Chapter 4
Four
“Did you say she tried to kill you?” Deasia asked with bucked eyes.
Rio nodded, finding that reality to be unbelievable.
All this time, he had been sleeping with the devil.
Cali had pulled the greatest sham against him.
In fact, he was so pissed at himself for not seeing the signs.
Confessing to his mother and sister how his wife attempted to set him up wasn’t on his bingo cards.
Rio never imagined planning the demise of the woman he had given his all to.
“I don't understand,” Ruthia said, shaking her head.
“What you don't get?” He gave her a loaded expression. “She was cheating with a man who cut my brake line. They the reason I got into the accident. Then when I didn’t die, she tried to act like the supporting wife and be there for me. Cali’s a snake and I’m not sparing her.”
“And you got proof?” Deasia asked.
“Yeah, Cee hired a PI ‘cause Cali was moving shaky. I’m glad he did.” He shook his head as the thoughts overloaded his mind. “I never would’ve known she was my opps. The video show that nigga fucking with my car and him running back to his. I can’t wait to catch up with his ass.”
“I don't believe she would do that,” Ruthia claimed.
Rio exhaled a sharp breath. “Why? ‘Cause she helped you out with your bills when I was down?”
“Hey.” Ruthia cut her eyes at Rio. “Don't dare say that to me as if I can be bought. You know I’m not money driven so don't go there.”
Rio calmed himself and replied, “You right, Mama. My bad.”
“Mama, if he has proof, then the writing is on the wall. But what I don't understand is why she would want to kill you.”
“Money!” he snapped. “Why else would a person kill their spouse?”
“But you were willing to give her everything,” Deasia reasoned. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Rio couldn’t deny that fact. None of this made sense.
He didn’t understand why Cali chose to cheat on him.
He attempted to be everything she needed.
Whatever Cali desired, Rio ensured that she had it before the end of the day.
Her actions propelled Rio to ponder their marriage and see where he’d gone wrong.
Did he not love her hard enough? Was he lacking in any areas?
Rio’s workload kept him away but still, cheating on him of all people was an action that he couldn’t let slide, not even for Cali.
She had to pay for her consequences, considering he had almost died.
“She’s selfish,” Rio declared. “She don't care about nobody but herself. Nothing makes sense to a selfish person. As long as it makes them feel good, they don't care about other people.”
Ruthia shook her head. “I really don't believe Cali would have you killed. She loved you.”
“She ain't love nothing,” he retorted, cutting his eyes at her.
“No, really,” Ruthia continued, “what I witnessed in that hospital was love. She cared so deeply for you. Praying day and night for you to come back to us. Cali spoke life into you, Rio. She was there, and I witnessed every tear that dropped. You can’t fake that kind of love.
My discernment would’ve told me if she wasn’t honest. She loved you, so I don't believe that she wanted you dead.”
Rio was unmoved by his mother’s admission. He didn’t care about Cali playing devoted wife while he was down. She was a snake who had fucked him over. He fell in love with her, making sure to give his all, only for her not to give a full return.
“We can’t just ignore the evidence, though,” Deasia asserted.
“Exactly,” Rio added. “Mama, if you wanna keep believing Cali is this good person, then do it. But I see her for what she is.”
“I’m not saying she’s an angel, and I’m not denying your claims that she was having an affair. The only thing I don't believe is her trying to kill you.”
“Damn, I can’t believe she was cheating on you.” Deasia shook her head. “You of all people. She should’ve known you would find out.”
Learning Cali had tried to set him up to be killed was a gut punch.
However, finding out that she had been intimate with another man, left him virtually gasping for air.
Cali was supposed to be his. Reserved for only him.
How could she open her legs to another man?
Did he have her heart? Was he the one that she loved because it certainly hadn’t been him that had her heart.
Rio had been fighting for Cali’s love for years, desperately trying to connect with her but she refused to open up.
He had been broken about it, but Rio was a man and showing his heart was something he didn’t do in his position.
Nonetheless, it didn’t take away the unwanted feeling Cali tortured him with for years.
“I have to play devil’s advocate, though.” Deasia smirked. “You ain't innocent either. You were still dealing with Tasia when you and Cali first got married.”
Rio flicked his hand. “Man, that shit don't count.”
“Like hell it don't. You didn’t end things with her for a while, and you were married.”
