Page 77 of Rio

He’s not.I have to hand it to him.“I’m glad you’re here.I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the night alone.”

The lamp flickers suddenly then dies, leaving us in darkness.It feels suffocating in here.Outside, the storm rages like a demon possessed, wild and violent.In between pauses, I hear Rio’s breathing.Maybe he hears mine, tight and shallow, like I’m afraid to draw a deep breath, like I’m playing small, and safe, and invisible.

I feel scared.Not scared of the dark, but scared of how tonight could end, of what being trapped in here with the one man I can’t resist might do to me.

“We can’t stay like this all night,” he says, his voice moving away.I hear an “Ouch,” then a “fuck,” and some noise as objects clatter.

“What are you doing?”I put my arms out, feeling around me as I take a few careful small steps forward the sound of his voice.

He shines a light, in the air, illuminating us.“Your boss gave me a bag of supplies, but I left it in the Jeep.I’m going to get it.”

“Don’t be so stupid—”

But he opens the door to leave.The noise is deafening.The wind gusts inside and sends a few things flying.Then, the door shuts and he’s gone.Leaving me in the pitch blackness, in utter silence.He’s outside in this, all because of me.

Chapter 23

RAQUEL

I stand in the pitch-black darkness, listening to the wind howling, rattling the flimsy little hut that is all that stands between me and the wildness outside.The clattering roof is a constant reminder of the fragility of my refuge.

Rio ran out into that storm to get the supply bag Alma gave him.For me.He put his life at risk.For me.He cares.He’s nothing like his father.We bicker and flirt each time we’re together, and yet there’s a hum, a spark, a zap of electricity zinging between us.

I move to the hole in the wall that doubles as a window, and lift a rusted shutter slat.The trees are hunched over, swaying like they might snap any moment.I’m suddenly fearful for Rio, that he could get blown away out there.

What was he thinking?

He was thinking of me.

Were it not for him, I’d be trapped in here, in the dark, all night, living in fear that the hut could collapse on me at any time, or that I could be struck by lightning.It could still happen.

“Rio,” I murmur, feeling at a loss.Feeling hopeless, feeling scared.It would kill me if something happened to him.I begin to fret.What if he gets swept up by the wind?What if a falling tree hits him on the head?

I can’t just stand here.But I can’t go out either.I don’t even know where his Jeep is.I don’t know in which direction he went, and it’s so dark, it would be fatal.He had a flashlight.I have nothing.But I feel useless standing here doing nothing, while he’s battling the elements and is in danger.

I can’t let him die because of me.

I told you he was a good man, Raquel.

Daniela’s voice is in my head.I suddenly miss her, and long to be with her, having another catchup over cocktails and a spa treatment.Daniela said Rio was nice.That the Knights aren’t as bad as I think they are.That the boys aren’t like their father.Maybe I should heed her words.

I move to the door.He’s been gone too long, and I can’t stand around waiting.I nudge the door open a little and immediately get shoved back by a vicious gust of wind.For a second I can barely move.I try again, taking a step forward, only to walk intohim.

“What are you doing?”he yells, pushing me back inside, slamming the door shut.

“I was worried about you!”I yell right back.He shines the light towards me, not directly at my face, but close enough to give us light.

“You were concerned forme?” The corners of his lips turn up in that smug, sardonic way that is so uniquely him.

“You were gone for so long!”I can’t help myself, relief floods me and I throw my arms around him.“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m back now, princesa.”He sets the bag down and puts his arms around me.“You okay?Or do I need to check for signs of amnesia?This isn’t like you.”

Typical.

I move away and we peer at one another.Something has shifted in the time he left and now.I’m still wary, but less suspicious of him.

“Shine this on me so I can see.”He hands me the flashlight which I spotlight on him, then watch as he pulls out a lamp from the supplies bag.