the warmth of his body beneath hers as she buried her face in his neck. The weight of the world seemed to lift off her shoulders, replaced by a comforting sense of safety and love.

Rio chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. "See? This is how it should be," he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to the top of her head. "no more stress, just us."

Lucy looked up, her heart racing as their eyes met. His lips brushed against hers, soft and inviting at first, then deepening as he pulled her closer. She melted against him.

The brunette's fingers tangled in his shirt as their kiss intensified. His hands roamed her body, leaving trails of heat in their wake. She felt dizzy with desire and pressed herself as close to him as she could.

Suddenly, Rio broke the kiss, his eyes dark with hunger. "Bedroom," he growled, his voice low and commanding.

In one fluid motion he stood and lifted Lucy with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him as he carried her down the hallway. Her heart raced with anticipation. Once in the bedroom, Rio gently laid her on the bed. He paused, drinking in the sight of her, hair tousled and cheeks flushed. 

"You're beautiful," he murmured, his gaze soft.

Lucy felt a rush of warmth flood through her at his words, her cheeks flushing even deeper as she gazed up at him. The way he looked at her made her feel cherished, seen and undeniably beautiful.

Their lips met again, this time with a sense of urgency and tenderness that spoke volumes. It was a kiss filled with promise, a silent vow that they would face whatever challenges came their way together and she didn't care about anything anymore but this moment.

i think this story is finished now ... i'm gonna be honest i do not know what to add from on here like the 'plot' is done. 

However!! I will be writing extra chapters that is about their life after all this so they won't be a full story line but loose moments here and there. Let me know what you'd like to see? More smut? About the pregnancy? Literally anything i'm open to just let me know!!!

THANK YOU FOR VOTING, COMMENTING AND READING I LOVE YOU FOREVER <3