“Okay, so the person runs away…” Nathaniel explains.
He has to know…
There was no way Rio wasn’t aware. The way he looked at her with hidden disgust alerted Cali, as if his wrath waited behind a curtain to unleash. Cali hesitantly watched the screen. The video showed several clips of Braye running down different streets. Several angles unveiled him taking the ski mask off and shedding the bulky clothes he wore in a nearby trashcan. After a several-minute walk, he finally got inside his car and drove away.
“I ran the plates, and the car is registered to a…” He glanced down at his phone. “A Braye Hilson.”
“You know him, baby?” Rio asked, wearing a smirk so sinister that chills sprouted on her skin.
Cali loathed lying to Rio despite it being a part of her regimen for the last three years. Unable to voice the lie, she shook her head instead.
Rio leaned forward, wearing rumpled brows. “You sure you don't know him?”
Again, she shook her head because admitting that her lover of three years tried to kill her husband was a confession she didn’t have the courage for.
“He’s the same nigga I saw you arguing with in the parking lot at the hospital,” Cee revealed.
Cali could have passed away at that moment. Dying would’ve been the better option than sitting in the lion’s den. Suddenly, she had become the prey, in the animal’s lair.
“W-what nigga are you talking about?”
Cali couldn’t confess. Not when Rio stared at her with eyes that could’ve virtually set her on fire.
“You know, Cali. I ain't wanna believe you was on that type of time, but you was acting shaky in the hospital,” Cee told her.
“Of course, I was acting shaky. My husband was in a coma, and we were told he wouldn’t make it.”
“Nah, it’s more than that.” Cee shook his head. “Your phone was ringing back-to-back and when you answered, you always stepped out of the room. I’d hear you arguing with somebody, but I didn’t think anything of it.”
“‘Cause I was handling my fucking business! What the fuck!” she barked at Cee.
“I thought that, too.” Cee nodded. “When I saw you arguing with ol’ boy, I saw him hug you. It wasn’t no friendly hug either. He hugged you like he loved you. I came to the room,and Ms. Campbell told me some nigga had come to visit but you got his ass outta there.” He scooted to the edge of the couch. “Something told me to go back outside to see if y’all were still talking but I caught him walking to his car. I hurried up and put his license plate number in my phone just so I could look into him. A nigga ain't stupid, Cali, which is why I had Nate investigate some shit.”
“Come to find out, this nigga you was arguing with in the parking lot clipped my brake line.” Rio shook his head. “So, I’ma give you one chance to tell me the truth before shit gets ugly for you.”
Cali’s day had been so emotionally draining that tears came to her eyes without permission. She thought her days of crying were behind her once Rio woke up from his coma. Now, her tears were mixed with terror and pain. One, because she knew Rio wouldn’t allow her to walk out of this home alive and two, she knew her marriage had officially come to an end.
“You better start fucking talking,” Rio warned.
The first tear hit her cheek before the second one followed. How would she be able to get out of this? Would Rio believe her if she told him a fallacy? Probably not. His instincts were of a well-experienced soldier.
The sudden chime from the doorbell startled Cali. Quickly, she remembered begging her dad to come to their home. Without thinking twice, Cali jumped up with Rio on her heels. She hurried to the front door and snatched it open. Douglas stood with three of his men behind him. As soon as she saw her father’s look of concern, she fell into his arms and sobbed.
“Dad, he’s trying to hurt me.”
“Who?”
Cali looked back at Rio, who now had a gun in his hand. This had escalated so swiftly that she didn’t realize he had pulled it out. Suddenly, Douglas moved her out the way and barged into the house.
“You right on time ‘cause I’m about to murk that lil’ bitch you call a daughter.”
Cali had never heard Rio speak about her with such disdain. He always held her in high regard, whether it was in private or public. He honored her like a loving husband was supposed to do but this was all Cali’s doing. Her actions had pushed him to make her one of his enemies.
“What the fuck is going on?” Douglas barked.
Cali covered her mouth with tears leaking from her eyes. The words sat on her tongue, but her pride wouldn’t release them. Revealing that she had been cheating on her husband of five years was a sin she wished to keep in her mental vault.
“I want blood, nigga,” Rio sneered inches away from Douglas’ face.
