nini

A/N- yall there was supposed to be smut in this but it was getting to long i like a build up some times instead of jumping right into it and went a little far lemme know if yall would like the sumt part :)

And do you want to be tagged if I put it out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Imani lay sprawled across her bed on her stomach, her bare legs kicking lazily in the air behind her. The soft pink satin nightdress she wore barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, riding higher every time she shifted against the comforter. Her bedroom smelled faintly like vanilla and coconut oil from the candle burning on her nightstand, the dim lamp casting a warm glow across the glossy magazine spread open in front of her.

But she wasn’t reading a single word.

She flipped through the pages mindlessly, eyes unfocused as the long cord of her landline wrapped around her fingers.

“But you said you was coming over after I got off from school,” she whined softly into the phone, her bottom lip pushing out into a pout. “This my only free time this week, Rio.”

On the other end, Rio sighed heavily. She could picture him rubbing his hand over his face like he always did whenever he was stressed.

“I know, mama,” he said, his voice low and tired. “But work got crazy. You understand that, right? I’ma come see you next time you free.”

Imani’s face fell immediately.

“No,” she said quietly, sitting up straighter. “You keep sayin’ that, Rio. You said that the other time too.”

The silence that followed made her chest tighten painfully.

Things between them had been different ever since she started medical school. At first, she told herself it was normal. They were growing up. Life got busy. Responsibilities changed.

But Rio used to make time for her.

No matter what.

Back in high school he would pull up outside her house at midnight just because she said she missed him. He used to wait outside her classes, bring her food, kiss her forehead like she was something precious. Like seeing her was the easiest decision in the world.

Now every conversation felt rushed. Every plan got canceled.

Every excuse sounded rehearsed.

“Am I not important enough?” she asked before she could stop herself.

The second the words left her mouth, tears burned her eyes.

Rio cursed softly under his breath. “Imani—”

But she hung up before he could finish.

The loud click echoed through her room.

For a moment she just sat there staring at the receiver in her hand before her breathing hitched. Then the tears came all at once.

She buried her face into her palm.

“I must not be that important to him for real,” she whispered shakily.

Her chest ached so badly it almost embarrassed her. She hated crying over anybody, especially a man, but Rio had rooted himself so deeply into her life that the thought of losing him felt suffocating.

Imani crawled backward until her back hit the headboard, pulling her knees to her chest. Tears slid silently down her cheeks as she rested her chin against her knees.

She missed him.

Not just hearing from him. Not just the quick calls or rushed check-ins.

She missed him.

His arms around her waist while she studied. His voice in her ear distracting her on purpose. The way he’d pull her into his lap like he couldn’t stand having her too far away.

Now it felt like he was avoiding her.

On purpose.

Her jaw tightened at the thought.

The phone rang again almost immediately.

Imani rolled her eyes through her tears.

“Ugh.”

Only one person would be calling back this fast.

She wiped under her eyes with the back of her hand roughly, trying to pull herself together.

“Toughen up, bitch. Fuck him,” she muttered to herself, though another tear slipped down right after it.

She let out a humorless laugh.

At this rate she already knew she was about to cry herself into the best sleep of her life.

“You better than this, Imani,” she whispered, shaking her head as she tried to give herself a pep talk.

But the ache in her chest wouldn’t leave.

Instead of answering Rio’s call, she grabbed her cellphone off the nightstand and dialed Brianna before she could change her mind. Because if she sat there thinking too long, she’d end up calling Rio back and apologizing for being upset.

And she refused to do that.

The phone clicked.

“Hello?”

“Bri… I’m not crazy, right?” Imani asked immediately, voice cracking.

Brianna snorted. “Girl, confused bad. Start from the beginning.”

Imani pushed herself off the bed and started pacing her room, one hand dragging through her freshly silk-pressed hair.

“He said he was comin’ over today ‘cause I finally got free time, then canceled again. And I just…” She swallowed hard. “I feel like he avoidin’ me or somethin’.”

She paced harder, wearing a path into the carpet.

“He keep saying work, work, work. But why it feel like he don’t even wanna see me no more?”

Brianna was quiet for a second before asking carefully, “Wait… y’all still together?”

Imani stopped pacing.

“…Yes?”

Brianna sounded genuinely shocked. “Girl, the way you been cryin’ these past two weeks I thought y’all broke up already. Especially with your brother and parents hatin’ him.”

