13. Quameer
quameer
. . .
I sat in Fern with my feet kicked up going over my baby list name for this new baby girl. See, I always knew I was meant to be a girl dad. Me and Peach were so locked in that big man trusted me with a second one.
I should have known it was a little girl inside of Suga from the way she was carrying herself. She was moving like she was destined for this shit, and had to show her little one that women could kill shit, too. Going over baby names was the only thing that kept me from jumping in the trunk of Brandi’s new truck and choking her out while she drove on the highway.
How did I know she had a new truck?
I had been watching her ass, and other than going to get those thick ass fucking lashes done, the bitch hadn’t been doing nothing. I knew one thing; I wasn’t sending Peach back home until I figured out what the fuck her hoe ass was up to.
I wished I could say I was surprised that Brandi married Martin because of Reggie. He was so against our relationship, and always wanting her with a different kind of man, so I’m not surprised she did whatever for her father. Brandi had always been into pleasing her father and never wanting to let him down.
So much so that she sent me away to be with a fat gay man. Then to have my daughter included in that shit had me planning on when I was sitting both her and Reggie’s ass down. She would do whatever she had to for her father, and I didn’t trust that there was a limit or loyalty in where she would go. I was watching Brandi like a fucking hawk, and when I was in Monaco, I already had my pops staying at the lake house to make sure she didn’t try and come get Peach.
Yasin blew out a sigh, and it was the second time that the nigga did it while he feverishly texted on his phone, then sat the phone down.
Usually, I didn’t care to get in the middle of somebody else’s shit, and from the way he was frustrated, he wasn’t trying to talk about it or else he would have said something to me. I shook my head and continued on looking at names.
His phone rang and he quickly answered the phone. “You didn’t hear from him yet? Fuckin’ Dio, yo’… little nigga hardheaded… Nah, I hear… yeah... yo’, soon as you hear from him, hit me up, Zu… bet.”
He ended the call and slumped down in the stool, kicking his boots up on the empty chair. It was in the middle of the day and wasn’t nobody here. Even the usuals that hung at the bar had some other shit to do.
“Everything good?”
“My little fucking cousin went missing on his brother… nigga went ghost and he trying to find him.”
“Zoo Boyz, right?”
“Yeah.”
This bike life shit was in Yasin’s blood like it was inside of mine. He came from a family of bikers; his cousin ran with some niggas out in California called the Zoo Boyz. His cousin Zu was part of the crew.
“You think he heading this way? I could put an alert on his ass.”
“Nah… shit, I don’t think. He ‘bout to though… My cousin Zu wants him to come and spend some time out here… get him the fuck away from everything back home.”
I laughed. “He trust yo’ crazy ass to watch his brother? Nigga, I wouldn’t trust you with a fish,” I clowned Yasin.
Shante came from the back and started stocking the bar. “Aye Shante, what you think of the name Rayce?”
“Like race car?”
“I would spell it differently… R-A-Y-C-E,” I spelled it out to her, and she smiled as she looked at me.
“It’s cute and different… isn’t Capri having a girl?”
I looked at her. “Isn’t Capri having a girl?” I mocked, as she rolled her eyes. “ We’re having a girl… yeah… Rayce Ann… give it a feminine touch. The Ann after her mama… Shelly-Ann.”
Shante already knew I had my mind made up and was just talking at this point. “I think that’s a very unique and cute name. Goes perfectly with Ryder.”
“Yeah, I hope my wife thinks the same… she been sending me some ugly ass names,” I muttered as I added the name into my notes.
Wifey: Baby, we’re on our way to lunch… something don’t feel right, Meer.
No sooner than she sent that message, I checked her location, and she was on the FDR, heading toward Harlem. “Yo Sin, we out,” I told him, and he never asked questions, he was right behind me.
Me: I’m on my way to you… play shit cool. I’m coming to you.
Wifey: Always.
I hit Cappadonna and Quasim on my way to Capri, and they told me they were on their way. After that fucking shit at the gala, I wasn’t taking any chances when it comes to my wife. I had forgot she mentioned this nigga wanted to have lunch with her to talk about everything that happened at the gala. Morgan’s ass had been quiet, but all things were a go when it came to Monaco. Menace had already flown to Monaco ahead of the ball he was throwing, and so his jet would return to get Capri and Morgan.
My best bet was that he was hiding low until he could board that coffin. Cause that bitch wasn’t coming back to America once he boarded that damn plane.
