Devour You

15

Victoria

"Room 18...are you two kidding me right now?" The all too familiar gang banger starts, his large arms crossed.

Chris stands tensely, across me and the gangster's hotel room. It's silent - only Chris' deep voice hangs in the thin air.
I swallow, peering over to Rio; who shifts slightly in his leather jacket as he keeps his essential gaze on Chris Attwood.

"You picked the one hotel room that's sitting right beside the enemy..." Attwood adds quietly through gritted teeth - his dark irises piercing Rio's own.

"It's close enough, it's an unexpected proximity." Rio states rather abruptly, sweeping his tongue across his luscious lips for moisture only seconds before Chris claims an input.

"Unexpected proximity? What, are you trying to blow our cover-"

"No one's trying to screw this up." I interject Chris, my brown eyes flicking up to meet his. The gang member's irises flash with an unreadable gaze, and I don't quite grasp it before I clear my throat, shoving either of my hands into the back pockets of my jeans.

"We just have to stay quiet." I say. "If that means barely speaking then so be it. I think Rio knows best more than anyone right now."

Attwood's dark eyebrows furrow, "you didn't even give any of the rest of us the chance for you say that, now did you?" He fires back lowly, but I catch a carefulness in his tone.

I watch his gaze avert toward the gangster - whose jaw is now hardened and clenched firmly. I take in a breath, facing Chris again.

"It's not about chances, Chris. This is about all of us winning this." I state calmly. "This gang is after us. They're here, next door to be exact. So what do you think is best? Standing here arguing about the plan or preparing for battle?"

The bearded gang banger purses his lips into a thin line, watching me. Then his broad shoulders visibly relax, silent moments before sending me a deliberate nod in agreement.

I lick my lips, crossing my arms firmly against my chest, and glance down onto the light carpet a moment. "I know this room isn't the best we could've picked." I admit quietly. I flick my light brown irises up to Rio's boy again.

"But the location doesn't change who's losing this, or who's gonna win." I finish.

"Then again it's not about winning, ever, is it?" The gang banger responds. "It's about protection." He glances between me and the gangster - his own jawline tensing.

I deliberately, sheepishly peek in Rio's direction, who stands only feet away from me. The gangster instantly meets my gaze.

Intently, and at a natural flux, he sends me a once over - I shift slightly from the galvanizing shock that quickly courses down my spine at his longing gaze.

"Either way, we stick together, got it?" Attwood concludes, just before he coughs.

"The Mushrooms." He adds lowly, and I jolt my gaze his way. I think Rio does the same. With raised brows, I watch the gang banger scratch the back of his head. "It's what I call them. Look, The Mushrooms haven't settled next door, yet. We have time to call the others, everyone's scattered around the entire hotel perimeter." He explains.

I tuck a strand of my brown hair behind an ear, when I turn to face Rio. When I do, his deep brown irises are still steady on Chris - the gangster's thick brows furrowed in an utter confused state.

Finally, the gangster parts his full lips; his Adams Apple bouncing the moment he breaks the brief silence.

"Mushrooms? Out of anything..." Rio's chocolate brown eyes glimmer with mere amusement, when he licks his lips.