26. Quasim
Quasim
Brandon always gave back to the kids in the neighborhood by doing a big summer block party for them. He got permission from the city to block off the street that the barbershop was on. The kids played and had fun with bounce houses, food trucks, and a bunch of free shit that all the businesses in the area put in to provide for them.
I watched my baby as she was getting ice cream with Elijah. She had on a black Nike tennis skirt with a black sports bra, and a pair of airmax sneakers, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I checked if she had panties on before we left, too, cause her ass loved to push the limits with me.
I stood in front of the barbershop and watched them as she pinched his cheeks. Elijah was smitten when it came to Blair, always calling Ms. Blair this and Ms. Blair that. I don’t think he ever had ever experienced a positive woman in his life.
Being the big-hearted angel that she was, she was so easy and gentle with him. I watched as they got their ice cream, and she took him over to the booth that Havoc had paid for. It was giving out free fake tattoos to the kids.
“Hey, Havoc,” Synthia, the chick that worked at Blair’s studio came over licking the ice cream she had gotten from the truck.
“Syn, come here real quick!” Blair called over to her, and she quickly turned and went over to where she was holding her phone, laughing at something.
Havoc shivered. “I ain’t never wanted to be a fucking ice cream cone so bad… her tongue pierced.”
“You saw all that shit by her saying hey?” I stared at him as he watched her laughing. “Just go and ask shorty out… you Big Hav.”
Cappadonna walked over holding Promise, who was making a mess with the ice cream, and didn’t care she was getting it all over her father’s Gucci shirt.
“What up, Capp?” We hit the IG shake, and I held my pinky out for Promise, who shook it, and giggled while she continued to devour the ice cream like it was trying to get away from her.
Capone was playing basketball at one of the carnival game setups and was getting mad because CJ was kicking his ass in the game. I watched as Blaze kissed his wife and went to greet my father.
It was rare for Papa Inferno to pop out, but when he did, everyone showed love and respect. “Hey Papa,” Kiki came over and hugged him.
“What’s going on, Ki?”
“Same shit… different day.” She laughed, as she mushed Yasin who walked over. That man would have let her whoop his ass in the middle of the street, if that meant she was touching him.
“I need my hair twisted!” He called behind her.
“No, you don’t… I just retwisted you last week, Yasin. You gonna be bald.” She turned and walked off toward her friends while shaking her head.
“Fuck, I want her ass so bad.” He bit his bottom lip, as I went into the barbershop to sit and chill.
Cappadonna took Promise to wash her hands, and I sat in one of the barber chairs while my pops took the other one, and Blaze sat in one of the waiting chairs.
“How’s mommy today?”
The smile on my father’s face couldn’t even be explained with words. He had lost something when my mother’s condition worsened. “She fucking wrote my name, Pop.”
Blaze smiled. “Wrote mine first.”
My father looked at him. “Cause she felt bad for yo big headed ass.”
Blaze laughed. “Hater.”
I laughed because this was the typical dynamic between the two of them. It felt like we were getting back to the old times, before life beat us the fuck down with an iron pipe. “The speech therapist was there when I left.”
Since that tumor had been removed, my mother was different. She used to stare out the window, never saying anything, and was a shell of the old her. She wasn’t running around and yelling or talking to us, but she was much more aware and recognized our faces when we walked into the room. It was like she wanted to speak, but had gone without doing it for so long she couldn’t form the correct words she wanted to say.
Other than a few words that she always said, and some words in Portuguese, she was learning everything all over again. My heart squeezed every time I walked into the room, and she tossed her arms up for a hug – something she never did.
“Feel like I’m dreaming and all this shit going to go away when I wake up.” I admitted.
My father nodded as he pulled a spliff behind his ear, something that Blaze picked up from him. “Feel the same way. I ain’t never been so happy to be in a fucking car accident in my life.”
I watched as he took a pull and leaned back in the chair. “That neighbor across the street from you selling his house.” He looked at me.
“How do you even know that? I ain’t see no sign put up.”
“Pop, I know every fucking thing…you forgot I was King Inferno first? I’m thinking about buying before he even put it up.” I watched as he collected the smoke through his mouth and then out through the nose.
“Why? The whole purpose of the lake house was for the family… shit ain’t only mine. Blaze and Pri already have theirs.”
He looked past me out the window as Blair tried to pull Capella into the fire hydrant. “You need your space, Pop.”
“The house has enough space.”
The bathroom door opened, and Cappadonna came out spraying. “She just like her father… blew that damn bathroom up. No more ice cream for you.” Promise went to scream, and he looked at her. “Pow-pow? Don’t make daddy do it because it’s gonna break my heart, but your mother is firm on this.” He was more so pleading with her than actually disciplining her.