Imani frowned instantly.

“Okay, but that’s not the point, Bri.”

“Mm-hm.”

“The point is I feel like he’s doing this on purpose.” Her voice cracked again. “Why not just tell me straight up? Like, ‘Hey, I don’t wanna be with you no more.’ Why keep dragging it out?”

The thought alone made her stomach twist violently.

Rio saying he didn’t love her anymore would destroy her.

And she hated that he had that kind of power over her.

“Babe,” Brianna said softly, “that man does not hate you. He probably really is busy—”

“Ugh!” Imani groaned dramatically. “I did not call you to be on his side, Bri!”

Brianna laughed.

“I’m serious! Just tell me I’m right before I get some horrible wake-up call and he breaks up with me for real.” Her voice dropped quieter. “And honestly? That would kill me.”

She sat back down on the edge of the bed, exhaustion finally settling into her bones. Her fingers smoothed nervously over her silk press as fresh tears welled in her eyes again.

Imani closed her eyes tightly.

“Aww, M no,” Brianna said gently. “Rio loves you. That man is crazy about you.”

Then why did it feel like he was slipping away from her?

“Okay, not the advice I need right now but—”

Imani stopped mid-sentence at the sharp tap against her bay window.

Her brows furrowed.

Another tap sounded louder this time, like a pebble bouncing against the glass.

“What the hell?” she muttered, instantly getting to her feet.

Her bedroom lights flicked on as she hurried toward the window, her heart jumping nervously in her chest. For a split second she thought maybe it was her brother trying to scare her again.

Then another tiny rock hit the glass.

Imani pulled apart the pink polka-dot curtains with a frown, peering down the side of the house.

And froze.

“Rio?” she whispered to herself.

Down below, dressed head to toe in black like always, Rio looked up at her from beside the flower bushes. The porchlight caught the sharp lines of his face and the fresh ink covering more of his arms than she remembered. Black shirt. Loose black jeans. Boots.

He looked tired.

But he was there.

The sight alone made her stomach flip traitorously.

Rio lifted his head slightly. “Hey, mama,” he stage-whispered loudly. “Keep the window open. I’ma come up.”

Imani rolled her eyes instantly despite the warmth spreading through her chest.

“Are you crazy?” she whisper-yelled back. “I don’t wanna see you anymore, Rio. I thought work was takin’ up all your time.”

She was lying terribly.

Her heart was practically doing gymnastics at the sight of him standing outside her house like some reckless teenage boy.

Rio sucked his teeth.

“Mmcht, mama, keep the window open.”

Before she could argue again, he grabbed onto the wooden trellis attached to the side of the house, the thick vines twisting around it creating the perfect ladder.

Imani’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God,” she hissed. “Please don’t fall. And if you do, I’m not helpin’ you.”

Rio smirked up at her before continuing to climb.

Trying to ignore how stupidly happy she suddenly felt, Imani walked back toward her bed and picked her phone back up.

“As I was saying before I was interrupted,” she said dramatically, “thank you for telling me that. And his ass is in fact insane.”

Brianna burst out laughing on the other end.

“You gon’ be alright,” Brianna teased. “Bye, love you.”

“Love yo—”

The phone disappeared from Imani’s hand so fast she gasped.

She turned around sharply looking up.

Rio stood over her beside the bed, slightly out of breath from climbing through the window. His large frame practically blocked the light above her as he looked down at the phone in his hand.

“Who is this?” he asked into the receiver.

Imani stared up at him through her lashes for a second before she could stop herself.

God.

He looked unfairly good hovering over her like that.

Black shirt stretched across his chest. Loose black jeans hanging low on his hips. Boots still on. Fresh tattoos inked across his hands and creeping up the sides of his neck.

“Well she love you too, Brianna. Bye.”

He hung up before Brianna could answer and tossed the phone carelessly onto the bed beside her.

His hand slid down, gripping her thigh gently as he dragged her closer to him

Imani slapped his hand away immediately “Don’t touch me,”

“This my shit, come here.”

Before Imani could move away, both of Rio’s hands slid beneath her thighs, lifting her effortlessly off the bed.

“Rio—”

She barely got his name out before he pulled her against him, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he turned and sat down on the edge of her bed with her in his lap.

