“DaVinci.” Her voice came through thin and shaky, but with an edge underneath that made my skin crawl. “I knew you’d answer eventually. Persistence is key. I remember you saying that.”
“What the fuck do you want?”
“I just wanted to hear your voice. To apologize. To see if maybe we could talk. Really talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. You’re in jail for arson, stalking, and harassment. We’re done talking. You’re breaking the no-contact order right now.”
“I made mistakes. I know that. But I was sick, DaVinci. I wasn’t in my right mind. And if you could just listen—”
“I am listening. And I still don’t give a fuck what you got to say. You crossed me, and you can’t undo that. I don’t owe you my ear.”
“I’m getting help now. Real help. Therapy, medication, everything they said I needed. I’m better now. Different.”
“Good for you. That doesn’t change what you did. Anything else? I’m busy.”
I half-expected an apology, but instead, Cassie was full of excuses. She hadn’t changed or learned her lesson at all. There was a pause, and when she spoke again, her voice had changed. Sharper. “I heard you moved on. Already. It was supposed to be me. You and my parents plotted against me, and I wasn’t able to touch that bitch.”
“That’s none of your business, and watch your fuckin mouth,” DaVinci said, his voice going cold.
“It is my business when you’re making a mistake. When you’re with someone who doesn’t understand you like I do, she doesn’t know what you need. She’s just some—”
I’d heard enough.
I leaned forward and snatched the phone.
“Okay, I’m gonna stop you right there,” I said, my voice clear and sharp. “Let me explain this in a way your clearly unwell, ass can comprehend.” I stood up, energy coursing through me. “DaVinci is not your concern anymore. He’s not your business. He’s not yours to be calling; he was never yours. You were his employee. That’s it. And now you’re nothing to him except a cautionary tale about not vetting people better. We are not the same and never will be. I drive niggas crazy, nigga’s don’t drive me crazy.”
DaVinci was staring at me, and I caught the hint of a smile playing at his lips.
“I honestly should’ve handled you when I had the chance. I won’t be here forever, Ms. Halo.”
“Hoe please, you don’t put any fear in my heart. But you will stop calling. Stop thinking about him, talking about him, dreaming about him. Because all that is stick a fork in it…done.”
“You can’t tell me—”
“I just did. And if you’re smart, you’ll listen because I’m the kind of woman who doesn’t scare easily. I don’t back down. And I really don’t like people who threaten the people I care about. I will beat yo ass, Cassie.”
“He’s not yours.”
“Oh, but he is. And the sooner you accept that, the better off and safer you’ll be.” I paused, letting that sink in. “Now, I’m gonna be real generous here and give you one warning.One. You call him again, text him, send hima letter, carrier pigeon, smoke signal—I don’t give a damn—and I will make it my personal mission to make sure I match your crazy. We clear?”
Silence.
“I said, are we clear, heffa?”
“Whatever,” she whispered.
“That’ll do. Now lose this number. Lose his name. And move the hell on. And I know that was you calling my phone, being weird.”
I hung up, set the phone down, and took a breath to calm the adrenaline coursing through me.
DaVinci was still staring at me.
By the time I hung up, my adrenaline was buzzing. DaVinci was staring at me like I’d handed him the keys to paradise.
“That was the second sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Second?” I lifted a brow.
