Crashed Into a Gangster

60

"What? You can't just, I don't know, be with me and be with them at the same time?!" Instantly, I mentally face palm myself for how wrong that sounded. I shrug it off. "You're killing me, Rio." I run both of my hands through my hair in aggravation. "This is ridiculous."

In turn, the gangster sounds a humorless chuckle, his brows raised in surprise. "Ridiculous? What's ridiculous is your decision making. I mean, c'mon, how does a person take days to make up their final choice on a dilemma?" He questions, a brow perched as he plasters a pout.

"Really? This is more than a decision. This-"

"This is what?" Rio interrupts - and in a smooth movement he makes it near me, inches from my heated face, and I gather the detail of his observant irises.

"What is this?" The gangster adds on, his tone challenging and low.

All I know is that I'm caught off guard from his dangerous proximity now, and I blink repeatedly.

"I- I don't know!" I pipe in annoyance, never released by his serious, penetrating gaze.

I watch his full lips quirk upward, before a laugh escapes him. "See, like I said, again with the decision making." He points, taking a step back - his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

I lowly grunt in irritation, aggressively dropping either of my arms back to my side - my fists forming clenched balls.

"No, that was not another decision, Rio." I say through gritted teeth. I lift a hand to point an accusing finger at his taller frame, and I take a step closer to him to prove a point.

Furious, I glare into either of his dark brown irises - a smug grin still playing about on his full lips. "You don't get to put this all on me. As a matter of fact, I am finally making my decision. Here's just what you wanted, Rio. I'm giving you my answer." I spit, my hand dropping and claiming it's territory on my side again.

Rio watches me intently, though his eyes pierce me with anger, too, as he waits. His tongue sweeps briefly across his full lips, the lips that twitch, as his hands are still folded.

The space now enclosed between us from my steps of fury, I look straight into either of his lulling, and longing, irises.

"I don't want this. I don't wanna put my life on the line for you, not for this big a risk..." I state, firmly, catching his structured features softening a moment - and in turn something shifts within me; but I keep pushing.

I don't peel from his latching gaze. "My answer is no. No to everything that changes. No to being the queen and ruling the kingdom with you. No to any of it. I'm sorry, Rio." I add lastly - barely audible. The gangster searches my brown eyes, without words, my wild heart pounding uncontrollably.

I... I think I hurt him. I did, I hurt him.

My eyes vaguely widen, and panic begins to fill me. But my answer; I meant it. I want him, not the package - not the kingdom.

I glance between either of his dark irises that narrow with pain, disappointment. Rio's jaw hardens, clenched like I've never seen before as his eyes stab me with instant guilt.

"Right." He begins, and licks his lips within a sliver of a second. "OK. I got that noted, Victoria." He states lowly.

I catch the sight of him taking in a low breath as he watches me. Deliberately, the gangster shakes his head, his hardened jawline still set. "I have no idea what I saw in you." He claims, huskily.

And I've never felt more taken aback, nor have I ever felt the pain that just blossomed within me. Not even with Jack.

Instantly, embarrassment fills me when I feel my own face soften.

I watch Rio purse his full lips, beginning to walk backwards in his steps as heads toward my bedroom door. He keeps his eyes on me. "Yeah, just remembered why I don't put love first." He says lowly, disappointingly, before turning around in his tracks and his back is the last view I gather of him, before he disappears behind my bedroom door.

Love....

My lips part, and I'm glued to the wooden floor. I'm unmoving all over again, just like the time he was in my foyer and I couldn't step away, months ago, as he drew nearer and nearer. When my heart first began to hammer passionately for him.

Now he's gone.

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