Rio smirked before closing the trunk. He walked toward the driver’s seat and placed the car in drive. Slowly, the vehicle pushed forward, sinking into the water. Loud knocks resounded from the trunk as screams penetrated Rio’s ears. He smiled, knowing that Braye was panicking.
“Arrrggghhh!” His muffled screams were like listening to his favorite song.
“That bitch in there going crazy.” Cee laughed.
The car floated for a minute until it descended into the water. The shouts ceased, immediately. The knocking came to a halt. A satisfied beam coated Rio’s lips. He could finally move on without knowing the man who tried to kill him was still out in the world. Rio’s pride would’ve never allowed him to rest if his enemy wasn’t captured. Now that Braye was gone, he breathed a little easier.
Rio’s phone rang, silencing his murderous thoughts. When he looked at the screen, he smirked.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Rio, it’s Rozalin. The girl from the bar.”
“Rozalin, huh?” His smile broadened. “What took you so long to hit me up?”
Eleven
Cali was submerged under the fluffy covers when she heard the door open. Suddenly, her bed shifted, making her peek from under the blanket. Dallas and Koda jumped on the bed while Bria and Enya stood with their arms folded. Swiftly, Cali rolled her eyes, not in the mood for whatever they had planned.
“Girl, it’s time to get your life together,” Bria fussed, pulling the covers from her body. “You’ve been wasting away in this room and it’s time to get back up.”
Cali snatched the covers back and pulled them over her head. No one knew what she had been subjected to. The darkness, the depression, and mental agony wasn’t easy to shake off. Cali had sadly succumbed to the demonic spirit she’d cast upon herself. Getting out of bed was impossible. Some days, Cali barely brushed her teeth because the pain was so great. While everyone moved on with their perfect, happy lives, she laid in an ocean of sadness ready for God to take her away.
Regrettably, death had been on Cali’s mind more than she cared to admit. It had to be better than experiencing this. At least with dying, she would no longer feel the pain, and the reality of fumbling her true love wouldn’t eat away at her like a flesh-eating disease. How could she eat, knowing Rio wouldnever share a meal with her again? How could she go to work, knowing Rio wouldn’t be at home waiting for her?
God, she missed every follicle of him. His scent. His jokes that he’d crack on her and her cooking. What she wouldn’t do for a plate of smothered chicken and rice. Or how he used to call and say he wasn’t going to make it home just for him to pop up and scare the shit out of her. Cali would forever hate herself. How could she move about knowing she had broken a man to pieces? Life wasn’t fair but Cali’s choices didn’t make it any better. She’d willingly fucked up her life for a piece of dick that wasn’t worth a stick of bubblegum.
“I can’t get over that hair,” Enya cracked. “It looks a mess.”
Cali peeked her head out. “Why the hell are you here?”
The last person she wanted to converse with was Enya. She wouldn’t add anything positive to the visit, just a bunch of insults and reminders of how lowlife Cali truly was.
Bria kneeled down. “I called her over so she can help me get you out of bed. You're wasting away in here, and I’m worried. Even Lo asked if you were okay and you know he doesn’t give a damn about nobody.”
Cali smirked at that thought. She hadn’t seen Lo in weeks despite her living under his roof. Cali had locked herself in the room, prohibiting anyone from seeing her. On occasion, she’d let the twins inside to give them hugs when they wouldn’t stop knocking on the door. Her mother had stopped by on several occasions as well as Douglas, but Cali couldn’t face them. She couldn’t look them in the eye as the fuck-up of the family. A scarlet letter would always be on her chest. What did the city think of her? Did they know of her sins? Cali hoped not because she had no problem hiding for the rest of her life.
“I’m fine. I just.” She cleared her throat. “I just need time.”
“Girl, it’s been months,” Enya explained. “It’s time to get your life back together.”
Cali’s body bounced since the twins were still jumping in the bed. She wanted to kick them out but hated to be mean to them.
“What life?” she lashed. “My life is gone.”
“No, it’s not,” Bria argued. “You can start a new path. I know you miss Rio, but he wasn’t your complete life. Granted, he was a big part of it, but you had your friends, your career, and—”
“Her side nigga but he’s gone.” Enya chuckled.
Bria cut her eyes at her. “This isn’t the time to be shady. She is severely depressed and you're sitting here cracking jokes like this shit is a game. Nothing about this is funny.”
Enya quickly nodded, tucking her lips between her teeth. “You're right. I need to grow up.”
“TT Enya, yo’ booty stank,” Dallas said.
Enya gawked, splaying her hand against her chest. “What? No, the hell it doesn’t.”
“Yes, it does,” Koda added.
