8. Quasim
Quasim
All Anjo had to do was call and I was on my way to her. She never had to explain what she needed. She could call me all the way home to grab the remote from the other side of the room and I would do that shit for her. When she called me and told me she needed me to come home, I was going to come. I felt comfortable leaving her and Elijah at the lake house alone because everyone was up there.
They were well protected, and nobody was getting in that community. There were other families that handled business like we did living there, too, which is why there was always an armed guard at the entrance.
“That little junkie ain’t been seen since.” Kincaid came into the house that was across the street from mine.
I sat in the window, looking at my house burned down to the ground. All of my memories and everything I had of Harley and Cherie were gone, never to be seen again.
I would never be able to pull my blanket from my bed and sleep on the floor of her bedroom when life became overwhelming. If they wanted to take something from me, they succeeded. However, while they were somewhere puffing their chests out and gloating on their success, I was going to show them how to really prove a point.
“She ain’t going to show her fishy ass around here… she’s a junkie, not stupid.” I took one more pull from my spliff before I put it out.
“Shit, she was stupid for burning your house down.” Yasin plopped down on the couch.
The security cameras caught Thea pulling up in that same black expedition truck that I saw come in the mornings. She jumped out with a bag and made her way around the house, lighting and then tossing the cocktails through the window. Junkie-fish-stupid-ass had bad aim on one of the windows, and she hit the side of the house, catching the grass and everything on that side on fire.
The cameras caught Blair trying to pry the window open and her screaming for Thea, and she launched that shit into the other window. Seeing my baby like that broke something inside of me. It made me become murderous.
I didn’t like when somebody hurt her, and Thea hurt her and Elijah, so she had to die.
Blair and Elijah were my family. My second chance at having something that felt good, and she tried to take that away from me. My chest felt tight thinking about the alternative.
I heard the rumble of a bike engine and could tell it was my father. As I sat in the window, clicking the pen I held in my hand, I waited for him to come tell me some shit that would piss me off.
I loved the shit out my father. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a slight resentment for him offering that peace offering after they murdered Cherie. As the head of the Inferno Gods, I understood his position and knew his hands were tied.
Still, there was this small piece of resentment that I held onto because I had been put on ice. You didn’t go against Papa Inferno, and I had respect for my father. As much as I didn’t agree, I had no choice but to stand down.
“What up, Papa?” Yasin and Kincaid stood up and dapped my father. He nodded and continued towards where I was standing.
“Wasn’t Tookie, Pop.”
I never took my eyes from my house. “Bullshit.”
“Some Del Devils and CVs linked together. They’re frustrated with Tookie… said it ain’t enough to eat, and this nigga all strung out and shit. With Rich gone, he’s the leader and he ain’t been being a leader for his people.”
“Polo.” Blaze came through the front door. “Oh, Pops?”
“What up, Blaze?”
“Fuck ya!”
Pops laughed. “Shouldn’t have tried to cut me off… I invented this, Youngin’.”
“Those niggas that were in my house were venting and didn’t know I was off to the side… niggas mentioned Polo’s name.”
Polo was second in command for the Del Devils, and he was my uncle’s protege. My uncle never had any kids, and Polo was like the son he never had. He ran shit like he was the leader, and at times, my uncle allowed him to for whatever reason.
I’ve never liked the nigga and made it known that he wouldn’t bust his shit like the rest of us would. He thought he was this tough ass bitch that could take on the world.
I was tougher.
“Your house being ran through and yours being burned down aren’t connected. They ran into Blaze’s crib because you killed his brother.”
I ran back all the bodies I had been collecting and then stopped. “Damn, Sim… you out here collecting them like fucking Thanos,” Kincaid said.
“Meech.”
“Bingo. I know the shit was a contracted hit, but he knows it was you and decided to take your brother.”
“Fuck.” I hung my head.
Blaze walked over and sat on the edge of the table. “Don’t do that shit, Sim.”
“My fucking nieces… I put them in harm’s way… fuck you mean.” I looked at Blaze, and I could see the same fire I held in my eyes in his.
I also knew my brother and knew he wasn’t sleeping or eating the way he should have been. Stress was something that Blaze didn’t handle well and knowing that this was brought to his front door, I could tell he wasn’t good.
“Not on you, Sim. They came in that crib and got handled. Reason why you and Pops taught me how to handle myself and I married a woman that knows how to do the same.”
My pop stood there staring at the both of us. “It’s clear that they called for us, so who the fuck are we not to answer… they wanted the Infernos… they got them. Red told me that we can meet on mutual grounds. Guess he nervous and think some shit might pop off, even though he not involved.”
