The love I choose to keep | manny montana

You won't ever see me again

I opened the door to my apartment and was instantly consumed by peace. I was finally alone and i could think about how exactly i was gonna tell Rio... well, everything. He deserved to know. Things weren't supposed to work out like this. All i had to do was get close to him so i could arrest him. I had done it a million times. But this time was different. I had never felt that way. When i was with him i felt safe, i felt like i was on top of the world. What i felt when i was with him was the most real thing i have ever felt in my life. And yet, a huge part of it was a lie.

I took a quick shower and slipped into some jeans and a spaghetti strap crop top. It was already past 7 so i was getting ready to head back to Rio's apartment. I decided to not think about what i was gonna say and just act in the moment according to his reaction. I took my jacket and my keys and made my way out of the apartment.

I finally arrived in front of Rio's place and slowly made my way up the stairs. I knocked on the door and heard a "come in" from inside. I opened the door and made my way into the apartment. I put down my jacket on the couch where Rio was sitting.

"Wanna have a drink, mama?" he asked and i only sent him a nod.

He stood up and we walked to the kitchen together. I was facing his back as he was fixing us both drinks.

"Hey, i wanted to tell you something." i said with hesitation as my heart was beating so fast, it felt like he could hear it.

"Lemme make the drinks first, yeah?" he responded.

"We need to talk, Johnny." i said with seriousness in my voice.

The second he heard what i called him, he stopped pouring the wine and raised his head, with his back still turned to me. He slowly turned to face me and looked at me terrified and angry at the same time. He grabbed my throat and slammed my body against the wall before he spoke.

"You better start talking. Now." he said through his teeth.

I could feel his frustration as he was squeezing my neck so tight, i could barely breathe. I was holding his wrist with both my hands, trying to pull myself away from him.

"Please, let me explain." i said gasping for air.

"Who you working with, huh? DEA? FBI?" he snapped with aggression in his voice as his grip around my neck tightened even more.

"I will explain everything. Please, just let's have a civilized conversation." i said before he let go of me.

I took a deep breath as it was still hard to breathe. I gently rubbed my neck before i could finally breathe normally again. He pulled out his golden gun and motioned for me to sit down on one of the counter stools. He handed me the glass of wine he had poured for me a couple minutes back before grabbing a bottle of bourbon to pour himself a glass. I grabbed the pack of cigarettes from my back pocket and lit one.

"I'm an undercover FBI agent at Graceland and i was sent to investigate you." i spoke quietly.

He was looking straight into my eyes, not saying a word, expecting me to keep talking.

"But what i've been doing for the past couple of months is only throw off the investigation. After i realised..." i made a short pause and took a deep breath as a tear rolled down my cheek. "After i realised i was falling in love with you, i couldn't keep on giving information to those leading the case."

"That's a very touching story. I only wish it was true." Rio said with a cold look on his face before he downed his drink.

"Why do you think you're still walking around freely?" i asked rhetorically as i slightly raised my voice. "You really think you would still be here if i was giving them everything?"

"You expect me to believe you, huh? Do i look that stupid, Jennifer?" he asked still holding me at gunpoint.

I stood up and made a few quick steps to him, leaving almost no space between us.

"Look at me, Rio. Is this the face of a woman who isn't so profoundly in love with you that she's willing to do anything to keep you out of prison?" i shouted, choking on tears, gently holding his face in my hands.

There was a strange look on his face. Disappointment. The look of someone who's been betrayed by the person they love. He put the gun down on the countertop and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. I burried my face in his chest, tears still streaming from my eyes.

"What are we gonna do, Jane?" he asked quietly and i could feel he wasn't mocking me. He was asking a genuine question.

I pulled away from the hug and spoke.

"I'm sure i can convince Gomez to drop the investigation if you come back to Graceland." i said as this was the first thing that came into my mind.

Rio looked at me with confusion and a note of anger.

"So you expect me to leave behind everything i've built? To go back to the people who were willing to throw me under the bus if it meant they could save themselves?" he shouted.

This was the first time i had ever heard him raise his voice. No matter the situation, Rio always managed to remain calm. That's exactly how i knew this was his soft spot. Graceland.

"Nah, mama. You either stay with me or you forget i exist." he said.

"I can't just leave everything. This is the life i escaped from years ago. I'm not that person anymore, Rio." i said quietly, not breaking eye contact with him.

We just stood there, looking at each other, as he didn't say a word. I made a few steps and grabbed my jacket before making my way to the door. I stopped in my steps as he spoke.

"You leave now, you won't ever see me again, Jane." he said with pain in his voice.

I grabbed the doorknob and hesitated before i opened the door and slammed it behind me. Tears were pouring from my eyes uncontrollably as i walked towards my car. I drove back to my place and just sat in my car contemplaning if i made the right decision choosing what i've always believed in. Choosing to leave the man i loved.

After hours of sitting in my car, i decided to go back. To try and talk to him again. So we could make a choice together. I pulled to his place and ran up the stairs. I opened the door to his apartment and just stood there in shock. It was... empty. Completely empty. Everything was gone. The furniture, the paintings on the walls. Rio.

He left.

xxx

Hello, darlings. This is the last part of this story. I am currently working on the sequel and will upload the first chapters as soon as possible. Let me know what you think is going to happen after the decision Jane made. Stay tuned and take care. xx