CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

          THE PANIC SHE HAD FELT WHEN THOSE WORDS LEFT HIS MOUTH MADE HER BREATH HITCH IN HER THROAT. Her heart pounded in her chest as her foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, sending the car speeding down the road. Lucy couldn't shake the terror creeping up her spine, the gnawing fear of what might have happened.

Rio had told her that he was alright, both him and Mick, but the way he had said it wasn't all that convincing. She had no idea how far this had gone. Had she really been that in the dark?

The streetlights blurred as she raced through the city. Lucy's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white from the tension. The warehouse was still miles away, but all she could do was focus on getting there as fast as possible. 

And now, hearing that Beth had tried to get him killed, Lucy knew he would follow through.

But despite everything, Lucy couldn't stomach the idea of Rio killing Beth. Even if her friend had done something unforgivable, the thought of it ending like that—of her being responsible for turning a blind eye while Beth got caught in Rio's wrath, was too much.

She had children.

Lucy's chest tightened as she thought of those kids, full of love and life and whom she was fiercly protective of. If Rio was to succeed it wouldn't just be Beth's life ruined. It would ripple through everything. Lucy couldn't let that happen.

The brunette pulled into the warehouse lot and the old building casted shadows over the cracked pavement. Lucy drove to the side, parking where her vehicle would be hidden from anyone who might pass by. She shut off the engine and sat there for a moment, collecting her thoughts as they washed over her like a suffocating blanket.

Lucy got out of the car and stormed towards the side door, her pulse thrumming in her ears. Her boots clacked sharply against the concrete as she crossed the warehouse lot, her breath shallow with the rush of adrenaline surging through her veins. She had no plan. No idea what she was going to say and no idea how injured she would find them.

Rio didn't even know she was coming, he had told her to go home.

The staircase was old, creaky, and every step she took seemed to drag out the time longer than she could stand. Her throat tightened, and her palms were slick with sweat as she approached the top of the stairs. She could hear hushed voices on the other side of the door of the room she had already been in twice. The tension in the air was almost tangible.

Without a second thought, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, not bothering to knock. Her eyes immediately scanned the room, searching for Rio.

The room fell silent the moment Lucy stepped inside. All conversation ceased, and three pairs of eyes snapped toward her. Rio stood near the center, his dark eyes widening in surprise before narrowing with frustration. Mick was slouched in a chair, his face battered with bruises and dried blood beneath his nose. Juan stood by the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his face softened at the sight of her.

Rio looked far worse than she'd imagined and her heart sunk. His left eye was swollen and bruised, dark purple spreading across his brow. Dried blood on his chin, a deep cut visible on his forehead. Despite his injuries, the fury in his eyes was unmistakable and he was about to snap when his eyes met hers.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Rio growled, his voice low and angry, the words practically vibrating with his frustration.

Rio didn't wait for an answer. The moment Lucy opened her mouth to respond, he stormed toward her his expression darkening with each step. Before she could react, his hand clamped around her arm, his grip firm but not painful, filled with barely controlled fury.

"Not here." he hissed through clenched teeth.

Without another word, he dragged her from the room and pulled her down the same creaky staircase she had just climbed. Lucy struggled to keep up with his fast pace, her heart hammering in her chest. She could feel the tension radiating off him, each step a reminder of the storm brewing inside him.

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Rio pushed open a side door and led them into an empty corridor. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, he released her arm and stepped back, his chest heaving as he glared at her.

"I told you to go home." he hissed, but the anger wasn't directed at her.

"You can't kill Beth." The words tumbled out of Lucy's mouth before she had time to second-guess herself.

His expression darkened even further and his fists clenched at his sides and she peered at them for a moment. "You think this is a game? You want me to let this slide?"

"She has kids, Rio. This isn't just about her. You kill her, and they lose their mother. You can't do that to them."

He took a step toward her as his dark eyes bore into hers, blood dripped down to his shirt. "That bitch made her choice the moment she hired a hitman. My son almost lost his father."

"I know!" Lucy's voice cracked with desperation. "I know she did, and I'm not excusing it. You have no idea how much I hate her, okay? But you can't do this. I am literally about to beg you, Chris."

He was standing so close she could smell the blood on him, feel the heat of his fury radiating off his skin. His hands flexed at his sides, as if he was struggling to contain the anger inside him.

"You're gonna beg me?" he growled, his voice dangerously low as he trapped her between the wall and his body. "For her?"

Lucy's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't look away. "Yes. For her kids. For us. You kill her, and you can never come back from that, Christopher. Not with me. It will be over."

His chest heaved, the weight of her words crashing into him but his eyes still burned with that cold, lethal intent. "She put me in the ground already, Lucy. She just didn't finish the job."

"And I'm asking you to be better than that." Lucy whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, don't do this."

For a moment, the tension between them was suffocating and she felt like she couldn't breathe. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists tighter, staring her down as if searching for something in her eyes that would make him change his mind. Lucy saw his mind swirling but deep down she knew he wouldn't listen to her.

Rio leaned in close, his breath hot against her skin as his fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. His lips barely grazed her ear as he whispered, "She needs to be punished, Lucy."  His voice was dark, filled with a cold finality that sent a chill down her spine.

The man with the eagle tattoo moved his other hand slowly, his fingers grazing her throat before wrapping around it. He was gentle but firm enough that she took in a sharp breathe. He inhaled deeply, face buried in her hair, drawing in her scent as if it grounded him. 

Lucy fought to control the rising heat within her body and she nearly moaned under his touch. Summoning all her remaining composure, she managed to hold back any further response and spoke with a trembling voice. "I might ... have another way to make this all stop."

It was a stupid idea. The worst she has ever had and she only suggested it to keep her friend alive and keep Rio satisfied.

His breath warmed her neck as he ran his nose along the side of her face, the contact both intimate and unsettling. He hummed softly, a low sound that seemed to reverberate through her bones. The dark intensity in his eyes never wavered as he pulled back slightly, his gaze fixed on hers. Lucy peered at his bruises and furrowed her brows and she wanted to reach up and take the pain away from him.

"And what is that?" Rio wondered, tilting his head slightly as he pressed a little more firmly on her throat. Lucy's eyes fluttered and rolled back as the pressure made her vision blur, but not from her air supply getting cut off. She pressed her legs together. He watched her reaction with amusement, a chuckle escaping his lips.

Lucy struggled to maintain her composure, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Turner is still on Beth's back about being involved with you. She's probably panicked and made a desperate move. If you kill her, it won't solve anything."

"Turner's got nothing."

Lucy shook her head, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "She doesn't know that. She's terrified of Turner and going to prison. That's why I think she tried to get rid of you. If Turner eases off, she'll be less desperate."

Rio's grip on her throat eased slightly, and she almost missed the subtle shift in pressure. He ran his tongue along his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he considered her words. "How do you suggest we do that?"

"You have to make Turner back off. If he's no longer a threat to her, she'll stop trying to make desperate moves. She's driven by fear, and right now, she sees you as her biggest threat."

"And how do you want me to get Turner off her back?"

Lucy took a deep breath, her eyes locked onto Rio with hesitation. "You can't get Turner off her back, she needs to do that herself. Beth always needs to feel like she's in control and right now she feels cornered. She won't stop trying to eliminate threats unless she feels secure."

Rio narrowed his eyes at her and he was about to retort something when she cut him.

"We're going to have to have her kill him."

i think there's about ten more chapters left until i finish this story and i am so excited for the rest. also, do you guys want more smut?