“Pops, you beat that nigga’s ass in his own crib the last time you saw him. Then you made his bitch make you coffee for the ride back to New York.” Blaze reminded our father what happened the last time he and his brother were in the same state together.
Pops shrugged his shoulders with the same smirk Blaze usually had on his face. “Don’t fucking tell me that my favorite color used to be green.”
Kincaid choked on his drink. “You beat your brother’s ass because he got your favorite color wrong?”
Pops pointed at Kincaid. “It’s the fucking principal. Don’t ever try to tell me something about me… I hold this dick when I piss, not him… can’t tell me shit about myself.”
“Papa, I see why the fuck these two touched in the head,” Kincaid snickered.
“Heard you, Papa.” Yasin saluted.
My father finally finished his rant and turned his attention back to me and Blaze. “We go and see what the fuck he is saying. We all go as a family and a united front.”
“Salah hit me up, too… Bullies heard what the fuck went on and they on standby whenever you need em.” Kincaid said.
Salah was the head of the Brooklyn Bullies. We always had this high respect for each other, and whenever he needed me, I was there and vice versa. There were a few times he had me handle someone for him.
I already knew that once news traveled, he was going to get in contact with somebody to let me know he was in my corner always.
“Bia already said the reapers on go, too.” Yasin added.
“Damn, did she mention my baby?” Kincaid asked about Lia, and Yasin shook his head at him because the nigga was gone over Bia’s sister.
“Nigga, no… why the fuc… never mind.” Yasin shook his head because Kincaid was dead serious and wanted an answer.
“Vanducci-Cromwell’s is on go, too,” I turned and saw Karter, Lennox, and Mo walking through the door.“We not Switzerland no more… he fucked with one of our own. How’s wifey doing?” Karter asked as he dapped me.
“She’s doing better… probably going crazy, being in the house all the time.”
“Keeping her safe is most important, though.” He went and dapped my father and Blaze up before going to dap the rest of the Gods.
I stood up and dapped Lennox and Mo. “Give us the play and we pulling out… we on they neck, King.” Mo said.
He made his rounds around the room. “You got a fucking army behind you. Niggas come for one of us, they come for all of us. My pops already gave us the green light.” Lennox said and pulled me into a brotherly hug.
I looked at my phone and smiled at the video that Blair had sent me. Elijah had caught one of the frogs that were always near the lake and was chasing her around the table with it and telling her to kiss it.
“Go home, Pop… you been on go since Blair got home from the hospital. Ain’t shit going to get solved with you watching your home from across the street. Nothing is going to make sense until we meet with them niggas.”Blaze said as he gently nudged my chair with his boot.
“I told you that I’ll go with you food shopping… you so damn hardheaded. Shit, I’m talking to you… nah… chill don’t han?—”
Kincaid laughed. “You already know Ki don’t play games… nigga, she not one of those bitches you be messing with.”
Yasin cut his eyes at Kincaid and dialed Kiki back, leaving the living area. “My bad, Baby Love.” His ass was apologizing as he headed further into the kitchen. “Fuck you mean, you not my baby? Kiki, don’t get another nigga put on his neck cause you wanna play games.”
Kiki had Yasin down bad, and he wanted that woman more than anything. Ki was the kind of woman that you had to approach the right way, and she wasn’t going for none of the shit that used to work with the other chicks he messed with.
“Sucker.” Kincaid snickered.
Blaze chuckled. “Says the one who baby mama on the midnight train to Georgia.”
Kincaid stuck his middle finger up. “She not going nowhere with my son. How she going to Georgia when she gotta attend a funeral?”
“What funeral?” Blaze asked.
“Her new boyfriend. Jasmine keeps playing like I won’t make her ass mourn another fucking life.” He kept flipping his pocket knife open and closed.
I shook my head and looked at Blaze. “He dead serious, too.”
Kincaid was always laid back and chill, not much rattled the nigga. There was another side to him, and while Lennox laughed at what he said, he meant every word. Jasmine wanted her first love back and now that it wasn’t everything she thought it was, she was going to learn exactly who her first love was. Kincaid’s son was his entire world, so the fact that she wanted to take him away from his father was going to push the crazy to the front of this nigga’s brain.
I stood and dapped everybody up before making the drive back to the lake house. Soon as I stepped outside, IG’s were already waiting to ride back with me.
“I’m straight… I can get home alone.”
“No disrespect, King… we gonna ride along with you and then let you go the rest of the way. It’s our job.” Wylie said.