She laid her head on his shoulder pouting, while he sat next to Blaze. “She means a lot to you, and I know she does. You don’t take your eyes off her, or Elijah. You been standing out there watching them both like a hawk. Cherie and Harley will always be your family… you’re not replacing them, but Blair and Elijah are your family, Pop.”
I leaned my head back. “Shit fucks with me every once in a while… don’t want them to ever feel like I’m replacing them.”
“You not, Sim. How long are you gonna punish yourself by not living your life? Michael out there makes you happy as shit… shit, you make her happy. I get where Papa coming from.” Capp said.
Whenever I was with Blair or Elijah, I felt at peace. My mind was quiet, and I was able to enjoy myself. Elijah had become the best part of my mornings since I started feeding and taking care of him. He talked too damn much in the morning, but I looked forward to that little knock on the door every day.
With Anjo, the walls were slowly coming down the more I saw how crazy she was about me. The fact that she followed me, and had plans on jumping out to fight some chick that didn’t exist still made me laugh.
Yeah, crash out behind yo dick, Anjo.
I had to check her ass though, because she could have fucked up a play I had been working hard on. “She know about Kew.”
“Her ass better stop bringing my wife along with her shit… then we got home, she ate all my fucking cookies Gams made for me.”
“Ain’t she still breastfeeding?” Cappadonna asked.
“Her ass started crying once she realized… fucking hormones is something.” Blaze leaned up and accepted the spliff from my father.
“Easy on that shit…that some pure grade shit right there.” He warned him.
I looked at my father. “I’m gonna propose to her.”
Blaze started choking as he looked at me. “You fucking with me?”
Cappadonna smirked. “I’m proud of you, Sim. I know how dark shit gets for you, but the fact that you seeing your way out of it and want to take this step is big… I can officiate the wedding if you need me to.”
“We’ll keep that in mind, Capp.” I chuckled, because the nigga was serious as he rubbed his daughter’s back.
“I’m happy for you, Pop.” My father stood, holding his hand out and pulled me into a hug, kissing my cheek. “Another Inferno wedding on the beach.”
“Me and Sug was first… just saying.”
“Chill, I ain’t even asked and she ain’t even said yes.”
Cappadonna and Blaze both broke out laughing. “Nigga, she saying yes… she followed us to a job, and was prepared to lose her shit.”
I shook my head and headed back outside. Blair was putting a fake tattoo on Elijah’s arm. He already had a full sleeve on one arm, and she was putting the other one on. My phone buzzed in my pocket as Elijah ran across the street to show Ryder, who had finally got off the bounce house.
“Look, my arms look like yours, Sim.” I held his arm and checked it out, nodding my head in approval.
“Big Eli… I like em.”
My phone buzzed again, and I picked it up this time. “Yo.”
“CV’s about to come through the block.” Kincaid said, and I looked up and saw Capri riding side by side with Kiki as they both signaled letting me know some shit was coming. Blaze swaggered out the barbershop in time to catch Capri’s signal and nodded his head, crossing the street and hopping on his bike. He spun the bike around, and was right behind his wife, as they spun the block.
As I was about to call Blair to come back over this way, I turned my head and saw a fucking viper on a bike. Three bikes slowed down, as I used my hand and made sure Elijah and Ryder were behind me, while my eye remained on Anjo. Her eyes locked in with mine, as I turned to watch them riding down the block slowly. There were kids on the block, so shit was limited, and they knew it from how slow they rode past us.
I slowly slid my finger across my nose and lifted up my shirt, showing that I was still packing. All the Gods did the same, as they looked on. I made sure Elijah and Ryder were behind me.
“Is everything okay?”
“Whenever Uncle Simmy and Daddy tell us something it’s important for us to listen. All my God uncles will protect us, and Uncle Simmy tells them what to do… don’t be scared of his gun. It’s to protect us, even my daddy and Suga mama have one.”
I listened to Ryder as I kept my eyes trained on them niggas. The first bike stopped right where Blair was, and I gave Yasin the look and he took the kids. I bolted across the street, as Blair slapped his hands away from her. When he saw me coming for him, he quickly took off. I grabbed my baby and pulled her behind me as I watched the others follow behind him.
I heard motorcycles again and saw Capri riding behind those Chrome pussies, making sure they got off the block. Blaze was beside her, and I saw my sis with her gun at her side, away from where Ryder and Elijah could see. Blaze had his out on the opposite side too, while Kiki and Havoc followed behind them.
