Page 31 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

“Pink hair? Short hair?”

“Don’t dye your hair. It’s gorgeous and I like it the way it is. Blade said your mom was at the house. Trouble?”

“No. I took care of it.”

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

“Call me in an hour. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

They hung up and she set an alarm on her phone. A hairdresser with bulging breasts barely contained by her apron dragged her fingers through Lyla’s hair.

“What can I do for you, darling?”

“I’m going to be boring. Just trim and condition, please,” Lyla said.

“You sure? I can do great things with your hair.”

“My... husband likes it as is,” Lyla said, stumbling over the h word.

“I can see why,” the hairdresser said and held her hair up to the light. “Women would kill for this shade.”

Aunt Isabel dyed her silver hair an auburn shade and paired the color with a short cut that wouldn’t take much time to style. Lyla was speechless when Carmen dyed her blonde hair black. The stark color against her pale skin and blue eyes was a startling contrast that changed her whole demeanor. During her blow dry, Blade came over with the phone. Lyla apologized to Gavin and tried to convince him that she set an alarm, but didn’t hear it. He wasn’t pleased. When they went to get their mani and pedi’s, Carmen chose pointed maroon nails that went with her biker chick vibe. Lyla went with modest rose-colored nails while Aunt Isabel got a French tip.

“How are you?” Lyla asked Carmen.

“I’m fine,” she said loftily.

“Carmen.”

“What?”

Lyla took in Carmen’s drastic new look and saw beneath the nonchalant attitude to the pain beneath. “What are your plans?”

“Can’t make any without money,” Carmen said archly.

“You’re right. I’ll talk to Gavin about it.”

“Did you know Mr. Important wants to pay for Dad’s funeral?” Carmen asked with a sneer.

Lyla tried to hold onto her temper. She left the house this morning with a great attitude, which was deteriorating rapidly. She wished she asked Gavin to stay home and hibernate for another day in their love nest.

“He wants to help,” Lyla said.

“If he gave me my money, I could pay for it myself.”

“I know. Just let Gavin pay for it and I swear, I’ll talk to him about your money tonight.”

“So you forgave him for everything?”

“Everything?” Lyla asked and the manicurist tugged on her fingers, which were trying to ball into a fist.

Carmen’s eyes dipped down to Lyla’s concealed chest. “You left him for a reason.”

“I did,” Lyla said, striving for calm. “He hurt me, I hurt him. We’ve both made mistakes, but I’ve always loved him.”

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