“How do you think I feel?” she fumed, glowering at him. “I feel like shit and the fact that you didn’t want me to get her arrested makes me even more upset.”
“I told you I don't deal with the police.”
“It wouldn’t have been you dealing with them. It would’ve been me.” She pointed at her chest. “I had to reschedule all my clients for the week because my face is fucked up.”
Rio didn’t disagree. Her face would take weeks to heal properly.
“How much you make a week?”
“Easily two to three thousand.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. Counting it all, he passed it to her.
“Here, this is $1600. I’ll give you the rest tomorrow.”
Reluctantly, Rozalin grabbed the money. “Thanks, Rio. I really appreciate this.”
“No problem.”
Rio felt somewhat responsible for her injuries. He didn’t tell Cali to attack her but they had both made bad decisions that warranted Cali’s response.
Seeing her last night was different. Normally, Cali’s presence would annoy him because all he saw was her betrayal. However, he didn’t spot her infidelity. He couldn’t even pinpoint the emotion he felt but it wasn’t the normal disdain he held for her. Rio felt like he had done something wrong. As if he had hurt Cali. Last night, he wished for them to make eye contact but when she purposely ignored him, Rio felt a way. He refrained from confronting her about her attitude because it wasn’t the time.
“I should get my cousin to beat Cali’s ass for sneaking me.”
That statement snatched Rio’s attention. “Nah, don't do that.”
“Why not?” she hissed. “She deserves to get snuck just like me. Got my fucking eye swollen all because she can’t take that her nigga got snatched.”
“Aye, chill out.” Rio immediately caught an attitude. “You ain't snatch shit. Stop talking like you gamed me.”
She stood turning to him with her hands on her hips. “I’m not saying it like that but she’s mad because I’m with you and she’s not. She told me herself how much she misses you. I bet she would get back with you if you gave her the chance.”
That definitely wouldn’t happen now…
“I’m glad you brought that up.” He sat back, angling his head. “Why were you still doing her hair when you know me and you were fucking around?”
Rozalin suddenly went mute. She avoided his gaze as hers cast down to the ground.
“I wasn’t about to turn down no money.”
“Money?” he repeated with disgust. “So you money hungry like that? That’s what type of time you be on?”
Her piercing eyes cut into him. “No, but it would’ve been fucked up for me to deny her appointment, don't you think?”
“No, it wouldn’t have. It would’ve made you have a conscience. You doing her hair knowing you fucking with me didn’t make shit better. That was the wrong move, Rozalin.”
“Don't put this all on me. You played a part in this, too. You participated so you hold some of the responsibility just like me.”
Rio wanted to counter her claim but he couldn’t. Maybe subconsciously, when he found out Rozalin was Cali’s hairstylist,he thought it would’ve been a perfect get-back move. Fucking her stylist, who clearly had interest in him, would be the perfect revenge. Rio had succeeded in pissing Cali off but he had to admit that it didn’t feel good.
“Look, when I divorced Cali, that meant I could move on. I don't owe her shit but she did think you and her were cool, Roz. You gotta admit that it looks bad.”
She shrugged. “Okay, maybe we were friendly but I don't owe Cali anything, especially after the way she attacked me.” Suddenly, she cocked her head, wearing narrowed eyes. “All this time, it has been fuck Cali. Now it sounds like you're defending her. Since when have you cared about her feelings?”
When I learned I hurt her…
Rio wanted to shake Cali’s words from his mind, but they haunted him like the memories of their marriage. How hadn’t he been a good husband when he thought of her day and night? Yes, he had put many things before her when it came to TLM but she knew the oath he’d taken when they first got married. Nothing came before the organization. Not even wives and children.