The triplets fell in behind them, as they rode them off the block. “Get ‘em off this block before I do some shit, I may regret in front of my niece and Elijah.” I told Kincaid, my blood boiling and my vision blurring because I was so angry.
Whenever Capri rode her bike, she wore her helmet or a skull mask. She was a district attorney and couldn’t be seen riding with the IG’s. She had to conceal her identity like Forty did. If you didn’t know the markings of her bike and helmet, then you wouldn’t have known it was her.
Blaze saluted. “Riding them niggas out the fucking city… get my daughter home.” Blaze increased speed.
“Suga mama!” Ryder yelled.
Capri held her finger to the mouth of her helmet, as she signaled that, she kissed her two fingers and put them on her heart, Ryder returning the gesture. She took off behind her husband, bending the corner behind the rest of them.
“Baby, I need you to be careful… what the fuck was that about? Coming into known IG territory. He’s losing it… I want you to be careful.”
I kissed her lips. “Nah… he ain’t seen how the fuck I lose it.”
Taking her hand, I walked her to her truck, and then got Elijah and Ryder. Cappadonna and Capone already put their kids in his truck.
The rest of the IG’s were already on guard and got on their bikes. My father saluted, as I hopped in the truck, and pulled off the block. No sooner than I pulled away from the curb, all the IG’s and Reapers surrounded both my and Cappadonna’s trucks as we left the block.
Blair turned around. “You guys good?”
“Were those bad guys, Ms. Blair?” She looked over at me to see how she should answer the question.
“Elijah and Ryder… listen to me. Do you know what a viper is?” I asked, as I stared at them through the rearview mirror.
“Yes. A snake.” Elijah answered and Ryder nodded in agreement.
“If you ever see a viper on a motorcycle, they’re the enemy.” I paused and looked at my future wife, Ryder, and Elijah. “We’re Infernos… we don’t associate with Vipers… understood?”
“Those chrome pussies!” Ryder said.
Blair covered her mouth before turning around. “Ryder, I’m telling your father.”
“I heard it from him. Him and Suga were talking about it.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
Blair reached back and touched her cheek. “Our little secret. Just don’t say it again… okay?” she smiled.
My phone buzzed in the cup holder, and I hit the button to answer. The usual recorded verbiage went through. I never got used to this shit. Just got over doing it with Cappadonna, and then both my guys were home. Now we were back to the same shit, and I was counting down the days.
“Fuck you meannnnn!” Goon’s deep voice barreled through the car’s speaker.
“In the whip with Elijah.” I had put Goon onto the situation with Elijah a few weeks ago when he called to do his check in.
Even when he was free, that nigga would call me to check in and make sure I was good. “My bad… what up, Lil Simmy?”
“Hi G-Uncle!”
“That ain’t mini–Lady Inferno, is it?”
“Yup!”
“You taking care of my goddaughter and being a good big sister.”
“Of course… freakkk you mean!”
I looked through the mirror, and Elijah still had the biggest smile because Goon referred to him as a little me. “Ry, you on real thin ice.”
“Sorry, Uncle Simmy.” She apologized.
Blair smiled, as her thumb caressed the side of my head, while we bent down the blocks back to the lake house. “Hey Goon… I hope you’re doing good in there.”
“Would be better if you could tell me how Ms. Lawyer doing?”
“She’s good… working.”
“Hmm, always working with her fine ass.” He paused. “Yo, not gonna keep you long… when you get time, come see me.” I already knew that meant he had some shit to run down to me.
“Got you… handling some shit with Tookie. Rode through IG territory, so trying to get the fam home.”
“Gods burn the faces of their enemies.”
“The flames burn slow because the Gods are Inferno,” I replied, and we ended the call, and I looked at Blair.
That nigga Tookie thought he saw crazy, he ain’t see my crazy. In his defense, his cousin was done up while he was in prison… but I had no problem revisiting the lesson for the class – again.
“I’ve made more than enough; you can take more if you want some.” Loretta said, as she pushed the plate of pastries toward me.
I loved being around older people. They had a lesson and wisdom to give, and if you were smart then you absorbed everything and learned from them. The reason I knew how to knit was because I used to go to the senior center that was a few blocks from my house after I lost Harley. As much as I enjoyed sitting in the house in my grief, at times my thoughts scared me, and I didn’t want to be around the IG’s or my family, so I went to the senior center and volunteered. The city wasn’t kicking out money like that to save shit that was needed for the city, so I walked in during a sweltering summer day and all of the older ladies were in there knitting but sweating at the same time.
