Chapter 13

I couldn't stay mad at Rio for long. Too much history between us. I let it go.

After that day, I stayed in my room. Avoided him whenever I could.

But the mood outside kept getting worse. Marco walked around tense for days, armed even indoors. Twice the usual number of guards on patrol.

I caught pieces of his phone calls. Words like infiltration. Informant. Move on them.

I didn't ask. But I felt it too.

That night, a loud crash woke me.

Something hit the gate.

Then the alarm tore through the estate, red lights flashing outside the curtains.

My door slammed open. Rio came in with a gun, hauling me up by the arm.

"Don't ask. Move with me."

I didn't have time to think before he was dragging me down toward the underground garage.

Heavy footsteps came down the hall. Radios crackled, voices cutting in and out.

"East gate's down!"

"Sub-level two, fall back!"

Marco led the way, everyone pressed close to the walls, running.

At the turn of the stairwell, Rio stopped hard and pinned me against the wall.

Marco was losing it. "What are you doing? Move! They catch us here, we're done!"

Rio stared at me, hesitated for a second, then spoke.

"The necklace. You want to tell me the truth now?"

"Or their guns won't care who you are."

Marco snapped. He grabbed Rio's shoulder. "Have you lost it? The boss told us to protect her. Not get her killed!"

"Shut up." Rio suplexed Marco to the ground. "The boss said I run things here. We've wasted time. Whatever happens next is on you."

Marco's hand froze mid-reach.

He grabbed his own head and shouted, "You've lost your mind. They're closing in and you think you can protect her on your own?"

Rio ignored him.

He looked at me, voice flat. "Tell me the truth and I'll get you out of here right now."

The fear on my face gave way to something else. Grief.

"Rio, is this how you treat someone you don't care about? Hold their life over their head to get answers?"

"If someone did this to your fiancée one day, how would that feel?"