“Right here. Walk with me.” He reached for my hand and led me to a small table in the corner.
“Sit.” He held the chair for me like a gentleman. Cairo could be very nice and charming when he wanted and then again, he could be an asshole that you never wanted to speak to or be around.
“Mr. Romano would you like a drink?” One of the waitresses asked. She was damn near drooling over him.
“Nah. We good.” He shooed her away and held my hand in his.
“You loved that nigga so much you were letting him beat on you?” Instantly my heart started to race and I glanced at the crowd to see if Ed was in it.
“What are you talking about?”
“Sis, I have eyes on all of my family at all times.” I swallowed hard.
“At all times?” He chuckled and pulled a black and mild off the side of his ear.
“At all times; on the elevators and even at three in the morning.” I almost choked on my own spit. Was he telling me that he knew about me and Felix?
“Before we get to you and Felix linking up, how long the nigga been laying hands on you.” He lit the black and mild and waited for my answer.
“Over the last few months. A few smacks here and there and some punches but nothing I couldn’t handle.” He grabbed my face with his free hand and studied it.
“That busted lip, and the liquid band aid on your eye ain’t doing shit because blood is starting to seep through. And thefact your eye is turning black and blue is showing he did more than what you’re saying.” I just started crying. I heard him call someone over to bring a wet towel.
“Cairo, I’m sorry for not telling you. He was my problem.” I knew Ed was a dead man but I’d rather not know it was done already.
“Well now he’s no one’s problem.” I didn’t need to ask questions. What’s understood didn’t need to be explained.
“Now.” He took a few more pulls of the mild.
“You and Felix are grown and I’ve warned both of you; mainly him not to fuck with each other.” He blew smoke in the air as I took the wet towel from the woman and placed it against my eye.
“I don’t wanna hear shit if it don’t work out and I’m telling you now, friend or not, I’ll kill him too if he hurts you.” I smiled because Cairo was telling me in his own way that he had no problem with me and Felix. I scooted my chair closer and rested my head on his shoulder.
“You’re my only sister and I’ll go to war with anyone over you, right or wrong.” He wrapped his arm around me.
“But all that keeping secrets shit ain’t cool. He could’ve killed you and no one would’ve known.” Shaking my head to let him know I understood, Felix walked up looking sexy as hell.
“Come dance with me.” He went to grab my hand but I didn’t move.
“Cairo said my face was messed up.” Felix grabbed me out the chair.
“That shit don’t matter. He was dealt with and there’s nothing wrong with how you look.” Turning around to Cairo, he nodded his head in approval. If I had known then that he’d be cool with me and Felix being a couple, I would’ve been with him. Then again, it wasn’t our time and Felix had to get all that sleeping around outta his system anyway.
“About got damn time you two got together.” One of my uncles yelled out.
“Wait! What Cairo say? Did I miss it?” Raul thought it was funny until Felix said he was ok with it. Raul caught an attitude because he bet Manny that my brother and Felix would have it out over me. I’m glad they didn’t because I’m not sure we’d work if Cairo had an issue.
CHAPTER 12
Cairo
“Let me holla at you playboy.”I called out to Ed when Rosalina went to the bathroom. Here it was my birthday celebration and I had to deal with some bullshit.
“Ummm, Rosalina will be looking for me.” He refused to move from the bathroom door. Regardless of the times my sister brought him to my parents’ house, I never spoke to this nigga until today.
“She’ll be alright. I wanna make sure we’re clear on a few things.” Still frozen in fear, he stayed put. I nodded to Raul and watched him walk over to Ed.
“He didn’t give you an option. Move!” Raul pushed him toward the elevator. As we stepped on, Felix was waiting with the machete and duct tape in a bag that I requested. Ed tried to run off but the doors closed in his face.
