Rio craned his head. “Why is that?”
“‘Cause she never wanted to be with me. She led me on, making me believe that she would leave you to get with me.”
“So, why did you and her try to take me out? If you knew she wasn’t gonna leave, why would your dumb ass write a check your ass couldn’t cash?”
Braye paused for a moment, inhaling a deep breath that looked painful.
“You know… I could lie and say that she helped me but she… she wasn’t a part of taking you out. That shit was all on me. I wanted you out the way so I could have my girl.” He shook his head, regret pooling on his face. “That bitch didn’t have the heart to leave you. She knew it, too. I was a dummy for believing her cap ass, but she had me. You know how Cali is. She can convince a fucking dog that he’s a cat.”
“How I know your bitch-ass is telling the truth?”
“Man look at me,” he griped through clenched teeth. “I’m on my way out. Ain't no escaping this shit. The least I can do is be honest with not only you but myself, nigga. Cali was stringing me along but she ain't help me cause your crash.”
Rio pondered that reality, feeling a sense of relief that he couldn’t explain. Ninety percent of him loathed Cali. To him, the ground she walked on was cursed. God had wasted His time when He created her. She was every disgusting word in the dictionary, but he was relieved that she hadn’t tried to kill him. That had been one of the most painful parts of their demise. Thinking that she had conspired with her lover to eliminate himkept him up at night. The torturous thoughts wouldn’t cease no matter how much he prayed them away. Cali wasn’t a killer, but she was a cheater, who had not only destroyed their union but Rio as well.
“You ain't innocent, nigga,” Braye spat, grabbing his attention.
“What?” Rio sneered, ready to beat his ass.
“You wasn’t doing what you was supposed to do, either. I know Cali a hoe, but you didn’t give her what she needed. That’s why she came to me.”
Rio was suddenly humored. Braye didn’t compare to him at all. He was a lame, who happened to catch a hoe on the right day.
“And what’s that?”
“Time.” Braye gave him a loose-tooth grin. “You know how many times I was around when you called to break plans or she would text you only for you to reply hours later? She spent a lot of time alone. You wasn’t this great husband like you think you were. You was neglectful as fuck. She may have stepped out on you but you ain't make her a priority, nigga. You deserved for your bitch to get fucked.”
Without warning, Rio jumped from his seat and kicked Braye in his chest. The chair fell backwards, inciting him to hit his head on the concrete.
“Fuck,” Braye groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.
Rio paced while attempting to extinguish Braye’s words from ruminating in his mind. He had been the best to Cali. He’d never cheated on her. Him still dealing with his ex during the beginning of his marriage didn’t count because he and Cali weren’t locked in. When they decided to make an effort, he made a vow to never cheat on her and he honored it. He wouldn’t allowthis man, who was only a fourth of the man he was, tell him that he wasn’t good to Cali since it wasn’t true.
“Aye, Cee!”
Seconds passed, and Cee entered the room with Slime behind him.
“Put that nigga in the trunk,” Rio ordered.
They picked up the chair Braye was in and unloosened the ties to his arms and legs. Rio watched with pure rage as they carried him out. Following them to the car that was parked out back, they placed him in the trunk.
Cee turned to him. “Where you want us to take him?”
“I’m driving. I need y’all to trail me to the pond, though.”
Slime nodded. “A’ight.”
Rio got inside the beat-up Monte Carlo and started the engine. He was so ready to end this part of his life. Moving on was at the top of his list. Rio would finally be done with this chapter. If he could’ve ripped it out of his book, he would’ve without a second thought.
Rio drove for a while until they arrived at the pond. This was deemed the death pond by natives in St. Parklynn. Anything that wasn’t of value was dumped here. It was unkempt with water that possessed all kinds of algae and recycled materials. Rio got out just as Cee and Slime pulled up. Opening the trunk, Braye turned his head, appearing as if he had run out of battery life.
“I need you to suffer like I did but I want to be the last face you see.”
Braye quickly shook his head. “Just kill me, nigga. What the fuck!”
Rio smelled the fear on him. It was pungent with a scent that he would never forget. Cee and Slime walked over, bringing forth the scent of marijuana.
“What you finna do with him?” Slime asked.
