NO MERCY.

18| NO MERCY

[Joey, Avery, and Rio multimedia]

"We're each gonna be in separate rooms or do you want to sleep together in one suite to save money?" Rio asked, leaning back against the front desk with both him and the woman on the other side staring at Avery and Joey, waiting for their answer.

"The real question is who's paying for our stay here?" Joey inquired. "Searched up the Belmond on google earlier on our car ride here to find out that it's 2,293.36 BRL for a three night stay."

Avery groaned. "You seriously need to stop searching things about wherever we go on google because you become annoying when you do. If you weren't so focused on the amount of number after the first two you'd realize that in American money that's only 733.97. If it makes you any better I'll pay."

"You don't have to do that." Rio then turned around to face the woman whom was staring back at them with a look of annoyance plastered on her face. "We'll have the Superior City View Room with the spa experience."

"Make him sleep outside the room down the hall." Joey leaned down to whisper in Avery's ear. "This nigga paid for our room, bruh. He schemin' on the low."

She turned around and slapped his shoulder. "Don't start with that mess. You need to be nice because we're all here for the same person, just for different reasons. Aren't you supposed to be in depressed mode? Thought you was gonna start crying back at Sasha's house."

He kissed his teeth. "I'm not even gonna say anything, but I'm in Brazil! I'm not about to be in depressed mode while I'm here and since we're not gonna be here for long I'll start today with a beach trip and run up the bill on Rico by ordering stuff from room service."

"Make yourself useful." Avery handed him her backpack. "Start walking towards the elevator with the boy with our bags and make sure he doesn't do anything suspicious. You're starting to get on my nerves."

"I don't like how you bossing me around." He snatched the backpack and began walking away. "I'm a grown ass man, Aves."

"But I see your grown ass is listening to me anyway." She spoke. Shaking her head, she turned around as Joey mumbled something under his breath.

After Rio settled everything with the receptionist, they made their way over to the elevators. Neither of them said a word to the other while we waited, and nothing changed once they stepped on the elevator.

There was an awkward stillness between the two of them as they rode up to their floor. At one point Rio opened his mouth to speak, but the opening of the doors stopped him.

Stepping off, Avery read the numbers on the suites until she came to the right one. Rio followed close behind as they walked in to find Joey arguing with the agitated bellhop.

"I'm not giving you a tip bro."

"But sir-" the boy began but was rudely cut off.

"I know this fancy hotel paying you good. My lil tip ain't gon make a difference." Joey rationalized.

"Most of my income is from tips, I depend on them sir."

"Ok here's a tip. If you wanna really make some money, go for the old rich folk's bags next time. They normally don't have a problem tipping." Joey stated while crossing his arms.