The director told me that they didn’t have the budget to fix the air conditioner, so they used the fans to keep the elders cool because some of them didn’t have air conditioning at their own homes. I got on the phone and called Wylie, one of the IG’s that owned an AC and refrigeration company. He came and fixed it, and I took on the role of donating whatever they needed for the center.
In return, I sat with the older ladies, and they were messy as hell. The tea that was spilled was that aged shit that Queen Elizabeth was sipping. Old and good as shit that kept you around to find out what else happened.
The more I came around, the more those thoughts stopped consuming me. Being around people that have experienced life, loss, and grief was healing for me in a way. If they had lost, loved, lost, and loved again, who says that I couldn’t have the same thing?
While everyone thought I was in the house grieving, I was sitting with the elders, soaking everything in, and one of those lessons was how to knit. When I was chilling, I pulled out my shit and knitted.
You needed shit to do when you were out there being a devil, and that brought me peace. “Nana, what friend are you talking abou…” All the air in Tookie’s body left as he stood in that doorway to the small ass kitchen that smelled like moth balls and cat piss.
Instead of worrying about Blair, he needed to be worried about getting his grandmother a damn aid to help her ass. She kept pushing those pastries like I was gonna eat or drink anything out this crib. I already had the first pastry she forced me to take in my damn pocket.
There was cat fur on the kitchen table, and I saw a litter box in the corner of the kitchen. Who the fuck puts a litter box in the kitchen?
“Dee Albo is here… strange name, but he’s a sweetie.” She smiled as she patted my shoulder, and her slippers shuffled across the linoleum floors to the fridge.
I smirked, exposing my grills. “What up, Tookie butt.”
His grandmother cackled, not even knowing that we tormented her grandson with that nickname, and it wasn’t a term of endearment. “Wha…what up?” His voice was shaky, because he didn’t know what I had planned.
He already knew how I got down, being as though I took one grandparent away. “It’s so good that you boys have each other after losing Rich.” She paused and touched her chest. “I can't believe he’s gone sometimes.”
“Good man… he was a trailblazer for sure.”
His grandmother wasn’t even paying attention as she was grabbing more shit out the fridge. I stood up and Tookie looked like he wanted to shit himself while weighing his options. “Mrs. Loretta, it was a pleasure catching up with you. I’m hoping your son is doing well in rehab.”
“Nana, you talk too damn much,” Tookie lost his battle of being calm, and his grandmother put her hand on her hip. “Sorry, Ma’am.”
“Walk Dee out and get some sense when you carry your tail back in here, Tyshawn,” she scolded.
I walked out in front of him, knowing that his ass wasn’t going to try no shit. Not with Havoc, Kincaid, Cappadonna, and the triplets outside on their bikes.
He walked past me on the front steps and stood in front of me. “Nigga, you came to my gran?—”
I grabbed him by his neck, holding his ass over the concrete banister while staring into his eyes. “The only reason yo granny ain’t in that fucking stove cooking is because she reminds me of mine… don’t get it twisted, I’ll sit her old ass up on that couch with her neck open. Come through IG territory again, even think about touching Blair, and I’m gutting that bitch first, then coming for you. I give one warning before I act… take it.” I tightened the grip around his neck and reached in my pocket for that stale ass pastry, shoving the shit in his mouth. “You and Blair are fucking done, bozo… divorce papers signed, sealed, and delivered.”
He was trying to keep calm and be strong because he knew I could toss him over this banister. “Fuck you, Quasim.” He was trying to spit that nasty ass pastry from his mouth.
“Yeah, fuck me… I hear it all the time. Smell my breath, I know you know the scent... smell good, huh? Sweet just like her. It’s because I ate that pussy before I came to handle you... you not coming at her, feel me? That’s my wife now, Tookie Dookie” I released his ass.
I jogged down the remaining steps before getting on my bike. “My grandmother, nigga.”
“We two for one right now, Tooks… let’s not make it four to one… do the right thing. Matter fact, go apologize to your grandmother.”
The only reason I didn’t resort to violence was because the city was quiet, and we weren’t trying to make it a mad house for Capri. She was the district attorney, and with Devon rebuilding everything since the allegations of him and child porn, it was best to keep everything calm and cool.
“Think that bitch loyal? She gonna ride with you when she couldn’t even ride for me… good fucking luck. Blair goes wherever she can squeeze herself into.”
“And it’s on my dick… how about you worry about why the fuck you out here living life like Frankie Lymon, eh?” I referred to him as the main nigga in the movie ‘ Why do fools fall in love ’ the main nigga was on heroin.
“Why do fools fall in love,” Kincaid started singing the song while revving his engine. Soon as I started mine and started down the block, the rest of the Gods fell in line behind me.