Rio Salvador

He was a heartless ex-cartel man turned FBI informant. She was the innocent girl who never should've crossed his path. Their bond was reckless, consuming, and dangerous-a storm of lust, fights, and raw emotion.
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Don't touch me like that, Rio," she warned. "I mean it."

He rose from the bed. Only his boxers on.
Shirtless. Toned. Infuriating.

She turned her face away, blushing. There was an unmistakable bulge in his pants.
He was still hard. He didn't care.

"So, a day ago you were fine with it. Sleeping beside me like it's nothing. Now suddenly you're flinching cause you see me hard for you?"

He laughed under his breath. Bitter.

"Ever since you started talking to that snake-Nick-you've been acting different."

"Why, Rio? Why don't you want him talking to me?"

"Because it's what I want. You don't get to question it."

"Oh right." She scoffed. "Because you're the almighty Rio. And what you say goes."

He stepped closer. His jaw clenched.

"In front of them, you're my woman. In front of them, we're engaged. Got it?"

His voice dropped lower.
"You're mine."

"This is fake, Rio," she spat, stepping back. "Us is fake. You've been fake all week. Everything-the touching, your sweet words-all of it."

He stared at her. That cruel, slow smirk twisting across his face.

"Oh yeah?" he said. "So that's why you're running to Nick?"

"For God's sake." She threw her hands in the air.

"You figured, 'Rio's an asshole, this is all fake, might as well grab another Salvador,' right? Secure the bag. Smart girl."

Her lips quivered.
She blinked, fast, once. Twice.

"You really think that's who I am?" she said, voice soft. Stunned.
"That I'm after money?"

He didn't respond. Just ran his tongue over his teeth, jaw locked.

She looked at him, heart cracking open.

"Well you're right, Rio," she whispered. "You are an asshole."