CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

          THE REFLECTION THAT STARED BACK AT HER DIDN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE HER IN THE DIM LIGHT OF THE SMALL HOTEL ROOM. It felt like a ghost of the woman she once was, confident, vibrant and full of life. Now, she was a mere shadow, haunted by memories that lingered in every corner of her mind.

The scar on her shoulder was a stark reminder of everything that had happened two months ago. It was more than just a physical mark that was left on her body, it was a symbol of how fragile she actually was as her world spun out of control. Though nearly healed from surgery, the scar was still raw in her mind and a constant reminder.

Lucy took a deep breath and braced herself against the weight of her emotions. She turned on the tap, the sound of running water breaking the quiet of the small bathroom. The cold splash against her face made her flinch but the shock of it pulled her back into the present. It was a welcome relief from the thoughts that swirled in her mind.

After patting her face dry, she reached for a large t-short that hung loosely on the back of a chair. The fabric felt soft against her fingertips but as she pulled the shirt over her head, she couldn't help but suppress a wince as the movement tugged at her tender shoulder.

The ache throbbed, a persistent reminder of her injury.

The brunette took a moment to steady herself, inhaling deeply to ease the tension that tightened around her chest. The shirt fell over her frame, swallowing her whole as she tried to find solace in its familiar embrace. It was comforting, wrapping her in a cocoon that isolated her from the world outside.

Lucy stepped out of the bathroom and kicked away an empty pizza box that lay discarded on the floor. The box skidded across the worn carpet and hit the side of the wall in the process.

She moved toward the small living area. The room was sparsely furnished, a coffee table littered with takeout containers and half-finished cups of coffee, a television that flickered with static as it played an old movie and a three seater sofa that had seen better days. 

Lucy wandered over to the floor to ceiling window, the sunlight streaming in and casting a soft glow across the room as winter approached. She paused, staring out at the busy streets below. People moved through their days as their lives carried on like normal. Lucy felt envious of them and furrowed her brows. 

She was stuck in this small hotel room, hiding away from a world she no longer felt a part of. She had quit her job with some lame excuse, the job she actually loved so much if she were being honest with herself. She couldn't possibly ask them for months of leave without a good reason and she just prayed they'd take her back one day.

And telling them she got shot wasn't in the cards.

Her once steady life had crumbled, and now all she had were these four walls and the weight of the choices that weren't even hers to make.

With a soft sigh, she slipped her arms around the waist of the tall figure standing by the window. She breathed in deeply, the comforting scent of his cologne filling her senses. Lucy pressed her cheek against his back and closed her eyes for a moment.

He immediately wrapped his hands around hers, intertwining their fingers as he rubbed her skin gently with his thumb. It was a gesture that always soothed her and it anchored her these last couple of months.

"Hey," he murmured, his voice low and reassuring. "you alright?"

Lucy was careful not to touch the sensitive spots on his stomach and chest as she knew how long it had taken for him to even get to his feet. She felt a pang of guilt for the worry they had both endured yet here they were, alive and trying to find their way back.

"M'fine." she nodded, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades.

They stood like that for a minute, the world outside the window fading into a distant hum. The warmth of his body against hers was a comfort. Lucy closed her eyes, savouring the intimacy of the moment and wishing it could last forever.

After a while, she pulled back slightly and slid around him to look up at him. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly, her gaze searching his for signs of the pain she knew lingered.

He hesitated for a moment, his expression shifting as he considered her question. "Still a bit sore." he admitted, a faint grimace crossing his face. "But it's manageable."

"I can ask for more pills." she offered.

"He's not going to give them to me," he muttered as he brushed a strand of hair from her face gingerly. "you know that."

"I really hate that man." Lucy confessed as she leaned into his touch.

He offered her a small smile and said, "Just a little while longer."

Just then, the door to the hotel room swung open and Agent Turner stepped inside. Dressed in a plain t-shirt and jeans, the bruises that had once marked his face were now completely healed. He held a bag of takeout, the rich aroma of food filling the room as he walked in.

"Hope you two are hungry." he said, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the scene before him.

Lucy glared at Turner, her eyes narrowing at the man. Turner merely shrugged it off, an easy confidence radiating from him. Rio's expression shifted, his features cooling as he stared at the man who had invaded their space, frustration flickering in his eyes.

Turner, seemingly unfazed by the hostility, glanced over at the coffee table and noticed the airplane model Rio had previously attempted to puzzle together. A hint of amusement danced in his eyes as he observed the disassembled pieces strewn about.

