Chapter 2 #2
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.
Her father looked back at her, confused by everything transpiring. “Cali what the hell is he talking about?”
She looked at her father then her gaze shifted to Nathaniel and Cee, who stood beside Rio.
Then, her vision landed on the man who had her heart.
She had fallen so deep in love when he was in a coma and didn’t want to be released from this hold.
However, this was the end. Their blissful union had come to an abrupt conclusion, and Cali didn’t know how she would live without him.
“Tell your pops how you set me up to be killed.”
Her saddened eyes immediately gawked at Rio’s revelation.
“Wait, what?”
“You hear me, bitch! You got that nigga to cut my brake line. What was it? You wanted insurance money? You was gon’ move him into my shit and ride off into the sunset? Tell me why you wanted to take me out, Cali?”
There was so much pain in Rio’s voice that Cali recoiled on the inside. Rio was misled. She would’ve never caused him harm. Granted, she did plan to end their marriage to be with Braye, but that was the only damage she was prepared to do. Never would she want to see him dead.
“Cali, is this true?” Douglas asked.
“No! Never!” she screamed, hoping Rio nixed that crazy idea from his mind. “I would never try to get you killed.”
“Bullshit!” Rio snapped, inching closer to her but Douglas stepped in front of him.
“She said she didn’t do it, Rio. Where did you get this crazy-ass idea from?”
Rio glowered at Douglas. “Why don't you ask her how she know ol’ boy?”
Douglas turned to her. “Why does he believe you tried to get him killed? And you bet’ not lie.”
Cali’s head hung as more tears gushed from her eyes.
Her chest ached from the pain that was bound to stay with her for decades to come.
For years, she had created a mountain of lies but now the foundation had cracked.
The mess she’d created pooled around her feet, restricting her from running away.
This was her moment to tell the truth. She needed to be set free from all of her sins, even if it meant giving up her husband.
“I would never try to get you killed, Rio…” She licked her dry lips. “But… I did have an affair with him.”
Rio shook his head as a snort of laughter drifted from his lips. Sweat pooled on his forehead as he flexed his fist. Without warning, he cocked his gun and pointed at her.
“I’m ‘bout to murk you, bitch!”
Douglas and his men drew their weapon while Cee pulled out his Glock and aimed it at Douglas. Guns were pointed at everyone. Within seconds, bullets could’ve flown and every person inside the foyer could’ve been dead.
“I understand you being mad, Rio, but I won’t let you hurt my daughter.”
“You ain't got no choice,” Rio seethed, looking dead at Cali.
Pressing her palms together, she pleaded, “Babe, you gotta believe me. I would never set you up.”
“But you fucked that nigga, though, right? You sucked his dick, huh? You did all the shit you wasn’t supposed to do but you draw the line with trying to take me out?”
His words felt like shards of glass being cut into her skin. Cali bled on the inside because the pain on Rio’s face was too much for her to bear. She’d broken their vows and now he wanted to end her life. She couldn’t blame him because he had been the ultimate sacrifice from her affair.
“Uh, can I interject?” Nathaniel asked, holding up his index finger. “I don't think it should come to this. Perhaps get the police involved with the information I discovered and let them deal with it.”
Rio snapped his head toward him. “Nigga, I don't deal with no fucking police.”
“Listen, I get that you're hurt but this is my child we’re talking about,” Douglas chastised Rio. “You should know Cali would never try to get you killed.”
“Get the fuck outta here!” Rio snarled. “You really don't know this selfish, self-centered-ass bitch you raised. She don't give a fuck about nobody but herself. You know how long I’ve been chasing her ass in this marriage? She ain't gave me no kind of intimacy until I woke up from that coma. All that crying and shit she did when I was in the hospital was because her plan to take me out didn’t go through. Fuck her and fuck you, Douglas. This bitch gon’ pay.”
“Well, let’s do it.” Douglas took off his suit jacket. “We can all go out this bitch together. Come on and shoot so I can put you down.”
Rio smirked. “Nigga, I got my best shooter behind me. You think you gon’ get a shot out before him?”
Cali nibbled on her thumb while she wrapped her arm around her torso. She was so terrified of this turning into a war zone that she said a silent prayer for her demise to be quick. Cali didn’t want to suffer. She just wanted her misery to be short-lived on her way to the afterlife.
“And who do you think is behind me? You think my men will let you pull that trigger without lighting your ass up, Rio? Now, it doesn’t have to come to this. I will get Cali and we’ll be out of your way.”
Rio grimaced with his gun still pointed at her. Cali closed her eyes, knowing she would soon be dead in a matter of seconds. Rio was so unforgiving. He didn’t give anyone a second chance to play with him, and unfortunately, she was no exception to the rules.
“It’s cool,” he softly stated, lowering his arm. “I’ll catch you sooner than later, Cali. Get this bitch outta my house.”
Douglas immediately picked his jacket up from the floor and grabbed her arm.
Her father practically dragged her out of the house and placed her in the back of the truck.
As soon as the door slammed, Cali noticed Rio walk outside.
The grim look on his face sent chills down her spine.
A man who was once her husband had now transformed into her enemy.
Cali didn’t know how she would navigate this new reality.