Confessions
Pairing: rio x elaine (oc)
Summary: Beth is forced to keep an injured person who was dumped on her daughters bed for a gang member. What happens when she invites a certain friend who is a doctor.
Part 2
"That is not what I meant when I said we'd do another job and who is that guy?" Elizabeth says as she standing in front of Rio. "He works for me." Rio answers with his arms on his knees as he's sitting. "Do--does he wash the money?" Annie questions looking at Rio. "Regardless, there's been a miscommunication." Elizabeth says. "Oh, so you think you can pick and choose what you wanna do and when you wanna do it?" Rio questions looking at her amused.
"She thought it would be like driving for Uber." Ruby adds in. "Who's at fault is not important." Elizabeth says making Ruby and Elaine roll their eyes. "We are not qualified to take care of a gunshot victim." Elizabeth responds but Annie interrupts. "Well Elaine handled it well actually" Annie says shrugging.
"I mean, your friend needs professional medical attention." Elizabeth says causing rio to shake his head. "Rude. Am I not good enough " Elaine adds in. "Not like that. I didn't mean it like that I just—" Elizabeth says defending herself. Rio's gaze sharpens as his eyes land on Elaine, who's standing slightly behind the others, arms folded and still visibly tense from having just dressed the man's wound. He tilts his head. "Who's this?"
The room tenses again. Elizabeth hesitates for a second too long. "She's... a friend."
"She's a doctor," Ruby blurts out. "she's really good."
Elaine gives a half wave. "Hi."
Rio doesn't smile. "Cute." He looks between the women slowly, letting the silence stretch. "So you're bringing in outside help now?"
"No, it wasn't like that," Elizabeth says quickly, stepping forward. "She was the only one who knew how to keep him from dying. We panicked. We didn't tell her anything. We just—needed help."
"Well you did now. Your doing sketchy jobs for a gang memeber. What else is there?" Elaine questions crossing her arms. Ruby shoots her a look, panicked. "Elaine—"
"No," Elaine continues, stepping forward now, her voice calm but firm. "Don't try to play it down now. You dragged me into this. You brought me into something you clearly don't have control over."
Rio's eyes narrow, the air in the room tightening like a noose. "You got a lot of opinions for someone who wasn't invited."
Elaine doesn't blink. "And you've got a lot of nerve dropping your dying guy in someone's house, a kids room by the way and then getting mad when they try to keep him alive. I should get paid for my services."
A beat of silence. Rio stares at her for a long, tense moment. The smirk he wears isn't playful this time.
"You want a paycheck?" he says finally, voice low, deadly calm. "Be careful, sweetheart. The moment you start asking for payment, you're on the payroll. And people on my payroll?" He tilts his head, eyes locked on hers. "They don't get to walk away."
"So you saved him. Good for you. Just remember—every favor in this world comes with a cost. And now you're in it... whether you like it or not."
He glances at Elizabeth, then Ruby, then back to Elaine. "I never asked to be apart of whatever this is" Elaine says nervously. "Next time you want to play doctor, make sure you know who you're stitching up." He says making Elaine go quiet for a second.
"It's good that you bought her that kid wasnt going to no hospital" Rio explains. "Why not?"elizabeth questions. "'Cause there's people looking for him." Rio answers. "And if those people show up here?" Annie questions making rio chuckle. "Trust me, ain't nobody gonna shoot up Beaver Cleaver's house" Rio says as he pulls out a stack of money from his pocket. "No im sorry that isnt gonna work" Elizabeth says as he pauses. "No?" Rio questions as he pulls out more money.
" I-" Elizabeth says before sighing. "Oh. Mm." Annie clears her throat as she watches him take more money out. "I have children" Elizabeth says looking as rio pulls out more money. "He's up there in my daughters bed. I'm never gonna get that blood out" Elizabeth pleads making Elaine give her a look. "I mean I don't know the full story but from what Ruby and Annie said you asked for this" Elaine adds in. "I didn't know it would be this" she responds as Elaine shakes her head.
"I mean she could sleep on the floor. Kids love that stuff" Annie suggests shrugging cautiously. "I'm pretty sure it will cover for a new mattress" Ruby comments as Elizabeth looks at the money. "I'll even add a little more for our new doctor" Rio says smirking as he pulls out more money before looking at Elaine.
"So, would we get that money now, or...?" Annie asks making the rest of the women look at rio. "When I pick him up." Rio answers making Ruby look at Annie before looking at Rio. "When's that?" Ruby questions. "When I pick him up." Rio repeats.
"Sounds fair." Annie says nervously. "So, we got a deal, ladies? Or what?" Rio questions as he looks at the ladies.
....
"I can't believe this shit! I can't believe you got me into this mess" Elaine mumbles as she slumps in her seat. "Me?" Elizabeth questions not taking her eyes off the road. "Who else would I be talking to? Yes you Elizabeth" Elaine snaps.
Silence settles over the car, thick and uncomfortable. Only the soft hum of the engine and the buzz of the city beyond the windows fill the space. Elizabeth exhales for the 100th time. ,"For the last time, I didn't ask for this."
