Page 35 of Quasim II: King Inferno

I did as she instructed and felt a little bit better, especially smelling the lavender. “Do you keep lavender on you at all times?”

“Anxiety… it used to be crippling, and at times, it still is. Whenever I’m feeling it, I take a small hit like it’s coke or something and I feel better. I try not to be medicated all the time.”

I smiled. “Thanks for sharing that with me, Syn. I really needed that, and I feel bett?—”

A car zooming down the block caused us both to look out the window as all the Gods were on go when the second car came by. It moved by so quickly that they couldn’t stop it, but I watched as Wylie and Kincaid went down one end of the block and locked it down while Havoc remained planted in front of the store.

“You alright?”

“Ahhh!” Syn screamed, when Yasin popped his head in from the back. “Jesus, you scared the mess out of me.”

“We’re good, Sin… what’s going on?”

“Niggas being stupid. I hit Quasim up, and he and Meer not too far… they were with Salah.” He explained, and then closed the door back, making sure he held the back door down.

Syn looked at me. “Are we going to die? Because my bird is expecting me home to watch reruns of Golden Girls while we eat corn.”

I looked at Syn and shook my head while smiling. “All those men are going to make sure that we’re not.”

That car tried to zoom down the block and realized he fucked up when they blocked the other end. Havoc was waiting in the middle of the block and the car stopped right in front of him. He had his gun at his side and tapped it on the hood.

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The car had a few men inside and you could tell they were armed, however, more bikes turned the corner, and they realized they were outnumbered. When I saw that bike with the tint of red and flames turn the corner, I knew it was Meer.

No sooner than he came from the opposite way, the king arrived from the other way. They both sped past each other and reached their hands out and hit the IG shake while continuing down opposite sides of the block. The men in the car didn’t know where to look because they knew they were going to meet their maker.

Havoc smirked as he came onto the sidewalk and entered the store. Me and Synthia were already in the window watching.

I watched as Quasim sped on his bike, his arm extended as he squeezed the trigger into the window of the car, speeding down the block, then spun his bike around, sliding his boots on the ground, while Meer sped down behind him. They lit that car up so bad. Where I should have been ducking, I couldn’t turn away from watching it unfold. I’ve seen all the men in my life handle business, but it was something about witnessing the Inferno men handle it together.

Meer spun his bike, sliding his sneakers onto the ground, and then standing up while he floated down the block after sending those final bullets into the car. He saluted his brother, and Quasim returned the gesture. As he sped by the window, he winked at me before putting his visor down and kissing his fingers and placing it on his heart. I witnessed this man murder a car full of men and here I was, blushing like he handed me a dozen roses.

It was almost like watching ballet. They both knew how to move around each other, Meer following his brother’s lead, as he took off down the block and they both went different directions. Synthia stood there, stunned.

“Baby, this better than Call of Duty!” she screeched!

Havoc turned to look down at her and she smiled sheepishly at him. “You a little touched, huh?”

She signed something to him and he damn near stumbled back, shocked. “I can keep secrets, too… My aunt is deaf, so I’ve known sign language since a child. My question is, why didn’t you tell me?”

He looked at me. “I didn’t say a word.”

“How the fuck you found out?”

Syn folded her arms as she stared up at Havoc. “I saw you and your brother arguing in front of the studio. Why did you tell him that his head always been lopsided and he was adopted? Very childish, Havoc.”

He stared down at her with this look that told me that Syn wasn’t getting away from him even if she wanted. “Rude as shit to be in somebody else conversation… you know that?”

She signed something to him and then took off, skipping back into the studio. He licked his lips as he watched her and then turned his attention to me. “Cancel your classes for today… shutting down the studio because it’s about to be hot over here.”

“I canno—” my phone ringing on the counter pulled me from my conversation. Like I expected, it was Quasim calling me.

I put the phone to my ear. “Anjo, shut it down… and go ahead and look for another studio, too. Let me know the price and I’ll buy it for you.”

“Simmy, you cannot keep buying me more studios. This one is special to me, but I understand that it’s hot right now.”

“Baby, you got kidnapped out of there, and now niggas are lurking… we can rent that out, and get you something else, okay?”

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