Imani immediately pushed at his chest.

“I’m serious,” she snapped.

One of his hands had already slipped under the hem of her nightdress, gripping the soft flesh of her ass possessively like he belonged there.

“If you came over here just to get your dick wet, you can go,” she said sharply, pointing a finger in his face while trying to pry his hands off her so she could stand.

Rio stared at her for a second like she’d genuinely offended him.

“What?” he asked, almost amused. “Mani, I came over here to see you, baby. How you pushing me off?”

Imani purposely looked everywhere except at him.

At the tattoos on his neck.

At the chain around his throat.

At the strong hands still holding onto her thighs like he had no intention of letting her go anytime soon.

Anywhere but his eyes.

Because if she looked at him too long, she was gonna fold.

“I’m pushing you off because you keep lying to me,” she muttered, voice tight.

Rio’s expression faded slightly.

“And all it took was me crying for you to finally come over,” she continued, trying to keep her composure together. “Like… that really hurts my feelings, Rio.”

Her voice cracked halfway through the sentence.

Embarrassed immediately, Imani turned her face away and wiped quickly under her eyes before the tears could fully fall.

But Rio noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

His grip on her thighs loosened instantly.

“Hey,” he said quieter now.

Imani shook her head.

“No, because I feel stupid.” She laughed shakily, avoiding his gaze. “I’m’ here waiting around for you and you keep making me feel like I’m asking’ for too much just because I wanna see my man.”

“You not asking for too much.”

“Yes I am,” she snapped emotionally. “Cause if I wasn’t, you would actually make time for me.”

Silence filled the room.

The only sound was her uneven breathing and the faint noise from the TV downstairs.

Rio looked at her for a long moment before reaching up carefully, brushing his thumb underneath her eye.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Rio said quietly, his voice softer than it had been all night. “I’ll make time for you. I’m serious.”

Imani sniffled, eyes glossy as she stared down at the chain resting against his chest instead of looking at him directly.

“Any time you call, I’ma come over,” he continued. “Any time you wanna go somewhere, I’ll come. Stop cryin’, mama.”

His hand slid up gently, fingers curling around her chin as he turned her face back toward him.

Imani’s lashes fluttered.

“Don’t say that if you know you can’t, Rio,” she whispered thickly, fresh emotion creeping into her voice.

Rio shook his head immediately.

“Nah, I’m serious.” His thumb brushed beneath her eye again, wiping away another tear before it could fall. “And if I flake out or some shit again… you can be done with me.”

Meanwhile he already knew there was no universe where he’d actually leave Imani alone.

Not after all these years.

Not when she looked at him like that.

“Ew,” Imani said instantly, finally smiling a little through her tears. “Don’t say that.”

Rio smirked faintly at the sight of her softening.

“There she go,” he murmured.

He wiped the rest of her tears carefully while she wrapped her arms around his neck, settling closer against him without even realizing it.

Rio raised an eyebrow. “What happened? Thought you was done with me.”

Imani rolled her eyes dramatically before leaning down and pressing a quick kiss against his lips.

“I was playing,” she mumbled against his mouth.

Rio huffed out a laugh, one hand rubbing slowly up her thigh beneath the satin fabric.

“Yeah, aight,” he teased softly. “You was cryin’ real hard for somebody done with me.”

“Shut up,” she muttered, hiding her face against his shoulder while he grinned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N- yall there was supposed to be smut in this but it was getting to long i like a build up some times instead of jumping right into it and went a little far lemme know if yall would like the sumt part :)

And do you want to be tagged if I put it out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Imani lay sprawled across her bed on her stomach, her bare legs kicking lazily in the air behind her. The soft pink satin nightdress she wore barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, riding higher every time she shifted against the comforter. Her bedroom smelled faintly like vanilla and coconut oil from the candle burning on her nightstand, the dim lamp casting a warm glow across the glossy magazine spread open in front of her.

But she wasn’t reading a single word.

She flipped through the pages mindlessly, eyes unfocused as the long cord of her landline wrapped around her fingers.

“But you said you was coming over after I got off from school,” she whined softly into the phone, her bottom lip pushing out into a pout. “This my only free time this week, Rio.”

On the other end, Rio sighed heavily. She could picture him rubbing his hand over his face like he always did whenever he was stressed.