Wylie usually stayed to himself, but with the recent shit going on, this was the most he had been outside with the IG’s. I got on my bike and headed off my block, knowing that I would never live here again.
I had a family to protect and living on this block didn’t provide the protection that they needed. They came for me once and I wasn’t prepared.
I’d be damned if they got a second chance to do that shit.
It was a little after midnight when I made it back to the lake community. I pulled into the garage and sat for a minute before pulling myself off my bike and entering the house. I expected the house to be dark and everyone asleep.
Candles were lit, creating a soothing ambiance as I walked further into the house. The smell of coconut and patchouli caressed my nose when I turned the corner. Anjo was on the back patio with a glass of wine and her kindle in her hand.
Before going outside with her, I headed up the steps to Elijah’s room. I opened the door, and he was fast asleep. I walked over toward the bed and sat down, rubbing his curls and then kissed his head while silently saying a prayer over him.
“Night, Eli.” I whispered as I exited his room, closing the room door quietly.
Shaking off my vest, I made my way outside where Anjo was. She had Dru Hill quietly playing from the surround speakers that came with the house. I stood in the doorway and watched as she swiped on her kindle and took a sip of wine while massaging the side of her neck while she had her legs pulled up to her chest.
She was at peace.
It was all I ever wanted for her. I wanted her to always have peace, and I would always make sure that she did.
I kissed her neck, and she jumped. “Never sit with your back toward the door, my love. Always know what’s coming your way.” I kissed the top of her head and came around the couch and sat across from where she was seated.
“I didn’t hear you come in, baby.” She yawned.
“I’m sorry for being late. I had some shit I needed to handle before coming home… anytime you tell me that you want me, I’m always going to come, Anjo.”
She smiled, as she put her kindle and wine glass down. I extended my arms as she climbed into my lap and hugged me. “You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”
Something was wrong.
I could tell from her body language and the half-finished bottle of wine that something was off with her. I’ve spent the past few years studying this woman’s every move. I knew when something wasn’t right with her, no matter how she tried to play it off for me.
“Tell me.”
“I…I don’t know how to even tell you.” She put her face into her hands and took deep breaths before looking me in the eyes.
I sat up, concerned. “Anjo, what the fuck happened and who did the shit? Tell me something, mama.”
She removed herself from my lap and went inside before coming back outside with Elijah’s iPad in her hand. I watched as she maneuvered through his iPad and then handed it to me. I looked at the drawing on the iPad and tossed it beside me.
She sat on the coffee table in front of me with tears in her eyes. “Someone hurt him, Quasim. Everything makes so much sense… wetting the bed, the way he’s so scared to go back with that woman. He told me that Thea isn’t his real mother, baby. Meer discovered it today while trying to silence some app.”
“Blaze knows about this shit?”
“Yes.”
I looked up toward the sky as my eyes burned with tears, thinking about what I witnessed on the iPad. Anjo grabbed my hands and looked at me while I was trying to calm myself down. I’ve always suspected it, but it was easier to pretend that something like that never happened to him or any other child.
The boy used to cower whenever he came around me. Always staying a few feet away from me because he was unsure if I would hurt him. He clung to my legs when his mother tried to bring him home.
I got up from the couch and went inside to the bedroom to change clothes. Blair followed behind me, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me strip out my jeans and put on a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top with running sneakers.
“Simmy.”
“Anjo, I’m not upset with you. I just need to process this and when I need to process shit, I have to run.”
“Okay.”
I walked over to her and held her face while placing kisses on her lips. “Get some sleep, you’re tired.”
“I’m going to clean up outside and then I’ll get in the bed.”
Kissing her lips. “No… I’ll handle it when I come back.”
She looked into my eyes and then kissed me. “Okay.”
Recommendation: The Best Man I Can Be by Ginuwine, RL, Tyrese, and Case
Soon as I left out the front door, I took off running through the community. My head was swarming with so many things. Children were fucking innocent, and didn’t deserve the shit that happened to them. Elijah was a fucking pure soul who deserved to be a happy child. He shouldn’t have trauma. His life should have been carefree and happy like Ryder and CJ.
After running around the community for an hour, I found myself in front of Capone’s house. I leaned against the truck in his driveway and texted him. The lights to the front of his house turned on, the door opening shortly after, and he strolled out with a robe on.
“Sim, you straight?” he was concerned as I leaned on the truck, about to lose my shit. Tears clouded my vision as I watched Capone come closer. “Yo, what the fuck happened?”