Ruthia reclined in her seat. “She makes a point. You can’t condemn Cali for something you did.”
Rio couldn’t believe what he heard. “Are y’all crazy?
We’re talking about something that happened at the beginning of an arranged marriage.
Me and Cali barely even spoke around that time.
We didn’t know each other so me still dealing with Tasia don't count. When I got serious about Cali, I never touched another woman. Stop trying to cape for her ass.”
“I’m not caping but you technically cheated. There was one point in your marriage where you didn’t honor your vows,” Deasia argued.
Rio was going to counter her point until he got a text message.
Noble: Where you at?
Rio: My mom’s crib.
Noble: Send the location.
Rio sent the address to him then pinched his inner tear ducts. The headaches he had been experiencing was enough to make him shut down for the day. Before the crash, he never had headaches, now it seemed like he suffered from migraines at least twice a week.
Ruthia touched his arm. “You okay, son?”
“Nah, my head is on fire.”
“I’ll go get you some Advil.” Deasia got up from her seat.
Ruthia grabbed his hand and gently squeezed it. “I’m worried about you. This thing between you and Cali scare me. I know this is a lot, but what are your plans? How will you two get over this obstacle?”
“Get over?” He scoffed. “Do you really think I’m about to work anything out with her?”
“I’m not saying you need to reconcile but you don't need to harm her either.”
Rio snorted a chuckle. “But she can plot to have me killed, huh? You know what type of man I am, Mama. As a matter of fact, let’s not even have this discussion.”
“But Rio—”
The buzzing of his phone was a welcomed distraction to end this conversation. Rio read Noble’s text and stood to go outside. He walked to Noble’s truck and got in. The air blasted high before Noble adjusted the temperature.
“When were you going to tell me you put out a bounty on your wife?” Noble asked, looking forward.
“Eventually.”
“Like when, nigga?” Noble pierced him with his ebony eyes.
“Shit, soon.” Rio scratched the back of his neck. “This ain't got nothing to do with TLM. This is a personal bounty.”
“Rio, this has everything to do with TLM. You're a fucking lieutenant. You don't think you making an order like that reflects on us?”
Noble was right but Rio was so caught up in his rage that he hadn’t taken time to really think this through.
“The fuck you put a bounty on your wife for anyway?”
“She tried to set me up with her side nigga. They the reason I got in the accident.”
Noble’s brows hiked. “Word?”
“Yeah, I found out the other night.”
The embarrassment that engulfed Rio made his stomach queasy. Men like him didn’t get cheated on. Men of his caliber usually controlled the relationship, but Cali had hoed him. She not only disrespected him by stepping out but she almost took his life.
“Damn,” Noble drawled, dragging his hand over his mouth. “I see why you put that bounty on her.”
“Listen, I want that bitch dead and I’m looking for her boyfriend, too. I sent Cee and Slime to check out all the spots he been at, but shit came up empty.”
“Don't worry about that. I got a connect that can find anybody. That shit will be handled but Cali is different. You know her pops is with Noir Mob. If you kill her, it will start a war with them. You know a nigga like me ain't scared but I ain't trying to be fighting over a female.”
“So, what I’m supposed to do? Just let this shit go?”
“No.” Noble shook his head, leaning against the door. “You play it smart. Get paid for your pain.”
“Get paid?” Rio said more to himself.
“The money won’t take away the betrayal but taxing the fuck outta them will give you some kind of retribution. All bullshit aside, do you know for sure that she set you up?”
“Yeah.”
“You don't have no doubt?” Noble asked him again.
Rio retreated to his thoughts. The tiny piece of his heart that was tender for Cali wanted him to believe that she would never try to have him killed.
She had been heaven sent during his recovery, showering him with love he had been yearning for during the early part of their marriage.
Abruptly, the savage side of him overpowered.
He couldn’t ignore his instincts. It was the reason he had survived so many years in the streets.
“Yeah, you ain't one hun’nid percent sure,” Noble stated.
“But I’m not stupid either. Fucking the nigga who caused my accident makes her look like a suspect.”
Noble nodded. “You right, it does. Still, you gotta be sure because if you kill her and she wasn’t the person that set you up, you will live with that regret for the rest of your life. Unless her pops clip you first.”
Rio rubbed his aching eyes, feeling the intensity of his headache increase.
“I’ll call a meeting, and we’ll figure that shit out.”