“I know, mama,” he said, his voice low and tired. “But work got crazy. You understand that, right? I’ma come see you next time you free.”

Imani’s face fell immediately.

“No,” she said quietly, sitting up straighter. “You keep sayin’ that, Rio. You said that the other time too.”

The silence that followed made her chest tighten painfully.

Things between them had been different ever since she started medical school. At first, she told herself it was normal. They were growing up. Life got busy. Responsibilities changed.

But Rio used to make time for her.

No matter what.

Back in high school he would pull up outside her house at midnight just because she said she missed him. He used to wait outside her classes, bring her food, kiss her forehead like she was something precious. Like seeing her was the easiest decision in the world.

Now every conversation felt rushed. Every plan got canceled.

Every excuse sounded rehearsed.

“Am I not important enough?” she asked before she could stop herself.

The second the words left her mouth, tears burned her eyes.

Rio cursed softly under his breath. “Imani—”

But she hung up before he could finish.

The loud click echoed through her room.

For a moment she just sat there staring at the receiver in her hand before her breathing hitched. Then the tears came all at once.

She buried her face into her palm.

“I must not be that important to him for real,” she whispered shakily.

Her chest ached so badly it almost embarrassed her. She hated crying over anybody, especially a man, but Rio had rooted himself so deeply into her life that the thought of losing him felt suffocating.

Imani crawled backward until her back hit the headboard, pulling her knees to her chest. Tears slid silently down her cheeks as she rested her chin against her knees.

She missed him.

Not just hearing from him. Not just the quick calls or rushed check-ins.

She missed him.

His arms around her waist while she studied. His voice in her ear distracting her on purpose. The way he’d pull her into his lap like he couldn’t stand having her too far away.

Now it felt like he was avoiding her.

On purpose.

Her jaw tightened at the thought.

The phone rang again almost immediately.

Imani rolled her eyes through her tears.

“Ugh.”

Only one person would be calling back this fast.

She wiped under her eyes with the back of her hand roughly, trying to pull herself together.

“Toughen up, bitch. Fuck him,” she muttered to herself, though another tear slipped down right after it.

She let out a humorless laugh.

At this rate she already knew she was about to cry herself into the best sleep of her life.

“You better than this, Imani,” she whispered, shaking her head as she tried to give herself a pep talk.

But the ache in her chest wouldn’t leave.

Instead of answering Rio’s call, she grabbed her cellphone off the nightstand and dialed Brianna before she could change her mind. Because if she sat there thinking too long, she’d end up calling Rio back and apologizing for being upset.

And she refused to do that.

The phone clicked.

“Hello?”

“Bri… I’m not crazy, right?” Imani asked immediately, voice cracking.

Brianna snorted. “Girl, confused bad. Start from the beginning.”

Imani pushed herself off the bed and started pacing her room, one hand dragging through her freshly silk-pressed hair.

“He said he was comin’ over today ‘cause I finally got free time, then canceled again. And I just…” She swallowed hard. “I feel like he avoidin’ me or somethin’.”

She paced harder, wearing a path into the carpet.

“He keep saying work, work, work. But why it feel like he don’t even wanna see me no more?”

Brianna was quiet for a second before asking carefully, “Wait… y’all still together?”

Imani stopped pacing.

“…Yes?”

Brianna sounded genuinely shocked. “Girl, the way you been cryin’ these past two weeks I thought y’all broke up already. Especially with your brother and parents hatin’ him.”

Imani frowned instantly.

“Okay, but that’s not the point, Bri.”

“Mm-hm.”

“The point is I feel like he’s doing this on purpose.” Her voice cracked again. “Why not just tell me straight up? Like, ‘Hey, I don’t wanna be with you no more.’ Why keep dragging it out?”

The thought alone made her stomach twist violently.

Rio saying he didn’t love her anymore would destroy her.

And she hated that he had that kind of power over her.

“Babe,” Brianna said softly, “that man does not hate you. He probably really is busy—”

“Ugh!” Imani groaned dramatically. “I did not call you to be on his side, Bri!”

Brianna laughed.

“I’m serious! Just tell me I’m right before I get some horrible wake-up call and he breaks up with me for real.” Her voice dropped quieter. “And honestly? That would kill me.”