I slid down the car and finally broke down. While I was running, I had the distraction of just keeping my pace and pushing forward with my run. The minute I walked onto Capone’s driveway and slowed down, everything crashed into me. Everything was hitting me at one time, and this shit was the straw that broke the camel’s back. “You called that shit, Capo.”
He kneeled down as I sobbed like a bitch. “What you mean?” I watched as he pulled his phone out. “Yo, come outside right quick.”
I knew he was calling his twin because this was rare. I never showed my emotions and had been taught not to. You couldn’t have emotions and be the leader of one of the most ruthless biker gangs.
My emotions had always taken the backseat.
I pulled my legs up and broke down further. “Someone hurt Elijah… in that way.” Admitting it out loud further crushed my heart.
Capone hung his head and came beside me and pulled me into his arms. “Fuck, Sim.”
“He didn’t fucking deserve that shit… he’s a good ass fucking kid. I didn’t protect him.” I continued to cry, my voice becoming hoarse because I had been holding this emotion in since Anjo showed me that iPad.
Cappadonna came out his house and ran over toward where we were. “Fuck happened?”
Capone continued to hold me while his twin kneeled down on the other side of me. “Somebody hurt Eli.”
Cappadonna mirrored the same actions his brother did and then clasped his hands together tightly while holding onto his words. “I fucking failed him… he’s been hurting this whole time around me, and I didn’t fucking know. I felt like some shit was off but thought that he was good.” I hadn’t cried like this since I lost my daughter and Cherie.
My chest was tight, eyes blurry, and I felt like I was going to pass out. “Quasim, you gotta stop taking on everything. This shit isn’t your fault, and you’ve done everything for that little boy. His fucking parents failed him… you saved him… fuck,” Capone sniffled, and wiped away his own tears.
“I couldn’t save my own daughter, Cherie, and now Elijah… I damn near fucking lost Blair in the process. My fucking house… burned to the ground.” Everything that I had been holding in was finally coming out and I couldn’t stop.
It was like word vomit. Every time I tried to be quiet, more words continued to fall out of my mouth.
Capone continued to hold me. It was something about the Delgato brothers that I admired. The way they loved each other, or anybody in their circle. These men handled their business like me, but at the same time, I would see Cappadonna kiss his twin on the head or hug him if he needed it.
The shit was beautiful.
Cappadonna hadn’t said anything and still was squeezing his hands while kneeling beside me. “You did everything that you could for Harley and Cherie, Sim. I love you, nigga, but you take on everything and let that shit settle into you. Elijah came to you broken, and you took that boy in and protected him. Michael is your entire heart, and you would do anything to protect her. Stop taking on everything because that shit gonna make you break.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do?”
“Get him therapy. Not some shit that he should continue to sit with… while you healing him with therapy and love… we gonna take care of whoever fucking did that foul shit.” Capp stood up.
“Blair said that he told her that Thea not even his mother… the fuck does that even mean?” I sniffled.
I watched as he paced the driveway. “Let him cool off… shit is sensitive to him because of what happened to Alaia.” Capone told me.
I didn’t know what Elijah meant when he said Thea wasn’t his mother, but I was going to find out when I choke the life out that matted head bitch.
“Roy, is something wrong?” Alaia poked her head out with a hood over her hair. It was like she had a feeling her husband needed to see her.
“Come here, Joy.” He said, and she abandoned the front door, going to her husband. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her hood as he held onto her.
“Baby, what is wrong? You are scar?—”
“Simmy,” I heard Blair’s voice, and turned to see her and Elijah standing there holding hands.
Neither of them allowed me to get up; they both came over and hugged me. Capone stood up and allowed them space to hold onto me. “I knew something wasn’t right with you when you left,” her voice shook as she held onto me, and Elijah was embracing me like I’d disappear if he let go.
I held them both tight as I closed my eyes, and the tears continued to fall. “Fucking out here crying in a driveway… fuck.” I groaned as I kept my eyes closed and Anjo kissed my cheek.
Capone stood nearby. “Eli, what was I telling you the other day?”
Eli lifted his head and scanned his head for what Capone was talking about. “You told me so much, Capo.”
Capone chuckled and looked down at his slipper before looking back at Elijah. “When you tripped over by the lake and started to cry.”
“Showing emotion. You can’t be a man without showing emotions… that’s what makes you, you. It’s what makes you strong.” Elijah replied.
“My man… every great man has shown emotion and the King Inferno ain’t an exception to the rule.”
I kissed his forehead and held onto both of them while we sat on the floor in the driveway. I never wanted to let either of them to go, however, I had to let go for a second because I needed my hands to fuck over whoever hurt my family.