Page 31 of Blind Spot
I rolled my eyes and sighed as I headed into the bathroom. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Charly. You were in a relationship with that man for two years. I get it. It wasn’t that easy for you to walk away like you thought. Just be careful and be safe,” I muttered as I set my towel and washcloth on the counter while I turned on the shower.
She hopped up on the counter beside my things and swung her legs. Gripping the edge of the counter, she shook her head. “I did walk away, Dom. I’m not going back to him. It may look that way because of what you saw, but your brother played us. We were arguing. I don’t know how long you were standing behind us because I didn’t see you until after he turned me around and pointed you out. You were already headed toward the other side of the club. I came after you when he finally released me, but I couldn’t find you. I ended my shift early and came here.”
“A’ight.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“What do you want me to say? You were all hugged up with that nigga, and he was gripping your ass and whispering in your ear.”
“About getting me fired, beating my ass, and asking if I was gonna send you after him.”
My jaw clenched along with my fists. I turned back from the shower, zipped and buttoned up my pants, and stalked out of the bathroom.
“Where are you going?” she asked, racing after me.
“To give my brother what he wants.”
“No! You’re not. You cannot always fight my battles, Dom.”
“The fuck I can’t. He used you again to get to me, and I’m sick of his shit.”
She gripped my arms and stared into my eyes. “Please don’t go over there.”
“Move.” I shoved her aside.
“Dom!”
“What, Charly?” I shouted.
She ran her hands up and down her arms. “I can deal with Ramon, but I don’t want you always fighting him on my behalf. What he did was fucked up, and this isn’t solving anything. You’re only creating more problems. If you go over there, then who’s to say that he won’t be back at my job? I can’t have him coming up there constantly starting trouble, and you can’t keep coming up there to rescue or protect me.”
I sighed. “What do you want from me, Charly?”
“I want you to keep being the man you’ve always been—loyal to your family and friends and standing firm on making your life better. This doesn’t do that. It only serves to tear yourself down. That’s all Ramon wants. He’s always been jealous of you, always wanted what you had.”
“But why? This ain’t no damn competition! He’s my brother. I love that nigga, and I would’ve given him the shirt off my back if he’d asked.”
“I get that, but he doesn’t. He knows that you love him, but something twisted in Ramon’s head makes him feel like he has to come after everything that belongs to you. He wants to be like you, Dom. Your brother admires how you live life on your own terms and don’t walk according to society’s rigid rules.”
“I don’t know why. He’s had his whole life mapped out for him since he was eight. He worked with my father to create that shit, and it’s gone accordingly.”
“Except at some point, it became too much for him, and he wanted the freedom that you enjoyed. He envied your ability to move on a whim without having anyone to answer to.”
I dragged my hand down my face. “That’s his fault. He could’ve done that shit too.”
“Except he didn’t want to disappoint your father, who always praised him for his discipline and focus.”
I scoffed and walked back into the bathroom. “The same father who gave me shit for flying by the seat of my pants and being a renegade.”
“Exactly. It seems like Joaquin is the only one who got off the perfect plan. He was able to stick to his plans enough to get what he wanted by racing professionally, and at the same time, he had the freedom just to be himself.”
“Not really.” I dragged my fingers through my beard.
“What do you mean?”
“He never had the freedom everyone thought he did. Joaquin spent hours watching race tapes, practicing, cultivating relationships that would help him get sponsorships, and all that shit. When people saw him out and about, he wasn’t out just living his life; it was all part of his and Dad’s plan too.”
“And then there’s you.”