She sat back down on the edge of the bed, exhaustion finally settling into her bones. Her fingers smoothed nervously over her silk press as fresh tears welled in her eyes again.

Imani closed her eyes tightly.

“Aww, M no,” Brianna said gently. “Rio loves you. That man is crazy about you.”

Then why did it feel like he was slipping away from her?

“Okay, not the advice I need right now but—”

Imani stopped mid-sentence at the sharp tap against her bay window.

Her brows furrowed.

Another tap sounded louder this time, like a pebble bouncing against the glass.

“What the hell?” she muttered, instantly getting to her feet.

Her bedroom lights flicked on as she hurried toward the window, her heart jumping nervously in her chest. For a split second she thought maybe it was her brother trying to scare her again.

Then another tiny rock hit the glass.

Imani pulled apart the pink polka-dot curtains with a frown, peering down the side of the house.

And froze.

“Rio?” she whispered to herself.

Down below, dressed head to toe in black like always, Rio looked up at her from beside the flower bushes. The porchlight caught the sharp lines of his face and the fresh ink covering more of his arms than she remembered. Black shirt. Loose black jeans. Boots.

He looked tired.

But he was there.

The sight alone made her stomach flip traitorously.

Rio lifted his head slightly. “Hey, mama,” he stage-whispered loudly. “Keep the window open. I’ma come up.”

Imani rolled her eyes instantly despite the warmth spreading through her chest.

“Are you crazy?” she whisper-yelled back. “I don’t wanna see you anymore, Rio. I thought work was takin’ up all your time.”

She was lying terribly.

Her heart was practically doing gymnastics at the sight of him standing outside her house like some reckless teenage boy.

Rio sucked his teeth.

“Mmcht, mama, keep the window open.”

Before she could argue again, he grabbed onto the wooden trellis attached to the side of the house, the thick vines twisting around it creating the perfect ladder.

Imani’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God,” she hissed. “Please don’t fall. And if you do, I’m not helpin’ you.”

Rio smirked up at her before continuing to climb.

Trying to ignore how stupidly happy she suddenly felt, Imani walked back toward her bed and picked her phone back up.

“As I was saying before I was interrupted,” she said dramatically, “thank you for telling me that. And his ass is in fact insane.”

Brianna burst out laughing on the other end.

“You gon’ be alright,” Brianna teased. “Bye, love you.”

“Love yo—”

The phone disappeared from Imani’s hand so fast she gasped.

She turned around sharply looking up.

Rio stood over her beside the bed, slightly out of breath from climbing through the window. His large frame practically blocked the light above her as he looked down at the phone in his hand.

“Who is this?” he asked into the receiver.

Imani stared up at him through her lashes for a second before she could stop herself.

God.

He looked unfairly good hovering over her like that.

Black shirt stretched across his chest. Loose black jeans hanging low on his hips. Boots still on. Fresh tattoos inked across his hands and creeping up the sides of his neck.

“Well she love you too, Brianna. Bye.”

He hung up before Brianna could answer and tossed the phone carelessly onto the bed beside her.

His hand slid down, gripping her thigh gently as he dragged her closer to him

Imani slapped his hand away immediately “Don’t touch me,”

“This my shit, come here.”

Before Imani could move away, both of Rio’s hands slid beneath her thighs, lifting her effortlessly off the bed.

“Rio—”

She barely got his name out before he pulled her against him, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he turned and sat down on the edge of her bed with her in his lap.

Imani immediately pushed at his chest.

“I’m serious,” she snapped.

One of his hands had already slipped under the hem of her nightdress, gripping the soft flesh of her ass possessively like he belonged there.

“If you came over here just to get your dick wet, you can go,” she said sharply, pointing a finger in his face while trying to pry his hands off her so she could stand.

Rio stared at her for a second like she’d genuinely offended him.

“What?” he asked, almost amused. “Mani, I came over here to see you, baby. How you pushing me off?”

Imani purposely looked everywhere except at him.

At the tattoos on his neck.

At the chain around his throat.

At the strong hands still holding onto her thighs like he had no intention of letting her go anytime soon.

Anywhere but his eyes.

Because if she looked at him too long, she was gonna fold.

“I’m pushing you off because you keep lying to me,” she muttered, voice tight.

Rio’s expression faded slightly.

“And all it took was me crying for you to finally come over,” she continued, trying to keep her composure together. “Like… that really hurts my feelings, Rio.”