"It's one of those tank killers, right?" he wondered as he put the food down beside it. "You know it can land even if it's missing a wing?"

"I just think it looks dope." shrugged Rio, hand resting on Lucy's hip.

Turner pursed his lips, surveying the messy hotel room with a raised eyebrow before he turned his attention back to Rio. "So, have you thought about what you want?"

"Pistons." replied Rio casually as he gave the man a nonchalant shrug. His hand rested on Lucy's hip for a moment, squeezing before he strolled over to the couch. With an easy grace, he sank down onto the cushions, kicking his feet up the table. "Season tickets. Courtside."

Turner rested his hands against his hips, a smirk playing on his lips. "So every fool you've put away can see you up there on the jumbotron? You wouldn't make it to halftime."

"White sand beach." Rio said, his tone light and casual as he shared a knowing glance with Lucy. "Warm blue water. A couple of beers and a chair."

"The farther, the better." agreed Turner.

"Mmm-hmm." Rio reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, tossing it to Turner, who caught it with ease. "One last name popped up."

Lucy took a deep breath, her stomach tightening at the reminder of the deal they had made to save his life. He was forced to deliver names to Turner from people he had ties with in his gang, a task that felt like betrayal weighing heavily on his conscience even if he managed to give him names that he didn't care about.

Turner unfolded the paper and glanced down at the name, his expression unreadable. "Interesting," he muttered, his eyes darting back and forth as he processed the information.

Rio leaned back against the couch, his face cool and guarded as he watched Turner.

After a moment Turner nodded at the paper, his eyes flickering between the two of them. He turned on his heel and made his way to the door, but paused just before exiting. "Keep it together, you two. You're not out of the woods yet."

With that, he left the hotel room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Lucy's mind wandered back to the hospital, a hazy memory that felt vivid. It was three days after her surgery, and she was finally up and walking, her legs shaky but determined. She made her way down the sterile corridor, the antiseptic smell still heavy in the air, each step feeling like a small victory.

As she approached Rio's room, a wave of anxiety washed over her. There was an officer stationed outside of his door but he was half asleep. She hesitated at the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. The sight that greeted her filled her despair. Rio lay still in the bed, his face pale and peaceful, but the tubes and machines surrounding him told a different story.

The rhythmic beeping of the machines contrasted sharply with the stillness of Rio's body. She felt a lump form in her throat as her eyes traced over the tubes that snaked from his arms to the machines, monitoring his every breath. 

With a heavy heart, she made her way to his bedside. She winced as a sharp ache shot through her shoulder. Settling into the chair beside him, she reached out a trembling hand and gently brushed her fingers against his. The warmth of his skin felt reassuring, even as worry gnawed at her insides.

Just then, the door opened and a nurse walked in. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in Lucy's presence. "Oh! You're up and walking! I didn't expect to see you out of bed so soon."

"Is he okay?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling slightly as she looked up at the nurse.

The nurse gave her a sympathetic smile, but there was concern in her eyes. "He's stable, but it's been a tough recovery. He had a collapsed lung and some damage to his spleen, but we managed to fix it. He lost a lot of blood and needed transfusions but he should wake soon."

"Thanks," she muttered as she turned back to look at him.

Suddenly, Lucy felt herself being pulled back from that haunting memory, the sterile scent of the hospital fading away as a familiar voice called her name.

"Lucy?"

She blinked, returning to the present and found Rio looking at her with concern etched across his features. The hotel room came into focus around her, the cluttered coffee table and the sunlight streaming through the window grounding her.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

"It certainly feels like it." she sighed as she made her way toward him.

He held out his arm and she slid onto the couch, resting her legs on the cushions beside her. Lucy rested her head on his shoulder as he sat back and she wrapped an arm around his middle, digging her fingers in the fabric of his shirt. The warmth of his body wrapped around her like a protective shield.

"Just lost in thought." she murmured, closing her eyes for a moment. "I was thinking about... everything."

Rio turned his head slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "Just a little while longer, ma. He'll be out of our lives in no time and then everything can go back to the way it was."

He had promised her that last week, claiming he had a plan but she didn't want to know the details. Her exhaustion weighed heavily on her and all she truly wanted was to go home.

The brunette nestled deeper into his side and took a deep breath, allowing the rhythm of his heart to calm her racing thoughts. She closed her eyes and focuses on the way he was rubbing her arm up and down in slow strokes, the tv playing in the background before she nodded off.

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