Elena's POV
I sit cross-legged on our bed, Rio's oversized tee draped over me.
He's in the bathroom shaving,white foam on his jaw, shirtless, tattoos crawling over his skin like sin ..so hot ..so detailed.
It's ridiculous how that simple, dumb thing , shaving,makes my stomach flip.
His muscles flex with every little movement, and I have to force myself to look away before I do something reckless.
I hum the lullaby again, the one he sang to me in the shower.
He hums it back from the doorway, and the sound between us feels too intimate for something so ordinary.
Maybe nothing is ordinary anymore.
I straighten my legs and fish my phone out, thumb hovering as I scroll for Aunt Lilly's number.
We haven't spoken in a while.
The last time ,she helped me was when I came to New York. She made the counterfeit key I wear now,told me one day I'd swap it for the real thing when things started getting complicated.
I thought she'd been playing. Turns out she wasn't.
The real key is hidden, secret… mine.
My knee bounces like it's trying to escape as the phone rings.
Rio leans in the doorframe, damp hair falling over his forehead.
I look away before I do something very unholy to that man.
Aunt Lilly picks up on the third ring. Her voice is warm and rough, exactly what I needed to hear.
"Elena… I was hoping you'd call. How've you been, sweetie?"
Her warm voice washes over me, and it makes me feel so much better.
Hearing her makes something loosen in my chest. I swallow.
"Hey, Aunty… I've been… good, well—something like that. I need to see you. It's urgent…"
My voice comes out broken, with a stutter.
There's a hitch in her breath,concern, like a familiar shadow. And before she can say anything, I blurt,
"I want to come see you… tomorrow. Is that okay?" I ask hopefully.
"You don't have to ask, pumpkin," she says. "I just moved to Texas. I'll send you my location tomorrow, okay?"
Her excitement is a soft light.
"Okay. See you then. Goodbye. I love you," I say, my voice small and cracked, excited, scared, all of it tangled up.
She replies with the same warmth, "See you then, sweetie," and the line goes dead.
I keep the phone to my ear for a beat longer, staring at nothing while a thousand questions crash through my head.
What truth are we going to find?
How ugly is this going to get?
Because I know that visit to Texas is going to change a lot.
A cold little storm settles in my gut.
I wish it were nothing,just a feeling. But I know better.I can feel it, whatever it is we will uncover , it's not going to be easy .
Rio kneels in front of me, slips the phone from my ear, and sets it on the nightstand.
His shadow falls over me, and even that small motion makes the hairs on my arms stand up.
I meet his honey-dark eyes steady, fierce.
"We'll figure it out together," he says, low and sure. "Where does she stay?" he asks, voice deep.
"She moved to Texas," I whisper, cupping his cheek and tracing the line of his jaw like I'm memorizing it.
"We fly first thing in the morning. Marco will get the jet ready for us," he decides, final, with a faint smile.
I nod.
He pulls me into him, and we slide under the covers.
His head buries in my hair; my cheek presses to his temple. The house around us hums on, oblivious.
Silence settles heavy, honest. Just the sound of two battered hearts trying to sync up.
The storm is starting, and it doesn't look like it's planning on stopping.
But for now, we hold each other, that's enough to keep the dark at bay for a little while.
"Goodnight, princess…" his voice makes my skin tingle as he tightens his hold on me, pulling me closer.
A smile tugs on my lips.
"Goodnight, baby," I reply, curling into him.
---
THE NEXT MORNING
The flight to Texas,Aunt Lilly's place, was quiet.
My head rested against Rio's chest, his hands threading gently through my hair.
The private jet was sleek, black with details of gold , minimal staff a perfect, classy, mafia kind of vibe.
"Baby…"
His raspy voice vibrated through my ear, and I lifted my gaze slightly toward him.
"Mmh?" I murmured.
"You'll be okay… alright?"
He rubbed his thumb over my cheek.