Her voice cracked halfway through the sentence.

Embarrassed immediately, Imani turned her face away and wiped quickly under her eyes before the tears could fully fall.

But Rio noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

His grip on her thighs loosened instantly.

“Hey,” he said quieter now.

Imani shook her head.

“No, because I feel stupid.” She laughed shakily, avoiding his gaze. “I’m’ here waiting around for you and you keep making me feel like I’m asking’ for too much just because I wanna see my man.”

“You not asking for too much.”

“Yes I am,” she snapped emotionally. “Cause if I wasn’t, you would actually make time for me.”

Silence filled the room.

The only sound was her uneven breathing and the faint noise from the TV downstairs.

Rio looked at her for a long moment before reaching up carefully, brushing his thumb underneath her eye.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Rio said quietly, his voice softer than it had been all night. “I’ll make time for you. I’m serious.”

Imani sniffled, eyes glossy as she stared down at the chain resting against his chest instead of looking at him directly.

“Any time you call, I’ma come over,” he continued. “Any time you wanna go somewhere, I’ll come. Stop cryin’, mama.”

His hand slid up gently, fingers curling around her chin as he turned her face back toward him.

Imani’s lashes fluttered.

“Don’t say that if you know you can’t, Rio,” she whispered thickly, fresh emotion creeping into her voice.

Rio shook his head immediately.

“Nah, I’m serious.” His thumb brushed beneath her eye again, wiping away another tear before it could fall. “And if I flake out or some shit again… you can be done with me.”

Meanwhile he already knew there was no universe where he’d actually leave Imani alone.

Not after all these years.

Not when she looked at him like that.

“Ew,” Imani said instantly, finally smiling a little through her tears. “Don’t say that.”

Rio smirked faintly at the sight of her softening.

“There she go,” he murmured.

He wiped the rest of her tears carefully while she wrapped her arms around his neck, settling closer against him without even realizing it.

Rio raised an eyebrow. “What happened? Thought you was done with me.”

Imani rolled her eyes dramatically before leaning down and pressing a quick kiss against his lips.

“I was playing,” she mumbled against his mouth.

Rio huffed out a laugh, one hand rubbing slowly up her thigh beneath the satin fabric.

“Yeah, aight,” he teased softly. “You was cryin’ real hard for somebody done with me.”

“Shut up,” she muttered, hiding her face against his shoulder while he grinned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MISS CONGENIALITY (2000) dir. Donald Petrie

from anony chat: Aunty DD I need something from the Trifecta so bad. Idc which one your pick! "I'd never lie to you." 😩I can't wait to see what you do! I love your writing!

1.5k

prompt in bold print

🚩MINORS GO AWAY🚩

Trifecta Ask -> see MANNY fic JOHNNY fic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PERSONAL

Tucked away in a grand hotel suite just outside of Detroit with your boss’ men standing guard, you still felt exposed, vulnerable. Hearing the low whizzing sound of a keycard in the door froze your breath in your lungs. You focused on the sound of the lock disengaging, the click of the door closing, and the movement of air a single set of footsteps made, their soft swish getting closer until a slim silhouette appeared. Rio. 

Your boss had entered the dim space quietly on purpose, not wanting to wake you if you were sleeping - disappointed to see that you weren’t. Casually standing with his hands in his pockets, he leaned against the bump-out the room had for separating the dining area from the living room where you sat.

Sitting stiff on the couch, you had already lowered your eyes to the floor. You had been working for him long enough to know that even in the near dark, he was scanning the room, taking in the secrets it offered. It was too late to hide that you were sitting in the exact same place as when he left that morning. The living room of the suite was draped in shadows because you hadn’t gathered enough energy to get up and turn on the additional lamps when nightfall hit. The food he had delivered sat uneaten on the coffee table. And if he looked into the master bedroom, he would know that you hadn’t taken a soak in the tub like he suggested, or napped in the perfectly made bed.