With the way I was in and out of traffic, and how Yasin was nearly holding onto the roof, I made it to my baby in record time. They were at some fish market in Harlem. One of those spots that you could pick out your choice of seafood, and they fried that shit up for you. You could smell the fried seafood in the air, even with me being parked a block away. I peeped when Quasim pulled onto the block, climbing off his bike and coming across the street.
“What sis’ saying?”
“All she texted was that something didn’t feel right, and I came… she only gotta tell me shit once and I’m moving on it.”
He looked over, and I followed his eyes. Cappadonna’s truck pulled behind me, and both he and Capone hopped out the truck. “She told him to come here, huh?”
I looked at Cappadonna as he smiled. “You know this spot?”
It was Capone’s turn to laugh. “Hell yeah… come on, we can go in through the back. She may be your wife, but she’s our sister… she ain’t new to this.”
We walked down the block and down the side alley where the back entrance of the restaurant was. Capone knocked on the screened door twice, and an older Black man with salt and pepper hair opened the door.
His mouth was wide, and he grinned when he saw Cappadonna. “You get out of prison and forget who used to feed you?”
Cappadonna hugged the man and laughed. “Pooks, I ain’t came up for air yet… soon as I do, I want some of everything that you got.”
“You can have the whole restaurant with the way you helped me out, Capp… you know your sister is here,” he paused. “I’m assuming that you already know that.”
Me: Sug, you make me nervous when you quiet…
Wifey: He knows something… are you here?
Me: Yeah. You strapped?
Wifey: Is my ass fat?
Me: Stop fucking playing with me, Shelly-Ann.
“We got some unfinished business to handle, Pooks…Capri came here because she knew if anything you would call one of us.”
“The minute she got to looking nervous I would have, but she’s been out there fine eating… the man she’s with gives me a bad vibe… like something rotten with son-son. Look like someone gave him a beating, too.”
“Pooks, I got twenty bands for you to shut down early today.”
He smiled. “You don’t have to pay me to shut the store down… I’m familiar with the way your father used to handle his business.”
It was clear Des used to get down out in these streets and chose to tell everyone what he wanted us to fucking know. I knew him as the quiet man that liked golf, bowling and watching TV in the front room while sipping on a beer.
We walked in from the back, careful not to be seen. Rich’s back was facing us, and Capri was staring straight ahead at me. I caught her little smirk when she saw me poke my head out. My baby already knew I was never too far from her.
“You want me to believe that you got out of there so quickly with ease and had no help?” Rich questioned as Suga popped a fry into her mouth.
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Rich… what are you trying to ask me?” She looked at him, as she sprinkled some salt on her fries.
A little too much fucking salt considering the doctor wanted her to watch her salt our last visit. I wiggled my finger, telling her ass to put the salt down, and she put it back in its place.
“I’m not stupid, Capri… you know who I am.”
“Yes. Rich Parker… are you someone else?” she toyed with him a bit, careful not to reveal what she knew in case he was just fishing.
He slammed his hand on the table, and I was on my way out there and felt Cappadonna’s hand on my shirt, pulling me to the back. “Chill the fuck out.”
“He slam that hand one more time and I’m gonna show you just how chill I’m not .” I snatched away from him and continued to watch.
“Quasim Inferno ring a bell?”
“Should it?”
He chuckled. “Capri, let’s not play games that we both know you won’t win when it comes to me.”
She bit into her fish sandwich and wiped her hands on the napkin. “Say what you’re already thinking… let’s not beat around the flame.”
Fuck, she was so damn sexy and clever.
“You’re associated with Inferno Gods… I happened to see you being carried out the gala, and then put in the back of a car, while Inferno Gods protected your ride like you were the president. You telling me that they do that for everyone... those nasty ass smoke dicks aren’t that nice.”
Capri smirked. “Not associated with them, Rich… I am one of them… married to one of them… carrying one of them.” She slid her finger under her nose, and spit in his face.
Rich was so taken back, but when he realized what she had already done, I swaggered out there. “Go ahead… fucking dare you.”
I walked over to the front and locked the door ‘cause this nigga was getting handled in this bitch. “Quasim’s little fucking shadow… you here without big brother, huh?”
I locked that bitch and leaned on it while staring at him. “Wasn’t his shadow when yo’ pussy ass cousin got his shit sliced, huh?”
Rich remained composed, but I could smell fear a mile away. Nigga watched me like a hawk when I locked that door. “Should have known you were associated with them when we met.” He looked at Capri, who had leaned back in her chair, watching him.
I saw her hand on her bag, and knew if he made one move, she would empty the clip on that nigga in a second. “I take it personal when someone is trying to take my twin’s freedom again… nigga ain’t give y’all enough of his time?” Capone came from the back rubbing his hands together.
