"Come back here right now."

You ignored Rio's voice from behind you, throwing up your middle finger as your only response. He had some kind of nerve raising his voice at you and talking to you like he was your father when he had done what he did. Having to bail out on dinner plans? That was nothing new. You knew he had a busy life. But to bail out because Beth apparently needed to meet with him urgently? That was a new low and not one you were willing to take lying down.

So you kept walking, muttering angrily to yourself as you ventured away from his apartment building. You figured he might actually leave you alone considering how badly he had fucked up, but the sound of his shoes pounding into the pavement behind you told you that you wouldn't be so lucky.

You ignored him still, until his fingers wrapped themselves around your wrist, tugging you to turn around.

"Mama, stop it. Let me talk to you for one fucking minute."

His grip was strong. Not enough to hurt you, but enough to keep you there, and you huffed at him, trying to yank your arm free.

"Let me go."

He shook his head, nostrils flaring in anger as he stared at you.

"No. I won't. You're pissed, and I get that. You got every right to be. I was wrong, I fucked up, she's a bitch, blah blah blah, I'll apologize properly once we get back inside, or if you don't wanna hear it then I'll wait 'til tomorrow, but you're not walking around outside at this time of night by yourself. You're just not. I'll fuckin' leave if you wanna be alone. But this? You ain't doing this. I ain't gonna let you get hurt just because you're pissed at me. So let's go."

You stayed looking at him for a few more seconds, neither of you budgein before you sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, whatever."

Rio nodded too and released you, moving to the side so you could walk back to the apartment with him, your safety always coming first before anything.