The soft click of the light switch he touched seemed too loud - the light, intrusive. His dark eyes, surrounded by even darker eyelashes made you feel…something. And you weren’t ready for that, not yet. You needed to stay numb. Numb was safe. No…numb was control. Without it you’d have to feel the ache in your chest from the screams you hadn’t let out. Or acknowledge how badly your head ached from lack of sleep. Sleep you were avoiding to dodge the nightmares you knew were waiting for you. Your eyes burned from the refusal to cry. Hidden under your clothes, the abrasions and bruises on your body throbbed in time with your heartbeat - unable to heal because there was no rest for your wrecked nervous system. Your body’s ability to function normally was suspended, waiting for the one thing that would allow you to settle and reclaim your peace.

From your peripheral, you tracked Rio’s feet crossing the room on his customary glide. As he stood next to you, you didn’t have to look up at him to know he was taking off his armor - placing his gun, his phones and his watch on the table. After your stillness, his movements seemed to spark the air in the room - low vibrations surrounded him as he sat down and centered himself one body part at a time. His head dipped left and then right. He rolled his shoulders back, extending his arms out, and interlocked his fingers while cracking his neck. With an exhale, his slim form relaxed and spread, taking up more space - but still he was careful not to let any part of him touch you.

Leaning back on the sofa you shared, he interlaced his fingers resting his hands on his stomach, crossing his legs, ankle over knee, swiveling his head your way. Concentrated on you, he pressed his lips together in a firm line. He hated the stiffness in your posture and the blank look on your face, but he also admired it. You were stronger than he’d ever imagined. It was impressve. Your silence was a wall built incredibly thick and tall. Behind it, you protected not only your true self but also any details of what you had personally endured during the 48 hours that you were with them.

The quiet you had found solace in all day, was now unsettling. You didn’t ask it out loud, but the question hung heavy in the air between you just the same…Did you find them?

Over the last five days, Rio had used every connection he had and paid out thousands of dollars for information. Getting you back and revenge were worth every penny. Anger swelled up in Rio’s chest remembering the state you were in when he located you. Your mental detachment, your robotic answers to his questions, the way you wouldn’t let anyone touch you. Looking at the remenants of it on you now made him feel reckless, vindictive. It made him want to go back in time to before he had spent the day exacting savage punishment on the stupidest man in Detroit and his cohorts - just so he could do it all over again.

Even as Rio had washed the evidence of what he had done from his face and hands and changed his clothes, he had wished that he could have extended his time with them. But the news of their retribution had to circulate quickly - a warning to anyone who wanted to try the same betrayal.

Killing them was necessary for business, for his name. Doing it himself? That was personal. That was for you.

The bastards didn’t suffer enough.

With Rio’s eyes going over you, you fought to keep your heart rate even - proud of accomplishing the feat. It was the one thing you had left that was fully under your control, and no one was going to make you tip over the edge - not even him. Not until you felt like it was safe to fall apart. When you felt like your life was yours again.

“You won’t see them again.”

His raspy voice sounded muffled to your ears. You lost the thread of control you had just moments before and your heart rate skyrocketed, pounding painfully in your chest. You turned your head slightly, covertly watching his mouth, needing to hear more. Needing assurance that the men whose faces still grinned and taunted you when you closed your eyes, would never appear from the shadows.   

Silently, Rio reached over and gently traced his thumb over the discolored marks the handcuffs had etched into your wrist. His frown increased feeling the lumpy evidence left behind of their crimes against you.

They definitely didn’t suffer enough.

“No one will see any of them again.”

This time his voice wrapped around you like smoke, burning sage - penetrating your mind, clearing, cleansing. The shuddering breath you sucked in made Rio take the risk of holding your hand in both of his. He trailed his fingertips over your knuckles, allowing you to see that his were swollen and red, and that some had broken skin. Letting you see that he had done the job himself.

It’s done? You thought you said it out loud, but in reality your lips had just fumbled over the letters, your actual voice stayed caught in your throat. The two words forming in your mouth felt foreign but you tried to push them out again. You swallowed to wet your throat before speaking this time.

Your voice was rough from nonuse, and husky from the need to believe him. “It’s done?”  

"What’d I say?”

This time you forced yourself to lift your eyes to his. His tone was firm but his face was void of the self-assured expression that normally resided there.

“I'd never lie to you."

No, he wouldn’t…not about this. 

Taking in an audible breath, you pulled your hand away. The blood pushing through your system felt heavy, slogging, forcing it’s way through your veins. As you allowed your body to come back to life - dizziness crept in and nausea began working your stomach over. You felt the pinpricks of your pores opening and sweat coating the surface of your skin. You gripped the tops of your thighs to try to stop your hands from shaking, biting your lip as hard as you could. You were losing control faster than you expected, faster than you wanted to.