Rich looked at both Capone and Cappadonna, and I could have sworn the nigga’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. “Nothing personal. Morgan wanted you, and I don’t get involved in business that’s not mine.”
“Oh word? Giving the word to end Cherie was your business?” I asked.
Rich laughed. “Cherie got what the fuck she asked for… you don’t switch sides… she switched sides, so I had to show Quasim that I make muthafuckas bleed.”
Capri had flames in her damn eyes as she stared across the table at him. “Yeah, you showed me that.”
Quasim came from the back and Rich damn near skidded across the table onto my baby’s lap. She shoved his ass away, as he stared at one of the realest niggas in the eyes. Quasim’s eyes were black with no emotions as he looked down at his hands.
Rich realized he fucked up and showed his fear for Quasim Inferno. He tried to brush it off and pretend like he was leaned on the cooler in the corner. “Cherie was never fucking yours… you knew that and still went after her.”
“Took you three years just for her to look your way… I came in yo’ city in yo’ hood and all it took was for me to tell her to come with me and she left…. Rich fucking who?” Sim laughed.
I loved when my brother got on his cocky shit, and knew he was that nigga. It’d been a minute since I saw this side of Quasim, and I was welcoming that shit back. Rich was pissed from the way his jaw flexed when he mentioned how Cherie came with him without any hesitation.
“Now she dead… so she ain’t coming to either of us.” Rich found pleasure in knowing that he took Cherie away from Quasim.
Not a lot of people knew the real reason for the beef between the Chrome Vipers and Inferno Gods. “True.”
It was how calm Quasim stood there while that nigga spoke about Cherie. Had it been me, I would have been over there whooping his ass across this fish market. “You never learn your lesson, Sim… heard you went and fell for Tookie’s girl… can’t never leave our women alone, huh?”
“First of all, Blair isn’t one of you… she just let Tookie dusty ass get in her ear, but please believe sis’ has come to the light and realize that it’s fuck Chrome Pussies forever.” She stood up, and I moved behind her.
“Rich… looking at my wife like you wanna hit her. Promise I’m gonna mop this fucking floor with you and then let Sim finish you.”
“What the fuck do you wanna accomplish? You know if something happens to me… they gonna come hard at Inferno Gods… you ready for that war again? Didn’t Daddy have to step in and squash it last time.”
I saw the first tick Quasim made since coming face to face with Rich. “It was when your grandmother got on the news crying because I killed her husband.” He smirked.
His grandfather was a sensitive subject because Rich’s whole calm reaction fell, and he looked at Quasim with hate. “Fucking coward.”
Sim smirked wider, exposing his grills. “Come on, Richy… you know the demon and why the truce was really called… just be honest and tell Granny that grandpa got fucked over because of pussy that wasn’t yours anymore.”
Quasim nodded his head, and I watched as Goon, Yasin, and Kincaid came from the back. “Your funeral.”
“Nah, yours… get ‘em, Blaze,” he said, and I cracked my neck, removing my baby out the way.
Rich tried to throw a punch, and I ducked it before grabbing his ass up and pinning him to the wall. The nigga was trying to stay in this corner like he was on punishment, and wasn’t no match for the way I hemmed his ass up, and slammed him down in the chair Suga had been sitting in.
I flicked my lighter that Suga had engraved and put it toward his neck. “Always loved fire since I was caught in one… learned to love it instead of hating… feel that, Rich?”
He was flinching and trying to get out the chair, but I had a firm grip on his shoulder. I continued to flip the lighter open and close. “Enough.”
I fell back and allowed Quasim to do what he needed to do. “I saw her body before the funeral, and you had fun… I could tell. My turn, Richy.”
Quasim adjusted his jaw, reached into his mouth and pulled out a razor. To know Sim was to know that nigga always carried a razor in his mouth. I remember when we were teens, I wanted to learn how to do it so bad, and he sat there teaching me.
I never got the shit, but I knew my brother always carried one in his mouth. It was one of those if you knew, he was about to use that bitch on you.
“I had a bunch of shit I wanted to say to you… but none of that shit matters anymore. I’ll make sure to let your cousin know that Blair… she mine, nigga. Ain’t coming up off her. He’ll know the minute he comes from behind that wall.”
Quasim walked around the chair and grabbed Rich’s head and ran that razor from one side of his face to the other side while Rich squirmed and hollered. When he was done, he grabbed that knife our father gave him, flipped it open and commenced to giving him a lower smile.