I smiled, leaning into the warmth of his touch.
"Yeah… as long as you're here," I whispered, snuggling closer.
Because that was the truth, Rio gives me a sense of safety even when I feel anything but.
In the midst of all this chaos, he was my anchor, my one steady thing, and I had never felt more grateful for someone in my life.
Hours later, we landed at a private airport.
I managed a quick shower and changed into something lighter.
Texas weather was no joke, the heat was insane.
Rio held my hand as we made our way to the waiting convoy, discovering he also had extended territory here.
The guards saluted as we slid into the SUV.
The cool AC against my skin felt like a small blessing.
The engines started, with ours the car in the middle.Sergio was the name of our driver . Rio's hand rested on my thigh , his hand typing away codes to Marco back in New York about something.
He's always working. The silence stretches for a while we've driven a few kilometers before I break it .
"I think it's better if we go just the two of us.i mean like just this car ,the others can wait… I don't want to pull up at her house with a whole army."
I laugh a little, hoping he'll accept.
"Anything for you, princess…"
He smirked at me, threading our fingers together.
He typed on his phone, sending a few quick orders.
One by one, the cars ahead and behind us disappeared slickly, leaving just us.
"They'll stay close," Rio says, pulling me closer to him.
"Okay… thank you," I say, genuinely grateful for how strict he's become about my safety lately.
"I haven't seen her since I moved to New York," I admit, fidgeting with the straps of my bag.
"Well… I'm sure she'll be happy to see you," Rio reassured me, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead and pulling me close.
After a short drive, we finally arrived at her mansion.
Massive black gates. High walls surrounding the estate.
Tight security ,men with rifles stationed outside.
The kind of place that could've been mistaken for a fortress.
Rio stepped out first and opened my door, letting me slide gracefully into the warm Texas air.
It was dusty, and I had to wrap my scarf around my nose and mouth.
The gates opened automatically, welcoming us inside.
The property was expansive, guarded ,yet breathtaking.Inside it looked more like a fortress than a mansion in the middle of a deserted place like this .The mansion was in the middle of nowhere, no houses insight except this one .
A woman approached, blonde hair in a tight bun not-so-friendly to the heat, heels clicking against the pavement.Draped in a blue suit.
She stopped before us with a polite smile.
"You must be Mrs. Elena… I'm Enid. Follow me," she said, giving Rio a careful once-over.
I couldn't help but glare.
Why was she looking at my man like that?
I mean, yes, he was hot—but he was mine.
Hand in hand with Rio, we followed her through the grounds.
She led us to the back of the house ,the backyard.
It was straight out of a movie: a sprawling ranch with horses in the distance, a huge infinity pool, and a fenced enclosure extending into the desert.
It felt like an oasis in the middle of nowhere.
And then I saw her. My aunt.
She was sitting under a shaded pergola, a drink resting on the table beside her.
Her eyes lit up the moment they landed on me.
"Ma'am… they're here," Enid announced before she dissaperd.
My aunt rose ,her movements slower than before but filled with grace.
She was dressed in a long white dress, shades perched on her head.Her hair down in waves .
She looked younger than she was.
She walked over to us with a huge smile on her face.
She pulled me into a tight hug.
"I missed you, El… you look amazing," she whispered into my ear.
I giggled, hugging her back just as tightly.
"Well… you're aging like fine wine, Aunty. I missed you too," I teased.
She pulled back, smiling, and her gaze drifted toward Rio.
"And who might this young man be?" she asked, eyes twinkling.
Rio stiffened when she pulled him into a hug, and I almost laughed.
But then he relaxed and returned it with ease.
"Rio, ma'am. Elena's boyfriend—nice to meet you," he said confidently.
My stomach flipped, cheeks heating.
"Well… I've always known she's into bad boys," my aunt teased, guiding us inside.
"Come, let's eat something first," she said warmly.
I looked at Rio, and we both chuckled as we followed her inside.