"Uh, actually... you did," Ruby cuts in from the back seat, tone flat. "You literally said, 'I— I offered to do another job.' That was a quote."
Elizabeth groans. "I didn't think helping meant stashing a bleeding guy with a gun in my kid's bedroom!"
Elaine turns, her voice cold. "You never really think about other people, do you?"
Elizabeth's eyes narrow. "Of course I do. We all needed the money, Elaine—we're going through a lot."
"Then earn it the right way."
"We tried," Elizabeth snaps. "It's not enough. Ruby's daughter has medical bills the size of a mortgage. Her job doesn't even cover prescriptions."
Elaine shakes her head and looks out the window. "I got dragged into this mess, and all I did was help someone who was dying," she mutters, pulling out her phone. "It's not all about you" Elizabeth says. "Guys.." Ruby comments. "Are you serious? I never said it was. But you didn't even think about what this would do to me or anyone else , Elizabeth. Not once" Elaine snaps back before looking out the window.
....
The next day, Elaine and the others met up at Elizabeth's house. "Hey, I brought chili. Stan made it. It's spicy," Ruby announces as she steps through the front door, setting a steaming pot on the kitchen table. "Thank you. I'm starving." Annie gets up from the stairs and heads straight for the kitchen. "Did you stay up all night?" Ruby asks, glancing at Elizabeth, who looks like she hasn't blinked since sunrise.
Elaine leans against the banister, arms crossed. "I mean, she stayed up all night. I slept next to her like a baby," Annie says casually as she fills a bowl. "I came over around six," Elaine adds, her tone neutral but tired. Ruby lowers her voice. "Is he still out cold?" she asks, nodding toward the ceiling—where the bleeding, gun-toting mystery man still lies unconscious in a little girl's bed.
Elizabeth sighs. "Yeah. Maybe we need, like, smelling salts or something."
Annie, mid-bite, scoffs. "Right. Because it's 1892."
Elaine snorts, shaking her head. Suddenly, a loud thump echoes from upstairs. The women freeze. "What the hell was that?" Elaine says, eyes wide. They race up the stairs, breath caught in their throats, only to find the bed empty. "Oh my God..." Annie whispers, staring at the tangled sheets. "His gun. Go get his gun!" Elizabeth snaps, her voice urgent.
"W–where is it?" Elaine stammers. "Linen closet,"Elizabeth says quickly. Elaine and Annie bolt down the hallway. "Hurry!" Ruby calls, trailing behind. Elizabeth steps deeper into the room, scanning every corner like the walls might speak. "Where in the linen closet?" Annie hisses from outside. "Top shelf!" Elizabeth shouts back. "Top shelf!" Ruby repeats, relaying it as she rushes to help. Elaine stretches up, yanking down towels. "There's no gun in here!" she says, frustrated.
"Uh... a little help?" she calls out. Annie and Ruby join her, digging through linen in a panic, flinging sheets and bottles aside.
Then— A voice. Rough. Alive.
"Where am I?"
They freeze. "Where am I?!" he shouts again, louder, fury creeping into his tone. The women exchange a terrified glance before they run back to the room. He's standing now. Pale, sweating, confused—but holding the gun. His grip shakes, but his eyes don't.
"Uh... my house," Elizabeth says slowly, backing away. "You're in my house. My daughter's room."
The gun points straight at her.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Someone... who knows the man you work for," Elizabeth says, voice measured but tense. The man's eyes snap to her, then to Annie as she adds, "He said you'd be safe here."
He stares at them for a long second, then says flatly, "I need a car."
The women exchange a glance. "Give me your car keys," he growls. When no one moves, he suddenly shouts, "Give me the damn keys!" The outburst makes them all flinch. Annie tries to reason, holding her hands out slightly. "Do you even understand that we saved you—"
"I said give me the keys!" he snaps, cutting her off, gun now raised. "Just give it to him!" Ruby cries, eyes wide with panic, her voice almost cracking. She looks at Elizabeth, desperate. Elizabeth hesitates, heart pounding. "My keys... they're downstairs," she says slowly—then her gaze lands on Elaine's keychain attached to her pants.
"Elaine. Give him yours."
All eyes turn. Elaine's mouth tightens. "Hell no." She folds her arms. "I'm in this mess by association. you asked for this you give him your damn keys." Elaine says but the man then interrupts. "Give me the goddamn keys or I'll shoot" he threatens as pointing the gun at all of the women. " I took the bus, I took the bus." Ruby says scared. ""My nails are weak, I can't get the ring off!" Annie cries, fumbling with her keychain, visibly shaking.
Elizabeth's voice cracks. "Please..." Her eyes fill with tears. "Elaine, please."
Elaine stands frozen for a second—jaw tight, heart pounding. Then with a bitter sigh, she yanks the keys from her bag and tosses them across the room. They clatter at his feet. He pauses, eyes sweeping over them one last time. Then he grabs the keys, turns, and bolts out the front door—leaving only silence and the echo of his footsteps behind.
"Fuck"