In that moment, you hated knowing how perceptive a man Rio was. You didn’t want him to see what was happening to you - to see your weakness. Feeling his eyes on you, you wanted to get up and close yourself off from him in the other room. To hide, so you could hold your head up high when you went back to work again. You tried to take a steadying breath positioning yourself to get up, needing desperately to break down in private, but you knew your legs weren’t going to hold you now. Your mind was momentarily incapable of the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other. Overwrought, your body could not be trusted to assist you in your escape.

The ticks sounding off from the huge art deco clock on the wall, marked each second passing by. With a noisy, shuddering inhale, your shoulders began to come down from where stress had them locked up unnaturally high. Against your will, relief made the stiffness in your posture weaken. And with your spine no longer supported by fear and rage, you began to sway - slowly tipping toward where his weight dipped the sofa cushion you shared.

And for a moment, Rio put down his position as your boss and opened his arm to make a safe space for you to land against his side.

- fin -

***********************************

Rio Tag List: @berberriescorner @withmyteeth @ravennaortiz @lovedlover @honestpreference @theegoddessofmelanin @lauraaan182 @rampsen @belezaya @aria725 @marleyybluu @phenomenal1500 @tommyflanaganfan-blog @kingballer22 @thebumbqueen @keyweegirlie @meadowshelby @luckydaye777 @danzer8705 @wnbweasley @megamindsecretlair

@blkbutterfly816 @proceduralpassion @onherereadingarchived @ravennaortiz @lauraaan182

from anony chat: Aunty DD I need something from the Trifecta so bad. Idc which one your pick! "I'd never lie to you." 😩I can't wait to see what you do! I love your writing!

Manny Mayans x Reader

1.9k

prompt in bold print

🚩MINORS GO AWAY🚩

Trifecta Ask -> see RIO fic JOHNNY fic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His Lesson

Manny saw you arrive but remained seated at the bar, letting you come to him. Angling himself in his seat to face you, he enjoyed watching you navigate around all the bodies squeezed into the clubhouse. His eyes went over your outfit with appreciation. Tracking your movements had him tucking his bottom lip behind his teeth and slowly releasing it, tilting his head as his fingers traced the shape of the beer bottle he held. Every time someone stopped you to say hello, you could catch a glimpse of him over their shoulder and the slow curling of the corner of his mouth made your lips twitch, pressing down on a secret smile of your own.

from anony chat: Aunty DD I need something from the Trifecta so bad. Idc which one your pick! "I'd never lie to you." 😩I can't wait to see what you do! I love your writing!

Manny Mayans x Reader

1.9k

prompt in bold print

🚩MINORS GO AWAY🚩

Trifecta Ask -> see RIO fic JOHNNY fic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His Lesson

Manny saw you arrive but remained seated at the bar, letting you come to him. Angling himself in his seat to face you, he enjoyed watching you navigate around all the bodies squeezed into the clubhouse. His eyes went over your outfit with appreciation. Tracking your movements had him tucking his bottom lip behind his teeth and slowly releasing it, tilting his head as his fingers traced the shape of the beer bottle he held. Every time someone stopped you to say hello, you could catch a glimpse of him over their shoulder and the slow curling of the corner of his mouth made your lips twitch, pressing down on a secret smile of your own.

from anony chat: Aunty DD I need something from the Trifecta so bad. Idc which one your pick! "I'd never lie to you." 😩I can't wait to see what you do! I love your writing!

Manny Mayans x Reader

1.9k

prompt in bold print

🚩MINORS GO AWAY🚩

Trifecta Ask -> see RIO fic JOHNNY fic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His Lesson

Manny saw you arrive but remained seated at the bar, letting you come to him. Angling himself in his seat to face you, he enjoyed watching you navigate around all the bodies squeezed into the clubhouse. His eyes went over your outfit with appreciation. Tracking your movements had him tucking his bottom lip behind his teeth and slowly releasing it, tilting his head as his fingers traced the shape of the beer bottle he held. Every time someone stopped you to say hello, you could catch a glimpse of him over their shoulder and the slow curling of the corner of his mouth made your lips twitch, pressing down on a secret smile of your own.